Naruto Being Sasuke's Weakness (A LONG Semi-Comprehensive List), Part 1
I must emphasize again that this list is semi-comprehensive and will not be including every example. There were scenes that I cut, as I'd felt them a bit redundant and wanted to make the thread more concise (e.g., I didn't include every scene where Sasuke singled out Naruto as someone he needed to cut down), and there were other moments that I felt best suited for other more in-depth threads.
This is a companion piece to my previous post on Sasuke being Naruto's strength. As Kishimoto stated, Naruto and Sasuke truly progress as a pair. Naruto was routinely singled out as someone who caused Sasuke to falter (literally and metaphorically), change his goals, and make (non-pragmatic) exceptions. Naruto's status as Sasuke's weakness remained a significant source of tension until the very end. I will be tracking the development of this motif from Sasuke giving Naruto food to Naruto getting Sasuke to stop his self-hatred and accept his feelings.
Sakura insulting Naruto caused Sasuke to get angry and defensive on Naruto's behalf (despite Naruto being aggressive towards Sasuke and tying him up just moments prior). Sasuke later recalled his defense of Naruto in his precious, Naruto-centric deathbed memories.
Sasuke chose to put his goal at risk and feed Naruto despite being forbidden from doing so by Kakashi. Despite Sasuke's attempt to rationalize his decision, Kakashi astutely noted feeding Naruto was an act of cherishing a friend. When Sasuke later thought about that precious moment, he specifically singled out himself and Naruto.
Though Sasuke ate in an attempt to build up his strength, his reckless desire to compete against Naruto proved counterintuitive to his goal. It was a moment Sasuke included in his precious memories.
Despite saying he was going for a walk, Sasuke skipped breakfast to train by Naruto and look out for him (Sasuke: I told you if you didn't take a break you'd wear yourself out, usuratonkachi). Sasuke's protective comment was yet another moment he thought of when he thought he was going to die later.
Despite telling Naruto that he wouldn't be able to fight and watch out for him, Haku noted that Sasuke did exactly that when Naruto was too injured to protect himself.
Haku used Naruto as bait to lure Sasuke because he knew Naruto was Sasuke's weakness.
Sasuke went against the oath he swore to kill his older brother and sacrificed himself for Naruto.
Naruto vocally showed disregard for the potential consequences of failing the chunin exams and causing his teammates to fail. Even though failing would have disrupted Sasuke's goal to test his strength against other strong competitors, Sasuke wasn't angered and instead smiled at Naruto's bravery.
Sasuke's focus on Naruto caused him to become distracted and get taken down by the enemy's letter bomb.
Sasuke came at Orochimaru without a fear of death because of Naruto, a fact Orochimaru later confirmed during a scene in which Naruto was described as changing Sasuke's heart and goals. Naruto's impact was represented via onomatopoeic symbolism.
Sasuke stated that Naruto trying to fight the illusions to find the real foes was a waste of effort. However, Sasuke still used the last of his chakra to help Naruto even though it pained him. Kabuto noticed the curse mark "bruise" Sasuke developed after trying to help Naruto and then later singled out Naruto as someone who was changing Sasuke's heart and goals in his espionage notes.
Naruto was singled out as someone who was extinguishing the darkness in Sasuke's heart; Naruto's impact on Sasuke caused Orochimaru to worry.
Despite Sasuke being immobilized by the curse mark, he moved his body to prevent Naruto's back from hitting the tree.
Upon finding out Itachi was back in the village, Sasuke's first concern was about Naruto rather than revenge.
Sasuke knew that he needed to kill Naruto, his closest friend, to get the mangekyō sharingan, yet he initially left the village without doing so. Even after being partially transformed by a curse mark that increased aggression and bloodlust, he still warned Naruto to leave. It was only after Naruto refused to let Sasuke leave that Sasuke fought him (Sasuke: ...If you're gonna stand in the way... then I have no choice).
Naruto (because of his smile) was the first person to make Sasuke smile in the aftermath of the massacre.
Sasuke admitted the existence of his bond with Naruto was an impediment that he needed to cut to become much stronger.
Before Sasuke was set to strike Naruto, he switched to a blow that would produce less damage. Immediately afterwards, his true inner heart, which contained a dream to reconcile with Naruto, was revealed. It was the first and only time Sasuke was actively shown dreaming.
Despite needing to go to Orochimaru and knowing that people from Konoha had been sent to retrieve him, Sasuke spent several pages looking at Naruto.Sasuke spent several pages looking at Naruto before heading off to Orochimaru despite knowing that people from Konoha had been sent to retrieve him.
After sensing Naruto, Sasuke, who'd lived his entire life under Itachi's control, was able to verbally affirm for the first time that he wouldn't lose control to his brother.
Sasuke put Sai in a genjutsu after he insulted Naruto. Sasuke's entrances in Part 1 and Part 2 were marked with a defense of Naruto.
Kurama went against his best interests (Kurama: ...It may be my undoing, but... let me... tell you... one thing...) to warn Sasuke that he'd regret killing Naruto.
Sasuke was so focused on staring at Naruto that he was caught off guard by Yamato. Afterwards, his face visibly softened after Naruto called his name.
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