The Great Saga of Re-reading Naruto

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Holiday week hiatus

Work and the holiday has finally caught up to me. I will be back to my ninja feels next week. Thanks for all the joy and activity you share with my posts!

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It’s heartbreaking how Sasuke and Naruto are so far from being able to understand each other at this point. Naruto’s heart is open for Sasuke but Sasuke’s is closing more and more. Kakashi can see into both of them and explain what’s going on but it’s too late to fix the brokenness right now.

(It’s also interesting that while Kakashi knows so well what is going on with Naruto he is happy with Jiraiya taking the responsibility of dealing with him to ensure he is under control.)

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It certainly doesn’t help Sasuke’s psyche but considering how cocky he was originally, thinking his chidori was so much more powerful than whatever Naruto was doing, this is important for him to see. Sasuke is the one who egged Naruto into the fight and he sees the result here. That water tower could have been his body. He should be a little bit afraid and upset.

Additionally, as a rasengan fangirl, I enjoy seeing this and fistpumping. 

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Naruto and Sasuke are both disappointingly stupid during this fight. This panel presents that starkly.

Sasuke is still the one defining their relationship at this point. Naruto does not want to fight Sasuke. He arrived at the hospital in order to see his friend and encourage his recovery. But Sasuke cannot stand that Naruto has stamped himself all over his life--growing in Sakura’s estimation, gaining more power, even being more important to his number one enemy. Sasuke won’t accept Naruto’s friendship now.

And Sakura is still left in the dark to so much that is happening. All she can is throw herself between them in order to stop them from doing something with mortal consequences. Bless Kakashi for arriving.

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Naruto is a true believer in Konoha. His ties to his home and friends and family have brought him strength and love. Here he has just returned from a mission where Jiraiya and Tsunade reinforced the importance and the power that can come from tying oneself to their village.

Whereas Sasuke is far from that mindset now. He scoffs at the idea that he and Naruto are equals and it’s true--not in power, but in loyalty. He is unwittingly adopting Orochimaru’s philosophy of shedding the anchor that is ones home in order to be gain as much jutsu and power as possible.

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Boys.

Please.

Don’t do this.

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There’s a lot going on in this simple interaction: presenting that Naruto isn't the only one who yearns for validation; showing that Shikamaru is ahead of his age in leadership skills; reiterating what a great friendship Shikamaru and Chouji have; admitting that boys have body issues too.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this moment takes place right before Naruto and Sasuke fight. It’s a stark contrast of teammates.

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My sweet little ninja nugget:

The love he receives from Iruka fuels the strength he finds to protect his village.

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The relationship between Iruka and Naruto is so important.

He advises, he encourages, he provides verbal and physical affection. 

Iruka is a hero in his own right.

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This moment is seriously upsetting because of the violent way he rejects Sakura’s caregiving and his building ire against Naruto.

However, it’s also pretty hilarious because it’s so immature and...just...slapping away apples, Sasuke? Really?!

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I can’t even express how important Iruka is.

After traveling with Jiraiya and having the lesson of adulthood pounded into him, after struggling to understand Tsunade and meet her expectations, after learning that Kabuto is a traitor, after fighting to the point of near-death, after coming home and not being able to bond with his team members...

After all that Naruto can find Iruka who will take him to eat ramen and listen to his stories and love him.

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Poor Kakashi. Getting abused by the new Hokage and his bf at the same time.

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This is everything Naruto wanted when he left with Jiraiya: Sasuke healed and Sakura happy.

Yet he is not allowed to be part of it. That small smile is as much an expression of pained joy as Sakura’s tears.

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Sakura’s first impression of Tsunade. Okay.

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Shikamaru is a young stud.

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This is Shikaku’s favorite song.

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Shikamaru does have intellectual growing to do in some areas.

(More stealth Shikatema commentary: this is one reason why I think Shikamaru can develop a stronger and more equal relationship with a woman he didn’t grow up with.)