Sakura and Ino, their approach in relationships
I am always bothered by the attitude of some extremist fans who just can't support their favorite without throwing mud on another character.
The subject was this page
“i wouldn't stand for a husband who's almost never at home“
Through this phrase the user has deduced Ino would not be able to stand for an “absent husband”, and therefore she would probably divorce if her Sai had a long mission.
Well, no, first of all, that's NOT what she says. The translation is awful
She said どうかと思うけど - Dōkatoomoukedo
Literally it means “ I do not know what to think/I'm confused
The full phrase should be translated “I do not know what to think about a husband who almost never come at home”
She expresses a doubt, not about Sakura's love (she has only praise for her love), but about Sasuke's, because she cares about her friend and she doesn't like the eventuality that her husband neglects her.
This is perfectly consistent with anime and novels.
She constantly worries about her bestfriend's relationship
But at the same time she tries to encourage her
She invites her on a journey only to revive an old and precious moment of intimacy with her man.
She does the same in the chapter when she tells Sakura that is a bit envious of her who still remains a “woman in love” ( 恋するて女 - koisurute on'na ) with an almost completely absent husband.
But her concerns are founded since Sasuke has been away from home for almost a decade and, above all, he didn't contact Sakura and his family even once.
This is not just a "long mission", this is a total absence in Sakura life. Sasuke never attempted to contact his wife, and daughter, in any sort of way or establish some sort of connection, even if it's just by letters - which why Sarada even questioned the relationship between her mother and father in the Gaiden.
Sasuke had many way of contacting his family, in fact we know he’s kept contact with Naruto for some time
And, also, he had a phone.
Anyone, with this infos, would have at least some doubts about Sasuke’s feelings, Sarada herself had many doubts in the Gaiden.
We readers know that Sasuke, despite being a bit introverted, cold and very pragmatic in his approaches, cares a lot about his family, but the characters don't have our vision.
So it's normal for Ino to have some doubts about their relationship, despite her admitting that Sakura is and will always be in love with him.
In addition, Ino and Sakura have similar personalities but clearly have different needs and conceptions in their love lives.
This is highlighted in the novels Sakura Hiden:
“ (Should I give him) lavender? Or a flowering dogwood?.....I’m indecisive. “ Ino had said.
“Lavender? Flowering dogwood?”
Yup…..In the language of flowers, lavender means ‘I will be waiting for you’. As for the flowering dogwood, it means ‘accept my feelings’ in the language of flowers. When should I show Sai the atmosphere of my feelings?…Am I supposed to be waiting on him? Or maybe like this…. Should I do my confession with a ‘bashii’(/sudden whack) ?........It’s worrisome right now (for me). “
“(Oh, I see what you mean)”
Ino was indeed the daughter of a florist, since she was giving the explanations for the language of flowers.
“But Ino.... I think that your image is (more like the) flowering dogwood. “
Sakura was trying to say it. Ino then also nodded.
“Isn’t it?…. It’s like my personality, right?….”
Well….she said that she was worried. Ino had put her hand against her (her own) forehead. Somehow, it seemed a little sweet (to see her acting like this).
‘As for my situation’….Sakura was suddenly thinking:
――It’s lavender, I suppose…Of course it is…..
‘Accept my feelings’….No matter (how much) she tried to say it, Sasuke was away from home.
As for Sakura, she could only wait for now.
However, she was then thinking:
How long will I be waiting…?
Ino is the kind of woman who wants a sure answer from her man. Sakura instead is willing to wait. The same Kishimoto said she conquered Sasuke's heart with perseverance.
None of these two approaches is objectively better than the other.
Ino also judges the relationship from her point of view: she is used to very high starndards thanks to Sai who is a very affectionate husband, who, when he’s not at work, helps his wife and trains his son.
Also the only one who has never forgotten their anniversary
"No, when he's busy, during birthdays or Christmas or even wedding anniversaries, he'll prepare a gift in advance and get a coworker to give it to me,"
That's why she says she wouldn't be able to stand loneliness or any lack of affection (even in ep140 -she was angry with him for neglecting his family ), she has the perfect one for her, like Sasuke, after all, has the perfect wife for him, the only one capable of waiting for him and loving him despite his shortcomings as husband. Sasuke knows this and is eternally grateful to her
So, people should stop inquiring on Twitter, should stop making senseless comparisons, should stop fighting over their favorites and learn to analyze the characters and the context.
