#saiposting again

[jaguarys]

I think what makes writing Sai so interesting (and especially his interactions with other characters) is not knowing what things he does are his and what's something he's been taught to do (and in the end, if it's something he chooses, does it matter?).

In being a blank slate, everything he does is both deliberate and learned. And yet, is it simply something he's learned in order to appeal to the others? Is it genuine? Does it matter? What is his own personality and what is simply copied, and what traits has he simply pasted over himself? Does it matter, if he's chosen them as his?

[jaguarys]

This is certainly not unique to Sai but it annoys me how much of his presence in Naruto is just "haha isn't it so funny that this guy sticks out and doesn't understand human interaction?" like no... not considering his backstory. It's difficult to view it that way seeing the entirety of ROOT and its impacts. It's not exactly peak comedy.

I feel like his relegation (among others) to being a background 'funny' character is indicative of a larger issue within Naruto of Kishimoto being unwilling to actually go in-depth and address the serious implications of the worldbuilding he's thrown together.

It means it's not only unsatisfying narratively to see these characters shoe-horned into comedic relief but also really very uncomfortable considering their origins. It honestly feels like it works against the effort to make a compelling story sometimes lol