i just reread 5 for like the 3 time and i really love the way that every problem in sakumos life, specifically related to his later death, is shown through the history & lives of others. choza regarding the problems with kakashi's plan by telling the death of the strongest man by saying he simply gave up. inoichi revealing his wife as someone who helps him live through his demons. additionally, the way that women don't serve the purpose of helping men's demons or any other service of men <3
I’M SO PLEASED YOU CAUGHT THAT! I’ve been trying to nod to Sakumo’s situation with everyone else’s sideplots, so as to not lose focus. I’m not always successful, because sometimes I just wanna explore side characters independently of Kakashi and Sakumo, but I do my best! Hopefully once I (finally) complete the story, it won’t feel like it dragged on if one reads it in a single go.
And I’m very glad you feel like the women in the story don’t exist only to extend the male character’s stories. I tried hard not to default to it, what with my two main characters being male and the link between them including a background fridged wife characer, but I wasn’t sure I succeeded as well as I hoped! Maybe after this comic (*stares into the endless horizon*) I’ll draw the Ino/Sakura comic that has been quietly gestating in the back of my mind..!