Now, I’m really not usually one to swear, but I’d like every TRUE SasuSaku fan who is currently hyperventilating/losing hope over the possibility of the SS ship ever becoming canon to kindly sit the fuck down and READ THIS.
READ THIS, because we’ve all been reading Kishi’s manga for long enough to recognise when symbolism and hidden meanings rear their controversial heads.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG POST/ANALYSIS, BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU READ EVERY SINGLE WORD.
So last night, before I went to bed, I kind of half-heartedly hoped for a SasuSaku scene in Chapter 693. I have to admit, I got a little more than I bargained for, and my initial reaction was RAGE. I mean, I’m not going to lie, the first time I read the chapter, I was like, what is this SHIT I’m reading. Sasuke you BRAT. You bastard. I hate you forever, I HOPE YOU DIE IN A DITCH SOMEWHERE AND ROT ALL ALONE YOU LITTLE UNGRATEFUL PIECE OF SHIT.
I thought it was surely OVER for a second. And I genuinely was ready to give in and concede defeat.
But then I read it AGAIN. And I realised something.
Kishi is trolling us hard, yes - but he’s also sending us mixed signals which DON’T MAKE SENSE IF SASUKE REALLY DOESN’T GIVE A TOSS ABOUT SAKURA AT ALL.
Why all this sudden increase in drama for the Sasuke and Sakura dynamic? It’s been happening for multiple chapters, not just a one-off.
Why waste all that panel time bringing Sakura’s feelings back into the spotlight, Kishi? If it really means NOTHING?
Funny how NS doesn’t get anything like this. OH WAIT. BECAUSE NARUTO IS THE BIGGEST SASUSAKU SHIPPER, ALONG WITH KAKASHI AND NOW THAT HAGOROMO’S IN, TOO.
I’ll do a panel by panel commentary to show you what I mean. This is the mangastream translation, by the way.
HERE is where it gets interesting.
So Sakura ONCE AGAIN confesses her undying love. She tells Sasuke, ONCE AGAIN, that even now, despite all the shit he’s done, and how he’s completely torn her heart to pieces, she can’t help but LOVE HIM. BLINDLY, ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, EVEN WHEN SHE KNOWS IT IS UTTERLY PATHETIC. EVEN WHEN SHE KNOWS HE REDUCES HER, TO THIS DAY, TO A WEEPING, EMOTIONAL MESS WHICH COMPLETELY MAKES HER FEEL POWERLESS.
Can you imagine how frustrating that must be for Sakura? All that TRAINING… but one look or harsh word from Sasuke and she breaks down. She KNOWS it’s PATHETIC. She even says it here. But can she stop herself? No. WHY? BECAUSE SHE LOVES HIM. Time and time again, she throws her pride out the window and is left WOUNDED by this SON OF A BITCH, who frankly, let’s face it, DOESN’T DESERVE HER DEVOTION.
I’m sorry to write it. Yes, I am a SS shipper and always have/will be, but I’m also realistic, and when I say Sasuke doesn’t deserve her, I mean HE IS NOT WORTHY. NOT BY A LONG SHOT. AND SASUKE SEEMS TO KNOW IT TOO, BUT WE’LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A BIT.
Anyway, back to this page. Look at NARUTO’s FACE. There is NO PAIN because he’s in love with Sakura himself - because he ISN’T. This panel of him is PROOF of just how much Naruto has grown and accepted the fact that Sakura was no more than a crush. He loves her - but more like a SISTER.
NOW LOOK AT THE PAIN IN KAKASHI’S EYES.
MAYBE KAKASHI is thinking of RIN, of how he pushed her away. The regret he lived with ever since. He doesn’t want Sasuke to feel the same way.
Or maybe he is so EXHAUSTED. poor thing. So SAD that even after they saved the world together, Sasuke refuses to turn to them. He just wants them together, like Sakura does. Like Naruto does. They’re all SO TIRED of this drama, of having to chase Sasuke down, only for him to throw CRAP in their faces.
But that isn’t even the most significant part of this page. We KNOW Sakura is in love with Sasuke. Kishi has been shoving that in our faces an awful lot lately, and really putting her feelings in the spotlight. We already know. And as HEARTBREAKING as it is to see Sakura like this, pleading with him again, it’s not a shock. Sure, it made me angry, because Sasuke is once again being a JERK and disregarding the love and care and happiness that is being FREELY offered to him on a golden platter. But this is SASUKE. What the hell do we expect?
I find it interesting that Sakura says, “If I still have a place somewhere in your heart…”
WAIT A MINUTE. REWIND. STILL?
We’ve gone from Sakura thinking Sasuke doesn’t care the slightest for her, to her telling him if there is STILL a place in his heart for her?
Did something give her reason to believe there WAS a place for her there at the start?
But she always thought he thought her annoying - right?
That was an interesting little piece of dialogue, but what got me was this next bit.
IT’S THE HESITATION WE SEE IN SASUKE’S FEET AS HE HEARS HER WORDSTHAT ONCE AGAIN TELLS US, HIS ACTIONS BETRAY HIS WORDS.
I mean, it says SHAKE next to his foot up there. He was LEAVING to go fight with Naruto. What happens when Sakura starts confessing all over again?
HE FALTERS.
HE WAITS.
HE LISTENS.
JUST LIKE HE DID THE NIGHT HE LEFT KONOHA.
Now, tell me this, SS fans. Did he HAVE to listen? Did he HAVE to wait? And what’s with the hesitation? Not very Sasuke like, is it? WHY WOULD KISHI WASTE A PANEL WITH THAT IF IT DIDN’T MEAN SOMETHING. HE WANTS US TO SEE SASUKE HESITATE.
For someone who just wants to get this battle over with, it seems like a bit of a waste of the mighty Sasuke’s time to spend five minutes listening to this silly girl he doesn’t even care about.
LOL, did I say he doesn’t care about her? Oh wait. LOOK AT THIS NEXT PAGE.
ASDFGHJKL.
WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS, I GASPED. I CLUTCHED MY HAND OVER MY HEART. BECAUSE I WAS SURE I COULD FEEL SAKURA’S BREAKING. I CURSED WILDLY IN MY HEAD, EVERY SINGLE ROTTEN THING YOU CAN IMAGINE, BAD-MOUTHING SASUKE TO OBLIVION.
I thought he actually KILLED her for a second. I’m not going to lie. I PANICKED.
But then I read the following page, and realised KISHI THE ULTIMATE TROLL had struck again.
Let’s go back to the first panel there. A whole MASSIVE, detailed panel of Sasuke’s reaction to her words. And here is why THIS PART if the most SIGNIFICANT for us long suffering SS shippers.
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
Look at his EXPRESSION. Look at the tired/sad tilt of his eyebrow. Look at how it CONTRASTS SO GLARINGLY WITH THE SLIGHT SMIRK OF HIS LIPS.
THIS LOOK/THE WORDS BETRAY EVERYTHING.
I’m sorry, that IS a smirk. Compare it to the one Sasuke gave her when he called her annoying before he knocked her out when leaving Konoha, and this SMIRK is MORE obvious. It just looks pained.
Why would Kishi make him look PAINED? Why the dark lines under his eyes? Why would he give up an entire panel to express such an emotion? This is RAW emotion from Sasuke. It’s genuine - and what is even more mind-blowing is that he REMEMBERS the last time she said similar words to him and professed her love.
What does he do? The little smooth SHIT shows her he remembers - by using those same words he gave her last time - but a more emphasised version.
YOU’RE SUCH A DAMNED ANNOYANCE.
Meaning, she’s even MORE annoying than she was before.
It’s like his expression and words are saying: SIGH. SAKURA. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH YOU?
Oh, I know you’re going to get in the way, SO I’LL KNOCK YOU OUT AGAIN because FUCK, I can’t DEAL WITH YOU any better now than I could when I was TWELVE.
It’s like that’s their little secret code thing between them, and Sasuke has NEVER forgotten that night when she confessed the first time. He even remembers how to reply in the exact same manner he did back then.
The sadness in his face suggests he was HOPING she had known better and moved on. Given up on him the way he has clearly given up on hope for himself. Maybe there’s an element of GUILT, somewhere deep down where he doesn’t want anyone to see, that she is STILL hanging onto him so loyally, after EVERYTHING he has done to her. Maybe he just doesn’t feel WORTHY.
But then there’s that smirk. It speaks relief. It’s almost AMUSED, because he clearly never forgot her first confession, and he didn’t expect to hear it again. Like deep down, he’s so RELIEVED to know she still loves him, despite how wretched he has become. It’s like an exasperated look of indulgence. Or fondness, almost.
Sasuke: You love me, Sakura. Heh. Still? Tch. So annoying.
He could have said it with a hateful glare. He could have just knocked her out right away without saying anything at all. But he doesn’t. He almost smiles - but it’s a sad, pained smile. Almost regretful. Instead, Kishi stresses the memory of the last love confession, and makes a direct parallel scenario here. The difference is, Sasuke’s face is much more EXPRESSIVE.
Compare Sasuke’s face HERE to the blank one he gives Naruto/everyone else. This is a genuine SMIRK. Sakura’s words have once again REACHED HIM. No argument about it. Once again, he LISTENED.
Also, this is significant because Naruto and Kakashi are bystanders. They don’t even realise the weight of “You’re annoying”. It’s a moment and exchange between SASUKE AND SAKURA ALONE. She remembered him saying thank you to her in an earlier panel. And Sasuke lets her know, in his own way, that he remembers that night too.
Did he have to use those words? NO. But he speaks them on purpose, because he KNOWS Sakura knows them - and he knows what they mean to her.
It’s like he doesn’t WANT her to love him anymore, and half-hopes she will move on - but at the same time, he says things that keep her prisoner to him and him alone. Almost like he’s contradicting himself constantly and sending her mixed signals.The sick, twisted little BRAT.
Which makes the next panel even more heartless. We don’t get a chance to see Sakura’s reaction. Sasuke’s rinnegan hits her with an illusion - and it’s a harsh, cruel one.
Only SAKURA sees this - her supposed death at Sasuke’s hands. Everyone else doesn’t see this illusion. It’s pretty obvious from the lack of response from Kakashi and Naruto that they haven’t.
SYMBOLISM TIME.
He pierces her in her HEART. As if he wants her to STOP. To LET GO. This is so cruel, and he knows this is Sakura’s greatest fear - losing him, dying before she could save him. But he does it anyway. Why this particular vision?
Because he wants to traumatise her MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY enough to MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT SHE WON’T BREAK OUT OF HIS GENJUTSU. YES IT IS CRUEL OF HIM. WRONG AND SEEMINGLY HEARTLESS. BUT HE DID IT FOR A REASON. IN REALITY, HE DIDN’T LAY A FINGER ON HER.
Guys. ITACHI DID THIS EXACT SAME THING TO HIM. MIND FUCKED HIM. To try to get Sasuke to HATE HIM.
Now Sasuke, recognising how much SAKURA loves him (which reminds him of his unconditional love for his family, later on, and how much THAT hurt him), does the same to the girl who is so hopelessly in love with him. To get her to hate him - to maybe make it easier should he die at Naruto’s hands?
DO YOU REALISE THE FREAKING SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS, SS SHIPPERS. I’M PROBABLY MAKING A THOUSAND TYPOS AS MY HANDS RACE ACROSS THE KEYBOARD HERE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS. DO YOU.
He makes her see something that will horrify her so much, so that she DOESN’T WAKE UP AND INTERFERE. So that she CAN’T wake up from the trauma.
Because maybe he KNOWS, if she gets in his and Naruto’s way, he will have to STOP.
Once again, Sasuke’s actions betray him. He knows Sakura’s weakness is him - and he exploits it here to make sure she will stay down.
Again, if Sasuke didn’t give a toss about Sakura, why would he bother knocking her out to keep her out of harm’s way? LOL Anti SS fans. What U GONNA SAY TO THAT. HAS MY POST SHUT YOU UP YET. NO? WELL THERE’S MORE, BITCHES.
Naruto is furious, of course. He and Kakashi only see Sakura suddenly losing consciousness. Again, they don’t SEE what she has seen.
Kakashi, bless his heart, is clearly pissed off and starts guilt-tripping Sasuke. I LOVE KAKASHI. HE IS SUCH A SWEETIE. SO PROTECTIVE OF SAKURA. A TRUE SS SHIPPER.
NOW HERE IS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PART. Sasuke says he has no reason to love Sakura. Actually, I can’t believe Sasuke is even talking about this subject, it’s so bizarre.
But here’s the thing. CAN SAKURA HEAR HIM. NO. DOES SHE KNOW HE HAS SAID THAT. NO. HE SAYS THIS WHEN SHE IS KNOCKED OUT.
HE TELLS HER SHE IS ANNOYING. HE DOES NOT TELL HER “YOU HAVE NO REASON TO LOVE ME, AND I HAVE NO REASON TO LOVE YOU. GIVE UP.”
HE SAYS IT TO KAKASHI AND NARUTO. WHEN HE KNOWS SAKURA WILL NOT HEAR.
He didn’t mock Sakura like this when she was awake. Isn’t that interesting, guys? As usual, Sasuke and Sakura’s moments happen privately between them (like 685) and in front of the rest of the world, he says something different.
Maybe I’m being blind here. Maybe he really does feel nothing for her. And he’s right, he has NO REASON to love her. That doesn’t mean he DOESN’T or CAN’T EVER GROW TO LOVE HER. As Kakashi says, love doesn’t need a reason.
Fantasy of love, make-believe my ASS. You are COMPLETELY CONTRADICTING YOURSELF, SASUKE YOU ASSHOLE. I HATE YOU, YOU LITTLE SHIT.
Kakashi continues to fight for Sakura’s honour, and Sasuke continues to act like he doesn’t give a shit.
But then he THINKS OF HIS FAMILY. The strength and purity of Sakura’s love reminds him of that. Do you REALISE how significant that is, again? He knows what it’s like to love so much that your heart gets broken. HELL, HE UNDERSTANDS. THAT IS WHY HE CONTINUES TO PUSH HER AWAY. HE IS SO AFRAID OF THAT PAIN, A PAIN HE COULD NEVER GET OVER, THE PAIN OF LOSS.
HE RELATES IT TO THE CHAINS OF HIS FAILED PAST?
I FIND IT INTERESTING HIS EYES ARE ONCE AGAIN CONCEALED FROM VIEW HERE.
AND NEXT PAGE, HE JUMPS OFF. JUST LIKE THAT - WITH SAKURA STILL LIKELY LINGERING ON HIS MIND AS HE DOES SO - NOT THAT WE SEE IT.
I find it REALLY weird how Kishi is focusing on Sakura’s feelings, taking up all these panels and even getting KAKASHI to lecture Sasuke about her. TO WHAT END? To confirm that Sasuke doesn’t give a crap about Sakura, when his actions betray otherwise? Kishi didn’t need to have Sasuke listen to all this. He could have knocked her out and left right away.
Instead we have Kakashi telling Sasuke that Sakura just wants to be HIS and that he is continuing to break her heart. Sasuke’s response is quite distracted… he thinks of his family and his words almost seem to be an afterthought.
Kakashi is clearly startled at how suddenly Sasuke takes off - as if he doesn’t WANT to hear anymore. Then we have Naruto, who I LOVE SO MUCH, be the number one SS shipper again and PROMISE to return Sasuke to Sakura.
If it was so hopeless, if Naruto didn’t believe there was a CHANCE for Sasuke and Sakura, why would he hold onto his promise for her?
The rest of the chapter mentions hate turning to LOVE. A sign of things to come?
I think this chapter doesn’t kill SasuSaku at all.
1. Sakura’s feelings are confirmed.
2. Sasuke references the last goodbye scene with a pained smirk.
3. He knocks her out with an illusion that he KNOWS is her worst nightmare to KEEP HER SAFE.
4. He says he has no reason to love her (and she has no reason to love him - he KNOWS he is a screw up) - but SAKURA DOESN’T HEAR HIM.
I think Sakura, being a genjutsu type, (which Sasuke KNOWS), will surely break out of the illusion. Hopefully she will punch Sasuke’s stupid face.
AND THAT, SASUSAKU SHIPPERS, IS WHY YOU SHOULDN’T GIVE UP.
NOT NOW.
NOT EVER.
NOT UNTIL SASUKE STOPS SENDING OUT SUCH MIXED SIGNALS.
NOT UNTIL THE END OF THE MANGA WHEN WE KNOW FOR SURE WHO ENDS UP WITH WHO.
BELIEVE IT.
REBLOG AND SHARE. PLEASE MAKE SURE EVERY SS FAN READS THIS.
MORE THAN HALF THIS CHAPTER WAS SAKURA AND SASUKE FOR A REASON. LET THIS POST SLAP SENSE BACK INTO ANY DESPAIRING SS FANS. AND RAISE TWO DEFIANT FINGERS AT ANYONE WHO MOCKS US AND TELLS US TO GIVE UP!