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| {{About|the ] character|the ] character|Sakura Haruno (Wandaba Style)}} | |||
| {{Infobox Naruto character | |||
| {{Short description|Fictional character from Naruto}} | |||
| | image = ] | |||
| {{Good article}} | |||
| | caption = Sakura Haruno by ] | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}{{Infobox character | |||
| | character_name = Sakura Haruno | |||
| | name = Sakura Haruno | |||
| | character_name_unicode = 春野サクラ | |||
| | |
| series = ] | ||
| | image = SakuraKishimoto.jpg | |||
| | seiyu = ] | |||
| | caption = Sakura Haruno by ] as seen in ] | |||
| | voice_actor = ] | |||
| | alt = A young pink-haired girl wearing a red shirt and a red bandana | |||
| | age = 12-13 in Part I <br/> 15 in Part II | |||
| | first = ''Naruto'' chapter 3: Enter Sasuke! (1999) | |||
| | height = Part I: 150.1 ] <br/> Part II: 165 | |||
| | creator = ] | |||
| | weight = 35.9 | |||
| | voice = '''Japanese''' <br /> ] <br /> '''English''' <br /> ]<br /> ] (Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals) | |||
| | birthday = ] | |||
| | data21 = ] (husband)<br />] (daughter)<br />] (brother-in-law, deceased) | |||
| | blood_type = O | |||
| | lbl21 = Notable relatives | |||
| | rank = ] | |||
| | data22 = Genin in ]<br />Chunin in ]<br />Jonin in '']'' | |||
| | current_affiliation = ] | |||
| | lbl22 = Ninja rank | |||
| | current_team = Team Yamato (], ], Sakura Haruno, ]) | |||
| | data23 = ] | |||
| | previous_affiliation = | |||
| | lbl23 = Ninja team | |||
| | previous_team = Team 7 (], ], ], Sakura Haruno) | |||
| | relatives = | |||
| | jutsu = | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] ('']'') | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{nihongo|'''Sakura Haruno'''|春野 サクラ|Haruno Sakura|lead=yes}} <onlyinclude>is a fictional character in the '']'' ] and ] series created by ]. Sakura is depicted as a ] affiliated with {{nihongo|Konohagakure|木ノ葉隠れの里||English version: "Hidden Leaf Village"}} and a part of ], which consists of herself, ], ], and their '']'' ]. Besides the main series, Sakura has appeared in several pieces of the ''Naruto'' media, most notably the ] '']'' (2015) and the ] '']'' (2016) where she married Sasuke Uchiha taking name of {{nihongo|'''Sakura Uchiha'''|うちは サクラ|Uchiha Sakura|lead=yes}} and is the mother of their daughter, ].</onlyinclude><ref>{{cite book|title=Naruto-ナルト- 秘伝・在の書 オフィシャルムービーBook|page=32|year=2015|publisher=]|author=Kishimoto, Masashi|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> | |||
| {{otheruses4|the Naruto character|the Wandaba Style character|Wandaba Style}} | |||
| {{nihongo|'''Sakura Haruno'''|春野サクラ|''Haruno Sakura''}} is a ] in the ] and ] series '']'' by ]. | |||
| Sakura is depicted as an innocent girl who does not share the same tragic backstories as her teammates but was regardless bullied throughout her youth. She initially has an infatuation for Sasuke, him at every juncture, and initially is not ambitious, besides becoming Sasuke's girlfriend in the future; by contrast, she is dismissive to her less-skilled teammate ] despite, ironically, being Naruto's initial love interest and disgust him. Over the course of the series, as Sasuke eventually leaves the village, Sakura begins to shed this singularly driven persona, becoming a medical ninja while apprenticed under the Fifth Hokage, ], and becomes friendly and even protective of Naruto as his life becomes increasingly at risk. | |||
| The name "Haruno" means "spring field" and "]" means "cherry blossom," which is cherished in Japan due to its beauty and almost tragically short life span (sakura blossoms have historically been associated with ]). | |||
| Sakura serves as the series' female lead, although she was not immediately intended for the role. Kishimoto had difficulty drawing her character, resulting in Kishimoto inadvertently emphasizing certain parts of her appearance, including her large forehead which was written into her character. In order to make the character more appealing in the second part of the series, Kishimoto designed her costume in a way that makes her look more like a martial artist as well as more beautiful during later chapters. ] voices the character in the animated adaptations of the series, while ] plays her in the English ]. | |||
| In the ] ] issue of the American version of '']'', Masashi Kishimoto (in the voice of Kakashi) stated that Sakura would make the best ninja instructor, because "she has flaws in her personality, like stalking Sasuke, but Sakura is the closest to being normal". | |||
| Numerous anime and manga publications have praised and criticized Sakura's character. She was initially noted to be a stereotypical ] character, representing a love interest for the protagonist, and was said to serve little purpose at the beginning of the series beyond being comic relief. Her emergence from this stereotype as the series progressed, thanks to her training with Tsunade, which leads her to develop her medical and combat skills, has been celebrated by many reviewers. Amongst the ''Naruto'' reader base, Sakura has been popular, placing high in some polls. Several pieces of merchandise have been released in Sakura's likeness, such as ]s and ]. | |||
| In ''Shonen Jump'''s character popularity polls, Sakura is frequently in the Top 10, making the Top 5 four times. | |||
| ==Creation and conception== | |||
| == Background == | |||
| ] | |||
| {{spoiler}} | |||
| Although Sakura Haruno is the most recurring female character in '']'', ] did not originally intend for Sakura to be the ] of the series. Kishimoto attributed this to him being unable to draw good heroine characters and fashioned Sakura as a girl who could not understand men, the best example of a heroine he could come up with. Sakura's creation is a result of Kishimoto's desire to make a somewhat irritating character who was well-intentioned.<ref name="Heroine"/> Despite these elements, Kishimoto is fond of Sakura, as he feels that many of her personality traits are common among all people, thus giving her a sense of real humanity.<ref name="Design">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=3|year=2004 |publisher=] |pages=146 |isbn=1-59116-187-8|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> When asked in an interview if there was something about Sakura's background that had not been revealed, Kishimoto explained that he had never thought of that as Sakura is a "normal girl".<ref>{{cite journal|title=]| volume = 7 |issue = 11 #83|date=November 2009 |issn=1545-7818|publisher=] |pages=11}}</ref> Kishimoto has often been asked by readers about why he did not show Sakura's parents until the film '']''. In response, he said this would not be entertaining as Sakura did not belong to any clan unlike other characters so her parents were civilians.<ref name="sakura">{{Cite AV media |title=漫道コバヤシ第13号「Naruto完結！岸本斉史SP」 |date=December 13, 2014 |language=ja |publisher=] |trans-title=Kobayashi No. 13 'Completion of Naruto! Masashi Kishimoto SP'}}</ref> | |||
| Sakura Haruno is a member of ]'s Team 7, originally consisting of herself, ], and ]. Contrary to her teammates, Sakura did not experience any kind of tragedy during her childhood. Because of this, she takes for granted things Naruto and Sasuke wish they had, most particularly loving parents. Sakura's favorite foods are syrup-coated anko dumplings and ], with her least favorite being anything spicy. Her favorite phrases are {{nihongo|"courage"|勇気|Yūki}} and {{nihongo|"a lifetime full of love"|一生愛の人生よ！|Issei ai no jinsei yo!}}. | |||
| ]|alt=A kunoichi wearing a red shirt and black shorts under a light-colored skirt]] | |||
| At the start of the series, Sakura's only defining characteristic is her intelligence, largely due to her interest in memorizing things and taking quizzes while in the Academy. Because of this, Sakura is unable to contribute largely in battles, her stamina and overall talent being below average. Soon after the start of her first mission, however, Sakura discovers that she has an excellent control over her chakra, and as such she can use jutsu to their maximum efficiency. While this particular ability is never put to great use in Part I, it becomes a focal point of Sakura's fighting style in Part II. | |||
| When designing Sakura, Kishimoto focused on her silhouette and created a costume as simple as possible. This is a divergence from the other main characters of the series, whose costumes are very detailed. The leggings are the most notable aspect of her design, as they are meant to show that she is very active.<ref name="Heroine"/> At the start of the series, her leggings extended below her knees and closely resembled ]. As ] progressed, the leggings became increasingly shorter and tighter.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi |title=Uzumaki: the Art of Naruto|year=2007 |publisher=] |pages=121 |isbn=978-1-4215-1407-9|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> Similar to his inexperience in drawing heroines, Kishimoto lacked the experience needed to make Sakura "cute" when he first began drawing her; although he implied that her appearance had become cuter since then, Kishimoto and much of the ''Naruto'' ] staff agreed that Sakura had been "far from cute" at the start of the series.<ref name="Heroine">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi |title=Uzumaki: the Art of Naruto|year=2007 |publisher=] |pages=140 |isbn=978-1-4215-1407-9|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref><ref name="Forehead">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi |title=Uzumaki: the Art of Naruto|year=2007 |publisher=] |pages=122 |isbn=978-1-4215-1407-9|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> In retrospective, he found Sakura one of the hardest characters to draw, alongside ].<ref name="sakura"/> Kishimoto first planned Sasuke and Sakura's romance in the early production of ''Naruto''.<ref name=BorutoMovie>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinematoday.jp/page/A0004639 |title=Boruto: Naruto the Movie |date=August 5, 2015 |language=ja |publisher=Cinema Today |access-date=June 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617171917/http://www.cinematoday.jp/page/A0004639 |archive-date=June 17, 2016 }}</ref> In regards to Sakura's feelings for Sasuke, Kishimoto tried to write them as realistic as possible but ended up getting complaints from young girls about her.<ref name="sakura"/> | |||
| Sakura's most well-known physical characteristic is her broad forehead. Consequently, because of this Kishimoto at times focuses too much on drawing it in scenes or promotional artwork where Sakura is featured prominently. This results in her forehead appearing too large.<ref name="Forehead"/> When designing Sakura in her ] appearance, Kishimoto decided to change her clothes to a more lively karate suit style. The upper part, though, still had a Chinaesque feeling to it, so as to make her more feminine.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kishimoto, Masashi|title=Naruto Character Official Data Book Hiden Sha no Sho|year=2008|publisher=]|isbn=978-4-08-874247-2|pages=343|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> During Part II's last ], Kishimoto tried making Sakura look more beautiful, most notably when she joins Naruto and Sasuke in the final fight against the creature Ten-Tails.<ref name="sakura"/> Due to Sakura having little popularity within readers, Kishimoto decided that ], whom he acknowledged had more popularity, would take a more active role and become a heroine.<ref name="sakura"/> Despite deciding that Naruto and Hinata would end up together since the early stages of the manga, Kishimoto thought it would be interesting to throw Sakura in the middle to form "a messy ]." Nevertheless, Kishimoto said romance was not what he wanted his series to focus on.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://otakukart.com/animeblog/2017/01/31/jump-festa-2017-interview-masashi-kishimoto-future-boruto-naruto-next-generations/ |title=Jump Festa 2017 Interview – Masashi Kishimoto And The Future Of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations! |website=OtakuKart |date=January 31, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170620152720/http://otakukart.com/animeblog/2017/01/31/jump-festa-2017-interview-masashi-kishimoto-future-boruto-naruto-next-generations/ |archive-date=June 20, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the middle of the manga's final arc, Sakura is given a love letter. The real reasons for this is that Kishimoto wanted to give the ] studio material to create animated only episodes.<ref name="sakura"/> | |||
| ] | |||
| Within Sakura resides an "Inner Sakura", a manifestation of her inner emotions that, aside from comic relief, serves as a representation of Sakura's actual opinion on things when she outwardly displays something opposite. Inner Sakura's appearances are typically marked by an exclamation of "Shannaro" (しゃーんなろー). The phrase has no literal meaning, but is usually translated as "hell yeah", "hell no", or "damn it" depending on the situation ("Cha!" in the English anime). Inner Sakura's appearances are fairly infrequent, her last appearance being Sakura's fight during the Chunin Exams. Inner Sakura briefly resurfaces later on during one of the anime's filler arcs, and again at the start of Part II. This large gap between appearances is likely due to Sakura becoming more comfortable with herself, and no longer having what she says contrast how she actually feels. | |||
| In the animated versions of ''Naruto'', Sakura was voiced by ].<ref>{{cite episode|title=宿敵!?サスケとサクラ|number=3|series=]|credits=]|publisher=]|airdate=October 17, 2002}}</ref> Early in the first series, the actors were told by Kishimoto that Sakura would end up marrying Sasuke. Nonetheless, most of them started having doubts as during the first anime, Sasuke abandoned his teammates. As a result, by the second series, Nakamura was often asked by other people if her character would instead end up with Naruto. When Sakura married Sasuke in the end, Nakamura was happy because Sakura stayed true to her feelings.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://imgur.com/a/D4DoR|title=演者もワクワクし、驚いたラストの衝撃的な展開 | |||
| === Sakura and Ino === | |||
| |trans-title=Even the actors are excited, the shocking unfolding of the surprising ending|magazine=Da Vinci|year=2015|issue=May|language=ja|publisher=]|pages=32–35}}</ref> In an interview, ], who does the ] for Sakura in the English ],<ref>{{cite episode|title=Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?|number=3|series=]|credits=]|network=]|airdate=September 17, 2005}}</ref> remarked the ] of Sakura in the series, stating that she turned into a more complex character as she became more sensitive and caring.<ref>{{cite book |title=Naruto Collector (June, 2006)|year=2006 |publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| During her early years in the Academy, Sakura was frequently bullied by others due to her large forehead. To try and combat this, Sakura used her bangs to hide her forehead, fueling the other kids' teasings by indicating she was sensitive about it. ], realizing this, gave Sakura a ribbon to accent her face and help Sakura overcome her phobia about her forehead. As such, the two became good friends and Sakura was in time able to develop her own unique personality thanks to Ino. Despite this, Sakura felt she was living in Ino's shadow and longed to be able to prove herself as Ino's equal. When it later became clear that both were infatuated with Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura ended their friendship so that the two could properly compete for Sasuke's affection, beginning a bitter rivalry between the two of them. | |||
| == |
==Appearances== | ||
| === Survival Test arc === | |||
| Upon being assigned as a member of Team 7, Sakura spends much of her time trying to appeal to Sasuke despite the fact that Sasuke has no interest in her. All the while, Naruto tries to appeal to Sakura, despite the fact that she has no interest in him and degrades him whenever given the opportunity. As such, when Kakashi administers a test on the three to see if they will be allowed to become Genin, Sakura preoccupies herself with following Sasuke instead of helping Naruto. After Kakashi lectures Sakura for this as well as Naruto and Sasuke for their respective faults, Sakura realizes that if they are to become Genin, they will need to work as a team, even if that means breaking the rules. This revelation having been the goal of the test, Kakashi passes the three, then explains that the point of the test was that they should realise that none of them could achieve the goal of the test on their own, thus motivating them to work together. Team Seven became the first to pass Kakashi's test. | |||
| === |
===In ''Naruto''=== | ||
| Sakura is a young ] who is a part of ] alongside ] and Sasuke Uchiha under the leadership of their '']'' ].<ref name="Early"/> Within Sakura resides "Inner Sakura", a manifestation of her inner emotions; in addition to comic relief, Inner Sakura represents Sakura's actual opinion on things when she outwardly displays something opposite.<ref name="Early"/> As Sakura has a deep infatuation for Sasuke, many of her earlier appearances are dedicated to her continued effort to win his affection.<ref name="Early">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=1|year=2006 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 3|isbn=1-56931-900-6 |oclc=137303849|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> She accompanies the rest of Team 7 during all of its early missions, though she does little to contribute to the battles that take place. Sakura lacks any unique traits that would set her apart from the rest of Team 7, although Kakashi notes that she has an excellent control over her chakra early in Part I.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=3|year=2006 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 18 |pages=16–17 |isbn=1-59116-187-8|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> As a result, Sakura stays on the sidelines, content in allowing her teammates to protect her and defeat their opponents. During the Chunin Exams, when the rest of Team 7 is left in need of her protection, Sakura realizes that relying on others to fight her battles has been unwise. She resolves to better her ninja abilities from that point further,<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=6|year=2005 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 54|pages=168–170 |isbn=1-59116-739-6|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> and she takes a more active role in Team 7's battles throughout the rest of the series. After Sasuke's defection from Konohagakure at the end of Part I,<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=21|year=2007 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 181|isbn=978-1-4215-1855-8|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> Naruto's failure to bring him back,<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=26|year=2007 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 233|isbn=978-1-4215-1862-6|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> and Sakura's inability to help either of them, she becomes ]'s apprentice so that she can do more for her teammates in the future. Since then, Sakura makes it her personal goal to bring Sasuke home.<ref name="Asset">{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=27|year=2007 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 236 |isbn=978-1-4215-1863-3 |oclc=173499449|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> | |||
| When Team 7 sets out on one of their first missions to the ], Sakura is left in charge of protecting ] while Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi fight the enemy. When Sasuke appears to have died in battle, Sakura violates Shinobi Rule #25 of not showing any kind of emotions by crying for Sasuke's loss. When Sasuke turns out to have only been in a death-trance, Sakura is relieved that he is alive. Once their mission is completed, Team 7 returns to Konoha. | |||
| After training under Tsunade for two-and-a-half years, Sakura acquires the ability to heal wounds, becoming one of the most experienced medical ninjas.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=30|year=2008 |publisher=]|chapter=Chapter 271|isbn=978-1-4215-1942-5 |oclc=232546735|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> In order to secure her survival to heal others, Sakura also develops ] by building up chakra in her fists; by storing a vast amount of Chakra in her body over 3 years, she awakens the Byakugō Seal, a jutsu considered to be the pinnacle of chakra control.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=30|year=2008 |publisher=]|chapter=Chapter 265|isbn=978-4-08-873881-9|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> Thanks to this, Sakura joins Team 7 as a medical ninja to save their ally ] from the criminal group ]. With help from the elder ], Sakura defeats the Akatsuki member ], who gives her hints of Sasuke's whereabouts.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=31|year=2005 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 275|isbn=978-4-08-874002-7|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> The new member of Team 7, ], uses his intelligence to track Sasuke down, but once again they are unable to prevent him from escaping.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=34|year=2006 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 309|isbn=978-4-08-874138-3|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> While disappointed in their failure, Team 7 tries once again to find Sasuke, although after almost apprehending him they lose his trail and are forced to return home. As they search for Sasuke, Sakura learns of the various hardships Naruto faces because of the ] creature sealed inside him, which is being pursued by the Akatsuki. Saddened by the impact both forces have had on his life, Sakura becomes protective of Naruto and tries to do whatever she can to help him overcome these obstacles. Sakura later resolves to kill Sasuke after understanding he is becoming a menace to the villages.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=51|year=2011 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 474|isbn=978-1-4215-3498-5|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> However, when she fails to do it, Naruto decides to settle things with Sasuke himself. When a war against the remaining Akatsuki is announced, Sakura participates as a medical ninja.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=55|year=2011 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 515|isbn=978-4-08-870185-1|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> She later moves to the fighting side when the Ten-Tails creature is released, and she battles it alongside Naruto and Sasuke.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=66|year=2014 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 631|isbn=978-1-4215-6948-2|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> After Sasuke is pardoned for his crimes, Sakura sees him off as he decides to travel the world in search for redemption and shows signs that he finally accepts her feelings for him; he pokes her forehead and thanks her right before his departure.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=72|year=2015 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 699|isbn=978-4-08-880220-6|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> In the epilogue, set years after the end of the Fourth Ninja War, it is shown that Sakura and Sasuke had married and had a daughter, ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=]|volume=72|year=2015 |publisher=] |chapter=Chapter 700|isbn=978-4-08-880220-6|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> | |||
| === Chunin Exam arc === | |||
| During the written portion of the Chunin Exams, Sakura is one of the few Genin capable of answering the test's questions without cheating. Realizing that Naruto isn't smart enough to answer the questions correctly or think of cheating, Sakura contemplates disqualifying Team 7 so that Naruto doesn't need to. When Naruto proclaims that he won't back down from the test, Sakura decides against it, and Team 7 passes. | |||
| ===In other media=== | |||
| Soon after the start of the second phase of the Chunin Exams, Team 7 is attacked by ]. Although Naruto and Sasuke do their best to defeat Orochimaru, both are rendered unconscious and Sakura is left to take care of them. When they are attacked by a group of ] sent by Orochimaru to kill Sasuke, Sakura tries to defeat them with some traps she had preprepared, though the group easily avoids her efforts. Just as the Sound Genin are about to turn their attention to Sakura, ] comes to her rescue, determined to protect Sakura at all costs. Despite using techniques he was forbidden to use, Lee is defeated and the Sound Genin again turn their attention to Sakura. ] immobilizes Sakura by grabbing her hair, scolding her for putting more effort in her looks than her abilities as a ninja. Distraught that people are always fighting for her because she can't fight for herself, Sakura resolves to better herself as a ninja. Cutting off her hair to release herself from Kin's grasp, Sakura does what she can to fend off the Sound Genin, even going so far as biting to make sure that she can't be easily repelled. This display spurs Ino and her team into coming to Sakura's aid, allowing the latter to rest. | |||
| Sakura has made several appearances outside of the ''Naruto'' anime and manga. She is in all eleven ] of the series: in the first film — '']'' (2004), she battles Mizore Fuyukuma and later defeats him;<ref>{{cite video|date = 2007|title = Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow|format = ]|publisher = Viz Video|access-date = March 22, 2009|url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-the-movie-video-volume-1/6828|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130323191537/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-the-movie-video-volume-1/6828|archive-date = March 23, 2013|df = mdy-all}}</ref> in the second — '']'' (2005), she helps Naruto and ] in their battle against Haido and his subordinates;<ref>{{cite video|date = 2008|title = Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel|format = ]|publisher = Viz Video|access-date = March 22, 2009|url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-the-movie-video-volume-2/7628|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130323191251/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-the-movie-video-volume-2/7628|archive-date = March 23, 2013|df = mdy-all}}</ref> the third — ] (2006) — has Sakura battling the hired ninja Karenbana, whom she defeats using her enhanced strength;<ref>{{cite video|date = 2008|title = Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom|format = ]|publisher = Viz Video|access-date = March 22, 2009|url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-the-movie-video-volume-3/7629|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130321225652/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-the-movie-video-volume-3/7629|archive-date = March 21, 2013|df = mdy-all}}</ref> in the fourth — '']'' (2007), Sakura, Naruto, ], and ] are assigned to escort the maiden Shion;<ref>{{cite video |date = 2009 |title = Naruto Shippuden: the Movie |format = ] |publisher = Viz Video |url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-1/8376 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130905003235/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-1/8376 |archive-date = September 5, 2013 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> in the fifth — '']'' (2008), Sakura is assigned alongside Naruto and Hinata Hyuga to help a girl, Amaru, and her ''sensei'', Shinnō, return to their village while in the process learning of an upcoming invasion of the Sky Country;<ref>{{cite video |date = 2011 |title = Naruto Shippuden: the Movie 2 |format = ] |publisher = Viz Video |url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-2D/9791 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140412220659/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-2D/9791 |archive-date = April 12, 2014 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> the sixth — '']'' (2009) — has Sakura and Naruto desperately following and trying to bring back their ''sensei'', Kakashi, who has gone on a suicide mission to prevent the Fourth Great Ninja World War;<ref>{{cite video |date = 2012 |title = Naruto Shippuden: the Movie 3 |format = ] |publisher = Viz Video |url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-3/10159 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131030053957/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-3/10159 |archive-date = October 30, 2013 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> in the seventh — '']'' (2010), Sakura and the rest of Team Kakashi are sent to capture a missing-nin, Mukade;<ref>{{cite video |date = 2013 |title = Naruto Shippuden: the Movie 4 |format = ] |publisher = Viz Video |url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-4/10552 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131208071228/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-4/10552 |archive-date = December 8, 2013 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> in the eighth — '']'' (2011), Sakura assists in the battle against the demon Satori who has been released from the Box of Enlightenment;<ref>{{cite video |date = 2014 |title = Naruto Shippuden: the Movie 5 |format = ] |publisher = Viz Video |url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-5/10845 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222035724/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-5/10845 |archive-date = February 22, 2014 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> in the ninth — '']'' (2012), Sakura and Naruto are transported to an illusion world by ] in which instead of Naruto's parents, Sakura's parents were the ones who sacrificed their lives in preventing the Nine-Tails from destroying Konohagakure and were thus deemed as the village's heroes;<ref>{{cite video |date = 2014 |title = Naruto Shippuden: the Movie 6 |format = ] |publisher = Viz Video |url = http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-6/10847 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141025054714/http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-6/10847 |archive-date = October 25, 2014 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> in the tenth — '']'' (2014), Sakura, in her young adult years, sets out alongside Naruto, Sai, Shikamaru, and Hinata to rescue a kidnapped Hanabi Hyuga, Hinata's younger sister;<ref>{{cite video |date = 2015 |title = Naruto Shippuden: the Movie 7|format = ] |publisher = Viz Video|url=http://www.viz.com/watch/dvd/naruto-shippuden-movie-video-volume-7/11650}}</ref> and finally, in the eleventh — '']'' (2015), Sakura watches her daughter's participation in the Chunin Exams.<ref name=BorutoTheMovie>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/boruto-naruto-the-movie/.93939|title=Boruto -Naruto the Movie-|last=McNulty|first=Amy|date=October 9, 2015|website=]|access-date=April 20, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420100434/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/boruto-naruto-the-movie/.93939|archive-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| She is also present in all three of the ] produced for the series, helping Naruto and ] to find a ] in the first original video animation,<ref>{{cite video |date = 2003 |title = 紅き四つ葉のクローバーを探せ|format = ] |publisher = ]|url=http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=8723}}</ref> joining her team in escorting a ninja named Shibuki to his village and helping him fight the missing-nin that stole the village's "Hero's Water" in the second,<ref>{{cite video |date = 2007 |title = Naruto OVA – The Lost Story |format = ] |publisher = Viz Video |url = http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=8722 |access-date = August 29, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071217110548/http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=8722 |archive-date = December 17, 2007 |url-status = dead }}</ref> and participating in a tournament in the third.<ref>{{cite video |date = 2005 |title = ついに激突！上忍VS下忍！！無差別大乱戦大会開催！！|format = ] |publisher = ]|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000BNPT3E/}}</ref> A ] titled ''Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze'' (2015), written by Tomohito Ōsaki and illustrated by Kishimoto, focuses on Sakura sometime after the events of ''The Last: Naruto the Movie'', where she, now a celebrated medical ninja who is in the middle of opening a new mental clinic with ], becomes worried when a conspiracy that threatens to destroy Konohagakure is using Sasuke as a ], potentially ruining his chance at redemption amongst the villagers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-12-06/full-list-of-naruto-epilogue-novels-unveiled/.81844 |title= Full List of Naruto Epilogue Novels Unveiled |website=] |access-date=December 26, 2008}}</ref> In '']'' (2015), Sasuke's travels keep him away from his family. As a result, his whereabouts become a touchy subject for Sakura, who assures Sarada over the years that Sasuke will return home once having completed his mission. After punching the ground in a fit of rage over Sarada asking if she and Sasuke are married, Sakura discovers her daughter has left the village in search of Sasuke. By the time she catches up to the two, they are in the presence of ], whom Sakura attacks. Afterward, she is teleported away with him to his hideout, where she declines to assist him with her medical skills and pretends to be helpless in order to gain information on him. After Sakura battles Shin, she is rescued by her husband, and they return to the village following Shin's defeat. Soon after that, Sakura and Sarada see Sasuke off to his journey.<ref>] (August 8, 2015). Naruto―ナルト― 外伝 ～七代目火影と緋色の花つ月～ ]'']. ]. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-1407-9}}.</ref> Sakura later serves as a spectator for Sarada while she participates in the Chunin Exams and saves both herself and other onlookers from falling debris, afterward healing Hinata.<ref name=BorutoTheMovie/> | |||
| In the preliminary matches of the exam, Sakura is pitted against Ino. After Sakura and Ino exchange insults, Ino follows Sakura's earlier example and cuts her hair, leading Sakura to believe that Ino has lost her mind. In actuality, Ino cut her hair to help her in battle; by sending chakra into her cut hair, Ino is able to tie Sakura in place, allowing her slow moving ] to have no difficulties in finding its target. After taking control of Sakura's body, Ino tries to force Sakura to forfeit, though Inner Sakura stops Ino before she can do so and forces Ino from her body. With both girls exhausted from the amount of effort they've been putting into their fight, Ino and Sakura charge at each other to deal final blows. Striking each other simultaneously, both are knocked out, leading to a draw. As the two recover, Ino and Sakura begin to rekindle their friendship. | |||
| Sakura is a ] in nearly all ], including the ] and the ].<ref name="IGNCoN2GuidePage1">{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/736/736611p1.html|title=Naruto: The Complete Fighter Profile|author=Bozon, Mark|website=]|date=September 29, 2006|access-date=January 24, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618130835/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/29/naruto-the-complete-fighter-profile|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="IGNCoN3HandsOn">{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/551/551374p1.html|title=TGS 2004: Naruto Gekitou Ninja Taisen! 3 Hands-on|author=Alfonso, Andrew|website=]|date=September 26, 2004|access-date=January 29, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618131053/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/26/tgs-2004-naruto-gekitou-ninja-taisen-3-hands-on|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="GUIDE1 26">{{cite book|title=Naruto: Ultimate Ninja English instruction manual|year=2006|publisher=]|pages=26}}</ref> In some games, she uses "Inner Sakura" in combat as well as numerous different genjutsu. '']'' (2007) marks the first appearance of Sakura in her Part II design in a video game, with the second one being '']'' (2007).<ref name="Accel2">{{cite web|url=http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/naruto/goods/game.html |title=Naruto－ナルト－ 疾風伝:TV東京 - Goods |publisher=] |access-date=January 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123130730/http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/naruto/goods/game.html |archive-date=January 23, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Meanwhile, '']'' (2016) marks the first appearance of Sakura post-Part II; specifically, her appearance in ''The Last: Naruto the Movie'', set two years after chapter 699 of the manga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/01/15/older-naruto-sasuke-sakura-hinata-ultimate-ninja-storm-4/|title=Older Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, And Hinata Are In Ultimate Ninja Storm 4|author=Sato|website=Siliconera|date=January 15, 2015|access-date=January 25, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618131825/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/01/15/older-naruto-sasuke-sakura-hinata-ultimate-ninja-storm-4/|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| When the invasion of Konoha begins, Sakura is one of the few Genin present who is able to repel the ], in large part due to her control over her own chakra. Because of this, Sakura is assigned by Kakashi to wake Naruto so that they can follow Sasuke. Upon catching up with Sasuke, Sakura protects him from ]'s attacks, though Gaara uses his sand to immobilize her. As the sand slowly suffocates Sakura, Naruto fights to defeat Gaara, determined to save her. He succeeds, and Sakura is freed. | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| === Sasuke Retrieval arc === | |||
| In the '']'' character popularity polls, Sakura had many times been placed in the top ten and reached the top five once; in the most recent poll, she was ranked twelfth.<ref name="PopularityPoll2">{{cite book |author=Kishimoto, Masashi|title=]|volume=56|year=2011|publisher=]|chapter=Chapter 531|isbn= 978-1-4215-4207-2|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto}}</ref> Numerous pieces of merchandise based on Sakura have been released, including ]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/08/02-1/sakura-haruno-shows-off-her-curves-as-latest-naruto-gals-figure|title=Sakura Haruno Shows Off Her Curves As Latest "NARUTO Gals" Figure|date=August 2, 2017|first=Scott|last=Green|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420011056/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/08/02-1/sakura-haruno-shows-off-her-curves-as-latest-naruto-gals-figure|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/10/30/love-and-ninja-included-in-new-naruto-prize-figure-lottery|title=Love and Ninja Included in New "Naruto" Prize Figure Lottery|website=]|date=October 31, 2012|access-date=May 11, 2018|first=Scott|last=Green|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511124633/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/10/30/love-and-ninja-included-in-new-naruto-prize-figure-lottery|archive-date=May 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ] of her Part I (''Naruto'') and Part II (]) appearances,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://narutostore.viz.com/ttp/Naruto-Keychains-Sakura-3D-Keychain/products_id/112147.html|title=Naruto - Novelty - Sakura 3D Keychain|publisher=]|access-date=January 28, 2008}}</ref> and various character patches.<ref name="VizSakuraPatch">{{cite web|url=http://narutostore.viz.com/ttp/Naruto-Apparel-Sakura-Character-Patch/products_id/112128.html|title=Naruto - Apparel - Sakura Character Patch|publisher=]|access-date=January 28, 2008}}</ref><ref name="VizSakuraPatch2">{{cite web|url=http://narutostore.viz.com/ttp/Naruto-Apparel-Sakura-Leaf-Village-Patch/products_id/117997.html|title=Naruto - Novelty - Sakura Leaf Village Patch - GE7257 -|publisher=]|access-date=January 28, 2008}}</ref> In a poll from 2021, Sakura was voted as the 6th most popular character in ''Boruto: Naruto Next Generations''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/blog/posts/boruto-popularity-poll-results-may-2021|title=Boruto Popularity Poll Results May 2021|website=Viz Media|access-date=July 11, 2021}}</ref> In 2023, in the first global poll, Sakura was found to be the franchise's third most popular character overall, behind ] and ], and the most popular female character.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NARUTOP99 Results Announcement |url=https://narutop99.naruto-official.com/en/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=NARUTOP99 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| When Sasuke attempts to abandon Konoha so that he can go to Orochimaru for power, Sakura meets him at the village's exit. Realizing what he is trying to do, Sakura offers to help him in his quest for power, so long as she can be with him. Sasuke, affected by her words, gives her a simple "thank you" before knocking her unconscious and leaving the village. The second databook elaborates on this a bit, saying that, "Sasuke is unable to answer her feelings. At the end, he leaves her with only a word of gratitude rather than words of parting." | |||
| Several manga, anime and video games publications and other related media have provided praise as well as criticism on Sakura's character. '']'' writer A.E. Sparrow commented that every anime and manga benefited from a strong female presence that Sakura provided for the ''Naruto'' series, although characterizing her as "stereotypically girly".<ref name="IGNNarutoReadersGuide">{{cite web|url=http://anime.ign.com/articles/834/834323p3.html|title=Naruto Reader's Guide|website=]|author=Sparrow, A.E.|date=November 9, 2007|access-date=January 28, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618132549/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/10/naruto-readers-guide?page=3|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="IGNSakura">{{cite web|url=http://stars.ign.com/objects/142/14209411_biography.html|title=IGN: Sakura Haruno Biography|website=]|access-date=January 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312014353/http://stars.ign.com/objects/142/14209411_biography.html|archive-date=March 12, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In a review of episode 110 of the anime, ''IGN'' celebrated the culmination of the development of Sakura's character throughout the series and the growing out of the "girly" personality.<ref name="IGNEp110Review">{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/831/831140p1.html|title=Naruto: "Formation! The Sasuke Retrieval Squad!" Review|website=]|author=White, Charles|date=October 27, 2007|access-date=January 28, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618132949/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/29/naruto-formation-the-sasuke-retrieval-squad-review|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> '']'' said that Sakura's character had largely been used in the series as a form of comic relief and to often state the obvious.<ref name="GameSpotFranchisePlayer">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6181360/index.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;1|title=Franchise Player: Naruto|website=]|author=Dodson, Joe|date=October 13, 2007|access-date=January 28, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618133427/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/franchise-player-naruto/1100-6181360/|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> ''T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews'' considered Sakura to be a stereotypical echo of similar love interests of protagonists in other ] manga and that she was not likable.<ref name="THEMAnimeReview">{{cite web|url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=120|title=THEM Anime Reviews 4.0 - Naruto|website=T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews|author=Ross, Christina|access-date=January 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618133815/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=120|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> On the other hand, she was also regarded as "an interesting character to throw into the mix " by ''Mania Entertainment''{{'}}s Dani Moure due to how her differences with Sasuke and Naruto helped to balance Team 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/naruto-unleashed-set-11_article_78617.html |title=Naruto Unleashed Set 1.1 |website=Mania Entertainment |author=Moure, Dani |date=September 1, 2006 |access-date=September 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014190225/http://www.mania.com/naruto-unleashed-set-11_article_78617.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013 }}</ref> In the book ''New Media Literacies and Participatory Popular Culture Across Borders'', Amy A. Zenger wrote that Sasuke and Sakura's relationship was popular among fans of the series even at the time when the former had not yet reciprocated the latter's feelings.<ref>{{cite book|title=New Media Literacies and Participatory Popular Culture Across Borders|page=38|author1=Williams, Bronwyn |author2=Zenger, Amy A. |year=2012|publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0415897686|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hy0afZVPzHcC&q=sasuke+uchiha&pg=PA38}}</ref> | |||
| When Naruto sets out the next day to retrieve Sasuke, Sakura begs for him to bring Sasuke back, believing Naruto to be the only person who can get through to Sasuke. Naruto, looking at the crying Sakura, promises her that he ''will'' bring Sasuke back, making it his promise to her for a lifetime. As Naruto leaves, Sakura begins to understand the magnitude of his feelings for her and realizes that he is not the idiot she once thought he was. After Naruto fails to bring Sasuke back and lies in a hospital bed, he apologizes to Sakura for failing though promises that he will definitely keep his promise. Sakura, seeing his determination, replies that next time they will retrieve Sasuke together. Determined to get stronger, Sakura asks to become ] apprentice, to which Tsunade agrees. | |||
| The character's change in Part II (''Naruto: Shippuden'') has been praised by '']''{{'}}s Casey Brienza for being one of the most developed ones in the series, as she has become stronger than her Part I (''Naruto'') counterpart, which was considerably weaker than Naruto and Sasuke. This allows her to take a more active and appealing role in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/naruto/gn-28|title=Naruto GN 28|website=]|author=Brienza, Casey|date=August 7, 2008|access-date=November 16, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618134144/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/naruto/gn-28|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/848/848479p1.html|title=Naruto Vol. 28 Review|website=]|author=Sparrow, A.E.|date=January 29, 2008|access-date=November 17, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618134353/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/29/naruto-vol-28-review|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> Major praise has been given to her encounters with Sasori and Sasuke owing to her fighting skills and mature reactions, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/42253/naruto-shippuden-vol-7/|title=Naruto: Shippuden, Vol. 7|website=]|author=Douglass Jr., Todd|date=March 9, 2010|access-date=November 17, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618134641/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/42253/naruto-shippuden-vol-7/|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/naruto-vol-34_article_111916.html |title=Naruto Vol. #34 |website=Mania Entertainment |author=Lawrence, Briana |date=March 30, 2009 |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002015157/http://www.mania.com/naruto-vol-34_article_111916.html |archive-date=October 2, 2013 }}</ref> Sakura's love confession to Naruto in later parts of the series has been commented to be one of the deepest lines and parts of the story arc for bringing confusion in regard to whether her love confession claim was as serious as her intention to stop Naruto's suffering. It also came as a surprise as fans wondered what Sakura's real intention regarding Sasuke was, the latter having already become a dangerous criminal during such a time in the series.<ref>{{cite web | |||
| == Anime filler arcs == | |||
| |url=http://www.mania.com/naruto-shippuden-episode-206_article_129409.html | |||
| Little is seen of Sakura during the ] arcs due to much of her time being preoccupied with training. When she does go out on missions with her fellow Genin, Sakura serves as the medical specialist, healing the wounds of others and examining bodies. Ino, envious of Sakura's newfound healing abilities, asks to train with Sakura to be a medical ninja. To Ino's dismay, Sakura immediately proclaims that Ino will be her junior during the course of the training. The filler arcs also suggest that Sakura is afraid of toads, as she shudders at the sight of the toads that Naruto summons. Also, the filler arcs suggest that not only is Sakura advancing in her medical training, but also her strength (She was shown throwing a big rock at a summoned bird that had an explosive tag on it.) | |||
| |title=Naruto: Shippuden Episode #206 | |||
| |website=Mania Entertainment | |||
| |author=Beveridge, Chris | |||
| |date=April 7, 2011 | |||
| |access-date=November 17, 2011 | |||
| |url-status=dead | |||
| |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410174947/http://www.mania.com/naruto-shippuden-episode-206_article_129409.html | |||
| |archive-date=April 10, 2011 | |||
| }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/naruto/gn-50|title=Naruto GN 50|website=]|author=Santos, Carlo|date= February 9, 2011|access-date=November 17, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618134845/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/naruto/gn-50|archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> ] believes Sakura's feelings were well-handled by Kishimoto.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/house-of-1000-manga/2014-11-13/naruto-part-ii/.80991|title=House of 1000 Manga - Naruto Part II|website=]|date=November 13, 2014|access-date=November 14, 2014 |author=Thompson, Jason|author-link=Jason Thompson (writer)}}</ref> While disliking the romance between Sasuke and Sakura in the original series as she felt it was initially a crush on Sakura's part, Amy McNulty thought the ] '']'' helped to expand the bond between these two as well as their relationship with their daughter, Sarada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/naruto/the-seventh-hokage-and-the-scarlet-spring/gn/.96890 |title=Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring |last=McNulty |first=Amy |date=December 27, 2015 |website=] |access-date=May 18, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116001357/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/naruto/the-seventh-hokage-and-the-scarlet-spring/gn/.96890 |archive-date=November 16, 2016 }}</ref> Sarah Nelkin of ''Anime Now'' praised Sakura's development across the series, mostly in late parts of the story due to how she turns into a stronger person as she grows up and especially when she becomes an adult.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anime-now.com/entry/2017/04/23/230027|title=From Groupie to Mother: The Character Growth of Naruto's Sakura|website=Anime Now|date=April 23, 2017|access-date=July 20, 2017|author=Nelkin, Sarah|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705014100/http://www.anime-now.com/entry/2017/04/23/230027|archive-date=July 5, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
| Critic ] says that Sakura is an example of ''Naruto'' showing a conservative view of women. Ino, Sakura and Hinata place priority on love, treating it as more important than excelling as a ninja. Fujimoto states that during the ninja examinations, Sakura's climactic fight with Ino, her love rival, is conducted on a purely physical level, contrasting this level of skill with the supernatural abilities displayed by her male classmates at this point. When the medical ninja Tsunade is introduced, Sakura takes on a daughter-like role, learning to heal others from Tsunade's teaching, which Fujimoto regards as reinforcing a conservative idea of women — that women do not belong on the battlefield as warriors, only as nurses.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Fujimoto, Yukari|editor1-last=Berndt|editor1-first=Jaqueline|editor2-last=Kümmerling-Meibauer|editor2-first=Bettina|author1-link=Yukari Fujimoto|title=Manga's Cultural Crossroads|date=2013|website=Taylor and Francis|location=Hoboken|chapter=Women in "Naruto", Women Reading "Naruto"|pages=175–176|isbn=978-1134102839}}</ref> | |||
| == Movies == | |||
| ;Naruto the Movie | |||
| Throughout the movie, Sakura encounters ] and eventually defeats him with her ]. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| ;Naruto the Movie 2 | |||
| *{{Portal-inline|Anime and manga}} | |||
| During a final battle with the wolf-like ], Sakura kills her by using metal pillars to reflect her ear-splitting howl, which causes the pillars to collapse in on her. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| ;Naruto the Movie 3 | |||
| {{Reflist|30em}} | |||
| Sakura is assigned along with Naruto and Rock Lee to protect the ] prince, Hikaru, during his world trip. After she befriends him, she promises to travel to the Land of the Moon's castle to rescue is father, Michiru. There, she encounters Karenbana. Her promise to protect Michiru causes to rise after defeat. She shatters a chandelier and uses her senses of hearing to hear Karenbana's high-speed motion across the shattered glass and delivers a bone-shattering punch to Karenbana's face, sending her flying, defeated, into the wall. During the credits, she is seen on the beach and watching the sunset with Naruto in a tree. | |||
| == |
==External links== | ||
| {{Commons category-inline|Sakura Haruno}} | |||
| ] | |||
| Over the timeskip, Sakura has changed greatly by becoming stronger and being even more brutal towards Naruto. She has matured greatly just as Naruto has. Having become more comfortable with herself, Sakura no longer relies on Inner Sakura to express her true feelings, instead openly expressing whatever emotion Inner Sakura would have displayed. Sakura has also become closer with Naruto despite their long time apart, being able to work well together and otherwise being more accepting of his personality traits. Despite this, Sakura worries more for Naruto than she did in Part I, crying for his hardships and wanting to do whatever she can to help him.This can be closely linked with the guilt she feels for having enlisted his help in bringing Sasuke back to Konoha | |||
| {{Naruto}} | |||
| Sakura's feelings towards Sasuke have also changed; her innocent crush has morphed into something much greater. This is brought to our attention at the end of pt.1 on the evening in which Sasuke leaves Konoha. An emotional Sakura delivers a tear filled confession of her love to Sasuke. It is made clear that what she feels for him is no mere childish crush; she truly cares for him on a much greater level, something that can only be described as "true, honest and pure love." | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| When they meet again after their time apart, she is frozen in place at the sight of him again. Every piece of emotion we saw her express the night Sasuke left Konoha, can be seen in her eyes. Kishimoto devotes a full page to Sakura's reaction and closeups of her face. Sakura is openly willing to attack him if it means she can protect others and at the same time bring Sasuke home. She does not want to be seen as the weak kunoichi from when they were younger. Still, Sakura is not willing to let someone speak ill of Sasuke, and beats anyone who badmouths him in an instant. Her love for him is still blatantly obvious and unwavering. She is willing to go to any length and extreme if it means her team will become "whole" once again. | |||
| Sakura's natural control of her chakra has been taken to new heights over the timeskip, an ability utilized to its fullest by the training she has done with Tsunade. With her excellent chakra control, Sakura has turned into an excellent combat medic-nin, and has shown herself to be able to heal fatal injuries with relatively little effort even when more experienced medics would deem it a lost cause. In her training to become a medic-nin, Sakura has also acquired the ability to pick up on an enemy's movements in a short period of time, as good medics need to be able to survive a battle if they are to fulfill their purpose. | |||
| If she cannot avoid a battle, Sakura can rely on the strength taught to her by Tsunade. By building up and releasing her chakra with precise timing, Sakura can easily decimate any obstacle and turn it to rubble. Over time and through repeated use, Sakura has become able to use this strength instinctively and does not need to put any effort into using it. This strength, coupled with her medical expertise, her new disposition, and beauty has caused many to see Sakura as another Tsunade, and perhaps even capable of surpassing her master. | |||
| Sakura's natural control of her chakra has been taken to new heights over the timeskip, an ability utilized to its fullest by the training she has done with Tsunade. With her excellent chakra control, Sakura has turned into an excellent combat ], and has shown herself to be able to heal fatal injuries with relatively little effort even when more experienced medics would deem it a lost cause. In her training to become a medic-nin, Sakura has also acquired the ability to pick up on an enemy's movements in a short period of time, as good medics need to be able to survive a battle if they are to fulfill their purpose. | |||
| If she cannot avoid a battle, Sakura can rely on the strength taught to her by Tsunade. By building up and releasing her chakra with precise timing, Sakura can easily decimate any obstacle and turn it to rubble. Over time and through repeated use, Sakura has become able to use this strength instinctively and does not need to put any effort into using it. This strength, coupled with her medical expertise, her new disposition, and beauty has caused many to see Sakura as another Tsunade, and perhaps even capable of surpassing her master. | |||
| === Rescue Gaara arc === | |||
| When Gaara is kidnapped by ], Team 7 is sent to help in rescuing him. After arriving in ], Sakura is able to make an antidote for ]'s poison by extracting the poison from ]'s body. As Team 7 sets out to pursue Gaara's captors, they are joined by ]. After finding Gaara, Sakura and Chiyo battle Sasori while Naruto and Kakashi follow his partner. By guiding her as a puppet, Chiyo is able to help Sakura in avoiding Sasori's attacks, allowing Sakura to use her strength to destroy Sasori's puppets. When Sasori tries to kill Chiyo, Sakura uses herself as a human shield to protect her, giving Chiyo the opportunity to stab Sasori through the heart. Despite her injury, Sakura is able to persevere long enough to be healed by Chiyo. Before Sasori dies, he rewards Sakura for her survival by telling her of a spy within Orochimaru's ranks that he is scheduled to meet in a week. After Gaara is revived by Chiyo, Team 7 returns to Konoha, an opportunity to find Sasuke now available. | |||
| === Sasuke and Sai arc === | |||
| After returning to Konoha, Kakashi is left bedridden, leaving ] to lead in his stead. ] is also added to the team as Sasuke's replacement, though Sai's insults towards his predecessor cause conflict amongst the team. After the meeting with the spy turns out to be a trap and Naruto is left heavily injured in his battle with Orochimaru, Sakura heals his wounds, asking Yamato if there is anything else she can learn to be of more use in protecting Naruto. After the group navigates their way to Orochimaru's hideout, they find Sasuke after much searching of the lair. Uninterested in returning to Konoha, Sasuke attacks the team, and Sakura does what she can to stop him. Despite their efforts, Sasuke manages to escape, and Team 7 returns to Konoha. | |||
| === Hidan and Kakuzu arc === | |||
| Sakura comes to Team 10's aid in their fight against Akatsuki members ] and ]. Because ] is separated from the rest of the group, Sai and Sakura are sent as backup for him, though upon arrival they find that Shikamaru has already defeated his opponent. Having not taken part in the battle, Sakura returns to Konoha with the others, and later heals the damage to Naruto's arm from the use of his new jutsu. | |||
| === Current arc === | |||
| Sakura accompanies Naruto to the ] where she offers to help Naruto eat, his arm still being in a sling after his battle. Despite this, Sai feeds Naruto in her place, wanting to do what he can to be helpful. As they leave they encounter ], who demonstrates some of his newly created perverted jutsu for Naruto. Although she berates Naruto and Konohamaru for their practice of creating perverted jutsu, she falls prey to Konohamaru's ], which takes the form of a naked Sasuke and Sai in an explicitly suggestive pose. Although she tries to dismiss her outburst, the others are not convinced. Sakura later accompanies Naruto to Tsunade's office where they learn of Orochimaru's demise. While both are overjoyed to hear the news, expecting this to mean Sasuke will come back to Konoha, Tsunade informs them that it appears this is not the case. After being informed that Sasuke still wishes to avenge his clan, she and Naruto resolve to find Itachi first. | |||
| {{endspoiler}} | |||
| == Sources == | |||
| * {{Nihongo|First Official Data Book|秘伝・臨の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK|Hiden: Rin no Sho Character Official Data Book}} | |||
| * {{Nihongo|Second Official Data Book|秘伝・闘の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK|Hiden: Tō no Sho Character Official Data Book}} | |||
| * {{Nihongo|Jump's 2nd Great Hero Book's Mini Data Book|秘伝・翔の書オフィシャルキャラクターデータBOOK mini|Hiden: Shō no Sho Official Character Data Book mini}} | |||
| * {{Nihongo|Naruto anime and manga Guidebook|秘伝・翔の書オフィシャルキャラクターデータBOOK mini|Hiden: Shō no Sho Official Character Data Book mini}} | |||
| * Taken directly from the ''Naruto'' manga chapters and anime episodes. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| {{Naruto characters}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Haruno, Sakura}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Haruno, Sakura}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 19:33, 16 December 2024
This article is about the Naruto character. For the Wandaba Style character, see Sakura Haruno (Wandaba Style). Fictional character from NarutoFictional character
| Sakura Haruno | |
|---|---|
| Naruto character | |
 Sakura Haruno by Masashi Kishimoto as seen in Part I | |
| First appearance | Naruto chapter 3: Enter Sasuke! (1999) |
| Created by | Masashi Kishimoto |
| Voiced by | Japanese Chie Nakamura English Kate Higgins Dorothy Elias-Fahn (Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals) |
| In-universe information | |
| Notable relatives | Sasuke Uchiha (husband) Sarada Uchiha (daughter) Itachi Uchiha (brother-in-law, deceased) |
| Ninja rank | Genin in Part I Chunin in Part II Jonin in The Last: Naruto the Movie |
| Ninja team | Team 7/Team Kakashi |
Sakura Haruno (Japanese: 春野 サクラ, Hepburn: Haruno Sakura) is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto. Sakura is depicted as a kunoichi affiliated with Konohagakure (木ノ葉隠れの里, English version: "Hidden Leaf Village") and a part of Team 7, which consists of herself, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and their sensei Kakashi Hatake. Besides the main series, Sakura has appeared in several pieces of the Naruto media, most notably the spin-off Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring (2015) and the sequel Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2016) where she married Sasuke Uchiha taking name of Sakura Uchiha (Japanese: うちは サクラ, Hepburn: Uchiha Sakura) and is the mother of their daughter, Sarada Uchiha.
Sakura is depicted as an innocent girl who does not share the same tragic backstories as her teammates but was regardless bullied throughout her youth. She initially has an infatuation for Sasuke, him at every juncture, and initially is not ambitious, besides becoming Sasuke's girlfriend in the future; by contrast, she is dismissive to her less-skilled teammate Naruto Uzumaki despite, ironically, being Naruto's initial love interest and disgust him. Over the course of the series, as Sasuke eventually leaves the village, Sakura begins to shed this singularly driven persona, becoming a medical ninja while apprenticed under the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, and becomes friendly and even protective of Naruto as his life becomes increasingly at risk.
Sakura serves as the series' female lead, although she was not immediately intended for the role. Kishimoto had difficulty drawing her character, resulting in Kishimoto inadvertently emphasizing certain parts of her appearance, including her large forehead which was written into her character. In order to make the character more appealing in the second part of the series, Kishimoto designed her costume in a way that makes her look more like a martial artist as well as more beautiful during later chapters. Chie Nakamura voices the character in the animated adaptations of the series, while Kate Higgins plays her in the English dub.
Numerous anime and manga publications have praised and criticized Sakura's character. She was initially noted to be a stereotypical shōnen character, representing a love interest for the protagonist, and was said to serve little purpose at the beginning of the series beyond being comic relief. Her emergence from this stereotype as the series progressed, thanks to her training with Tsunade, which leads her to develop her medical and combat skills, has been celebrated by many reviewers. Amongst the Naruto reader base, Sakura has been popular, placing high in some polls. Several pieces of merchandise have been released in Sakura's likeness, such as action figures and key chains.
Creation and conception
Although Sakura Haruno is the most recurring female character in Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto did not originally intend for Sakura to be the heroine of the series. Kishimoto attributed this to him being unable to draw good heroine characters and fashioned Sakura as a girl who could not understand men, the best example of a heroine he could come up with. Sakura's creation is a result of Kishimoto's desire to make a somewhat irritating character who was well-intentioned. Despite these elements, Kishimoto is fond of Sakura, as he feels that many of her personality traits are common among all people, thus giving her a sense of real humanity. When asked in an interview if there was something about Sakura's background that had not been revealed, Kishimoto explained that he had never thought of that as Sakura is a "normal girl". Kishimoto has often been asked by readers about why he did not show Sakura's parents until the film Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie. In response, he said this would not be entertaining as Sakura did not belong to any clan unlike other characters so her parents were civilians.
When designing Sakura, Kishimoto focused on her silhouette and created a costume as simple as possible. This is a divergence from the other main characters of the series, whose costumes are very detailed. The leggings are the most notable aspect of her design, as they are meant to show that she is very active. At the start of the series, her leggings extended below her knees and closely resembled trousers. As Part I progressed, the leggings became increasingly shorter and tighter. Similar to his inexperience in drawing heroines, Kishimoto lacked the experience needed to make Sakura "cute" when he first began drawing her; although he implied that her appearance had become cuter since then, Kishimoto and much of the Naruto manga staff agreed that Sakura had been "far from cute" at the start of the series. In retrospective, he found Sakura one of the hardest characters to draw, alongside Sasuke Uchiha. Kishimoto first planned Sasuke and Sakura's romance in the early production of Naruto. In regards to Sakura's feelings for Sasuke, Kishimoto tried to write them as realistic as possible but ended up getting complaints from young girls about her.
Sakura's most well-known physical characteristic is her broad forehead. Consequently, because of this Kishimoto at times focuses too much on drawing it in scenes or promotional artwork where Sakura is featured prominently. This results in her forehead appearing too large. When designing Sakura in her Part II appearance, Kishimoto decided to change her clothes to a more lively karate suit style. The upper part, though, still had a Chinaesque feeling to it, so as to make her more feminine. During Part II's last story arc, Kishimoto tried making Sakura look more beautiful, most notably when she joins Naruto and Sasuke in the final fight against the creature Ten-Tails. Due to Sakura having little popularity within readers, Kishimoto decided that Hinata Hyuga, whom he acknowledged had more popularity, would take a more active role and become a heroine. Despite deciding that Naruto and Hinata would end up together since the early stages of the manga, Kishimoto thought it would be interesting to throw Sakura in the middle to form "a messy love triangle." Nevertheless, Kishimoto said romance was not what he wanted his series to focus on. In the middle of the manga's final arc, Sakura is given a love letter. The real reasons for this is that Kishimoto wanted to give the anime studio material to create animated only episodes.
In the animated versions of Naruto, Sakura was voiced by Chie Nakamura. Early in the first series, the actors were told by Kishimoto that Sakura would end up marrying Sasuke. Nonetheless, most of them started having doubts as during the first anime, Sasuke abandoned his teammates. As a result, by the second series, Nakamura was often asked by other people if her character would instead end up with Naruto. When Sakura married Sasuke in the end, Nakamura was happy because Sakura stayed true to her feelings. In an interview, Kate Higgins, who does the voice acting for Sakura in the English dub, remarked the development of Sakura in the series, stating that she turned into a more complex character as she became more sensitive and caring.
Appearances
In Naruto
Sakura is a young ninja who is a part of Team 7 alongside Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha under the leadership of their sensei Kakashi Hatake. Within Sakura resides "Inner Sakura", a manifestation of her inner emotions; in addition to comic relief, Inner Sakura represents Sakura's actual opinion on things when she outwardly displays something opposite. As Sakura has a deep infatuation for Sasuke, many of her earlier appearances are dedicated to her continued effort to win his affection. She accompanies the rest of Team 7 during all of its early missions, though she does little to contribute to the battles that take place. Sakura lacks any unique traits that would set her apart from the rest of Team 7, although Kakashi notes that she has an excellent control over her chakra early in Part I. As a result, Sakura stays on the sidelines, content in allowing her teammates to protect her and defeat their opponents. During the Chunin Exams, when the rest of Team 7 is left in need of her protection, Sakura realizes that relying on others to fight her battles has been unwise. She resolves to better her ninja abilities from that point further, and she takes a more active role in Team 7's battles throughout the rest of the series. After Sasuke's defection from Konohagakure at the end of Part I, Naruto's failure to bring him back, and Sakura's inability to help either of them, she becomes Tsunade's apprentice so that she can do more for her teammates in the future. Since then, Sakura makes it her personal goal to bring Sasuke home.
After training under Tsunade for two-and-a-half years, Sakura acquires the ability to heal wounds, becoming one of the most experienced medical ninjas. In order to secure her survival to heal others, Sakura also develops superhuman strength by building up chakra in her fists; by storing a vast amount of Chakra in her body over 3 years, she awakens the Byakugō Seal, a jutsu considered to be the pinnacle of chakra control. Thanks to this, Sakura joins Team 7 as a medical ninja to save their ally Gaara from the criminal group Akatsuki. With help from the elder Chiyo, Sakura defeats the Akatsuki member Sasori, who gives her hints of Sasuke's whereabouts. The new member of Team 7, Sai, uses his intelligence to track Sasuke down, but once again they are unable to prevent him from escaping. While disappointed in their failure, Team 7 tries once again to find Sasuke, although after almost apprehending him they lose his trail and are forced to return home. As they search for Sasuke, Sakura learns of the various hardships Naruto faces because of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox creature sealed inside him, which is being pursued by the Akatsuki. Saddened by the impact both forces have had on his life, Sakura becomes protective of Naruto and tries to do whatever she can to help him overcome these obstacles. Sakura later resolves to kill Sasuke after understanding he is becoming a menace to the villages. However, when she fails to do it, Naruto decides to settle things with Sasuke himself. When a war against the remaining Akatsuki is announced, Sakura participates as a medical ninja. She later moves to the fighting side when the Ten-Tails creature is released, and she battles it alongside Naruto and Sasuke. After Sasuke is pardoned for his crimes, Sakura sees him off as he decides to travel the world in search for redemption and shows signs that he finally accepts her feelings for him; he pokes her forehead and thanks her right before his departure. In the epilogue, set years after the end of the Fourth Ninja War, it is shown that Sakura and Sasuke had married and had a daughter, Sarada Uchiha.
In other media
Sakura has made several appearances outside of the Naruto anime and manga. She is in all eleven feature films of the series: in the first film — Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (2004), she battles Mizore Fuyukuma and later defeats him; in the second — Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel (2005), she helps Naruto and Shikamaru Nara in their battle against Haido and his subordinates; the third — Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006) — has Sakura battling the hired ninja Karenbana, whom she defeats using her enhanced strength; in the fourth — Naruto Shippuden the Movie (2007), Sakura, Naruto, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga are assigned to escort the maiden Shion; in the fifth — Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds (2008), Sakura is assigned alongside Naruto and Hinata Hyuga to help a girl, Amaru, and her sensei, Shinnō, return to their village while in the process learning of an upcoming invasion of the Sky Country; the sixth — Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire (2009) — has Sakura and Naruto desperately following and trying to bring back their sensei, Kakashi, who has gone on a suicide mission to prevent the Fourth Great Ninja World War; in the seventh — Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower (2010), Sakura and the rest of Team Kakashi are sent to capture a missing-nin, Mukade; in the eighth — Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison (2011), Sakura assists in the battle against the demon Satori who has been released from the Box of Enlightenment; in the ninth — Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie (2012), Sakura and Naruto are transported to an illusion world by Obito Uchiha in which instead of Naruto's parents, Sakura's parents were the ones who sacrificed their lives in preventing the Nine-Tails from destroying Konohagakure and were thus deemed as the village's heroes; in the tenth — The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014), Sakura, in her young adult years, sets out alongside Naruto, Sai, Shikamaru, and Hinata to rescue a kidnapped Hanabi Hyuga, Hinata's younger sister; and finally, in the eleventh — Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015), Sakura watches her daughter's participation in the Chunin Exams.
She is also present in all three of the original video animations produced for the series, helping Naruto and Konohamaru to find a four-leaf clover in the first original video animation, joining her team in escorting a ninja named Shibuki to his village and helping him fight the missing-nin that stole the village's "Hero's Water" in the second, and participating in a tournament in the third. A light novel titled Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze (2015), written by Tomohito Ōsaki and illustrated by Kishimoto, focuses on Sakura sometime after the events of The Last: Naruto the Movie, where she, now a celebrated medical ninja who is in the middle of opening a new mental clinic with Ino Yamanaka, becomes worried when a conspiracy that threatens to destroy Konohagakure is using Sasuke as a scapegoat, potentially ruining his chance at redemption amongst the villagers. In Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring (2015), Sasuke's travels keep him away from his family. As a result, his whereabouts become a touchy subject for Sakura, who assures Sarada over the years that Sasuke will return home once having completed his mission. After punching the ground in a fit of rage over Sarada asking if she and Sasuke are married, Sakura discovers her daughter has left the village in search of Sasuke. By the time she catches up to the two, they are in the presence of Shin Uchiha, whom Sakura attacks. Afterward, she is teleported away with him to his hideout, where she declines to assist him with her medical skills and pretends to be helpless in order to gain information on him. After Sakura battles Shin, she is rescued by her husband, and they return to the village following Shin's defeat. Soon after that, Sakura and Sarada see Sasuke off to his journey. Sakura later serves as a spectator for Sarada while she participates in the Chunin Exams and saves both herself and other onlookers from falling debris, afterward healing Hinata.
Sakura is a playable character in nearly all Naruto video games, including the Clash of Ninja series and the Ultimate Ninja series. In some games, she uses "Inner Sakura" in combat as well as numerous different genjutsu. Naruto Shippuden: Gekitou Ninja Taisen! EX (2007) marks the first appearance of Sakura in her Part II design in a video game, with the second one being Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 4 (2007). Meanwhile, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (2016) marks the first appearance of Sakura post-Part II; specifically, her appearance in The Last: Naruto the Movie, set two years after chapter 699 of the manga.
Reception
In the Weekly Shōnen Jump character popularity polls, Sakura had many times been placed in the top ten and reached the top five once; in the most recent poll, she was ranked twelfth. Numerous pieces of merchandise based on Sakura have been released, including action figures, key chains of her Part I (Naruto) and Part II (Naruto: Shippuden) appearances, and various character patches. In a poll from 2021, Sakura was voted as the 6th most popular character in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. In 2023, in the first global poll, Sakura was found to be the franchise's third most popular character overall, behind Minato Namikaze and Itachi Uchiha, and the most popular female character.
Several manga, anime and video games publications and other related media have provided praise as well as criticism on Sakura's character. IGN writer A.E. Sparrow commented that every anime and manga benefited from a strong female presence that Sakura provided for the Naruto series, although characterizing her as "stereotypically girly". In a review of episode 110 of the anime, IGN celebrated the culmination of the development of Sakura's character throughout the series and the growing out of the "girly" personality. GameSpot said that Sakura's character had largely been used in the series as a form of comic relief and to often state the obvious. T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews considered Sakura to be a stereotypical echo of similar love interests of protagonists in other shōnen manga and that she was not likable. On the other hand, she was also regarded as "an interesting character to throw into the mix " by Mania Entertainment's Dani Moure due to how her differences with Sasuke and Naruto helped to balance Team 7. In the book New Media Literacies and Participatory Popular Culture Across Borders, Amy A. Zenger wrote that Sasuke and Sakura's relationship was popular among fans of the series even at the time when the former had not yet reciprocated the latter's feelings.
The character's change in Part II (Naruto: Shippuden) has been praised by Anime News Network's Casey Brienza for being one of the most developed ones in the series, as she has become stronger than her Part I (Naruto) counterpart, which was considerably weaker than Naruto and Sasuke. This allows her to take a more active and appealing role in the series. Major praise has been given to her encounters with Sasori and Sasuke owing to her fighting skills and mature reactions, respectively. Sakura's love confession to Naruto in later parts of the series has been commented to be one of the deepest lines and parts of the story arc for bringing confusion in regard to whether her love confession claim was as serious as her intention to stop Naruto's suffering. It also came as a surprise as fans wondered what Sakura's real intention regarding Sasuke was, the latter having already become a dangerous criminal during such a time in the series. Jason Thompson believes Sakura's feelings were well-handled by Kishimoto. While disliking the romance between Sasuke and Sakura in the original series as she felt it was initially a crush on Sakura's part, Amy McNulty thought the spin-off manga Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring helped to expand the bond between these two as well as their relationship with their daughter, Sarada. Sarah Nelkin of Anime Now praised Sakura's development across the series, mostly in late parts of the story due to how she turns into a stronger person as she grows up and especially when she becomes an adult.
Critic Yukari Fujimoto says that Sakura is an example of Naruto showing a conservative view of women. Ino, Sakura and Hinata place priority on love, treating it as more important than excelling as a ninja. Fujimoto states that during the ninja examinations, Sakura's climactic fight with Ino, her love rival, is conducted on a purely physical level, contrasting this level of skill with the supernatural abilities displayed by her male classmates at this point. When the medical ninja Tsunade is introduced, Sakura takes on a daughter-like role, learning to heal others from Tsunade's teaching, which Fujimoto regards as reinforcing a conservative idea of women — that women do not belong on the battlefield as warriors, only as nurses.
See also
References
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{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External links
Media related to Sakura Haruno at Wikimedia Commons
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- Naruto characters
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