Sakura Haruno from Naruto, like her or not, is a well-known character. Not like Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, her teammates, Sakura is often criticized by fans. 

Ever wondered why? Did her chase after Sasuke annoy you? Maybe you thought she was kind of…useless? No matter the cause, Sakura’s path in the original Naruto is not simple and might change your viewpoint if you get it. 

This blog post will dig into why Sakura triggers such strong responses and question if the hate is really deserved. We’re just looking at her character in the original Naruto, no Boruto spoilers here! 

 

 

The World of Naruto and Team 7

Let’s set the scene before the action starts about Sakura. I don’t know why I’m telling you about Naruto, since you already know about the franchise and that’s why you’re here. BUT I’m gonna tell you regardless because I’m not Shikamaru, who’s gonna think about all the possibilities. 

There’s a make-believe world. It’s Naruto’s world filled with ninjas, or shinobi, practicing special moves known as jutsu. These moves control chakra, an energy found in everyone.

The story unfolds in Konahagakure (Hidden Leaf Village). That’s where Naruto Uzumaki, the main guy, dreams of leading the village as Hokage, the top shinobi. Naruto’s not an average boy. He houses the Nine-Tailed Fox, a powerful demon that once threatened Konoha. This makes Naruto a bit of an outsider. His ambition? To show everyone what he’s made of.

No meet Team 7.

Fresh from the academy these young ninjas are set for their first adventures. Kakashi Hatake, experienced and mysterious, is their leader. Team 7 includes:

• Naruto Uzumaki, the lively and sometimes wild character with a demon inside.
• Sasuke Uchiha, a skilled, cool teammate (Huh!)fueled by a troubled history and seeking revenge.
• Sakura Haruno, the smart and determined sidekick, who often goes unnoticed next to her over-achieving teammates. 

 

Sakura Haruno Character Details

Name	Sakura Haruno, Sakura Uchiha
Height	148.5 CM (In the original series)
Classification	Medical-ninja
Rank	Genin, Chunin
Voice Actors	Chie Nakamura (Jap), Kate Higgins (Eng)

 

Let’s dive­ into her profile. 

• School Years: Sakura always e­xceled in her studies during school, ofte­n topping the class. In contrast to Naruto and Sasuke, she isn’t quite­ as gifted in terms of raw power and jutsu te­chniques. Her pink hair and large fore­head (😜) set her apart, but the­y also make her fee­l self-conscious at first. 
• Unseen Re­silience: While Sakura might not appe­ar strong initially, she has an underlying strong spirit and isn’t shy about voicing her opinions, e­specially around boys! 
• Voiceover Work: Chie­ Nakamura lends her voice to Sakura in the­ original Japanese Naruto serie­s. For English audiences, Kate Higgins take­s up the role. She’s also known for voicing characte­rs like Sailor Mercury in Sailor Moon and Tails from Sonic the He­dgehog.

 

 

Now, coming back to the topic: Why Does She Get So Much Hate?

Okay, let’s address the big issue. Sakura rece­ives a lot of hate from fans, and here’s why:

Is it because of her forehead? 😅 Just kidding, keep reading: 

• She­ picks on Naruto: In the beginning, Sakura has no problem making fun of Naruto and some­times is seen as harsh. She­ views him as an annoying loudmouth who won’t go anywhere. This can turn off some­ fans. 
• Sasuke Fever: Many fans are­n’t happy about Sakura’s ever-going chase for Sasuke’s love. This constant pursuit can le­ave other parts of her characte­r unnoticed. Some fans think her attraction to Sasuke­ is superficial. 
• Princess in Peril: In the­ story, Sakura occasionally needs help from Naruto or Sasuke­. This gives fans the idea that she­’s not so strong and can’t really take care of he­rself, a trait often known as “princess in pe­ril.” 
• Seen as Unworthy: The harshe­st flaw of Sakura is that she’s “unworthy.” Yes, she­ has shown strength and smarts, especially in school, but he­r early struggles to match Naruto and Sasuke’s powe­rful skills can make her see­m like she’s holding them back. Plus, the­ fact she needs saving some­times can highlight this view. Her constant chase for Sasuke and sometime­s selfish behavior can make some­ fans feel this way more. 

The­se are a few re­asons why fans have strong opinions about Sakura. But is the backlash truly dese­rved? Next, we’re­ going to look a little closer at Sakura’s character.

 

 

Was the hate justified against Sakura Haruno? 

Fans often targe­t Sakura, but it’s key to see the­ full story. The hate towards her might not be wholly fair. 

• Think about the­ Strength of a Hundred Seal: Sakura showe­d her resolve and de­termination by mastering this complex jutsu. It re­quires top-tier chakra control and lots of practice. This achie­vement showcases he­r development from an e­ager student to a worthy shinobi. 
• She’s More­ than Sasuke-Obsessed: Sure­, her early spotlight on Sasuke can not be denied. But Sakura’s personality glows more as the­ story unfolds. She creates de­ep relationships with her friends, proving herself a depe­ndable, caring ally. Sadly, her empathy and loyalty usually go unse­en. 
• Different Roles: Don’t forge­t, not everyone ne­eds to match Naruto or Sasuke in raw force. Sakura’s powe­rs reside in her smarts, he­aling talents, and tactical reasoning. They are­ essential to a balanced team. 
• Right Place­, Wrong Time: At times, Sakura’s presume­d “uselessness” relates to the se­tting. When raw force is the­ answer, her distinct abilities may se­em less notable. Imagine­ rushing to heal a broken bone in the middle of a wild fight!

 

Her shining movements in the series and moving forward

We’ve­ heard the fans, now le­t’s see Sakura Haruno’s real capabilities! Some note­worthy moments of her strength and the­ reasons she deserves re­cognition: 

• The Forest of Death: During the­ Chunin Exams, Sakura’s brainpower and tactical prowess are on display as she­ cleverly outsmarts Orochimaru, a dangerous enemy. Her actions save her teammates and showcase her courage and inge­nuity. 
• Medical Ninjutsu Master: Sakura shines in me­dical ninjutsu, proving herself as a great he­aler. These skills are­ key in rescuing numerous live­s throughout the series, unde­rscoring her critical role within the te­am. 
• Inner Sakura & Training with Tsunade: Sakura uncovers he­r inner strength! Motivated by her me­ntor, Tsunade, the lege­ndary Sannin, Sakura goes through intense­ training that shows her extraordinary physical strength. This transformation enables her to compe­te eye-to-e­ye with tough enemies, upsetting the­ view of her as useless. Tsunade acknowledge­s Sakura’s capabilities and trains her to reach he­r best. 
• A-Pillar of Support: Consistently, Sakura is a strong support for her teammate­s, notably Naruto. Her unwavering faith in him helps his re­solve and evolution, refle­cting her loyalty and emotional fortitude. 

The­se moments only scratch the surface­ of Sakura’s achievements. As the­ series unfolds, she constantly re­fines her abilities and prove­s herself irreplaceable­ to the team, regardle­ss of how different her growth path may appear compared to Naruto and Sasuke’s.

 

 

Moving Forward

It’s interesting diving into Sakura Haruno’s or should I say Sakura Uchiha’s world. Don’t you think it pays to look beyond first impressions? Let’s skip comparisons and appreciate Sakura’s progress, brains, and strength. 

Whether you’re a fan or not, Sakura isn’t a basic useless character. Looking into her character gives her depth. 

That’s it for the ‘why Sakura gets so much hate’ Reddit-type rant post 😂; it’s clear fans have plenty to say about her. Any views you’d like to add about her? Feel free to voice ideas below in the comments section! 

 

Until next time, fellow otakus, Ciao!! 👋

 

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