Highlights
- Sakura and Sasuke's relationship is built on one-sidedness and lacks consistency and genuine affection.
- Sakura's infatuation with Sasuke causes conflicts in her relationships, including with her friend Ino.
- Sasuke's pursuit of revenge leads him to physically harm and even attempt to kill Sakura, showing his lack of regard for her.
While Naruto is hailed for its intense battles and intricate storytelling, the romance between Sasuke and Sakura has been a divisive topic for decades. Filled with inconsistencies, unrequited feelings, a questionable foundation, and even murder attempts, Sakura and Sasuke's relationship can leave one feeling exasperated.
Although there are signs of romance, such as a forehead poke, their love is not one of consistency or affection but is built on one-sidedness. From Sakura's fangirling over Sasuke to Sasuke's unrelenting quest for revenge, their journey is filled with twists and turns, making them one of the most annoying and worst couples in anime.
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Sakura’s Infatuation with Sasuke Created a Lot of Conflict Early On
It is established quite early in the Naruto series that Sakura harbors a crush, bordering on infatuation, for Sasuke, and this creates significant conflicts in her relationships, particularly with her friend Ino Yamanaka. In their childhood at the ninja academy, Sakura faced bullying due to her large forehead, but Ino came to her aid, fostering a supportive friendship. However, as they grow older, both girls develop crushes on Sasuke. Hearing a rumor that Sasuke likes girls with long hair, both Sakura and Ino grew their hair out to impress him.
This shared romantic interest in Sasuke became a source of tension between them. Sakura soon declared them rivals. Despite the challenges and rivalry, Sakura and Ino eventually reconcile and renew their friendship. In the later parts of the series, their romantic interests shift, with Ino's crush fading, and both eventually finding love and getting married – Sakura with Sasuke and Ino with Sai in Shippuden, as portrayed in Boruto. While their friendship goes through tumultuous phases, it ultimately endures, showcasing the impact of Sakura's infatuation with Sasuke on her relationships.
Sakura Treats Naruto Poorly Because of Sasuke
Sakura Haruno's treatment of Naruto Uzumaki is significantly influenced by her feelings for Sasuke Uchiha early on. Sasuke's perception of Naruto as annoying is a recurring theme throughout the series, and Sakura's initial dismissive attitude toward Naruto is influenced by her infatuation with Sasuke and her desire to make him like her. This causes strain not only between Sakura and Naruto but also, at times, between Sakura and Sasuke, as they are all part of the same team—Team 7 with Kakashi as their mentor.
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During the Training arc, Sakura's attempts to ask Sasuke out on a date result in disappointment when Sasuke upsets her. Naruto asks if she'd like to go out with him instead, which Sakura promptly declines, opting to chase after Sasuke. Once she catches Sasuke's attention, he delivers a cutting remark, calling her even more annoying than Naruto and saying, “At least he trains.”, showing Sasuke disgust with her lack of strength and effort. This is not the only time that Sakura will rebuff Naruto in favor of Sasuke. While Naruto, on many attempts, saves and protects Sakura, she continues to treat him poorly well into Shippuden.
Sakura and Sasuke’s Relationship is One-Sided for Most of the Series
Throughout much of the series, Sakura has feelings for Sasuke that are not reciprocated, as his cold demeanor towards Sakura is evident in numerous instances throughout the series. One example occurs during the Land of Waves arc when Team 7 embarks on their first mission together. Sakura, infatuated with Sasuke, attempts to engage him in conversation, only to be met with his indifferent and aloof responses. Sasuke's disinterest in acknowledging Sakura's attempts at connection sets the tone for their relationship dynamic.
As the series progresses, Sasuke's cold demeanor becomes more pronounced during crucial moments. In the aftermath of the Chunin Exams, when Sasuke decides to leave the village to seek Orochimaru's power, Sakura confesses her feelings to him in a heartfelt plea. However, Sasuke's response is characterized by stoicism and a lack of emotional engagement. His decision to abandon the village further emphasizes his detachment from Sakura's feelings. Even when Sakura actively participates in missions with Team 7, Sasuke remains focused on his personal goals, often ignoring or downplaying Sakura's concerns. This lack of reciprocity in emotional investment creates tension and contributes to the persistent one-sided nature of their relationship.
Sasuke’s Pursuit of Revenge Leads Him to Try to Kill Sakura
Sasuke has physically hurt Sakura and even tried to kill her during his journey marked by violence, driven by a quest for power and revenge. Throughout his descent into darkness, Sakura persistently attempts to follow and save him, despite his clear disinterest in being rescued. After a confrontation with Danzo, where Sasuke, in pursuit of revenge, attacks Karin. Sakura, in an effort to make Sasuke believe she is aligning with him, offers to join forces. However, Sasuke, skeptical of her loyalty, tests her by instructing her to kill the incapacitated Karin. When Sakura does not immediately do so, Sasuke, without hesitation, unleashes his Chidori with the intention of killing her.
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Kakashi's intervention spares Sakura, but Sasuke later attempts to end her life again during a battle, only for her to be saved by Naruto. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Sasuke cast genjutsu on Sakura and knocked her out. Even in the earlier stages of the series, after defeating Naruto at the Valley of the End, Sasuke is about to depart the village to seek more power from Orochimaru. Sakura, desperate to bring him back, confronts him with heartfelt pleas. However, Sasuke, devoid of emotion, delivers a powerful blow to Sakura, rendering her unconscious and leaving her on a nearby bench. This underscores Sasuke's lack of respect for Sakura, who has consistently shown him nothing but love and kindness. It serves as a reflection of how Sasuke's journey for power has eroded not only his compassion but also his regard for those who care about him, particularly Sakura.
Sakura and Sasuke Don’t Really Spend Time Together
The limited meaningful interactions and shared screen time between Sakura and Sasuke contribute to the challenge of establishing a strong foundation for their romantic relationship. Throughout both Naruto and Naruto Shippuden, Sasuke and Sakura often find themselves on opposing teams, and Sasuke's absence from the Leaf Village further impedes the development of their connection.
Even upon Sasuke's return to the village, his commitment to atone for his crimes leads him to prioritize personal redemption over spending quality time with Sakura and their daughter, Sarada. His extensive travels and focus on training, particularly in the Boruto era, leave little room for loving and meaningful family moments. While Sasuke may exhibit more affection and love, symbolized by gestures like giving Sakura a ring, the lack of substantial shared experiences takes away from the depth of their relationship.
There are Way Better Couples in Naruto
There are better couples in Naruto, and it becomes evident when comparing the dynamics between Hinata and Naruto with that of Sasuke and Sakura. Despite Hinata harboring unrequited feelings for Naruto for most of the series, he consistently treats her with respect and kindness. Naruto remains unaware of Hinata's emotions until the end of the series, yet he never displays any callous or mean-spirited behavior towards her. In contrast, Sasuke is aware of Sakura’s feelings and does not care. Naruto's interactions with Hinata, marked by empathy and understanding, highlight a stark difference in how Naruto and Sasuke handle their respective relationships.
Even though Naruto may not reciprocate Hinata's romantic feelings initially, he values her as a friend and a person, unlike Sasuke. Even characters like Shikamaru Nara and Temari, who started off as rivals, have a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding. Ultimately, the dynamic between Sasuke and Sakura lacks the positive qualities seen in other relationships throughout the series, including Choji Akimichi and Karu, Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi and Ino and Sai.
Sasuke and Sakura are Overall Not Great Together
The relationship between Sakura and Sasuke in Naruto has been a source of contention, marked by inconsistencies, one-sidedness, and even moments of physical violence. Sakura's early infatuation with Sasuke created conflicts in her relationships, notably with Ino, and influenced her interactions with Naruto. Throughout much of the series, Sasuke's cold demeanor and singular focus on revenge contribute to the one-sided nature of their relationship, with Sakura's unwavering love standing in stark contrast to Sasuke's detachment. Moreover, Sasuke's pursuit of power leads him to inflict physical harm on Sakura, even attempting to take her life on multiple occasions.
The lack of meaningful shared experiences and screen time further dampen the development of a strong foundation for their romantic relationship. When compared to other couples in Naruto, such as Naruto and Hinata, or even the growth between characters like Shikamaru and Temari, the shortcomings of Sakura and Sasuke's relationship become blatantly apparent. Ultimately, Sakura and Sasuke's journey of love, filled with contention and pain, makes them one of the most terrible and unsatisfying couples, not only in Naruto but in anime as a whole.
