Naruto has some truly memorable characters with each having different personalities and motives. Fans can especially relate to the main characters’ hustle: Naruto Uzumaki’s goal to become a Hokage and Sasuke Uchiha’s goal to acquire the power needed to avenge his clan. Meanwhile, Sakura Haruno operated on the need to protect the ones she loved.
Sakura could’ve been a likable character who played a supporting role to the heroes similar to Orihime Inoue from Bleach. However, as the series progressed, her personality put off some fans. Her arrogant behavior towards Naruto and her dependence and obsession with Sasuke Uchiha, not to mention her occasional emotional outbursts, made her a controversial character.
A fan theory suggests that Masashi Kishimoto made Sakura behave in a certain way to touch on a deeper underlying issue, that mangakas generally can’t reveal in a shonen since it caters to the younger audiences.
Readers must note that the article is based on fan speculations. It does not intend to spread hatred towards a certain character and deals with the topic of psychological issues.
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Naruto Fan Theory Claims Sakura Has A Mental Disorder
Sakura has been portrayed as someone who kept their emotions on their sleeve. However, at the beginning, she is depicted as a loner with a reserved nature. It is only after her infatuation with Sasuke during their days in Team 7 that shades of her character begin to become clear. She makes it a mission to win his love no matter the cost.
According to fan theories on both Reddit and Tumblr, Sakura Haruno has shown clear symptoms of Obsessive Love Disorder (OLD). It is a condition in which a person obsesses over an individual, fantasizing about them compulsively, and is unable to face rejection or be away from the same. This explains Sakura’s clingy nature and her need to protect Sasuke despite failing numerous times.
Interestingly, Sakura didn’t have a tragic childhood like Naruto or Sasuke. It can be assumed that her OLD condition began during her time with Team 7 and gradually became more serious. When Sasuke was believed to be killed in the Land of the Waves arc, Haruno became more obsessed with him. She made it her goal to bring him back to Konohagakure following Uchiha’s defection.
Moreover, Naruto Uzumaki acts as a coping mechanism at times for her; as seen in episode 206 of Naruto Shippuden. When Sasuke shifts to the dark side, she expresses her love to Naruto but the latter does not buy it. She also tags along with the protagonist to bring Sasuke Uchiha to justice and resolves to ‘kill’ him but is unable to. Instead, she gets ‘genjutsu-ed’ by Sasuke in a final act of defiance, but her obsession remains.
Boruto Illustrations Almost Confirms That Sakura Uchiha Still Has Mental Issues
Sakura marries Sakura at the end of Naruto. Unfortunately, Boruto continued the chase for Mrs. Uchiha. It was revealed by the manga that Sasuke left his wife and infant daughter, Sarada, to embark on another adventure. This may have triggered the underlying mental issues within Sakura.
Boruto features Sakura flipping out on the question of whether she really had a concrete relationship with her husband. While the anime version of Sakura scolding Sarada was ‘kawaii’, the manga panels showed her face to be more severe. Her tired visage is also termed by fans to be a hint by Kishimoto about her mental and physical exhaustion.
Clearly, Sakura still has an obsession with Sasuke. She even faints after seeing him return home but the others disregard it “as something that she usually does.” Did Masashi Kishimoto make a cheeky dig at those who hate the character rather than understand her problems? It’s a likelihood.
Fans still have mixed reactions to the character of Sakura. While she may have her many faults, her protective and considerate nature is praiseworthy. She regularly checks on Boruto, Naruto, Sarada, and others. The medical ninjutsu worker also formed a “Children’s Mental Healthcare Clinic” (ironic) two years after the Fourth Shinobi World War, and she is currently the Head of the Medical Department.
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