Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring #1

[informationgeek]

While the main series has ended, Masashi Kishimoto has returned to the Naruto universe with a small, limited run series. This one focuses on Sarada Uchiha, the daughter of Sakura and Sasuke. Let’s take a look!

7 1/3 pages of 23



Our story begins about a week before the Academy Graduation Exam. While most of the kids of the main and supporting characters are either excited or interested, Sarada herself doesn’t seem that into it and thinks it’s pointless or lame to be a ninja.

Later that day, she is walking home with her friend Cho-Cho, who is complaining about having to do drills and training with her dad for this graduation exam. However, Sarada actually suggests she should do it…



Cho-Cho takes off with dad, though begrudgingly so. We then have a scene of Sarada running into some of the other kids hanging out with their dads. Boruto is being chased around by the shadow clone of Naruto (Naruto himself is still very busy with work), Sai is teaching his kid a new Ninjustu, and Shikamaru is walking around with his son.

However...











But before they can continue their talk, Sakura’s earth shattering punch extends to the foundation around their home and sinks most of the building into the ground. She collapses out of a shock and the two now have to stay over at Shizune's home for the time being. Sarada decides to head back home though...







The manga ends on a shot of Sasuke, somewhere out in the wilderness.


So, what do you think? I’ve been reading this spinoff since it started and honestly, it’s better than most of the later arcs of Naruto. Hopefully it sticks the landing…

Comments

[skjam]

Important mission or no important mission, Sasuke is a poor excuse for a father. Which I kind of suspected in the first place.

[crinos]

That doesn't surprise me in the slightest either. Sasuke was always kind of a douchbag.

[skjam]

What amused me about the early chapters was the comparison between Sarada, who has good reason to be suspicious about her parentage, and Chocho, who is just overdramatizing her life because the truth is so boring.

[crinos]

That kind of mirrors the early chapters of naruto, where Sakura is going on to Sasuke about how Naruto gets to run around and do whatever he wants cause he doesn't have parents and how it must be nice, and she's saying this to Sasuke, who basically watched his parents get murdered right before his eyes by his older brother. Sasuke promptly tells Sakura to shut the fuck up after that.

And those two end up getting married.

[punisher007]

I can just picture how that conversation will go:

"Mommy, how did you meet daddy?"

"Oh my dear, it's a LONG story. But the short version is, he was kind of an a-hole to me, betrayed the village, tried to kill me repeatedly, and went on a psychotic rampage. But he tapped me on the forehead, that's how I knew it was love."

"You've got issues mom, can I stay over at Uncle Naruto's house tonight? Aunt Hinata is really nice."

[crinos]

Yeah, I'm gonna make a controversial statement here, but I stand by it: Sasuke and Sakura are a more messed up relationship than Edward and Bella. There, I said it. And I'd say it again if I had too.

But I really don't care, because Naruto and Hinata ended up together, and that was my big Naruto ship, so those other two can do whatever the fuck they want.

[punisher007]

Here are my thoughts on the ships:

-Shikamaru/Temari-this was the most obvious no-brainer. People have been calling it since part 1, it was that obvious.

-Naruot/Hinata-I like it, but it could have used a little more buildup on Naruto's side. Hinata's love for him was obvious from second #1, but Kishimoto should have done a little more showing his growing attraction to her (although maybe The Last Movie did that well, I haven't seen it yet).

-Ino/Sai-Well Sai was basically "replacement Sasuke" and Ino had a thing for him to. So I guess that it makes sense kind of.

-Choji/Random ninja-? but not offensive I guess.

-Sasuke/Sakura-Oh WTH Kishimoto!!

[night4345]

Choji married Karui. The Cloud ninja that beat up Naruto for Sasuke supposedly kidnapping Killer Bee.

[lordultimus]

Whom Chouji had never met.

Talk about pairing the spares.

[punisher007]

Yeah, that's pretty much the LEAST surprising thing ever. Then again, The Uchiha's kind of sucked in that regard as a rule. Ironically, Itachi was probably the best in that regard, which is saying something.

[night4345]

Madara was a pretty good brother and Sasuke's father just wanted to protect his family and clan from the Leaf Village's perceived threats.

Itachi tortured his brother by replaying the slaughter of his clan, twice, the second time he tortured Sasuke so bad that he went into a coma. All in the name for making him stronger despite all the mental scarring he did to him.

[punisher007]

Well I said "the best." I didn't say perfect.

[kd_the_movie]

Man Sasuke fucking sucks. At everything.

Its kinda jarring how everyone got their "happy ending" when Naruto ended, yet AT THIS POINT, Sakura is shown to be in a affectionate less marriage with Sasuke and their child is an alienated loner aching for her father to be around (hell at least Bolt gets the benefit of a Shadow Clone).

[yap]

which goes to the heart of the matter, Edward and Sasuke should have just ended up together.