harmonyjade

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A semi-comprehensive collage about Naruto and Sasuke's status as yin and yang.

As usual, they have way too much content, so I couldn't include everything and I had to be selective. This means I didn't include things like Boruto, or chapter covers, or other things that hint at their dualism (ie. their wind/fire symbolism) but aren't specifically tied to their functions as light and shadow, etc. I've written a bit about what darkness entails in the narrative as part of a larger post [here] and @maoam has addressed how other shippers have attempted to poach this symbolism in novels [here].

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“Love”

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cooking some narusasu that will go straight to my patreon

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hello narusasu nation, idk where to post this so i chose tumblr

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There's something about Jiraiya telling Naruto his desire to save Sasuke wasn't based in reality (Chapter 237) and Itachi telling Sasuke his desire to beat him without the mangekyou that he needed to kill Naruto for (but couldn't because he decided to follow his heart instead) wasn't based in reality (Chapter 387)....

And Naruto and Sasuke deciding to bend reality their will like the heretical renegades that they are. Of course they were the only ones whose love and devotion could end the Ashura/Indra reincarnation cycle. It could only have been them.

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Tiffany Vs. Sakura ‘Rival Schools’ PlayStation Support us on Patreon

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Kishimoto absolutely referenced the invariably romantic trope of shinjū (double suicide).

If the narrative, we have...

An explicit invocation of the word "shinjū" in the text itself, at the beginning of the 5 Kage Summit Arc (Chapter 450) [the only time the word was mentioned]. This establishes the precendent that shinjū does indeed exist in the Naruto world.

[Image above taken from (here)]

The exact definitional meaning of shinjū (inside the heart/mind) [the Japanese definition doesn't distinguish between the two] mentioned in all of Naruto and Sasuke's major fights, including during their meeting at the end 5 Kage Summit, along with them having a shared mindspace where they can communicate and express their innermost desires. [A post on how Kishi is creative and intentional with the words he uses can be found (here)]

A physical manifestation of what was inside of their hearts, as represented by the metaphorical image of young Naruto and Sasuke holding hands overlapping the arms they'd blown off because they were devoted to eachother [Naruto fighting Sasuke because he doesn't want him to be alone and Sasuke fighting Naruto because he needs to be alone]. This oneness of their hearts was also confirmed explicitly by Sasuke in his monologue.

Mutual death (I'll bear the burden of your hatred and die with you") being seen as an escape from social/familial obligations ("You won't be an Uchiha and I won't be the jinchuriki to the nine tails") and seeking reunification in the afterlife ("All this will be in the past and we'll meet again in the afterlife"). And this aligns with Kishimoto's statements about Naruto and Sasuke being heretics that he could envision being banished or escaping the village in an interview 2 years after the Kage Summit Arc.

There is even the common motif of bridges which are signigicant in Naruto and Sasuke's arc [Sasuke awakened his tomoe sharingan to protect Naruto and sacrificed himself for him as well at the Great Naruto Bridge, Naruto willingly gave himself up to the nine tails and destroyed the Tenchi (Heaven and Earth) bridge in his quest to reach Sasuke {Naruto and Sasuke are referred to as heaven and earth on the Chapter 671 cover}, at the height of Naruto and Sasuke's conflict and distance Naruto proposed shinjū at the Samurai Bridge and was visually separated from Sasuke by the bridge between them, during Naruto and Sasuke's final battle they end up building a physical and spiritual bridge that connects them to eachother]. Kishimoto would have been aware of the significance as he'd explicitly referenced Chikamatsu Monzaemon by name in the text (Chapter 272). [You can read more about the significance of bridges in Naruto (here)].

[Image from movie scene above taken from (here)]

Naruto and Sasuke's romantic coding was absolutely intentional. Naruto's Kage Arc proposal and Naruto/Sasuke metaphorically holding hands even with severed limbs, which highlighted their mutual mutilation as a physical manifestation of their desire to connect is an unquestionably romantic Japanese literary trope. There is a reason why these two moments gave many JP fans pause. Furthermore, it's not something you just slip into writing on accident for 15 years. The shinju trope was deliberately used.

This is an abridged version of a longer post that can be found (here).

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you know what yknow sasuke had everything to lose by taking risks to help naruto, protect naruto, etc, and sakura literally had NOTHING to lose by helping her comrades and yet. she almost never went out of her way to be nice, to help, etc, unless she was directly emulating sasuke (like during the bell test). meanwhile sasuke couldn't help but act on his compassion (and love) consistently, despite pushback from sakura and sometimes kakashi. i really don't understand how ppl can watch naruto and come away with "ew edgy boy too drama" when he's literally nicer than almost every other character.

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Wow so you really don’t know what trauma does to a person if you remark about how Sasuke “use to be.” And how he “no longer is.” When they talk about how sweet and silly he “was” I almost choke on my own Dr. Pepper and shout incoherently.

He’s the same little boy Itatchi and Shisui use to fawn over, the same little boy hungry for his dad’s approval and affection, the same one that Mikoto loved so much.

That character has been fused with a boy who also witnessed the massacre of his clan, deluded into thinking it was his brothers doing, his previous and revered brother. A child kept at arms length by a nervous and paranoid, unkind and destructive village. Yes, Konoha is actually truly an evil character in this. They let this boy with PTSD live alone in the remnants of his broken home. They allowed his brother to take on every difficult pursuit and sacrifice it all. In the name of peace, they created this little boy torn between the life and brother he knew and the pain and rage of what has come to pass.

We see sparks of this “old Sasuke” all the time, when he plays and bickers with Naruto - all the way up to him chuckling and calling him an idiot in their final battle.

Sasuke is always that same little boy. That same little boy but with the power now to choose what to do about what this life has dealt him. Sasuke is still the perpetual brat, still the silly boy who wants notice and time of his loved ones, this is like ..all explained by Tobirama too….

The Uchiha curse of baring too much love will drive them mad when it’s been lost. Sasuke lost everything. Literally everything. His entire clan. His beloved parents and then the elder brother, he so worshipped and admired.

Not okay and not cool to say Sasuke “is not Sasuke anymore.” Literally will chidori you because even when he is laughing like a maniac after killing Danzo and stabbing Karin, it’s all from that suffering brought on by being who he is in the FIRST place. If he had not been Sasuke, he wouldn’t be doing what he did.

“It’s because I held those bonds that I’m suffering so much.” Sasuke says this even pre Shippuden and vocalized it to Naruto. At the time Naruto could not really relate except that something precious to him was suddenly being yanked away and that precious person was Sasuke.

Sasuke had grown fond of Naruto, just like the Sasuke “he was” would have because of the Sasuke he is. And will always be.

That’s why in the end, he laughs with him. Because Naruto always saw the same eyes reflecting back at him. They had grown but the same sadness and loneliness rested behind them. The same laughter and love did too. Only under the gauze of a pain instilled by loss and abuse.

Yes people change and grow but don’t play me like “Sasuke just isn’t the little sweet boy he was.” Like yes. He. Is. He’s still full of kindness and silliness, he’s still competitive and bratty. Consistently he’s been all these things. He didn’t lose himself to no one, he didn’t become evil. He didn’t forsake himself. Stop. Omg.

He went through hell. And still came out the other side to meet Naruto where he was. He didn’t have to do anything. He could have easily stayed mad, consumed by revenge that was most certainly an understandable approach, considering all things.

“You never gave up on me no matter how hard I tried to push you away.”

Tried to push Naruto’s and team 7’s genuine care away because it was a weakness that reminded him of his family.

So yes, this entire time, Sasuke has been Sasuke.

Sasuke, interrupted.

Lol ^ make a fic called this pls.

P.s “the soul of a shinobi remains the same.” Boom. Drops mic.

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"Gooner game!" "Gooner show!" "Gooner behaviour!"

There's literally nothing wrong with media containing sexual content, appealing to sexual fantasies, or ppl finding aspects sexually appealing.

There's nothing wrong with enjoying sexual fantasies, getting off to media, speaking about finding characters attractive, etc.

And whilst theres nothing wrong with it, a piece of media covering sexual topics or having attractive characters doesn't necessarily mean it's just a "gooner" media either. Things can have emotional depth and be beautifully written, and still have sexual content. You sound like a Puritan.

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Narusasu shippers getting all the writing in the manga, official art by Kishimoto (including the horny ones like Naruto and Sasuke wearing necklaces of each other’s face) and also the only movie that was entirely written by Kishimoto, while het!shippers have to settle for filler content

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zabuza & sasuke

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Recently I rewatched the entirety of Naruto (and read some of my favourite arcs), and I noticed something that I JUST have to talk about. This is a rather lengthy analysis of Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship and mindset, so please bear with me 😭

During my first watch, I was guilty of thinking that Sasuke changed his mind rather abruptly during VOTE 2. I didn’t understand how he abandoned his revolution after one single fight. But on rewatch… damn. Kishi might be a terrorist, but he knew what he was doing with Naruto and Sasuke. (Panels attached for proof?)

Rather lengthy analysis of Naruto, Sasuke, and the foreshadowing for Sasuke's eventual redemption:

It all begins during the ‘Five Kage’ arc (suicide pact my beloved). Naruto’s grand answer to the entire dilemma Nagato and Jiraiya posed to him — how will you find peace? — was just “I'll bear the world's hatred. Then lets both fight and die together?” (Insane behaviour. Someone please give my frog boy a hug).

But then, it goes a little deeper. Then slowly, it all starts to make sense? For Naruto, this was never about protecting Konoha. Not truly (I don't recognize any other patriotic canon gbless). We see him struggling throughout the Five Kage arc, grappling with the questions posed by Pein, and the weight of everything he's learnt about Sasuke. Everything his beloved village has done to the boy he loves.

Because now... Naruto finally understands. He's felt the righteousness of vengeance. He's looked at a man and felt nothing but burning hatred. How could he not? Pein killed his master-Jiraiya.

That's when he understands Sasuke.

Pein's question about how Naruto intends to find peace is far far deeper than just shinobi politics. For Naruto, the question is quite simple. How does he intend to save Sasuke, if he himself is falling into the same pitfalls of revenge. If he 'pulls the trigger', then with what face is he supposed to then ask Sasuke to abandon his revenge. (Man I fucking love the pein arc).

(I would like to point out how Konoha has always treated revenge differently when it comes to other shinobi vs an Uchiha. Shikamaru was not only encouraged, but given state support to avenge his sensei. But Sasuke must abandon the notion of avenging his whole family?)

That is when Naruto finally understands. And it almost destroys him. The Naruto we see in the Five Kage arc - taking beatings for Sasuke, begging the Raikage to spare Sasuke on his knees, having panic attacks and nightmares. Perhaps on some level, Naruto is punishing himself for feeling the same anger and hatred that's come to consume Sasuke. Because he understands, and he has no idea how to get past it.

And that pain of not know how to save Sasuke... it's brutal for him.

In that moment, all hope seems lost. Sasuke descends deeper and deeper into his madness. Naruto is a shell of himself just after his most triumphant moment (Saving Konoha).

And then, we get this:

Naruto's answer to the whole dilemma about peace is self-sacrifice?????????? (Bc ofc it is with this boy. He'd rather die before perpetuating the same cycles).

Naruto has begged and pleaded and taken beatings to protect Sasuke. To somehow try and stop the cycle of hatred by sheer willpower. The lesson? The world... simply doesn't care.

Pein said that 'humans can never understand each other', and perhaps Naruto believes that is because of all the burden, anger, trauma, and hatred they carry. Naruto and Sasuke were victims of that hatred. This world shaped them into who they are, irrevocably.

The answer? Humans can understand each other. Naruto and Sasuke can understand each other. But only free of the constraints that hold them back.

Only in death when Naruto is no longer a Jinchuriki, and Sasuke is no longer the last Uchiha, can they let go of all their suffering and resentment, and truly... truly accept each other. Because Sasuke's pain is too deep. His anger and hatred is... understandable. Naruto gets it now. He gets that he can no longer just ask Sasuke to drop everything and return.

He also... can't not defend Konoha. So the solution he lands on - suicide pact - seems inevitable to Naruto. He almost welcomes the prospect of the two no longer having to shoulder their burdens. A world where Naruto and Sasuke are free to love each other without their pasts haunting them.

Flash-forward to VOTE 2:

After their fated clash. It's exactly as Naruto prophesized. They're both beaten, bloody, and on the brink of dying. The anime goes further, and shows that Sasuke believes they're both dead. And for the first time... The first time since VOTE 1... we see him show explicit care towards Naruto? Because now that they're dead, he can finally breathe. He never hated Naruto. He just couldn't... let him in. Because of his anger. Because of his trauma when it came to Konoha and his clan.

They're no longer an Uchiha and a Jinchuriki. They're Naruto and Sasuke. Orphans. Their closest bonds. Finally, Sasuke is allowed to feel Naruto's pain, and care for him.

Finally, he doesn't need to be strong. Only in death is he free to be Sasuke.

Kishi himself even calls back to the suicide pact moment, tying it all back beautifully.

Again, Naruto thinks they're both dead:

And that's when Sasuke laughs. Now that - believing he was dead - he'd allowed himself to feel all the care and love and affection he had for Naruto. He just cannot go back to the place of isolation he'd been trapped in before.

Perhaps that's why Sasuke was so stubborn about cutting off Naruto. Because he knew that he loved Naruto so deeply that if he let himself feel it, he'd drop everything in an instant for that bond. Now that he's let himself feel it, he can never go back. So he finally lets it all go:

Naruto was always right. In a different way. To finally understand each other and accept each other, they had to let go of all their past and trauma. Perhaps death was the answer. Not literally, but metaphorically.

To all those who claim Sasuke never loved Naruto, or was 'toxic' to him. Sasuke loved Naruto: deeply, unconditionally. He loved him so much that he knew he'd drop all of his revenge in a heart beat for him. But his past... simply wouldn't let him.

In hindsight, the moment Sasuke let Naruto in, he was always going to change his mind. That is what Naruto knew all the way back during Five Kage arc. It's why he stopped chasing after Sasuke, and waited for him to come to him first.

In a twisted way, Sasuke's strong love was exactly the reason why he was so intent on cutting Naruto out. But in the end, I'm just glad my boys worked it out lol.

Anyways, if you read this far, thanks for coming to my ted talk lmao.

(Yes, I was sobbing as I typed this out. I just love them both so much).