If you’re a fan of the Naruto universe, you’ll know that his teammates Sasuke and Sakura have a pretty long history. From their debut as two genin ninjas entering Team Seven to the final scene of them overseeing Sarada, Boruto, and Mitsuki in Boruto: Naruto The Movie, we have seen these two characters go through many hardships.
Sakura and Sasuke’s story started out as a tale of unrequited love. Despite the fact that Naruto is a shonen anime/manga aimed at young males, the creator, Masashi Kishimoto, did incorporate romance into the series. In the beginning, Sakura started out as one of Sasuke’s fangirls, but, as she spent time with him as his teammate and grew to know him, her feelings evolved from admiration into true love.
Sakura’s devotion to Sasuke was well received by fans all around the world and these fans gave the pairing the "ship" name SasuSaku. Since then, the couple has been one of the most popular pairings of all time, even making it onto the 50 of the Most Popular Ships in Fandom Culture infographic.
If you are itching to learn more about Naruto’s teammates, here are 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Sasuke And Sakura.
15. Sasuke Didn’t Exist In The Original Conception Of Naruto
When the creator of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto, initially conceptualized the series, he didn’t have Sasuke Uchiha penned into the early draft. In fact, Sasuke didn’t exist in the world of Naruto until Kishimoto’s editor suggested that the wielder and friend of the nine-tailed fox needed a rival to compete with.
After receiving the advice, Kishimoto created Sasuke by taking ideas from an old manga and anime character named Sasuke Sarutobi. This character is known as a legendary ninja who has monkey-like agility and has the ability to conjure lightning jutsu. Additionally, like the Sasuke we know today, Sasuke Sarutobi also battles with a sword.
Aside from the similarities in fighting styles, Sasuke Sarutobi also has a companion in his manga/animated series and, ironically, her name is Sakura.
14. Sakura Was The First To Defeat An Akatsuki Member
During the second arc of Naruto, Sakura was the first to defeat an Akatsuki member with the help of the Sand Village Member, Elder Chiyo. This was a big moment for her character development as the leading lady because, during the first arc, Sakura was known for being rather useless.
Although she was considered an intelligent student with perfect chakra control and a knack for genjutsu, she couldn’t compete with Naruto or Sasuke in the beginning of the series and was usually seen in the background being protected by her teammates.
This fight against Sasori proved that Sakura was no longer the damsel in distress. In their brawl, she showed off her superhuman strength, her skills in evasive maneuvering, and her ability to pick apart attack patterns.
Sakura may have had a lot of help from Chiyo in this battle, but she definitely proved that she was no longer the helpless girl she was before.
13. Sasuke Isn't Very Polite
Aside from his clan members, Sasuke doesn’t address anyone with honorifics. For those who are unfamiliar with honorifics, this word is a linguistic term used to describe prefixes, suffixes, or titles that are added to a name. For example, in English, the most common honorifics that are used are Mr., Mrs., and Dr.
In Japan, honorifics are critical to both the language and culture. They are used as expressions of respect and endearment and ,with the right inflection, they can be used as an insult. Examples of Japanese honorifics include -san, -sama, -chan, -kun, and sensei. The use of honorifics is crucial in terms of Japanese etiquette, and, when one chooses not to address others with them, it is considered rude.
The fact that Sasuke choses to ditch these honorifics shows that etiquette isn’t his top priority.
12. Sakura’s Hobbies Include Playing Trivia Games
In the Naruto Databooks, it was revealed that Sakura’s hobbies include playing trivia games and memorizing new material for her medical studies.
During a flashback in episode 406 of Naruto Shippuden it was shown that, within three months, Sakura read every single selection from Lady Tsunade’s medical library in the Mowhawk Fish Market. This is an incredible feat especially because Sakura isn’t the type of student who memorizes what she learns, and usually forgetting it a week later. She’s the type who utilizes her studies into her daily life and career.
While Sakura may not have been seen playing trivia games in the manga or anime in the same way that she was shown studying medicine, the fact that she played these games on the side for fun says a lot about her intelligence. Trivia games are typically used to stimulate the mind, so the fact that she had been playing them shows that she was dedicated to advancing her sharp mind.
11. Sasuke Is The Youngest Member of Team Taka
If you didn’t already know, Sasuke is the youngest member of Team Taka. This four-man squad, originally named Team Hebi, is the crew that Sasuke put together after he defeated his master, Orochimaru. Sasuke initially formed this team with the objective of locating his older brother Itachi Uchiha; the man who murdered the entire Uchiha clan (excluding Sasuke).
The members of Team Taka include Suigetsu Hozuki, Karin Uzumaki, and Jugo. When Sasuke put this team together he was around the age of sixteen. Both Karin and Suigetsu were probably sixteen to seventeen years old, while Jugo was between the ages of eighteen and nineteen.
While age doesn’t really matter in Shonen anime, the fact that Sasuke was able to lead a team of ninja assassins at such a young age is a testament that age has no bounds.
10. Sakura Is Considered One Of The World’s Greatest Medical Nin
By the end of the series, Sakura was considered one of the greatest medical ninjas in the world. To be known as one of the best, Sakura had to work hard for this. After deciding that she no longer wanted to just sit around watching Naruto and Sasuke’s backs anymore, she asked to be the apprentice of the Fifth Hokage and member of the Legendary Sanin Lady Tsunade. Lady Tsunade saw potential in Sakura and decided to take her on as her student.
Within three years, Sakura mastered the art of medical jutsu, surpassing her Senpai, Shizune, and completing both Lady Tsunade’s Strength of a Hundred Seal Jutsu and the first Hokage’s Mitotic Regeneration Jutsu.
Keep in mind, if it weren’t for Sakura, many favorite characters such as Naruto, Kakashi, Kankuro, Hinata, Karin, and Gaara would be dead. Whether you like her or not, her role as a medical ninja was crucial to helping countless characters.
9. Sasuke Is The Second Character From The Series To Receive A Spin-Off Series
Back in 2014, Sasuke starred in his own spin-off series titled Sasuke Uchiha’s Sharingan Legend written by Masashi Kishimoto’s mangaka assistant Kenji Taira. The first Naruto spin-off series titled Rock Lee’s Springtime of Youth Full Power Ninja Chronicles debuted in 2010, and did so well that it later became a television series.
Sasuke Uchiha’s Sharingan Legend was a manga created to exhibit Sasuke as a caricature to show off his humorous side. Throughout the story, Sasuke and Team Taka encounter many situations that would be considered as comedic gags.
For example, in the chapter titled Konoha!!, Sasuke briefly return to Konohagakure to retrieve a scroll from his old family home. Sakura and Naruto follow him and challenge him to a game of "kick the can" to try to keep him from leaving. Unfortunately, they fail to keep Sasuke in the village. However, Naruto transforms into the nine-tailed fox and manages to kick both Sasuke and the can and out of Konoha.
This is only one of the absurd stories you can find in Sasuke Uchiha’s Sharingan Legend.
8. Sakura Has Appeared In Every Naruto Movie
Aside from Naruto, not every character from the series makes it into Masashi Kishimoto’s movies. One exception, however, is Sakura. From Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow to Boruto: Naruto the Movie, Sakura has appeared in all of the Naruto films. Why? Well, she’s the heroine, of course.
Although Kishimoto has stated in an interview with Kobayashi that, although he initially tried to write Hinata in as the heroine towards the end of the series, Sakura has become the leading lady of the show. Just because Hinata is Naruto’s love interest and the fact that she was popular in fan polls doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s suitable for the role as the main female character.
The heroine should be someone who interacts with all of the leading members in the series. Sakura and Hinata are both great characters, but Sakura was necessary for moving the plot forward. This is why it was so important for her to appear in every Naruto movie.
7. Sasuke Is Cross-Dominant
All ninjas in the Naruto universe are able to fight with both hands. This is a given, but this doesn’t mean that both sides of the fighters' bodies are dominant. Sasuke, on the other hand, is one of the few who is cross-dominant.
For those who are unfamiliar with the term, it is also known as mixed-handedness or mixed dominance, and is considered a motor skill manifestation in which a person uses one hand for some tasks and the other hand for others. For example, a person who is cross-dominant may write with her right hand but hold her tennis racket with her left hand.
Sasuke typically punches and uses his Chidori with his left hand and writes or wields his sword with his right hand.
6. Sakura Would Make The Best Ninja Instructor From Team 7
In the June 2006 issue of the American Shonen Jump, Masashi Kishimoto stated that Sakura would be the best ninja instructor out of Team 7, and is the closest to being normal, despite her personality flaws.
Between her two teammates, Sakura would make the best instructor because she’s studied the human psyche and, based off of those studies, she knows how to interact with people. Unlike Sakura, Sasuke isn’t much of a people person.
If you’ve watched Boruto: Naruto the Movie, then you’ll know that he’s not the best teacher. His teaching style includes targeting students who have learned valuable lessons without his help, and asking them to see him after class.
Naruto, on the other hand, has great people skills but his teaching abilities are a bit flawed. Aside from teaching a young Konohamaru the Rasengan, Naruto also taught him a risqué technique in which the user transforms into a nude female. At least with Sakura, it's easy to assume that she knows where to draw the line.
5. A scene between Sasuke and Sakura is classified as one of the series' best segments
The scene between Sasuke and Sakura in chapter 181 is classified as the best scene in Naruto Databook 2. In this chapter, Sasuke has come to the conclusion that he no longer belonges in Konohagakure and he needs to follow Orochimaru in order to become a strong enough ninja to defeat his older brother Itachi. Sakura has a feeling that he intends to leave the village, so she waits for him at the village exit.
Here, Sakura confronts him and gives a heartfelt confession-- telling him that if he were to stay with her there would be no regrets and each day would be full of fun and happiness. She even suggests that, if refuses to stay, that she would be willing to leave with him. Sasuke knows that the path of revenge isn't meant for Sakura, so he thanks her, knocks her out, and leaves her on a bench before departing
This was an incredibly emotional scene between the two. The last time Sakura confessed her feelings to Sasuke, she was a fangirl who knew nothing about him. However, in this scene, it is clear that Sakura’s feelings have evolved from that of admiration to love.
4. Sasuke And Sakura Are The Only Members of The Same Team To End Up Together
Out of all of Naruto’s classmates, Sasuke and Sakura were the only members of the same team to marry and have a family. In the epilogue of the series, there was an implication that Sakura and Sasuke were married.
While cleaning her home, Sakura’s daughter approaches her and says, “Mom, guys are really… stupid.” Sakura immediately jumps to the conclusion that Boruto is into trouble again. This makes Sarada think about her father, and how her situation resembles Boruto and Naruto’s relationship.
In these panels, it is implied that Sakura and Sasuke are married based on the fact that Sakura’s bookcase holds the Uchiha crest and that Sasuke appeared the moment after Sarada mentioned her father.
Kishimoto has also confirmed this fact, and wrote a mini-sequel, Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and The Scarlet Spring, that explains Sarada’s birth and Sasuke and Sakura’s relationship.
3. Sakura Is The Last Person Sasuke Ever Wanted To Hurt
While Sasuke may have tried to kill Sakura in his frenzied state in chapter 485 of the manga and episode 214 of Shippuden, it's worth noting he was in a terrible mindset.
During this time, Sasuke had just found out that he had wrongly killed his brother. He discovered that high ranking officials of his home village oversaw the slaughter of his entire clan and that his brother was forced to play the role as a double agent in all of the bloodshed.
While Sasuke shouldn't have tried to kill Sakura, he was only trying to protect himself. The reason why Sakura approached him was that she was on a personal mission to kill him. There was an order by the stand-in Hokage Danzo to kill Sasuke on sight due to the fact that he was considered a rogue ninja. Sakura couldn’t bear the thought of anyone harming him, so she decided that she needed to be the one to do the deed.
Regardless of everything that happened in these chapters/episodes, Sasuke did apologize to Sakura at the end of the series and it was implied that their bonds grew stronger.
2. SasuSaku Ranked In the Top 10 On A Poll For The Most Reblogged Ship
In 2015, SasuSaku was ranked 7th in a poll for the most reblogged ship on Tumblr. Tumblr defines "ship" as a “noun-short for 'relationship'; an imagined romantic pairing of two people, fictional or otherwise.”
The ships that beat out SasuSaku were Larry Stylinson (Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction), Dan and Phil (Youtubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester), Destiel (Dean Winchester and Castiel of Supernatural), Olicity (Oliver Queen & Felicity Smoak of Arrow), Captain Swan (Captain Hook and Emma Swan of Once Upon a Time), and Korrasami (Korra and Asami of Legend of Korra).
Even if they didn’t win first place, it’s pretty interesting that, out of all the Naruto ships, SasuSaku was the most popular and managed to rank so highly on a poll.
1. Sasuke’s Forehead Poke Was Described As His Ultimate Expression Of Love
At the end of the series, Sasuke showed Sakura his ultimate expression of love by providing her with a forehead poke. Throughout flashbacks, Sasuke is seen receiving forehead pokes from his older brother Itachi. At first, he thought of it as his older brother distancing himself from him, but then he later realized that the gesture was Itachi’s form of showing his little brother love.
When Sakura suggested leaving the village with Sasuke at the end of the series, he refused her offer and gave her a forehead poke instead. This gesture speaks louder than any kiss or confession, since this motion was Sasuke’s way of saying “wait for me. I’ll be back.”
Sakura did wait for him. On the very last page of the novelization of Naruto: Sakura’s Story by Masashi Kishimoto and Tomohito Ohsaki, Sakura was the one who welcomed Sasuke home.
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Can you think of any other interesting facts about Naruto's SasuSaku? Let us hear about it in the comments!