Here is when Shippuden breaks. On one side, Sasuke's decision comes in bad time, and puts on the table several issues that should have been solved before. If there was a character progression since he started fighting along team 7 again, was nullified. On the other side, Sakura, as character, was simply shattered. All her progress and development in Shippuden was ignored, for certain reasons.
The Kages ascend, Hiruzen leaves everything in Kakashi, Sakura, Kakashi, Sasuke's hands. Tobirama agrees, and tells his brother to go if he finished saying goodbye to Madara. Hashirama hopes Naruto and Sasuke won't repeat the story. A tree grows in the place Minato was. Gyuki tells Kurama that he surely will return with B, while the other Bijuus enjoy finally their freedom. Kurama is unsure. Hagoromo says that since Naruto has a chakra portion of each Bijuu, they all can gather to talk with him, and offers Kurama to lead the meetings if he stays with Naruto. The Fox agrees. Hagoromo asks Naruto if his answer changed, and he says no, is glad that Kushina is his mother, and realized that Kaguya seemed heartless. The old Sage explains that she was good but something changed when she ate the chakra fruit. Then, he explains that to undo the Tsukuyomi, are needed Naruto with the Bijuus chakra, and Sasuke's Rinnegan. When he asks Sasuke about his answer, things take a dark turn. The Uchiha wants to kill the five Kages, shocking Kakashi and Sakura, disturbing Naruto and Hagoromo. He also wants to put the Bijuus under his control. Kurama is furious and tries to attack him, but Sasuke uses the Rinnegan to place the nine beasts under genjutsu. Hagoromo says he has no much time left, and entrusts Naruto everything. But he says they won't be like Indra and Ashura. Kakashi questions Sasuke for keep with the revenge, but he reveals that his plan is different: instead of destroying Konoha, that would be rebuilt, he plans to change the shinobi system with a revolution. Sakura remembers what he said about being Hokage and how the Kages were responsible for everything. Hagoromo remembers his previous answer, which was similar. Then, Sasuke uses the Chibaku Tensei to lock the nine Bijuus inside nine small satellites. Kurama begs Naruto's help, he swears he'll get him out. For Sasuke, only Naruto now remains on his way. Hagoromo is saddened, before his decision to choose only Ashura brought war and thirst of power, and now that he chose to grant power both of them, happened the same. Naruto demands Sasuke to release the Bijuus, they won't hurt anyone. But Sasuke says that since now he is the jinchuriki of the Bijuus, he must kill him to destroy them. Kakashi and Sakura remain shocked. To undo the Tsukuyomi, he only needs to keep the nine Bijuus alive for a little longer. Naruto is firm and won't let him do that. Sasuke turns back to change the place of the fight. Kakashi tries to stop him, but he feels the effects of the Sharingan. Sakura holds him, and feels helpless about the situation. She gets angry, but instead of giving an irate brave speech, does the opposite. She couldn't stop this, still loved him, never thought he'd end up like this. All she could was cry, be shameful. She begs him to stop if she still has a place in his heart, no matter how little, if they are together, things can be like before. But he calls her an annoyance, with a bad look, and in a blur, knocks her out elbowing the chest (how cruel). She falls down, Naruto reacts for putting her under genjutsu. Kakashi also defends her, saying she just wanted to save him all this time (actually No). Sasuke coldly mocks how she could dream awake about love, and doesn't know what she saw in him, he's not interested in her at all. Kakashi says there are only reasons to hate (really?), and that she just wanted him next to her, nothing else. He says that he almost killed her, and she still suffers when she thinks of him. Sasuke coldly tells that is a lost bond in the past, after remembering his family (a flashback talking to his mother, about Fugaku and Itachi, not present in the manga), and leaves. Naruto remembers his promise to Sakura, and says he'll return. Hagoromo says that love can turn into hatred, as happened to Madara and Indra. He hopes Naruto can reconvert that hatred to love, since he could befriend Kurama, a reincarnation of hatred. Naruto and Sasuke meet at the Valley's End, and both expose their definitions of Hokage. Naruto reminds him of what Itachi said. Sasuke says he knew, but their answers are different.
Given the two big issues, I'll start with Sakura. Here she was shattered, and not only by Sasuke, also by Kishimoto. During all Shippuden, she never expressed being in love with Sasuke. From the Pilot until last episode, she demonstrated that her feelings changed since part I. She wasn't 13 anymore. She expressed care for him, wanted to save him, but slowly realized Sasuke was beyond that. She felt pain, suffered indeed, but knew he was gone for good. That's why she made the decision to confess her true feelings to Naruto, to make him forget about Sasuke. And why she tried to kill the Uchiha when the first plan didn't work. During the last episodes, she could almost felt like they were a team again. But she didn't trust him, as Sai noticed, and her actions showed, always standing next to Kakashi and Naruto. They made her feel safe, as she was scared, deep down, from the guy who tried to kill her. So what she was written to say was totally incoherent. Out of context, out of character. To start, she talked like if at some point they were a couple. Is a 16 year old that delusional? They were never nothing close to a couple. He said it himself, he was never interested. And that was in Part I. If it wasn't for Kakashi and Naruto, he'd have killed her without doubt. There's no way she can feel love for someone she doesn't even trust. And love always has reasons Kakashi. Sakura loves someone who makes her feel safe, who trusts her, knows her virtues and flaws and accepts them, someone who completes her, who values her as person, as a medic ninja. She loves someone as kind and selfless as her. That's Sakura Haruno, the development during Shippuden defined her. She should have told Sasuke that though she couldn't stop him, she wouldn't let Naruto die, she'd heal him, so if he wanted to kill him, he had to kill her as well. Then, Naruto could have protected her from that cruel hit, forced Sasuke to leave and fight somewhere else. What happened here then? Well there's only one answer given the future chapters and Boruto. Naruto had to stay with Hinata to please editors, and certain group of fans, so Sakura was sacrificed, forced to stay with the guy who actually killed her. There's no other way to explain such abrupt twist on a main character. Also, Naruto recalled the promise, even though Sakura told him to forget it. He ends up ruined as well, same as his birthday.
Then, Sasuke's decision leads to the awaited fight for the fans. I'd have accepted the reasons, but given all what happened with Madara, Kaguya, is incredible. So Sasuke was pretending all this time, cooperating with his old fellows only to save the world because he just wants to rebuild it. He wants justice by killing five Kages who have nothing to do with what happened. To start a revolution you need followers. Sasuke only has the Taka members, and Orochimaru. In other words, he's just like Madara, unsatisified with this world, he wants to create a new one. There was not even time to explain his arguments. By the way, he wants to eliminate the Bijuus, but the idiot is so ignorant that he doesn't know they cannot die. But what can know a teenager like him after all? Another point is how Sasuke retained the Rinnegan while Naruto lost the gudo damas. That was key, Sasuke should have lost Hagoromo's powers after sealing Kaguya. And the Tsukuyomi should have been canceled when she and the Juubi (the Shinju) were defeated. At this point, there were two logical options. One, the talk with Itachi, the Kages, and the last fight had an effect, he changes his ways, and goes away to rule his own village, in peace, with Itachi's memory in mind. Two, he does the same, but when he gets enough followers, challenges Naruto to a definitive battle for the rule of Konoha. With both characters older, mature on his ideas, they collide to give the awaited fight. Clearly, Kishimoto was forced to end the story, grant the fight, no matter if was the right moment or not. In any case, Sasuke needs an end. If he dies, is the likely option. He got the hatred and rejection of all the shinobi world after his crimes, even if he helped to defeat Kaguya, intends to kill the five Kages, captured the Bijuus, has cruelly knocked out Sakura, and wants to kill Naruto. So, if Naruto doesn't kill him, Sasuke will end up like Madara. Hashirama tried to include him at Konoha, but he and his ideas were rejected. At the end, the 1st Hokage had to kill him. No matter what Naruto says, democracy imposes itself like Tobirama said. People decide. Not even the Bijuus will accept Sasuke like nothing. Tobirama explained how the Uchihas are, while more powerful, more hatred. The Uchiha clan was cursed to die. And Hagoromo was wrong, Kurama was not hatred incarnated, was just like the other beasts, who kill by instinct. B changed Gyuki and has no credit for it. Bonboku was kind to Shukaku, Yugito seemed in peace with the Nibi, same as Yagura with Isobu. What Naruto pretends is an utopy, unrealistic fantasy. That's why I preferred to avoid this fight and get Sasuke killed with Madara. That way, Naruto would have not been forced to kill Sasuke or to make a childish whiny decision, imposing his point of view to the world, and the Bijuus. Stories need realistic lessons. This one sends poor messages instead, that love is blind and can achieve everything, no matter the crimes, murders, or killing attempts a person commits.
The Kages ascend, Hiruzen leaves everything in Kakashi, Sakura, Kakashi, Sasuke's hands. Tobirama agrees, and tells his brother to go if he finished saying goodbye to Madara. Hashirama hopes Naruto and Sasuke won't repeat the story. A tree grows in the place Minato was. Gyuki tells Kurama that he surely will return with B, while the other Bijuus enjoy finally their freedom. Kurama is unsure. Hagoromo says that since Naruto has a chakra portion of each Bijuu, they all can gather to talk with him, and offers Kurama to lead the meetings if he stays with Naruto. The Fox agrees. Hagoromo asks Naruto if his answer changed, and he says no, is glad that Kushina is his mother, and realized that Kaguya seemed heartless. The old Sage explains that she was good but something changed when she ate the chakra fruit. Then, he explains that to undo the Tsukuyomi, are needed Naruto with the Bijuus chakra, and Sasuke's Rinnegan. When he asks Sasuke about his answer, things take a dark turn. The Uchiha wants to kill the five Kages, shocking Kakashi and Sakura, disturbing Naruto and Hagoromo. He also wants to put the Bijuus under his control. Kurama is furious and tries to attack him, but Sasuke uses the Rinnegan to place the nine beasts under genjutsu. Hagoromo says he has no much time left, and entrusts Naruto everything. But he says they won't be like Indra and Ashura. Kakashi questions Sasuke for keep with the revenge, but he reveals that his plan is different: instead of destroying Konoha, that would be rebuilt, he plans to change the shinobi system with a revolution. Sakura remembers what he said about being Hokage and how the Kages were responsible for everything. Hagoromo remembers his previous answer, which was similar. Then, Sasuke uses the Chibaku Tensei to lock the nine Bijuus inside nine small satellites. Kurama begs Naruto's help, he swears he'll get him out. For Sasuke, only Naruto now remains on his way. Hagoromo is saddened, before his decision to choose only Ashura brought war and thirst of power, and now that he chose to grant power both of them, happened the same. Naruto demands Sasuke to release the Bijuus, they won't hurt anyone. But Sasuke says that since now he is the jinchuriki of the Bijuus, he must kill him to destroy them. Kakashi and Sakura remain shocked. To undo the Tsukuyomi, he only needs to keep the nine Bijuus alive for a little longer. Naruto is firm and won't let him do that. Sasuke turns back to change the place of the fight. Kakashi tries to stop him, but he feels the effects of the Sharingan. Sakura holds him, and feels helpless about the situation. She gets angry, but instead of giving an irate brave speech, does the opposite. She couldn't stop this, still loved him, never thought he'd end up like this. All she could was cry, be shameful. She begs him to stop if she still has a place in his heart, no matter how little, if they are together, things can be like before. But he calls her an annoyance, with a bad look, and in a blur, knocks her out elbowing the chest (how cruel). She falls down, Naruto reacts for putting her under genjutsu. Kakashi also defends her, saying she just wanted to save him all this time (actually No). Sasuke coldly mocks how she could dream awake about love, and doesn't know what she saw in him, he's not interested in her at all. Kakashi says there are only reasons to hate (really?), and that she just wanted him next to her, nothing else. He says that he almost killed her, and she still suffers when she thinks of him. Sasuke coldly tells that is a lost bond in the past, after remembering his family (a flashback talking to his mother, about Fugaku and Itachi, not present in the manga), and leaves. Naruto remembers his promise to Sakura, and says he'll return. Hagoromo says that love can turn into hatred, as happened to Madara and Indra. He hopes Naruto can reconvert that hatred to love, since he could befriend Kurama, a reincarnation of hatred. Naruto and Sasuke meet at the Valley's End, and both expose their definitions of Hokage. Naruto reminds him of what Itachi said. Sasuke says he knew, but their answers are different.
Given the two big issues, I'll start with Sakura. Here she was shattered, and not only by Sasuke, also by Kishimoto. During all Shippuden, she never expressed being in love with Sasuke. From the Pilot until last episode, she demonstrated that her feelings changed since part I. She wasn't 13 anymore. She expressed care for him, wanted to save him, but slowly realized Sasuke was beyond that. She felt pain, suffered indeed, but knew he was gone for good. That's why she made the decision to confess her true feelings to Naruto, to make him forget about Sasuke. And why she tried to kill the Uchiha when the first plan didn't work. During the last episodes, she could almost felt like they were a team again. But she didn't trust him, as Sai noticed, and her actions showed, always standing next to Kakashi and Naruto. They made her feel safe, as she was scared, deep down, from the guy who tried to kill her. So what she was written to say was totally incoherent. Out of context, out of character. To start, she talked like if at some point they were a couple. Is a 16 year old that delusional? They were never nothing close to a couple. He said it himself, he was never interested. And that was in Part I. If it wasn't for Kakashi and Naruto, he'd have killed her without doubt. There's no way she can feel love for someone she doesn't even trust. And love always has reasons Kakashi. Sakura loves someone who makes her feel safe, who trusts her, knows her virtues and flaws and accepts them, someone who completes her, who values her as person, as a medic ninja. She loves someone as kind and selfless as her. That's Sakura Haruno, the development during Shippuden defined her. She should have told Sasuke that though she couldn't stop him, she wouldn't let Naruto die, she'd heal him, so if he wanted to kill him, he had to kill her as well. Then, Naruto could have protected her from that cruel hit, forced Sasuke to leave and fight somewhere else. What happened here then? Well there's only one answer given the future chapters and Boruto. Naruto had to stay with Hinata to please editors, and certain group of fans, so Sakura was sacrificed, forced to stay with the guy who actually killed her. There's no other way to explain such abrupt twist on a main character. Also, Naruto recalled the promise, even though Sakura told him to forget it. He ends up ruined as well, same as his birthday.
Then, Sasuke's decision leads to the awaited fight for the fans. I'd have accepted the reasons, but given all what happened with Madara, Kaguya, is incredible. So Sasuke was pretending all this time, cooperating with his old fellows only to save the world because he just wants to rebuild it. He wants justice by killing five Kages who have nothing to do with what happened. To start a revolution you need followers. Sasuke only has the Taka members, and Orochimaru. In other words, he's just like Madara, unsatisified with this world, he wants to create a new one. There was not even time to explain his arguments. By the way, he wants to eliminate the Bijuus, but the idiot is so ignorant that he doesn't know they cannot die. But what can know a teenager like him after all? Another point is how Sasuke retained the Rinnegan while Naruto lost the gudo damas. That was key, Sasuke should have lost Hagoromo's powers after sealing Kaguya. And the Tsukuyomi should have been canceled when she and the Juubi (the Shinju) were defeated. At this point, there were two logical options. One, the talk with Itachi, the Kages, and the last fight had an effect, he changes his ways, and goes away to rule his own village, in peace, with Itachi's memory in mind. Two, he does the same, but when he gets enough followers, challenges Naruto to a definitive battle for the rule of Konoha. With both characters older, mature on his ideas, they collide to give the awaited fight. Clearly, Kishimoto was forced to end the story, grant the fight, no matter if was the right moment or not. In any case, Sasuke needs an end. If he dies, is the likely option. He got the hatred and rejection of all the shinobi world after his crimes, even if he helped to defeat Kaguya, intends to kill the five Kages, captured the Bijuus, has cruelly knocked out Sakura, and wants to kill Naruto. So, if Naruto doesn't kill him, Sasuke will end up like Madara. Hashirama tried to include him at Konoha, but he and his ideas were rejected. At the end, the 1st Hokage had to kill him. No matter what Naruto says, democracy imposes itself like Tobirama said. People decide. Not even the Bijuus will accept Sasuke like nothing. Tobirama explained how the Uchihas are, while more powerful, more hatred. The Uchiha clan was cursed to die. And Hagoromo was wrong, Kurama was not hatred incarnated, was just like the other beasts, who kill by instinct. B changed Gyuki and has no credit for it. Bonboku was kind to Shukaku, Yugito seemed in peace with the Nibi, same as Yagura with Isobu. What Naruto pretends is an utopy, unrealistic fantasy. That's why I preferred to avoid this fight and get Sasuke killed with Madara. That way, Naruto would have not been forced to kill Sasuke or to make a childish whiny decision, imposing his point of view to the world, and the Bijuus. Stories need realistic lessons. This one sends poor messages instead, that love is blind and can achieve everything, no matter the crimes, murders, or killing attempts a person commits.
