User blog comment:Pacifista15/Manga Critiques: Naruto/@comment-1774413-20110317230707/@comment-1774413-20110318191713

Hey Pacifista, just to say, im not trying to have a confrontational argument with you. Im simply trying to show the story from a different less action-focused perspective. Though the action is a great part it is only a tool for the story.

1) "Sasuke said to kakashi that the reason he was killing was because no one in the village knew of itachi's sacrfice. It seems to me that he wants Itachi to be recognized as a hero, and the uchiha as someone besides villians. Is that doing it for Itachi's sake? It doesnt sound like he would gain much out of this for himself, so I am not seeing too much selfish desires here. And if it is in itachi's name, why is he going against his ideals so bluntly?

Well as ive said before, Sasuke is blinded by his own pain at being deceived and having killed his brother who actually cared for him the whole time. Sasuke may know Itachi's true motives and ideals, but the pain he feels over Itachi's death has created a desire for vengeance that has stopped him from following Itachi's plan. In essence his fight with Konoha isnt in Itachi's name, its an attempt to cure the pain he feels over killing Itachi.

2) "I said he wanted the clan to recognized as heroes along with itachi, right? Well, why doesnt he just tell the freakin village what itachi had to do? That seems like it would clear up a bunch of stuff and help sasuke out consideably. I doubt that anyone would say "So what, Itachi did this, he still killed his whole family." They would have to understand that the guy sufered more than the people he killed, after all, he didnt want to do this. (and itachi kept the akatsuki away)"

Yeah you are right, the logical thing for Sasuke to do would be to tell everyone Itachi's true motives, (though i doubt everyone would believe him at least at first). However you need to look at these characters as essentially humans, though they are fictional they essentially feel the same emotions and are subject to the same desires we are. in his agony over Itachi's death Sasuke isnt thinking logically, he is lost in his grief, disconnected from the world.... this is not an uncommon trait amongst even real human suffering from the death of a loved one. In that sense his failure to think logically is understandable.

3)""his blind rage" What was sasuke raging about? His brother was a hero, he is alive, and his lifelong dream has been fulfilled. Plus he has the manegkyo. So what is he pissed off about?

Sasukes rage is brought on by his drastically changed situation and life lived in a lie. You are right, on the face of it Sasuke found out his brother was a hero and got stronger along the way. However this view is very simplistic. Sasukes life goal was to kill Itachi, yet this life goal was created from a lie fabricated by the Konoha elders (Danzo), Sasuke spent his life filled with what seemed like a justified hatred of his own brother, eventually killing him, only to find out that it was all based on a lie, that his brother loved him and that the konoha elders deceived him, allowing him to follow the path of revenge and hate aimed at his brother. So whereas Sasuke may have achieved his life goal, he found out it had been a lie and one which had cost him his brother..... in this sense sasukes rage is understandable.

4) "Anyway, this was exactly what i was talking about, sasuke's trigger for all of this seems underplayed at the least. If the emotions are not easily related to, then the story fails. Or maybe I just dont understand it, i dont know. So believe what you want, this is what i think"

well i obviously disagree here, i think kishimoto has created a storyline for sasuke that has made his current situation believable. He has shown how Sasuke's entire life was based around an all consuming desire for revenge, first against Itachi and then against Konoha, and how it has blinded him to the positive aspects of life, his friends and his village. The emotions are relatable, though subtle which i think is the best way to communicate them. The inability for everyone to pick up on this is perhaps the main weakness, if any, i can see in Naruto.

Again, im simply debating the nature of the Naruto plot with you, which is fun... i dont mean to upset you or cause an argument. I am appreciative of the time you took to write this blog allowing others such as myself to express our own opinions. Thanks.