The Great Saga of Re-reading Naruto

It’s heartbreaking how Sasuke and Naruto are so far from being able to understand each other at this point. Naruto’s heart is open for Sasuke but Sasuke’s is closing more and more. Kakashi can see into both of them and explain what’s going on but it’s too late to fix the brokenness right now.

It certainly doesn’t help Sasuke’s psyche but considering how cocky he was originally, thinking his chidori was so much more powerful than whatever Naruto was doing, this is important for him to see. Sasuke is the one who egged Naruto into the fight and he sees the result here. That water tower could have been his body. He should be a little bit afraid and upset.

Naruto and Sasuke are both disappointingly stupid during this fight. This panel presents that starkly.

Sasuke is still the one defining their relationship at this point. Naruto does not want to fight Sasuke. He arrived at the hospital in order to see his friend and encourage his recovery. But Sasuke cannot stand that Naruto has stamped himself all over his life--growing in Sakura’s estimation, gaining more power, even being more important to his number one enemy. Sasuke won’t accept Naruto’s friendship now.

Naruto is a true believer in Konoha. His ties to his home and friends and family have brought him strength and love. Here he has just returned from a mission where Jiraiya and Tsunade reinforced the importance and the power that can come from tying oneself to their village.

Boys.

Please.

There’s a lot going on in this simple interaction: presenting that Naruto isn't the only one who yearns for validation; showing that Shikamaru is ahead of his age in leadership skills; reiterating what a great friendship Shikamaru and Chouji have; admitting that boys have body issues too.

He advises, he encourages, he provides verbal and physical affection. 

This moment is seriously upsetting because of the violent way he rejects Sakura’s caregiving and his building ire against Naruto.

I can’t even express how important Iruka is.

After traveling with Jiraiya and having the lesson of adulthood pounded into him, after struggling to understand Tsunade and meet her expectations, after learning that Kabuto is a traitor, after fighting to the point of near-death, after coming home and not being able to bond with his team members...

This is everything Naruto wanted when he left with Jiraiya: Sasuke healed and Sakura happy.

Shikamaru does have intellectual growing to do in some areas.