#gaasasu

Let's ship Sasuke!

There are many interesting parallels in Naruto, but the one between Gaara and Sasuke is rarely discussed, despite being a prominent thread in both characters' journeys.

To begin, let's explore the similarities in their backstories. Both Gaara and Sasuke were betrayed by someone they loved and trusted deeply. Yashamaru and Itachi were each forced to attempt/commit murder of their loved ones under orders from authority figures (Rasa/Danzo), and had to conceal their true feelings of love for their nephew/brother. Gaara and Sasuke were left behind as victims of cruel deception, taught to get strong by fueling themselves with hatred, and only learned the truth many years later.

Plagued by a bloodthirsty tailed beast, chronic insomnia, village-wide ostracization, and numerous assassination attempts orchestrated by his own father, Gaara spiraled into a violent and unstable state over the years. Meanwhile, Sasuke—though wounded by the Uchiha massacre—had begun to heal through the bonds he formed with Team 7. It was at this point that the two boys first met.

Before the chunin exams began, they recognized each other's strength. Sasuke commented on the dangerous look in Gaara's eyes, and Gaara, in turn, saw the same hatred in Sasuke's—hatred born from betrayal, loneliness, and loss. This recognition sparked an obsession: Gaara wanted to kill Sasuke to "prove the worth of his existence." In other words, he wanted to prove his power as a weapon. Since Gaara believed his only purpose was to be a weapon, destroying someone with similar strength and values would prove he was irreplaceable. It would mean he was useful, wanted, no longer a "failed experiment" or a "relic others wished would disappear."

But after Konoha Crush and Itachi's visit, their roles began to reverse. Gaara aspired to purge the hatred within himself and form bonds with others in Suna. Sasuke, on the other hand, allowed his hatred to dictate his actions. He defected from Konoha, severing his bonds with those who cared about him. By the time they met again at the Five Kage Summit, Gaara had risen to the position of Kazekage, while Sasuke had fallen—now a wanted criminal in a terrorist organization. Once someone who only lived for himself, Gaara had become someone who had sacrificed his life for his people. Once someone who would die for his teammates, Sasuke had become someone who would kill anyone who stood in his way.

When Gaara remarked that Sasuke's eyes hadn't changed (ironic considering how much his sharingan had evolved), Sasuke surprisingly recalled Gaara's words in the past about them being alike.

Gaara knew firsthand what hatred could do to a person, so he tried to save Sasuke from it, just as Naruto once saved him. Even when his siblings dismissed the comparison, Gaara insisted that they were alike, and that there was still a chance for Sasuke to see the light. But Sasuke, driven by his urgent desire to kill Danzo, refused to listen.

Then came that powerful moment: a tear rolled down Gaara's face. It wasn't because he thought of how Naruto would be sad to hear about Sasuke. It was simply because he felt sad for Sasuke. Had circumstances been different, Gaara could have continued down the same dark path. He genuinely wanted to help Sasuke get out of that vengeful mindset, yet nothing he said could reach him. And so, Gaara was torn between his personal feelings and responsibilities. Just as Naruto once cried for him but still resolved to kill him if necessary, Gaara cried for Sasuke because he didn't want to fight him—but as Kazekage, he had his duties.

It's fascinating how Kishimoto crafted two characters who are so similar, yet so different. Gaara and Sasuke both suffered deep trauma in childhood, but their responses to Naruto's kindness diverged drastically. Gaara accepted it and sought change, while Sasuke kept pushing it away. There are several reasons for this:

According to Obito, the Uchiha are genetically predisposed to vengeance—it's in their blood to turn pain into hatred and cling to it.

Naruto could relate more easily to Gaara's pain, as they were both jinchuriki—shunned by their villages and feared for the monsters they carried. In contrast, Naruto didn't fully grasp Sasuke's—the grief of losing a loving family—until much later.

Gaara learned right after his battle with Naruto that Rasa had died—removing one of his biggest tormentors and allowing him to move forward. On the other hand, Sasuke learned the truth about Itachi, which only drove him further into vengeance, convinced he had to shoulder the hatred of the Uchiha and the shinobi world alone, like Itachi once did.

Both were consumed by hatred, and both were saved by Naruto. But while Gaara embraced that light early, Sasuke took the long road through darkness before he could finally understand it.

((just got my new Naruto Shippuden DVDs and look who they put on box sets 3&4 🥹🥹🥹 SASUGAA I KNOW YOURE REAL I SEE YOU