isaz

*sigh* In defenese of Chapter 19....

I'm puzzled by some arguments claiming Naruto's original story never featured love to this degree. Really? Why exactly was Naruto going to such lengths to save his comrade? What was the interplay between Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato as they were forming the Akatsuki? All the pining and crushes on their peers from Rock Lee, Jiraiya, Naruto, Obito, etc. What do you mean this story was never about love?

Is it because Naruto frequently used the term "bonds" to describe what they were feeling, versus the dreaded "love." "Bonds" between brothers, rivals, comrades, your community, your enemies, etc.

Is it because the characters in Boruto are slightly more...transparent/forward about what they're feeling. You could argue that this is an effect of Eida (which is a whole other convo for which I WILL NOT defend Ikemoto on because I don't like how she was introduced to us). But truthfully, I think the key difference that turns reader off is the intentional use of the word "love".

But "love" can encompass so many things beyond romantic affection. "Love" for your child--Sasuke's Shinju is experiencing this as he attacked Sarada. "Love" for your comrade--Matsuri is dealing with her complicated feelings, because this person feels so familiar, and yet she cannot have the same relationship that Moegi has due to the circumstances. "Love" ties them to their humanity--that's why they have to devour it, lest it devours them. If you replaced the word "love" for "bonds" in Jura's speech, the sentiment is similar. People have sentiments that hinder their reasoning, that cause them to act irrationally.

Remember when Sasuke was obsessed with severing his "bond" with Naruto? That was him trying to devour any "love" he felt for his friend or village, so that he could seek vengeance. There's a reason Jura is saying this speech to Sasuke's Shinju in particular.

But the thing that bugs me most about this "dislike love" argument:

...The Naruto characters DID express romantic love VERY OUTWARDLY and WITHOUT SHAME. Naruto and Rock Lee openly pined after Sakura. Sakura and Ino pined after Sasuke. Hinata pined after Naruto. Obito pined after Rin. Jiraiya pined after Tsunade. Yahiko and Nagato competed for Konan's affections. Not to mention the multiple sexy jutsus/perverted bits. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BORUTO TALKS ABOUT LOVE MORE THAN NARUTO, LIKE GENUINELY??

The only key difference is in Boruto these romantic love discussions are largely mediated by one character: Eida. Her influence gets the characters talking about their feelings more openly, and even acting in "irrational" ways. Again, I have many issues with how she's written. But I think it's unfair to act as if TBV just throws in love, when it's more reiterating a concept we are familar with ("bonds") as a new motivating force.

What I cannot defend TBV on: oversexualization of girls and women in the story, excessive blushing to the point where it feels infantilizing.

There's one thing that I wanted to see in the war arc, a reunion between Suigetsu and his brother. Oh we need this one 🥺

I'm sorry, I know this is completely irrelevant, but your request has been on my list of ideas for a long time...

I want to draw some pages about it, but I don't have the skills to do it yet. So since it's going to take a while, I'll talk a little about it and leave this cute picture of them together here 🥹

About Suigetsu and Mangetsu meeting in the war...

I don't think their meeting would be super exciting, actually. Since Jugo was with Suigetsu when Mangetsu was summoned in the war, I think they would both see him together. Jugo would probably know right away that they were related, since they look so much alike. And Suigetsu must be speechless for several seconds, looking at his brother with a heavy heart... But let's remember that most of those summoned by Edo Tensei left people completely controlled, without a will of their own. So, Mangetsu wouldn't be able to answer Suigetsu or recognize him.

So, after thinking about it for a bit, Suigetsu would ignore him (still emotional, but trying not to show it) and go after Karin and Sasuke as planned, probably saying something to Jugo like "'that' is not my brother. My brother is already dead."

I think Suigetsu, unlike Sasuke, doesn't have any hard feelings about his brother's death. He's already accepted that Mangetsu is gone, that's why he never seems sad when he talks about him, and also, Suigetsu loves the members of Team Taka very much at this point and already sees them as close friends/family. He would prioritize going to help Sasuke in the war than trying to bring his dead brother's body back to consciousness.

That's it.