NARUTO COLUMNS
03/28/2024
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Sakura's Birthday on 3/28! Looking Back on the Radiant Flower of the Battlefield Known for Her Loving Heart!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the member of Team Seven who flourished under the guidance of the Fifth Hokage: Sakura Haruno!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the member of Team Seven who flourished under the guidance of the Fifth Hokage: Sakura Haruno!
■Sakura Haruno
・Birthday: March 28th (Aries)
・Favorite Food: Shiratama anmitsu, pickled plums
Enduring Winter, Awaiting Spring
Though she's later famous for her strength and competitive spirit, in her younger days Sakura is an introverted girl who is often bullied to the point of tears.
The catalyst for Sakura's change is her classmate at the Ninja Academy, Ino Yamanaka.
Ino encourages her to not hide the things she's insecure about, invites Sakura into her circle of friends, and drives off the bullies. The young Sakura views her almost as a kind of savior.
Ino encourages her to not hide the things she's insecure about, invites Sakura into her circle of friends, and drives off the bullies. The young Sakura views her almost as a kind of savior.
Holding Ino's words in her heart, Sakura presses on with hopes of a brighter future. By the time graduation rolls around, her shy personality has vanished entirely.
From Lovestruck Girl to Shinobi!
Sakura successfully graduates and becomes a Genin.
However, she is more interested in romance than ninjutsu, and is overjoyed to be on the same team as Sasuke.
However, she is more interested in romance than ninjutsu, and is overjoyed to be on the same team as Sasuke.
However, while taking on missions under the guidance of Jonin Kakashi Hatake, she slowly starts to understand what it means to be a ninja, and her budding talents begin to show.
During the escort mission to the Land of Waves, she focuses on protecting the client despite being frightened by the presence of enemy shinobi, and when doing chakra control exercises she is able to climb to the top of the tree long before her teammates.
On top of that, in the second round of the Chunin Exam that Team Seven undertakes, she shows tremendous courage in protecting Naruto and Sasuke after they are rendered unconscious by Orochimaru!
On top of that, in the second round of the Chunin Exam that Team Seven undertakes, she shows tremendous courage in protecting Naruto and Sasuke after they are rendered unconscious by Orochimaru!
Sakura severs her own hair, despite it having always been extremely important to her.
She is driven to action by a desire to emulate the friends who have stood between her and danger countless times in the past.
She is driven to action by a desire to emulate the friends who have stood between her and danger countless times in the past.
"ALL OF YOU.
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN...
...TO WATCH MY BACK!!"
To protect those same friends, who now lie injured, Sakura lays her life on the line.
Not holding anything back, she leaps into battle!
Not holding anything back, she leaps into battle!
Team Seven is able to escape danger and pass the second round of the Chunin Exam. And then in the preliminaries for the third round, Sakura must face her former protector Ino in battle.
To fulfill the oath they once made, as fellow kunoichi and love rivals, both of them tighten their headbands across their foreheads. Neither will admit defeat.
Sakura fights using her chakra control, which Kakashi praises as "an area in which Sakura has surpassed even Sasuke" and a fighting spirit strong enough to overcome Ino's Mind Transfer technique.
Sakura fights using her chakra control, which Kakashi praises as "an area in which Sakura has surpassed even Sasuke" and a fighting spirit strong enough to overcome Ino's Mind Transfer technique.
The showdown turns into a knock-down-drag-out fight that lasts more than ten minutes...and is finally resolved in a mutual KO.
After the battle concludes, the two praise each other, before reaffirming their rivalry in both love and shinobi skills.
Unheard Pleas and Broken Bonds
The Chunin Exam, Operation Destroy Konoha, and the Akatsuki's attack...
Team Seven and the other ninja of the Hidden Leaf have persevered through great hardships. Now, the greatest crisis for the team since its formation is upon them.
Team Seven and the other ninja of the Hidden Leaf have persevered through great hardships. Now, the greatest crisis for the team since its formation is upon them.
The fight between Naruto and Sasuke this time is unlike their previous clashes.
Sakura attempts to stop them, but their duel begins despite her protests and rapidly escalates out of control.
The two even attempt to use their most powerful techniques, Rasengan and Chidori, on each other.
Unable to bear watching, Sakura dives in between them.
Sakura attempts to stop them, but their duel begins despite her protests and rapidly escalates out of control.
The two even attempt to use their most powerful techniques, Rasengan and Chidori, on each other.
Unable to bear watching, Sakura dives in between them.
Disaster is averted thanks to Kakashi's interference, but the incident causes irrevocable rifts to begin forming in Team Seven.
Then, one night...
Then, one night...
Sasuke decides to break all bonds of fellowship and leave the village.
Sakura desperately tries to talk him out of it.
Sakura desperately tries to talk him out of it.
"YOU AND ME...NARUTO AND MASTER KAKASHI...
THE FOUR OF US, ON SO MANY MISSIONS.
IT WAS ROUGH, SOMETIMES...AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD CALL IT EASY, BUT...
WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO IT...
IT WAS FUN."
But Sakura's pleas fall on deaf ears, and Sasuke remains unswayed.
Sasuke departs Konoha and heads towards Orochimaru.
The following morning a team led by Shikamaru is dispatched to pursue him.
Naruto is naturally part of this unit, and Sakura entrusts him with the responsibility of retrieving Sasuke.
The following morning a team led by Shikamaru is dispatched to pursue him.
Naruto is naturally part of this unit, and Sakura entrusts him with the responsibility of retrieving Sasuke.
"NARUTO, THIS...THIS IS MY WISH...OF A LIFETIME...
PLEASE...PLEASE BRING SASUKE BACK..."
Some days later, Naruto and the others return to the village, battered but safe.
Naruto smiles and vows that he will keep his promise with Sakura in accordance with his shinobi way, but seeing that pains Sakura's heart.
"I...
ALL I DID WAS CRY FOR HELP...
I JUST CRIED, AND REACHED OUT, AND CLUNG TO YOU...
I DID NOTHING..."
"YOU'LL NEED TO WAIT FOR A WHILE...
BUT NEXT TIME, I'M COMING WITH YOU!"
Despite the pain of parting from Sasuke, Sakura looks to the future once more. Though she knows it will be a long and difficult road, she holds on to the vow between her and Naruto, in hopes of things someday returning to how they used to be.
Blossoming Under the Fifth Hokage!
Sakura flourishes under Tsunade's teaching.
Thanks to her superior chakra control, she soon proves to be talented with medical ninjutsu.
Thanks to her superior chakra control, she soon proves to be talented with medical ninjutsu.
Though Naruto is absent due to his training trip with Jiraiya, their shared goals keep Sakura working hard.
And then, two and half years later, Naruto finally returns.
Sakura has grown as much as he has, and not merely in terms of her height.
Her chakra control has not only granted her skill with medical ninjutsu, but explosive power too.
Rather than being protected by Naruto or Kakashi, the time has come for her to show her stuff as a core member of the team!
Rather than being protected by Naruto or Kakashi, the time has come for her to show her stuff as a core member of the team!
"AND THIS TIME...I'LL PROTECT THEM BOTH...!!"
The newly-reformed Team Kakashi's first mission takes them to the Hidden Sand in order to fight against the Akatsuki. Still determined to someday retrieve Sasuke, Sakura faces down the Akatsuki without hesitation!
Sakura teams up with Hidden Sand veteran Granny Chiyo, and the two cover each other's weaknesses as they take on the Akatsuki's genius puppet master, Sasori.
When Sasori's attacks render Granny Chiyo's puppets useless, Sakura volunteers her own body.
When Sasori's attacks render Granny Chiyo's puppets useless, Sakura volunteers her own body.
"I MIGHT NOT BE RIGGED UP WITH FANCY WEAPONS, LIKE THE PUPPETS...
BUT WHAT HAS BEEN HAMMERED INTO ME...IS THE UNBENDING SPIRIT OF MY MASTER!"
"THAT'S JUST SWELL! 'CAUSE LIKE MY MASTER, I LEARNED TO FIGHT WITH MY BARE HANDS!"
The pair of them successfully destroy Sasori's puppet collection, forcing him to use his final puppet—himself.
Although both of them are heavily wounded, Sakura and Granny Chiyo are able to seize victory.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK...HUMAN LIFE IS?!
WHAT'S FAMILY TO YOU?!"
"WHY...? WHY CAN YOU ONLY THINK OF THINGS THAT WAY?!"
Though Sasori had become nearly like a puppet himself, Sakura's cry moved what remained of his heart. He gave her a clue about Orochimaru's location—and therefore Sasuke's!
An Emotional Reunion
Using the information they gained from Sasori, Sakura and the others attempt to make contact with Orochimaru's group.
Though they face many difficulties, such as Naruto losing control of the Nine Tails' chakra and the betrayal of their new teammate Sai, they make it to Orochimaru's hideout.
There, a long-awaited reunion takes place.
Though they face many difficulties, such as Naruto losing control of the Nine Tails' chakra and the betrayal of their new teammate Sai, they make it to Orochimaru's hideout.
There, a long-awaited reunion takes place.
Sakura is briefly struck dumb upon seeing Sasuke, but remembering her previous determination, she joins the battle against him.
However, they are helpless in the face of the overwhelming strength Sasuke now possesses...and are unable to prevent him from returning to Orochimaru's side.
"CRYING...WON'T MAKE SASUKE COME BACK, NARUTO.
WE HAVE TO BE STRONG. YOU AND ME. TOGETHER."
Sakura rebukes Naruto as she tries to shore up her own resolve.
After their meeting, Sasuke defeats not only Orochimaru but also his brother Itachi, and becomes infamous throughout the shinobi territories for various hostilities.
After their meeting, Sasuke defeats not only Orochimaru but also his brother Itachi, and becomes infamous throughout the shinobi territories for various hostilities.
In the meantime, Naruto rapidly grows stronger through training and conflict. He defeats the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain, and is hailed as the hero of the Hidden Leaf.
The destruction wrought by Pain forces reforms on Konoha. The newly appointed Hokage, Danzo, issues a decree permitting Sasuke's disposal.
The ninja of the Leaf all begin to take action based on their own thoughts and feelings.
Amidst the turbulence, Sakura realizes through Sai's words the depth of Naruto's feelings towards her.
Amidst the turbulence, Sakura realizes through Sai's words the depth of Naruto's feelings towards her.
In order to stop Sasuke and relieve Naruto of the burden of his promise to her, Sakura takes drastic action.
She deceives her friends and heads out on her own, intending to kill the man she still loves with her own two hands.
She attempts to take Sasuke's life using a kunai knife, but her resolve fails her and she ends up nearly being killed herself.
Naruto and Kakashi arrive in the nick of time, marking a bitter reunion for Team Seven.
Sakura then understands the level of determination Naruto feels towards Sasuke, and decides to trust in the two of them. Still believing that things can return to how they once were, she decides to forge her own shinobi way.
"NARUTO...THANK YOU...AS ALWAYS.
THANKS TO YOU...
...I STILL DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UP MY DREAM THAT ONE DAY,
CELL NUMBER 7 WILL LAUGH TOGETHER AGAIN...!"
Blooming Proudly on the Front Lines
The Fourth Great Ninja War begins and soon drags the whole shinobi world into it.
Sakura supports the Allied Shinobi Forces as a member of the medical corps.
Sakura supports the Allied Shinobi Forces as a member of the medical corps.
Then, the war comes to its final stage.
The Allied Shinobi Forces must gather all of their strength to pit it against the ultimate Biju: the Ten Tails!
The Allied Shinobi Forces must gather all of their strength to pit it against the ultimate Biju: the Ten Tails!
Sasuke appears to reinforce them, and Team Seven is finally reborn!
As the three of them face the Ten Tails together, Sakura recalls the vow she made during the Chunin Exam.
Her years of chasing after her teammates and training under her teacher finally pay off in the eleventh hour!
"THIS TIME, WE FIGHT WITH OUR BACKS TO EACH OTHER!!"
"LADY TSUNADE, IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO THEM!!"
Fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with Naruto and Sasuke as equals, Sakura's long-held wish at last reaches fruition.
On top of using the Mitotic Regeneration Jutsu, she successfully summons a gigantic slug!
Even in the face of Madara's overwhelming power, she keeps up her onslaught!
Even in the face of Madara's overwhelming power, she keeps up her onslaught!
She also helps save Sasuke when he's thrown into another dimension during the fight against Kaguya Otsutsuki!
Plus, in the confrontation, she aids greatly in sealing Kaguya by blocking her escape with a forceful blow!
"DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME!!
WE'RE BOTH WOMEN...SO DON'T YOU MOCK ME!!!"
Team Seven returns from the other dimension victorious.
However, there's no time to relax.
Naruto and Sasuke prepare for their final duel.
However, there's no time to relax.
Naruto and Sasuke prepare for their final duel.
"I...I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO...
...EVEN THOUGH I LOVE YOU!!
EVEN THOUGH I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT YOU, SASUKE!!
I CAN'T GET CLOSE TO YOU...
...OR EXCHANGE BLOWS WITH YOU...
I CAN ONLY WHINE, BEG, AND CRY LIKE THIS AGAIN.
IT'S TOTALLY PITIFUL, ISN'T IT?!"
"BUT...BUT, SASUKE!
IF THERE'S EVEN A LITTLE CORNER OF YOUR HEART THAT THINKS ABOUT ME...
...PLEASE DON'T LEAVE AGAIN!
IF WE JUST STICK TOGETHER, I KNOW IT CAN BE...
...LIKE THE OLD TIMES AGAIN, SOMEDAY..."
Sakura desperately pleads from the bottom of her heart, but Sasuke is unmoved.
He and Naruto head out for their final confrontation.
He and Naruto head out for their final confrontation.
By the time Sakura and Kakashi arrive at the Final Valley, the battle is over.
Naruto and Sasuke are both immobile and each has lost an arm.
Naruto and Sasuke are both immobile and each has lost an arm.
Even without hearing a single word, Sakura moves to treat the pair, understanding that their quarrel has come to an end at last.
"IT'S ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME...
...YOU IDIOT!"
Team Seven returns to being able to laugh together, just like the old days.
Sakura sees Sasuke off on a journey of atonement, and with his gratitude in her heart, pushes forward to help build a new world of peace...
Sakura sees Sasuke off on a journey of atonement, and with his gratitude in her heart, pushes forward to help build a new world of peace...
...And so, ten years pass.
Finally married to her first love, Sakura nurtures and protects the next generation as it blossoms.
Her strength and beauty remain unchanged as she navigates the challenges of motherhood with her head held high.
Finally married to her first love, Sakura nurtures and protects the next generation as it blossoms.
Her strength and beauty remain unchanged as she navigates the challenges of motherhood with her head held high.
"WHADDYA THINK YOU'RE DOING TO MY HUBBY AND BELOVED DAUGHTER?!!"
Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)
That's all for Sakura's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the explosive growth and unwavering love of Sakura Haruno!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the explosive growth and unwavering love of Sakura Haruno!
