NARUTO COLUMNS
07/23/2024
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Sasuke's Birthday on 7/23 (Part 1)! Looking Back on the Boy Who Shouldered the Uchiha Clan's Fate and Set Off Down a Path of Vengeance!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the boy whose intense love for his family led him to live for revenge, and who eventually found a new shinobi way through his many conflicts with Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha!
In part one, we'll cover everything from Sasuke's birth to his defection from the Hidden Leaf Village!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the boy whose intense love for his family led him to live for revenge, and who eventually found a new shinobi way through his many conflicts with Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha!
In part one, we'll cover everything from Sasuke's birth to his defection from the Hidden Leaf Village!
■Sasuke Uchiha
・Birthday: July 23rd (Leo)
・Favorite Foods: okaka rice balls, tomatoes
A Hatred Born from Love
Sasuke is born to an elite clan of the Hidden Leaf: the Uchiha.
He looks up to his father, Fugaku, who serves as the chief of the Leaf Police Force. Sasuke also greatly admires his older brother, Itachi, who joined the Black Ops division at an impressively young age and works alongside their father.
"STARTING TOMORROW, I'M GONNA GIVE IT MY ALL AT THE ACADEMY.
THEN, EVEN FATHER WILL RECOGNIZE MY ABILITY.
HE'LL RESPECT ME AS MUCH AS HE RESPECTS MY BIG BROTHER."
Sasuke longs to become as strong as his brother and earn his father's praise.
With this goal in mind, he promises Itachi that he'll someday work alongside him.
With this goal in mind, he promises Itachi that he'll someday work alongside him.
"THEN WHEN I GROW UP...
I'M GONNA JOIN THE POLICE FORCE TOO!!"
He finally enters the Ninja Academy, the first step toward achieving his dreams.
But far from what he'd hoped, the adults around him still all compare him to his brother.
But far from what he'd hoped, the adults around him still all compare him to his brother.
Despite doing well in school, he does not receive the recognition he hoped for from his father.
Due to this, Sasuke begins to struggle with a sense of inferiority.
However, he is determined to prove his worth to his father, and pushes himself to train even harder.
His efforts bear fruit, and he succeeds in learning a new jutsu: Fire Style: Fireball Technique!
He finally hears the words he has wanted his father to say for so long.
But Fugaku has more to give than just praise...
Cryptic advice from his father about Itachi, and a growing feeling that his brother has suddenly changed weigh heavily on Sasuke...
This building unease culminates one night when his life is shattered by tragedy.
This building unease culminates one night when his life is shattered by tragedy.
The brother who was always so kind to him slaughters their parents and clan, throwing Sasuke into a nightmarish new reality.
The bonds torn apart by this violence leave wounds much too large for a young child, and Sasuke is deeply scarred.
The bonds torn apart by this violence leave wounds much too large for a young child, and Sasuke is deeply scarred.
Having lost everything, he swears to live for revenge.
New Bonds with Team Seven
Following the massacre, Sasuke is praised to his face as the academy's top student, but behind his back people whisper about how he alone survived.
He finds himself isolated as he continues his school days.
He finds himself isolated as he continues his school days.
He finds some solace in the fact that he is not the only one alone, as another boy is also ostracized by their peers: Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto's desperation to be acknowledged by the adults around him reminds Sasuke of how he himself used to feel.
While relieved to not be the only outcast, he now sees bonds with others as a weakness and makes no attempt to befriend Naruto.
While relieved to not be the only outcast, he now sees bonds with others as a weakness and makes no attempt to befriend Naruto.
However, upon their graduation from the academy the two are placed on Team Seven along with Sakura, under the leadership of Kakashi.
Despite these new circumstances, Sasuke's drive for revenge remains unchanged.
Despite these new circumstances, Sasuke's drive for revenge remains unchanged.
"...BUT WHAT I DO HAVE IS DETERMINATION.
I PLAN TO RESTORE MY CLAN, AND THERE'S SOMEONE I HAVE SWORN...
...TO KILL."
At first Sasuke treats Naruto and Sakura like pests who are only in his way, but as they grow and overcome challenges as a team, this slowly begins to change.
He trains with them.
He fights alongside them.
He even sacrifices himself to protect Naruto.
Eventually he comes to acknowledge the other boy as a rival.
While deep down he is impressed by Naruto's rapid growth, at the time all Sasuke can feel is an overwhelming need to not fall behind.
Spurred Down a Path of Vengeance
On top of his other worries, Sasuke is forced to revisit his past when his brother comes calling.
His brother's betrayal, the massacre of his clan, the loss of his family, and the days of loneliness that followed...
Sasuke's anger at all the pain his brother has caused boils over, and he throws himself at Itachi, fueled by rage.
Sasuke's anger at all the pain his brother has caused boils over, and he throws himself at Itachi, fueled by rage.
He is met with crushing defeat, forced to acknowledge the vast difference in strength between himself and Itachi.
Having been reminded of his life's goal and now keenly aware of his own weakness, Sasuke resolves to seek out Orochimaru to attain the power he needs for his revenge.
Perhaps he is also influenced by his fear of becoming too close to Team Seven.
Having been reminded of his life's goal and now keenly aware of his own weakness, Sasuke resolves to seek out Orochimaru to attain the power he needs for his revenge.
Perhaps he is also influenced by his fear of becoming too close to Team Seven.
Naturally, Naruto is opposed to Sasuke's plan and chases after him, determined to bring him back to the village whether he likes it or not.
Sasuke accepts Naruto's declaration of friendship...but remembers his brother's words about how he must end the life of his closest friend to awaken new power.
As the two come to blows, Sasuke is aiming to kill—
As the two come to blows, Sasuke is aiming to kill—
—but when presented with the opportunity to do so, he cannot find it within himself to deal the final blow.
Laying their feelings bare, the two boys poured everything they had into the fight, but when their paths part at its conclusion neither has truly won anything.
"MY DREAM ISN'T IN THE FUTURE."
Article and Composition: Yu Kawasaki (Caramel mama)
That's all for part one!
How does a ninja who abandoned his village to pursue revenge become one of the pillars that supports it?
Find out in part two, where we'll follow Sasuke as he wrestles with forming his own shinobi way!
▼Part 2 will be published at 17:00 on 7/23 (JST)!▼
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Sasuke's Birthday on 7/23 (Part 2)! Looking Back on the Ninja Who Found His Shinobi Way in the Face of Harsh Revelations!
How does a ninja who abandoned his village to pursue revenge become one of the pillars that supports it?
Find out in part two, where we'll follow Sasuke as he wrestles with forming his own shinobi way!
▼Part 2 will be published at 17:00 on 7/23 (JST)!▼
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Sasuke's Birthday on 7/23 (Part 2)! Looking Back on the Ninja Who Found His Shinobi Way in the Face of Harsh Revelations!
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