NARUTO COLUMNS
07/23/2024
[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!
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 two, we'll cover everything from Sasuke's battle with Itachi to the resolution of his conflict with Naruto!
▼Read part 1 here!▼
[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!
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 two, we'll cover everything from Sasuke's battle with Itachi to the resolution of his conflict with Naruto!
▼Read part 1 here!▼
[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!
■Sasuke Uchiha
・Birthday: July 23rd (Leo)
・Favorite Foods: okaka rice balls, tomatoes
Shocking Truths and Undying Hatred
After spending three years training under Orochimaru, Sasuke is finally ready to face Itachi.
He wins the deathmatch against his older brother, but in the battle's wake he hears a tale that shakes him to his core.
Every horrible thing Itachi did was for Sasuke.
His desire for peace was taken advantage of by the Hidden Leaf Village.
The kind older brother Sasuke knew was never a lie, but Itachi's true self—even as he died at Sasuke's hands.
His desire for peace was taken advantage of by the Hidden Leaf Village.
The kind older brother Sasuke knew was never a lie, but Itachi's true self—even as he died at Sasuke's hands.
Staggered by these revelations and overwhelmed with regret, the loss of his brother ironically awakens Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharigan, and he joins the Akatsuki with the goal of crushing Konoha.
Finding Answers
Sasuke changes, growing increasingly callous for the sake of his goal.
Though during his fight against Killer Bee he is briefly reminded of Team Seven when he activates Amaterasu in defense of his comrades...
Though during his fight against Killer Bee he is briefly reminded of Team Seven when he activates Amaterasu in defense of his comrades...
...he does not hesitate to strike down Karin in order to kill Danzo alongside her.
Driven by the depth of his emotions, he fixates more and more on revenge.
"THESE EYES SEE THE DARKNESS...QUITE WELL..."
The only thing able to distract him from his purpose is a chance encounter with Itachi, who has been revived with the Reanimation Jutsu.
Not willing to miss this opportunity, Sasuke chases after his brother, determined to get answers.
Not willing to miss this opportunity, Sasuke chases after his brother, determined to get answers.
Confronted with the truth of his brother's love for him, Sasuke realizes how much he never understood, and how much he failed to see throughout the years.
"CLAN...
VILLAGE...
IT'S TIME TO SEE THE ALL-KNOWING!"
To aid him in choosing where to go from here, Sasuke enlists Orochimaru's help and revives the only ones who know the entire history of his village and clan: the previous Hokage.
After hearing what they have to say, Sasuke comes to a decision.
"I'VE DECIDED TO PROTECT KONOHA VILLAGE.
AND THEN...I'LL...
...BECOME HOKAGE."
Team Seven Reunited! The Hokage Sasuke Means to Be
Sasuke arrives on the battlefield, joining the Allied Shinobi Forces with the intention of protecting Konoha.
Team Seven fights together again at last!
Team Seven fights together again at last!
Combining their strengths, they take down foe after foe.
Madara is defeated, and Kaguya is sealed away.
The war has come to a close, but Sasuke is not done fighting.
He declares his intent to revolutionize the shinobi world, and the shocking way in which he plans to begin.
The war has come to a close, but Sasuke is not done fighting.
He declares his intent to revolutionize the shinobi world, and the shocking way in which he plans to begin.
"...I'M EXECUTING THE CURRENT GOKAGE INSIDE THE INFINITE TSUKUYOMI."
Sasuke explains the role he seeks to fill as Hokage.
"I HAVE NO FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHER...
...NOT EVEN A SINGLE OTHER MEMBER OF MY CLAN.
I AM ALONE.
I ALONE CAN BEAR THE WEIGHT OF ALL THE HATRED NOW."
He intends to follow in the footsteps of his brother, who let the entire village revile him as a traitor in order to protect it.
By killing the Five Kage, Sasuke alone will shoulder all the world's hatred.
But first, there is one last obstacle he must overcome.
One last person who stands in his way.
By killing the Five Kage, Sasuke alone will shoulder all the world's hatred.
But first, there is one last obstacle he must overcome.
One last person who stands in his way.
Battle of "Brothers"
The Final Valley, where Naruto and Sasuke fought before parting ways years ago, becomes the backdrop for their battle once more.
Draining even the dregs of their chakra, the two hold nothing back—both determined to win or die trying.
After Naruto proves how far he is willing to go, that he will die before he gives up, Sasuke finds himself shaken.
Needing to understand why he matters so much to Naruto, Sasuke questions him.
Needing to understand why he matters so much to Naruto, Sasuke questions him.
"...I...GAINED THE POWER TO ENTER DARKNESS AND SEVER ALL TIES.
AND NATURALLY, EVERYONE'S TRIED TO CUT THEIR TIES TO ME TOO, AT SOME POINT.
EXCEPT FOR YOU.
YOU'VE NEVER ATTEMPTED TO CUT ME OFF...
NO MATTER WHAT.
WHY DO YOU KEEP INVOLVING YOURSELF WITH ME?!"
Hearing Naruto speak honestly about how he feels Sasuke's pain as his own, Sasuke is finally able to be honest with himself.
"I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS JEALOUS OF YOU.
YOU HAD A STRENGTH THAT I DIDN'T HAVE...
YOU WERE ALWAYS WALKING IN FRONT OF ME...
JUST LIKE MY LATE BROTHER..."
"I ADMIT IT...
THAT...I'VE LOST."
Sasuke concedes defeat, moved to the point of tears by Naruto's words, and the drawn-out fight between two brothers in all but blood comes to an end at last.
"NARUTO...
AT THIS TIME I RECALLED THOSE WORDS YOU SAID HERE ONCE BEFORE.
HOW WHEN YOU'RE WITH ME YOU WONDER IF THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A BROTHER...
THAT FEELING OF YOURS...
...I THINK I FINALLY GET WHAT YOU MEANT."
Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi smile together again in a moment reminiscent of Team Seven's early days.
Article and Composition: Yu Kawasaki (Caramel mama)
That's all for Sasuke's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the trials and unyielding determination of Sasuke Uchiha!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the trials and unyielding determination of Sasuke Uchiha!
