Sakura Haruno
Sakura Haruno is a character in the manga and anime series Naruto by Japanese author Masashi Kishimoto. Sakura is depicted as a kunoichi affiliated with the Leaf Village and a part of Team 7, which besides Sakura herself includes, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and their sensei Kakashi Hatake.
Sakura initially has a crush on Sasuke, whom she praises at all times, while despising Naruto, her less skilled teammate. Over the course of the series, she begins to shed this contempt and becomes increasingly appreciative and benevolent towards Naruto. In addition to the main series, Sakura has appeared in several pieces of Naruto media, most notably the spin-off Naruto Extra – The Seventh Hokage and the Red March (2015) and its sequel Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2016) where she is portrayed as a doctor named Sakura Uchiha (Japanese: うちはサクラ, Hepburn: Uchiha Sakura).
The name "Haruno" means "spring field", and "Sakura" means "cherry tree", well known in Japan for its beauty and the very short life of its flowers (cherry blossoms have historically been associated with samurai).
Sakura became the female lead of the series, although she was not immediately intended for this role. Kishimoto had difficulty drawing her character, resulting in Kishimoto inadvertently emphasizing certain parts of her appearance, including her large forehead. To make the character more attractive in the second part of the series, Kishimoto designed her costume to look more like a martial artist and more beautiful in later chapters. Chie Nakamura voices her character in the animated adaptations of the series, while Kate Higgins plays her in the English dub.
Numerous anime and manga publications have praised and criticized the character of Sakura. She was initially known to be a stereotypical shōnen character, who was a love interest for the protagonist. At the beginning of the series she was said to be of little use, other than having a small comic part. Her departure from this stereotype as the series progressed was celebrated by many reviewers. Among the Naruto reader base, Sakura has been popular, placing high in some polls. Several pieces of merchandise have been released in Sakura's likeness, such as action figures and keychains.
History
Sakura is a young ninja who is part of Team 7 along with Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha under the guidance of their sensei Kakashi Hatake. Inside Sakura resides "Inner Sakura", a manifestation of her inner emotions; besides the comical part of the group, Inner Sakura represents Sakura's real opinion on things when she outwardly shows something opposite. Because Sakura has a deep infatuation with Sasuke, many of her early appearances are dedicated to her continued effort to win her affection. She accompanies the rest of Team 7 throughout their early missions, though she does little to contribute to the battles that take place. Sakura doesn't have any unique traits that set her apart from the rest of Team 7, though Kakashi notes that she has excellent chakra control over her at the beginning of Part I.
As a result, Sakura remains aloof, content to allow her teammates to protect her and defeat their opponents. During the Chunin Exams, when the rest of Team 7 needs her protection, Sakura realizes that relying on others to fight her battles isn't wise. She decides to further improve her ninja skills and takes an increasingly active role in Team 7's battles throughout the rest of the series. After Sasuke's defection from Konoha at the end of Part I, Naruto's inability to bring him back, and Sakura's inability to help either of them, he becomes Tsunade's apprentice so she can do more for her teammates in the future. Since then, Sakura has made it her personal goal to bring Sasuke home.
After two and a half years of training under Tsunade, Sakura gains the ability to heal wounds, becoming one of the most experienced medical-nin. In order to ensure her survival to heal others, Sakura also develops superhuman strength by accumulating chakra in her fists; storing a large amount of Chakra in her body for 3 years, she awakens the Byakugō Seal, a jutsu considered the pinnacle of chakra control. Thanks to this, Sakura joins Team 7 as a medical-nin to rescue their ally Gaara from the Akatsuki crime group. With the help of the aged Chiyo, Sakura defeats Dawn Organization member Sasori, who gives her clues as to Sasuke's whereabouts.
Team 7's newest member, Sai, uses his intelligence to track down Sasuke, but they are once again unable to stop him from escaping. Though disappointed by their failure, Team 7 tries once again to find Sasuke, though after nearly arresting him they lose track of him and are forced to return home. While searching for Sasuke, Sakura learns of the various difficulties Naruto faces due to the demon nine-tailed creature sealed within him, which is being pursued by the Akatsuki. Saddened by the impact both forces have had on her life, Sakura becomes protective of Naruto and tries to do whatever she can to help him overcome these obstacles. Sakura later decides to kill Sasuke after realizing that he is becoming a threat to the villages.
However, when she fails to do so, Naruto decides to make things right with Sasuke himself. When a war against the remaining Akatsuki is announced, Sakura participates as a medical-nin. She later switches to the fighting side when the Ten-Tails creature is released, and she fights it alongside Naruto and Sasuke.
After Sasuke is pardoned for his crimes, Sakura says goodbye to him as she decides to travel the world in search of redemption and shows signs that she finally accepts her feelings for him; she pats her forehead and thanks her just before she leaves. In the epilogue, set years after the end of the Fourth Ninja War, Sakura and Sasuke are shown to have married and had a daughter, Sarada Uchiha.
Sakura in animated films
Sakura has made several appearances outside of the Naruto anime and manga. She is in all eleven feature films of the series: in the first film – Naruto – The Movie: Spring in the Snow Country (2004), fights Mizore Fuyukuma and subsequently defeats him.
In the second - Naruto – The Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel (2005), helps Naruto and Shikamaru Nara in their battle against Haido and his subordinates.
In the third – Naruto – The Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006) – Sakura battles the hired ninja Karenbana, whom she defeats using her enhanced strength.
Fourth -Naruto Shippuden the Movie (2007), Sakura, Naruto, Rock Lee and Neji Hyuga are assigned to escort the maiden Shion.
The fifth - Naruto Shippuden – The master and the disciple (2008), Sakura is assigned alongside Naruto and Hinata Hyuga to help a girl, Amaru, and her sensei, Shinnō, return to their village as he learns of an impending invasion of the Sky Country.
The sixth - Naruto Shippuden – Inheritors of the will of Fire (2009) - Sakura and Naruto desperately following and trying to bring back to life their sensei, Kakashi, who has gone on a suicide mission to prevent the Fourth Great Ninja War.
In the seventh – Naruto Shippuden – The Movie: The Lost Tower (2010), Sakura and the rest of Team Kakashi are sent to capture a missing ninja, Mukade.
In the eighth – Naruto – The Movie: Blood Prison (2011), Sakura assists in the battle against the demon Satori who was released from the Enlightenment Box.
In the ninth – Naruto – The way of the ninja (Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie) (2012), Sakura and Naruto are transported to an illusory world by Obito Uchiha where instead of Naruto's parents, Sakura's parents were the ones who sacrificed their lives to prevent the Nine-Tails from destroying Konohagakure and were therefore considered the heroes of the village.
In the tenth – The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014), Sakura, in her young adulthood, sets out alongside Naruto, Sai, Shikamaru and Hinata to rescue a kidnapped Hanabi Hyuga, Hinata's younger sister.
In the eleventh – Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015), Sakura observes her daughter's participation in the Chunin Exams.
Sakura in the animated series
He is also featured in all three original video animations produced for the series, helping Naruto and Konohamaru find a four-leaf clover in the first original video animation, joining his team to escort a ninja named Shibuki to his village. and helping him fight the missing ninja who stole the village's "Hero's Water" in the second, and participating in a tournament in the third. A light novel titled Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze (2015), written by Tomohito Ōsaki and illustrated by Kishimoto, focuses on Sakura sometime after the events of The Last: Naruto the Movie, where she, now A celebrated medical - ninja about to open a new psychiatric clinic with Ino Yamanaka , he becomes concerned when a conspiracy that threatens to destroy Konohagakure is using Sasuke as a scapegoat , potentially ruining his chance at redemption among the villagers . In Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring (2015), Sasuke's travels keep him away from his family. As a result, his whereabouts become a touchy subject for Sakura, who assures Sarada over the years that Sasuke will return home once her mission is completed. After punching the ground in a fit of anger at Sarada asking if she and Sasuke are married, Sakura learns that her daughter has left the village in search of Sasuke. When she catches up with the two, they are in the presence of Shin Uchiha, whom Sakura attacks. Later, she is teleported with him to her hideout, where she refuses to assist him with her medical skills and pretends to be helpless to obtain information about him. After Sakura fights Shin than her, she is saved by her husband and they return to the village after Shin's defeat. Shortly thereafter, Sakura and Sarada accompany Sasuke on his journey. Sakura later acts as a spectator for Sarada while she participates in the Chunin Exams and she saves herself and other onlookers from falling debris, after which she heals Hinata.
Sakura in the Naruto video games
Sakura is a playable character in nearly all of the Naruto video games, including the series Clash of Ninjas and the series Ultimate Ninjas . In some games, he uses "Inner Sakura" in combat as well as several different genjutsu. Naruto Shippuden: Gekitou Ninja Taisen! FORMER (2007) marks Sakura's first appearance in her Part II design in a video game, her second being Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 4 (2007). In the meantime, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4(2016) marks Sakura's first appearance after Part II; specifically, her appearance in The Last: Naruto the Movie , set two years after chapter 699 of the manga.
Technical data
First appearance Naruto Chapter 3: Enter Sasuke! (1999)
Author Masashi Kishimoto
Voiced by Japanese Chie Nakamura
Information in the universe
Illustrious relatives Sasuke Uchiha (husband)
Sarada Uchiha (daughter)
Itachi Uchiha (brother-in-law, deceased)
Fugaku Uchiha (father-in-law, deceased)
Mikoto Uchiha (mother-in-law, deceased)
Ninja rank Genin in the first part
Chunin in the second part
Jonin in The Last: Naruto the Movie
Ninja team Squad 7/Team Kakashi
