Boruto treats Sarada better than Naruto treated Sakura, no matter what fans say

Boruto has completely changed how I view female characters in the Naruto franchise, especially after years of watching Sakura Haruno's poorly handled character development. She started as the "realistic" girl among supernatural shinobi but ended up being nothing more than a plot device. Now, as I watch the sequel series unfold, I can't help but notice how much better Sarada Uchiha is being treated compared to her predecessor.

The difference is striking when you look at their character development arcs. While Sakura spent most of her time chasing after Sasuke and being used to make Naruto look good, Boruto has given Sarada genuine agency and meaningful growth. She's not just another love-struck girl – she's a future Hokage with her motivations and incredible power.

The real thing here is that Kishimoto wasted Sakura’s potential. She had good chakra control and talent for genjutsu, but these abilities were never properly explored. She ended up being a combat medic with impressive strength. However, her role didn’t extend much further than that. Her entire character revolved around her obsession with Sasuke.

On the other side, Sarada in Boruto feels completely different. Her recent awakening of the Mangekyo Sharingan wasn't just about gaining new powers – it was about accepting herself. She realized that shutting off her emotions was holding her back, not making her stronger. This internal struggle and resolution show genuine character growth that Sakura never received.

The Boruto series gives Sarada distinctiveness via the way it explores her connections with others. Yes, there are hints of romantic feelings toward Boruto, but they don't define her character. Her primary motivation is to protect Konoha and become the Hokage.

One of Sakura's biggest problems was her inability to keep up with her teammates. She was constantly being saved or overshadowed by Naruto and Sasuke. Even when she got stronger in Shippuden, she remained largely a support character.

Boruto has avoided this trap with Sarada. Her Mangekyo Sharingan ability to control gravity through mini suns is genuinely overpowered. She can create spheres with star-like gravity, crush enemies, and potentially even generate black holes. She even took down a Divine Tree on her own, proving she didn’t need rescuing or backup to shine.

The writing quality makes all the difference in Boruto

I believe the main problem with Sakura's character might stem from Kishimoto’s uncertainty about how to develop her fully. She was meant to be the "realistic" character in a world of supernatural abilities. But this concept failed because it made her boring compared to her teammates. Then, when he tried to make her relevant, her character was sacrificed to highlight Naruto's maturity and growth.

Moreover, Sarada’s character feels integral to the story rather than tacked on. She has clear goals, meaningful relationships beyond romance, and the power to back up her ambitions. The series treats her as a legitimate main character, not just the third wheel of Team 7.

The recent chapters of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex have shown Sarada reflecting on her own limitations and growth. She acknowledges that denying herself and her feelings was a mistake – a lesson that connects to Itachi's wisdom about accepting oneself.

Looking at Sarada's character arc in Boruto makes me realize how much potential was wasted with Sakura. Both characters started with similar foundations – talented but overshadowed by their more gifted teammates. The difference is in how their stories were told.

Trending

After watching both series, I'm convinced that Boruto simply handles its female characters better than the original Naruto did. Sarada isn't perfect, but she's been given the respect and development that Sakura deserved but never received. The future looks bright for Sarada as she heads toward her goal of becoming Hokage.

While some fans might argue that Sakura had her moments, the overall treatment of her character was disappointing. She was underutilized, poorly written, and often reduced to a plot device.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback