Sakura Haruno
Sakura Haruno is a female anime and manga character who features in Naruto.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Sakura Haruno (Japanese: 春野 サクラ, Hepburn: Haruno Sakura) was a pink-haired female human born as the daughter of Kizashi Haruno and Mebuki Haruno who lived in Konohagakure in the Ninja World. She had an ordinary childhood, raised by her parents without any serious tragedy or complications.
As a child, she came to be bullied by the other children who used to pick on her by saying she had a big forehead. On one day, this left her crying with her being met by another girl her age named Ino Yamanaka who wanted to be friends with Sakura. She gifted Haruno with a ribbon to tie up her hair and made her feel better about her facial features. The two became close friends with Ino then introduced her to other kids so that the shy Sakura could make even more friends. In Konohagakure, she came to see Sasuke Uchiha and became smitten with the young boy where she wanted to be his girlfriend. Sakura even confided her feelings to her friends only to learn that many girls in the village had similar thoughts about Sasuke. However, Haruno was determined to make Sasuke her boyfriend and saw other girls as rivals. One day, she came to hear that Ino also had feelings for Sasuke with this creating a rift between the two friends as they considered themselves rivals for his affections.
Naruto
Upon graduating from the Academy and being assigned to Team 7, Sakura is initially devastated when she learns that Naruto Uzumaki is to be one of her teammates. She then is immediately afterwards ecstatic to learn that Sasuke Uchiha is to be her other teammate. She tries to bond with Sasuke by stating her envy of Naruto's lack of parents, but this only offends Sasuke, who tells her that she is annoying. Sakura is hurt and, on realising that she says similar things to Naruto, decides to try to be nicer to him. Team 7's leader, Kakashi Hatake, tests their qualifications with a bell test, stating that whichever of the three takes one of the two bells on his person will officially become genin. While Naruto busies himself attacking Kakashi, Sakura seeks out Sasuke to see if she can help him. Kakashi finds her during her search and defeats her with an illusion of Sasuke dying. Likewise, Naruto and Sasuke are also defeated. Kakashi explains afterwards that the goal of the test was to use teamwork, to do together what none of them could do by themselves. He is persuaded to allow them to try again after lunch, but instructs Sasuke and Sakura not to feed Naruto. Sasuke feeds him anyway, needing him in top-form if they're to work together, and Sakura does the same. Kakashi sees this and, because they care more about the team than listening to his instructions, allows them all to pass. After a series of uneventful D-rank missions, Naruto is able to secure a C-rank mission for Team 7: escorting Tazuna to the Land of Waves. Soon after leaving Konoha they are attacked by the Demon Brothers, who go after Tazuna. Sakura immediately places herself in front of Tazuna to protect him and stands her ground until Kakashi captures the brothers. Tazuna confesses that assassins have been hired to kill him but that he couldn't afford the bodyguard detail he needs. Although the mission is now A-rank in nature — far beyond the skill of genin — Team 7 decides to continue with it. When they reach the Land of Waves and are attacked by Zabuza Momochi, Sakura once again protects Tazuna while Kakashi, and later Naruto and Sasuke, fight Zabuza. Zabuza is ultimately seemingly killed by Haku, allowing Team 7 to escort Tazuna back to his house. Kakashi finds Zabuza's death suspicious and decides to train the team in case he returns. He has them perform the Tree Climbing Practice to improve their chakra control, which will help them against Zabuza. Sakura masters the exercise on her first try, thus leaving her in charge of protecting Tazuna while Naruto and Sasuke train and Kakashi recovers from his fight with Zabuza. After a week, the rest of the team joins her, but when they reach the bridge that Tazuna has been working on they find Zabuza and Haku waiting for them. Sasuke and later Naruto fight Haku while Kakashi fights Zabuza, once again leaving Sakura in charge of protecting Tazuna. The thick mist prevents her from seeing how the fight against Haku is going, so she is surprised when Haku suddenly interferes in Kakashi's fight with Zabuza and is killed. When Naruto comes looking for Haku, Sakura asks him where Sasuke is. When Naruto refuses to respond, Sakura becomes worried, but stays put because she cannot leave Tazuna's side. When Tazuna offers to come with her, she quickly leads him to where Sasuke is and finds him seemingly dead. Overcome with emotion, Sakura knowingly violates the shinobi rules and cries for him. When Sasuke later wakes up, Sakura embraces him, explains that Haku has been killed, and shares the news of Sasuke's survival with Naruto. Zabuza also dies, allowing Team 7 to return to Konoha when their injuries heal via Tazuna's newly-constructed Great Naruto Bridge.
After returning from one mission, Sakura tries to spend some time with Sasuke, who rejects her. This places Sakura in a bad mood, causing her to lash out first at Naruto when he suggests to Konohamaru Sarutobi that he and Sakura are dating, and then at Konohamaru when he insults her for harming Naruto. This all attracts the attention of Sunagakure's Three Sand Siblings, who have come to Konoha to take part in the Chūnin Exams. Sasuke returns and drives the Sand Siblings off, and later Kakashi meets with them to enter them in the Chūnin Exams as well. He neglects to mention that they must enter as a team, worried that Sakura might only participate because of Sasuke, and so is glad when she independently decides to participate. Before the Chūnin Exams begin, Sakura is met by Rock Lee, who asks her to go out with him and offers to protect her with his life. Sakura flatly refuses, being bothered by his eyelashes, hair style, and thick eyebrows. For the Chūnin Exams' first stage, the participating genin are given a written test with ten questions. From looking over the questions, Sakura realises that the questions are too complicated for most genin, especially Naruto, to be able to answer without cheating; Sakura herself is able to answer the first nine questions on her own. Before being given the tenth question, genin are warned that if they answer it incorrectly they will never be allowed to take the Chūnin Exams again. Sakura becomes worried that Naruto is too proud to not try to answer the question, and that when he inevitably gives the wrong answer his disqualification will ruin his dreams of becoming Hokage. She prepares to forfeit on his behalf, but Naruto insists on answering the tenth question no matter what, causing her to change her mind. For their willingness to face the tenth question despite the potential consequences, Team 7 and the remaining genin pass to the second stage. After passing the first test, the class were taken to the next stage of the exam where they went to the Forty-Fourth Training Ground (第44演習場, Daiyonjūyon Enshūjō, English TV: Training Ground 44). Once there, each of the respective teams were either given an earth scroll or a heaven scroll with the objective of the teams being to capture one of each. Team 7 then had five days to survive within the Forest of Death (死の森, Shi no Mori) and to accomplish their objective. Shortly after the second stage begins, Team 7 is attacked by Orochimaru, who Sasuke and Sakura, sensing his killing intent, realise is far too strong for them to fight. Sasuke tries to surrender in exchange for their lives, but Naruto insists on fighting Orochimaru anyway. Both Sasuke and Sakura are surprised by how well Naruto does, though he is ultimately defeated and knocked unconscious. Sakura pins him to a tree with a kunai to stop him from falling and observes to Sasuke that Naruto, despite all his shortcomings, isn't a coward. This convinces Sasuke to fight Orochimaru as well; Orochimaru becomes impressed by Sasuke and, before he leaves, he brands Sasuke with a Cursed Seal of Heaven, rendering him unconscious as well.
With Orochimaru departing, Sakura was left with her two injured team mates where she helped care for them until they recovered. Despite her efforts, she was cornered by Team Dosu under orders from Orochimaru to test Sasuke. Alone, the exhausted Sakura would have been overwhelmed had Rock Lee not entered into the battle to help protect her. Despite his aid, he came to be injured by the enemy and knocked out the fight thus forcing Sakura to fight her three attackers alone. Haruno found a new resolve in proving herself as a kunoichi where she used substitution jutsu to close in on an attacker to get in close range. Despite reaching him, she could only lightly injure him and she was nearly killed by Team Dosu until Team 10 arrived to protect them. Sakura's courage convinces the observing Ino Yamanaka and the rest of Team 10 to come to her defence. Team 10 fights Team Dosu until they are interrupted by Sasuke, imbued with the power of his cursed seal. When he sees Sakura's injuries, Sasuke breaks Zaku's arms in punishment and threatens to do the same to the rest of his team. Sakura is horrified by his actions and embraces him, begging him to stop. Sasuke's cursed seal recedes and he complies, Team Dosu retreats, and Teams 7, 10, and Lee's Team Guy regroup. When Naruto wakes up he makes fun of Lee's eyebrows, prompting Sakura to strike him. Before they go their separate ways, Lee vows to Sakura that he will become stronger. Team 7 spends several days recuperating from their ordeal but they are able to reach the centre of the forest in time to advance to the Chūnin Exams' preliminaries: a series of one-on-one qualifying matches. Sakura tries to convince Sasuke not to participate because of his cursed seal, but he ignores her, insisting that it's his business and not hers. For her match, Sakura is paired against Ino. They start by trading insults and then punches, surprising Ino because Sakura proves her equal in both categories. Frustrated, Ino follows Sakura's earlier example by cutting her hair, a ruse that allows her to immobilise Sakura while she uses her Mind Body Switch Technique. In control of Sakura's body, Ino tries to make her forfeit the match, but she is stopped and exorcised by Inner Sakura. They are both exhausted by this, due to both having used up all their chakra, but exchange one final blow, knocking both out. When Sakura wakes up, Ino informs her that their match was ruled a tie, and that therefore neither of them will continue to the final rounds. Despite this, they decide to rekindle their friendship, though can't help but continue to bicker over Sasuke. Sakura watches the remaining matches, including Lee's match with Gaara, during which Lee loses and is badly injured. A few days later, Sakura visits the hospital to see Sasuke, but discovers he's already been taken away by Kakashi. While she's there, she sees Lee training despite his injuries, causing him to fall unconscious as a consequence; she leaves the flower she brought for Sasuke with him instead. Sakura worries about Sasuke over the following month, especially when he is missing for his match with Gaara during the finals. He does finally show up where Sakura watched with interest.
It was then that the sand ninja enacted their betrayal of Konohagakure with the Mizukage giving the signal for them to strike. This saw them unleashing a widespread genjutsu that placed everyone in the arena into a sleep-like state with the exception of a few. Sakura managed to avoid this fate with this impressing her sensei Kakashi who asked her to free Naruto and Shikamaru from the jutsu. He then bade the three to find and stop Sasuke who was in pursuit of Gaara as he believed Uchiha was heading into a trap. He summoned his ninken Pakkun who aided the three young shinobi by tracking down Sasuke whilst Kakashi and Might Guy remained behind to deal with the invaders. Oto-nin start following them, so Shikamaru falls behind to delay them. Naruto and Sakura catch up to Sasuke in time to save him from one of Gaara's attacks. When Gaara sees Sakura's determination to defend Sasuke, he knocks her unconscious and binds her to a tree. Her bindings dissolve when Gaara was defeated, which Sakura assumes she has Sasuke to thank for. Sasuke corrects her when they get back to Konoha, explaining that it was Naruto who saved her. A few days later, Team 7 attended the funeral of the Third Hokage.
Sakura visited Sasuke everyday while he's in the hospital, tearfully hugging him once he finally regains consciousness. She continues looking after him as he recovers, but he repels her kindness, angered by his earlier defeat by his brother, Itachi Uchiha. When Naruto comes to see him, Sasuke challenges him to a fight, which Naruto agrees to over Sakura's protests. She watches as they exchange attacks on the hospital roof, but decided she could not let things continue when Sasuke prepares a Chidori and Naruto prepares a Rasengan. She runs between them to stop them, but neither is able to pull away in time. Kakashi appears and flings them apart, saving Sakura. Sasuke stormed off and Kakashi, before he follows, promised Sakura that he would set things right. Sakura takes Naruto aside afterwards and tells him about the cursed seal Sasuke received from Orochimaru, which she'd until now kept from him at Sasuke's request. She shares her concerns that Orochimaru is trying to tempt Sasuke to defect from Konoha, but Naruto assures her that Sasuke would never do that. This comforts her at the time, but she continues to worry and, that night, waits at the village's exit. Sasuke eventually approaches with his belongings, confirming her fears. Sasuke tells her to go home, but Sakura refuses, instead asking why he always pushes her away and reminding him of all the good times Team 7 has had. She tries to persuade him to stay so that she won't be alone and, when that doesn't work, argues that his revenge against Itachi was not worth it. When Sasuke remains determined to go, Sakura tells him she loves him and offers to go with him. Sasuke tells her that she is annoying, just as he did after Team 7's formation. Sakura threatens to scream for help, so he knocks her out. However, before he does it, he came to thank her. Sakura is found on a bench the next morning, and when she wakes up she sends word to Tsunade, the new Hokage, that Sasuke has defected. The Sasuke Recovery Team is formed to go after him, which Sakura approaches as they prepare to set out from Konoha. Sakura begs Naruto to bring Sasuke back to Konoha, believing he is the only person who can get through to him at this point. Naruto vows to do so, even if it takes his entire life, and Sakura cries at his dedication to her. Despite his promise, Naruto is unable to bring Sasuke back. Sakura visits him in the hospital and, after trying to avoid the subject, tells him that she won't hold him to his word. Naruto, however, refuses to go back on what he said. Touched, Sakura apologises to Naruto for what he's gone through and promises to personally help him bring Sasuke back next time.
Seeking to be a better warrior, Sakura sought out Tsunade where she requested to be her apprentice with the Legendary Sanin agreeing to take her own as a pupil. She then tasked her with becoming a medical ninja and using her chakra to help heal others. Ino then requested that Sakura ask Lady Tsunade to apprentice under her as a medical ninja as well. Sakura came to agree though joked that this would make Ino her subordinate as a result. Afterwards, Naruto came to depart the village along with Jiraiya to begin his training over the course of the next two years. In that time, Sakura continued her own training under Tsunade where she improved her strength and chakra control with her also completing the training to become a genin. She had also gone through various documents that made her aware of certain secrets of her fellow comrades such as Sasuke's desire for revenge against his brother and that his brother was part of an organization called the Akatsuki.
Shippuden
Afterwards, Naruto returned to the village where Sakura was there to greet him on his return and she noted that he had seemingly matured somewhat over the two years. In a meeting with the Fourth Hokage, Tsunade came to want a demonstration of his new talents where she wanted both Naruto and Sakura to fight against Kakashi Hatake. Together, the two showed considerable talent in keeping their former mentor on his ties and through team work as well as deception they managed to achieve their objective which was getting the two bells on his person. Satisfied with the demonstration, Tsunade then decided that Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi were to be a new ninja squad named Team Kakashi that would be deployed on the field for assignments. Thus, their former sensei had become their senior peer where at first they were to be sent on a low ranking mission as it was believed this was needed to help Naruto to get back into the dynamics of working on missions. However, Naruto refused and wanted a higher ranked mission with this coincidentally arriving with an urgent message from Sunagakure that revealed that the Kazekage Gaara had been defeated and captured by the Akatsuki. Thus, Team Kakashi was immediately dispatched on the mission where she revealed what she knew about the Akatsuki and that she wanted to make Itachi Uchiha pay for his crimes. During the journey, they encountered Temari where they revealed the danger to Sunagakure with her joining them to guide them to her village. They managed to brave through a sand storm before arriving at the sand ninja village where they came to learn that Kankurō had been poisoned and that they lacked an antidote to cure him. Sakura then decided to use her medical ninjutsu to save him where she could not counter the poison at the time but managed to draw out much of the poison using her chakra. This led to Kankurō out of any immediate danger but there were trace amounts still left in his body that would kill him eventually unless an antidote was developed to counter it. Sakura then used her time to study the sand village's list of herbs and came to find an antidote which she provided Kankurō thus removing the threat entirely.
Through Kankurō, they came to get a scent from a ripped piece of clothing from his attacker that allowed Kakashi's ninja hounds to track. Team Kakashi then departed after resting where they were accompanied by Chiyo of the sand village as they went on their mission to find and rescue Gaara. Nearing the Akatsuki base, the team were confronted by Itachi Uchiha with Sakura wanting to get revenge on him for what he had done to Sasuke and Naruto. However, his sharingan made him a formidable adversary and it was only through a combination attack from Kakashi and Naruto were they able to defeat him only to find that his body was simply a vessel that Itachi was remotely controlling. Team Kakashi then found themselves rendezvousing with Team Guy who were also dispatched on this assignment where they arrived at the hidden Akatsuki base. The site was blocked by a giant boulder kept in place by a powerful jutso that was maintained by seals at different sites. Team Guy separated to remove the seals at which point Sakura was to use her great strength to shatter the boulder. It was then that were confronted by Sasori of the Red Sand and Deidara where they found that they were too late as the Tailed-Beast in Gaara seemingly having killed him. Deidara came to take Gaara's body in order to draw out Naruto and Kakashi whilst Sakura and Chiyo remained behind to fight Sasori thus effectively splitting Team Kakashi in half. Chiyo informs Sakura that what appears to be Sasori is actually one of his puppets, Hiruko. She also warns that all of Hiruko's weapons are likely coated with poison. With this in mind, Chiyo guides Sakura to Hiruko unharmed, allowing her to destroy it. With Hiruko gone, Sasori starts using his human puppet of the Third Kazekage. Although it initially appears no different from a standard puppet, such that Chiyo is able to fight it with her Mother and Father puppets, the puppet is discovered to have access to the Third's Iron Sand, which has also been imbued with poison. The Iron Sand neutralises the Mother and Father puppets and then forms into blocks, which Sakura, with Chiyo's guidance again, is able to punch away. Sasori's Iron Sand World Method proves more difficult to avoid and Sakura receives several scratches, causing her to collapse from the poison. She was able to administer the antidote, however, allowing her to destroy the Third when it moves in to finish her off.
Angered by this, Sasori revealed that his own body was in fact a puppet now and he decided to go after Chiyo. Sakura intercepted him though and seemingly destroyed his body, but he was able to reassemble it. It was then that Sasori brought out his Hundred Puppet Army and Chiyo released her own Ten Puppet Collection of Chikamatsu. While the two sides battle, Sakura moves closer to Sasori and places a seal on him. Sasori is able to transfer his living core to another puppet before the seal connects, sneaks up on Chiyo, and attacks. Sakura shields the attack with her body and is both fatally wounded and poisoned. While Chiyo gives her the final antidote, Sasori attacks Chiyo again, only to fall into her trap and have his core stabbed by the Mother and Father puppets. Chiyo then heals Sakura's wound. Having guessed that Sakura was able to create an antidote for his poison — something he thought was impossible — Sasori decides to reward her before he dies: he tells her of a spy within Orochimaru's ranks who he had plans to meet in Kusagakure in ten days. Chiyo collapses once he's dead, but refuses Sakura's offer to take her back to Suna to make another antidote. At Chiyo's request, Sakura carries her to Naruto and Kakashi, who have managed to retrieve Gaara. Sakura attempts to revive Gaara, but the removal of the One-Tail has caused him to die. Chiyo uses the One's Own Life Reincarnation on him, bringing him back to life at the cost of her own. As the jutsu nears completion, Chiyo warns Sakura not to risk her life to protect someone as old as she is again, believing Sakura is too valuable. Gaara is successfully resurrected and, a few days later, Teams 7 and Guy attend Chiyo's funeral in Sunagakure before returning home.
With the intel gained from Sasori, Team 7 begins planning to meet the spy in the hopes that it will help them reunite with Sasuke. Kakashi is left bedridden from his fight with Deidara, requiring Yamato to lead Team 7 as his replacement. The Konoha Council also requires that Sai be assigned to Team 7 as Sasuke's replacement. Naruto immediately dislikes Sai, declaring him an inferior version of Sasuke. Sai is happy for this distinction and proceeds to degrade Sasuke for defecting from Konoha. This angers Sakura and she hits him, forcing Yamato to use his wood release to break up their fight. Despite this incident, Sakura has difficulty holding a grudge against Sai due to his lack of emotion or interpersonal connections. She therefore tries to mediate between Naruto and Sai, explaining to Sai the brotherly bond that Naruto feels to Sasuke. When this fails to make an impression, Sakura gives up on Sai and puts up with him only because they need his help to find Sasuke. Yamato disguises himself as Sasori and goes to the Tenchi Bridge to meet the spy while Naruto, Sakura, and Sai hide nearby. The spy, Kabuto Yakushi, begins telling Yamato about Orochimaru's organisation, but they are interrupted by the appearance of Orochimaru, who teams up with Kabuto to fight Yamato, having intended to kill Sasori. Team 7 comes to his aid and Orochimaru, recognising them, taunts Naruto about Sasuke. Naruto is enraged and strikes him, using the Nine-Tails' power to make his attacks more devastating. The Tenchi Bridge starts to collapse from the stress of his chakra and Sakura was knocked unconscious in the process. She was saved and revived by Yamato, and was then horrified by the damage that Naruto was causing to the surroundings.
Orochimaru was eventually able to force Naruto away from himself and closer to Sakura and Yamato. Seeing the lengths he's going to in order to retrieve Sasuke from Orochimaru, Sakura tries to reason with him, but his version 2 form leaves him unable to tell friend from foe and he attacks her. While Yamato restrains Naruto with his wood release, Kabuto heals Sakura's wound, his thanks to Team 7 for killing Sasori. Yamato is able to suppress the Nine-Tails' influence, but its chakra leaves his body badly damaged. Sakura heals him, but is upset that it's the only thing she can do to help him. When Naruto wakes up he can't remember what happened and assumes Sakura's tears are because of something Sai said, which she doesn't correct. After taking a break when Sakura’s wound starts hurting, she tells Naruto her wound was caused by Orochimaru. While Sakura works on healing herself, Yamato tells Naruto the truth. When they realise that Sai is missing, Yamato reports that he has joined with Orochimaru and Kabuto. Having placed a trace on Sai, Yamato is able to lead Naruto and Sakura to him and by extension Orochimaru's lair. They infiltrate it, locate Sai, and restrain him so that they can go looking for Sasuke. Kabuto finds them and releases Sai to help him fight them, but Sai restrains him instead, curious about the bond that Naruto keeps saying he has with Sasuke; Sai goes searching through Orochimaru's lair in search of Sasuke on Naruto's behalf. While he's gone, Yamato goes through his belongings and finds evidence that Sai has been assigned to assassinate Sasuke. They go after him in order to stop him. When they find him, he explains that he truly does want to help retrieve Sasuke, and in fact has already found him: Sakura and Naruto are speechless to see Sasuke again, but Sasuke reacts with indifference to them. To demonstrate that they mean nothing to him, Sasuke quickly neutralises them all, except Sakura who prepares to attack him. Sasuke is about to counter her attack before Yamato saves her. He then prepares to kill them, but is persuaded not to by Orochimaru and leaves without further comment. Defeated, a tearful Sakura tells a devastated Naruto they need to get stronger and Team 7 returns to Konoha.
Kakashi later assembled a team consisting of Naruto, Sakura, and Sai to discuss their failed mission to retrieve Sasuke. Sakura shared her suspicion that Sasuke's skills had been boosted with medication, as his growth rate was unnaturally high. Kakashi believed the best way to prepare them for another encounter with Sasuke is for Naruto to invent a new jutsu. Once he finally does so after many days of training, Team 7 is sent to help Team 10 in their battle with Akatsuki. Sakura and Sai are sent to provide backup for Shikamaru Nara during his fight with Hidan while everyone else focuses on Kakuzu. When they locate Shikamaru, however, they discover that he's already defeated Hidan. Naruto elsewhere defeats Kakuzu with his jutsu, after which they go back to Konoha. She then decided to check on Naruto's progress in his training every day whilst also making him food pills for him to eat. Sakura saw Naruto rapidly rise in skill with this leading to her questioning her own ability as a ninja. Despite that, she continued to support him as he was looking to be strong as Sasuke in order to return him to the village. Naruto's new jutsu injures his arm after use, which Sakura treats in Konoha. Because he has difficulty using the arm while it mends, Sakura tries to help him eat when they visit Ramen Ichiraku, but Sai insists on the responsibility. As they leave afterwards, they are met by Konohamaru, who demonstrates his Sexy: Girl on Girl Technique. In the manga, Konohamaru responds with Sexy: Boy on Boy Technique; Sakura approves but Naruto is disgusted and violently reprimands him. Sakura tries to make an excuse when she realises how she reacted, but Konohamaru's suspicions that Sakura is just as much a pervert as he is are confirmed. However, in the anime, Naruto approves, and Sakura is disgusted, and violently reprimands him. News reaches Konoha that Sasuke has killed Orochimaru. Realising that this is a good opportunity to try once again to reunite with Sasuke, Kakashi combines Teams 7 and 8 into an Eight Man Squad with the mission to find either Sasuke or his assumed target, Itachi. They split up to look for leads on either Uchiha; because she doesn't have any particular tracking skills, Kakashi pairs Sakura with two ninken, Shiba and Bisuke. They briefly pick up on the trail of one of Sasuke's new teammates, Karin, but they don't realise this and lose the trail shortly afterwards. After they regroup, Kiba Inuzuka is able to detect Sasuke's scent and they start to follow it. Along the way they are met by Tobi of Akatsuki, who prevents them from progressing and who is invulnerable to their attacks. Tobi leaves when he receives news that Sasuke has killed Itachi, and Teams 7 and 8 try to reach Sasuke before he does. Unable to find where Tobi had taken Sasuke, they were forced to return to Konoha.
Afterwards, Sakura was present when Naruto was informed that Jiraiya had been killed whilst investigating the leader of Akatsuki, Pain. She defended Tsunade when Naruto blamed her for his death, and then again when Shikamaru tries to get out of helping decipher one of the clues that Jiraiya left behind, aware that Tsunade was grieving over Jiraiya. Sakura later tried to help Shikamaru decipher the clue, but is interrupted by the invasion of Pain. Sakura heads for the Konoha Hospital, along the way saving a group of civilians from Pain's giant centipede. She assists with healing the injured once she gets to the hospital, doing as much as she can despite there being more people in need of care than medics available. When Pain destroyed Konoha, Sakura and the rest of the villagers are saved by Tsunade with the help of Katsuyu. Tsunade is exhausted by the effort, so Sakura looks after her while Naruto fights Pain. During the battle, Sakura senses Naruto entering another version 2 form as a result of Pain's attack on Hinata Hyūga. She has Katsuyu relay a message to the villagers to retreat to a safe distance while she treats Hinata. Naruto ultimately defeats Pain and, when he returns to the village, Sakura punches him for taking such a risk and then embraces him as thanks. Sakura and Shizune stay with Tsunade as the village starts to rebuild.
Sakura informs Naruto that Tsunade is in a coma and that there's nothing that can be done to bring her out of it. While they talk, they are approached by Tazuna and Inari, who have come to help rebuild Konoha. They ask about Sasuke, who which Naruto avoids going into detail about so as to spare them and Sakura a discussion about Sasuke's defection. After Tazuna and Inari leave, they receive news that Danzō Shimura has become the next Hokage and that he has ordered Sasuke be killed as a traitor. Naruto and Sakura approach Sai to ask him how they can convince Danzō to change his mind, but Sai is unable to help. Omoi and Karui of Kumogakure overhear them talking about Sasuke and they ask for information about Sasuke, wishing to kill him for his role in Akatsuki's capture of Killer B. This news upsets Sakura greatly to the point of tears, so Naruto leads Omoi and Karui away to spare her further distress. In the anime, while watching over a comatose Tsunade, Shizune confirms what she heard about Sasuke working with Akatsuki, which once again left Sakura on the verge of tears and hoping that Tsunade would awaken soon so the situation with Sasuke can be resolved. Sai later informs Sakura of the abuse Naruto suffered at the hands of Omoi and Karui, as he was unwilling to sell out Sasuke. He also informs her that Naruto has gone to meet with the Fourth Raikage to try and get a pardon for Sasuke's actions against Kumo. Sakura cannot understand why Naruto would do all this, so Sai explains how he believes that it is because he has feelings for Sakura and that he is still trying to fulfil the promise he made to her after Sasuke left the village years ago, which devastated her. Sai adds that his commitment to that promise and by extension Sakura cause Naruto as much pain as Sasuke does. Shikamaru joins their conversation to inform them of the rest of the Konoha 11's decision to personally eliminate Sasuke so that he could not continue to implicate Konoha in his crimes nor present the risk of a war. Sakura tearfully agrees with this and insists to be the one to inform Naruto. She also made the others swear to not say anything to Naruto before she can, seeing it as her responsibility, while secretly she decide to handle the entire matter herself.
For the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Allied Shinobi Forces gathered and assembled their armies with Sakura being assigned to the medical unit. Before the armies mobilise for war with Akatsuki, Sakura heals Might Guy, whose exhaustion mystifies her. The Third Division is called to assist the Surprise Attack Division, and when they arrive Sakura recognises the reincarnated Haku and Zabuza Momochi amongst the Surprise Attack Division's attackers. When Zabuza asks her how Naruto is doing, Sakura replies that he's well. Zabuza and Haku are forced to attack the Third Division, so they take up defensive positions; having encountered them before, Sakura advises those near her to take a Manji Formation. When casualties start growing, Sakura heals the wounded. Sakura is eventually reassigned to the Logistical Support and Medical Division's compound to heal the wounded that are sent there. During the night, three medical-nin are killed despite the major precautions they took to secure the location, placing everyone on high alert. Sakura is approached by Morio during this time, who she recognises as someone she healed earlier. He gives her a love letter, but she turns him down and explains she is in love with someone else. He wishes her luck with her beloved when he leaves but Sakura is saddened as she thinks about Sasuke. Neji Hyūga visits her after Morio leaves to discuss the suspected killer. When, during the conversation, Neji proves unaware that Tonton is a pig, Sakura realises he is an impostor and attacks him. The disguise disappears, revealing a White Zetsu. From the Zetsu's comments and previous reports she's read about its abilities, Sakura is able to determine how its Substitute Technique works and alerts the Allied HQ. She and Shizune later perform an autopsy on the Zetsu's body and discover its Wood Release capabilities. With the Zetsu army defeated, the Allied Shinobi Forces are sent to assist Naruto in his fight with Tobi. Along the way, Sakura vows to be there to help Naruto. When they arrive, Sakura heals Kakashi and Might Guy and then joins in the Allies' attack on the Ten-Tails. The attack fails and many die in the Ten-Tails' counterattack, including Neji, which shocks and hurts Sakura. However, Naruto is able to give protective version 1-like cloaks to most of the allies in time. When Naruto is injured saving everyone from Tenpenchii, Sakura heals him and encourages the other Allies not to give up hope, even in the face of the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball. They are saved by the arrival of the reincarnated Fourth Hokage. The Fourth thanks Sakura for healing Naruto, his son, and asks if she is Naruto's girlfriend. When Naruto suggests this is true, Sakura headbutts him and tells him to focus on the situation. Naruto complains she gave him more injuries and she retorts she will heal him again.
She was present when Tobi's real identity of Obito Uchiha was uncovered when he became the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. Sakura could only watch from a distance as Naruto, Sasuke, and the reincarnated Hokage fought him. Obito eventually recreated the God Tree, which began to absorb the chakra of many of the Allied Shinobi Forces. Sakura instructed Katsuyu to heal them, but Katsuyu explained that its divisions suffered the same fate as the shinobi they were attached to. To do what she can, Sakura runs over to Shikamaru and starts trying to heal him. It was ultimately Naruto who saved Shikamaru and the others, remotely restoring the Version 1 cloaks thought absorbed by the God Tree. Tsunade then arrives, congratulates Sakura for the work she's done, and requests her help in summoning an even large segment of Katsuyu. Katsuyu dissolves across the battlefield, allowing Tsunade and Sakura to constantly rejuvenate everybody as they unite against Obito. Although Obito is defeated, Madara Uchiha and another Zetsu still remain. The prolonged fighting exhausts Tsunade and leaves Sakura and Shizune with little chakra to spare. When Gaara brings Naruto to them, in need of emergency life support following the removal of the Nine-Tails from his body, Sakura boards his Desert Suspension to lend what support she can. When her normal medical ninjutsu fails to do anything, Sakura makes an incision in Naruto's chest and manually pumps his heart to keep him alive while pleading for him to live because he is close to achieving his dream. Gaara brings them to the Fourth Hokage so that he can seal his half of the Nine-Tails' chakra into Naruto, but the chakra is intercepted by Black Zetsu. When Madara — the Ten-Tails' new jinchūriki — arrives, Kakashi uses Kamui on Sakura and Naruto to get them to safety in Kamui's dimension. They are shortly afterwards joined by Obito, who has decided he wants to help Naruto. Though wary of Obito, Sakura allows him to seal the Nine-Tails' chakra he took from Black Zetsu into Naruto, thus saving his life. Naruto goes back to fight Madara when he regains consciousness, leaving Obito with Sakura. She calls Obito an enemy for killing many of her comrades but she is willing to help him as thanks for saving Naruto. Obito asks Sakura to destroy his Rinnegan, explaining it's the only way to guarantee Madara can't use the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Before she's able to do so, Madara arrives in Kamui's dimension and Obito sends Sakura away so that Madara can't kill her. She explains what happened when she regroups with Team 7 and tries healing Kakashi after Madara stole his eye, but Naruto instead gives him a new one. As they wait for Madara's inevitable return, Sakura questions Sasuke what he meant when he said he would be Hokage, but receives no answer because they have a war to worry about. Sensing Madara coming, Kakashi reminds them of their first lesson as Team 7: the importance of teamwork. When Madara is brought back by Black Zetsu using Obito's body, Sakura launches the first attack. She is stabbed with a Truth-Seeking Ball and is saved by Naruto (who grabs her) and Sasuke (who cuts the rod Madara stabbed her with). Sakura is saddened because she thinks Sasuke is not concerned about her. Madara, now in possession of two Rinnegan, ascends into the sky and, despite Naruto and Sasuke's attempt to stop him, casts the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Next Generations
Four years after the war, Sakura came to be pregnant and she accompanied her husband Sasuke on his travels as she refused to leave his side. In this time, she went into labour where she was taken to Orochimaru's hideout where Karin helped in the delivery where she gave birth to her daughter Sarada Uchiha.
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Sakura Haruno was an attractive human with fair skin, green eyes and pink hair. As a child, she used to be bullied by other children due to her forehead feature leading to her being called Forehead Girl (デコリーン, Dekorīn, English TV: Billboard Brow). As Tsunade's student, she came to be given the name of Tsunade Number Two (綱手二号, Tsunade Nigō, English TV: Tsunade Jr.). After marrying Sasuke, she came to take his clan name and was known as Sakura Uchiha (うちはサクラ, Uchiha Sakura).
As a child, she was shown as being insecure and highly self-conscious about her large forehead that she used to cover with her bangs. This changed when she met Ino who defended her from bullies and became her friend leading to Sakura becoming more self-confident. Within Sakura resided a manifestation of her inner emotions with this being referred to as Inner Sakura (内なるサクラ, Uchi Naru Sakura). This represented her actual opinion on things when she outwardly displays something opposite.
She became despondent at being a shinobi after seeing both Sasuke and Naruto seemingly far surpass her in skill. This led to her resolve in making herself stronger in order to stand alongside them. Sakura had show such determination that she even allowed herself to be wounded in order to close the gap on an enemy and deal damage to them.
From a young age, she became infatuated with Sasuke Uchiha (うちはサスケ, Uchiha Sasuke) and wanted to marry him. This saw her making many attempts for him to like her in turn and getting his attention above everything else. Among these included growing her hair long after hearing that Sasuke liked girls with long hair. Her initial infatuation with him stemmed on his good looks, and calm, collecting attitude.
She later came to be pregnant with Sasuke's child with her giving birth to a daughter who they named Sarada Uchiha (うちはサラダ, Uchiha Sarada).
Her childhood friend was Ino Yamanaka (山中いの, Yamanaka Ino) though their friendship was broken when both of them competed for Sasuke's affections.
Jiraiya came to comment that her fiery temperament along with her incredible strength led to Tsunade turning Sakura into a younger version of herself.
Powers and abilities
Sakura Haruno was born a female human shinobi where she was trained in martial arts and in the ability to manipulate her chakra. She was noted for being a good student who had a natural understanding over theory with her consistently having high test scores. Such traits served her well when she began to learn chakra control over the other two members of Team 7. She was later noted for her talent in genjutsu where she was able to avoid a large scale sleep jutsu and also release those placed under its effects.
Shikamaru's own assessment of her in this time was that she was a kunoichi with no particular talent. This eventually led to her determining to change herself and standing on equal footing with her comrades on Team Kakashi. As a result, she came to apprentice herself under Tsunade and underwent intense training for two-and-a-half years. This led to her following in her sensei's footsteps where some believed she would eventually surpass her mentor.
Among the jutsu techniques known to her included:
- Chakra Scalpel (チャクラのメス, Chakura no Mesu) :
- Delicate Illness Extraction Technique (細患抽出の術, Saikan Chūshutsu no Jutsu) :
- Mystical Palm Technique (掌仙術, Shōsen Jutsu) :
- Cherry Blossom Impact (桜花衝, Ōkashō) :
- Summoning Technique (口寄せの術, Kuchiyose no Jutsu) :
Whilst under Tsunade, Sakura came to be trained in the arts of medical ninjutsu. This allowed her to use her chakra to help in healing the wounds of others. Her talents had only increased over the years making her a highly skilled medical ninja and could treat poisons. This was shown when she helped slow the spread of a new poison developed by the poisoner Sasori and even develop an antidote for it. She was shown to had later developed a cure for a new poison that an entire ninja village could not cure with their resources.
She later came to learn the Strength of a Hundred Seal (百豪の印, Byakugō no In) from her sensei Tsunade.
As a medical nin, she came to serve in the hidden leaf's Medic Corps (医療部隊, Iryō Butai).
Notes
- Sakura Haruno was created by Masashi Kishimoto where she featured in the setting of the Naruto universe.
In other media
Television
- In Naruto, Sakura Haruno appeared in the setting of the anime adaptation of the series where she was voiced by Japanese actress Chie Nakamura and English actress Kate Higgins in the dub. In the anime, Team 7 is sent to the Land of Tea to protect Idate Morino as he runs a race. When Team Oboro and later Aoi Rokushō try to stop Idate, Naruto and Sasuke fight them while Sakura remains alert for opportunities for Idate to run to safety. Sasuke is eventually knocked out by Aoi, and Sakura looks after him until Aoi is defeated by Naruto. After Idate wins the race, Team 7 returns to Konoha. In the anime, Sakura accompanies Naruto and Jiraiya to the Land of Rice Fields to investigate one of Orochimaru's lairs and potentially retrieve Sasuke. The mission ends in failure. When they get back to Konoha, Sakura, as in the manga, asks to become Tsunade's apprentice so that she can better meet the challenges she'll face in the future. Tsunade accepts.
Films
Video games
- In Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Sakura Haruno appeared as a playable character in the setting of the fighting video game.
Appearances
- Naruto:
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
External Links
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