The iconic show,Naruto, set in a world of ninjas who use chakra-based techniques, is one anime series that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. The series has many characters, of which some are fan favorites, and some are not-so-loved by most anime fans. A character that fits into the latter category is Sakura Haruno, a member of the Team 7 Shinobi team, led by Hatake Kakashi.
In the anime franchise, hating Sakura is mainstream for no credible reason despite the accomplishments the character served at the ninja table. Sakura is an important character that contributed directly/indirectly toNaruto’srise as a Ninja powerhouse and, ultimately, the Seventh Hokage. Even though hating Sakura is fast becoming the norm, the character has notable feats that should suggest otherwise. Here’s a run-through ofSakura’s most iconic feats.
RELATED:Naruto: Reasons Sakura Is Over-Hated
Sakura’s Early Life As A Shinobi-In-Training
Most of Sakura’s notable feats tend to be forgotten – a plight suffered by anime characters that are overshadowed by their protagonists. With proper research, fans will discover Sakura’s amazing traits and talents as a model shinobi in the world ofNaruto. As a shinobi-in-training, one noticeable fact aboutSakura is her intelligence and steadfastnessto a set goal. At the start of theNarutoseries, Sakura was above most of her mates in terms of academic excellence and studiousness. To become the ideal Shinobi later in her life, she was willing to give her academics her all, and the results were proof of that. Consequently, her grades in most of her exams were perfect scores. Hence, even though she wasn’t as tactically sound in battle as Naruto & Sasuke, she had her own achievements.
Furthermore, as a young shinobi, Sakura was honorable and willing to put her life on the line to protect her team members. A clear depiction of this narrative is well-portrayed in theChunin Exam Arc.At a critical point, Sasuke & Naruto were unconscious after an intense battle and under Sakura’s treatment. In their battle-weary state, they were highly susceptible to any form of attack aimed at their life. Fortunately, Sakura protected the duo when a ninja from the Sound Village tried assaulting her teammates.In the fight, Sakura showed her firmdetermination, even to the point of self-sacrifice. This occurrence shows that Sakura embodies what it means to be Shinobi, making her a character well-deserving of praise.
Another key fact to know about Sakura is that even as a young Shinobi, she had a great deal of control over chakra. At this point in the series, Naruto Uzumaki, the story’s protagonist, was anything but talented in terms of chakra control. Instead, he had a boundless chakra reserve that could support even the rashest of his actions, earning him little to no setbacks. For characters like Sakura, chakra control is essential because it prevents chakra overuse and early burnout in fights. As a young shinobi,Sakura was already paving her wayto greatness – which she eventually achieved at the end of the series.
RELATED:Naruto: The Best Sakura Story Isn’t From the Anime or Manga
Sakura’s Iconic Achievements
The first open achievement of Sakura in theNaruto franchisewas defeating Sasori of the Akatsuki. One leading argument anti-Sakura fans pose is that she wouldn’t have defeated Sasori without the help of Lady Chiyo. However, if you examine the scenes of the fight critically, you will discover that Sakura was the main driving force of the battle. It was due to her immense strength, similar to Tsunade that she was able to conquer the powerful Sasori. This achievement is also complemented bySakura saving Kankuro’s life. One of the consequences of battling Sasori is facing his poison-dipped attacks. Although Sakura overcame this deadly ability, Kankuro wasn’t so lucky. Pooling her skills as a medical ninjutsu practitioner, Sakura saved Kankuro’s life, restoring Gaara’s right-hand man back to full health.
Another notable achievement of Sakura is mastering Creation Rebirth. The Creation Rebirth jutsu is the medical ninjutsuability created by Tsunade. It’s a complex technique that boosts the vitality of users by speeding up their recovery rate after they receive injuries. Sakura mastered this jutsu and executed it perfectly in the Fourth Great Ninja War as a crucial factor in the war. A sub-part of this ability is Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth – Strength of a Hundred Seals. This jutsu can only be performed by masters of the Creation Rebirth technique. One wonderful fact about this jutsu is that it can be executed without any hand signs. In the shinobi world, performing hand signs is a downside to most battle strategies because it takes time to execute. However, with the Strength of a Hundred Seals using exaggerated signs is not needed. This technique increases users' strength and self-healing traits to an incredible level. It is one of Sakura’s apex jutsu techniques, making her one of the strongest medical ninjutsu users in theNaruto franchise.
Finally, Sakura’s biggest accomplishment in relation to the story is saving Naruto’s life. Although she had saved the young Shinobi on past occasions, her efforts towards the end ofNaruto, where she saved the protagonist, are underrated. Without Sakura’s aid, Naruto would have breathed his last in theFourth Great Ninja War. Sakura is an underrated character in theNaruto serieswith notable feats and accomplishments. Hopefully, in the near future, she will receive the much-needed praise she deserves from anime fans.
