Summary
Akin to many otherlong-running shonen anime, theNarutoseries has featured several concepts that eventually dissipated without explanation. With complicated storylines and ever-increasing characters, it can be arduous for authors to maintain every single aspect of the show since the beginning, though it’s certainly disappointing for the viewers. ‘Inner Sakura’ was one such initial concept that was nowhere to be seen later on in the series, with fans almost forgetting the existence of this detail.
Inner Sakura was a manifestation of Sakura’s thoughts and feelings, yet it was shown to be an entirely separate personage to the Sakura viewers were acquainted with. This subconscious manifestation became associated with Sakura’s entire character, even becoming one of her abilities in a few of theNarutofranchise’s video game titles. Inner Sakura lingered on for quite a while before being slashed from her character, and a few plausible reasons justify this move.
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What Is Inner Sakura?
Similar to the concept of an inner conscience, Inner Sakura is a manifestation of Sakura’s true thoughts, feelings, and desires. Since Sakura used to suppress her true feelings in front of others, Inner Sakura would represent how she actually felt inside. This concept initially served as a way of acquainting fanswith the actual Sakura, cementing the notion that her general characterization of a sweet and charming girl is just a facade.
Unlike Sakura’s external disposition, Inner Sakura is prone to violent outbursts and aggressive opinions on all matters. This emotional manifestation would usually appear whenever Sakura would try to please others, revealing that she simply agreed with others to maintain a friendly illusion. Apart from its aggressive nature, Inner Sakura also had her own charming antics. She even had a catchphrase ‘Shannaro’ in the original Japanese version. In the English Dubbed version, Inner Sakura would yell ‘Cha’ to represent her aggressive stance on any matter.
Inner Sakura wasn’t only for show as she would also affectSakura’s external abilities and powers. While the other characters were never exactly acquainted with this inner manifestation (other than Ino), fans could still witness Inner Sakura affecting her abilities by lending her violent energy. Due to its external effects, Inner Sakura was more than just a subconscious manifestation, as she became an endearing part of Sakura’s character.
What Happened to Inner Sakura?
The reduction in Inner Sakura’s screen time coincides withSakura’s growth as a person, meaning the two aspects are related. Since Sakura was initially a shy person and took on the persona of a people pleaser, her inner thoughts would get drowned in the mix. Inner Sakura allowed her to express her true feelings, without needing to outwardly state them. Sakura’s emotional manifestation even became synonymous with her strength as Inner Sakura provided the outburst of energy needed for Sakura to defeat her opponents.
As time passed, however, Sakura began to outwardly express her true opinions more often, forgoingher former shy appearance. Without the buildup of emotions and feelings inside of her, Inner Sakura was no longer needed to convey her true intentions. Halfway through part 1, Sakura had gained enough confidence to state her actual thoughts without feeling overwhelmed.
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Inner Sakura completely disappeared byShippuden, and this can easily be attributed to herdiscipleship under Lady Tsunade. After the timeskip, Sakura’s personality became somewhat similar to Tsunade’s blunt disposition, meaning there was no need to hide her true emotions anymore. Inner Sakura served as an outlet to let out her pent-up emotions, but with her outward personality already embodying those very facets, she no longer had a need for an inner manifestation.
Inner Sakura’s Role in the Series
Inner Sakura played a major role in Sakura’s overall characterization, as her appearance (or lack thereof) indicated Sakura’s overall growth and development. Since her initial personality was quite underdeveloped, Inner Sakura made an appearance in every other scene. AsSakura grew as a person, her inner manifestation’s appearances also diminished, indicating that she was finally making progress.
Inner Sakura’s role in the series is also undeniable, especially in the early parts ofNaruto. This inner manifestation is the only reason Sakura was able to successfully deter Ino’s Mind Transfer Jutsu, cementing herself as a separate personality within Sakura. Inner Sakura’s violent outbursts have also been channeled through Sakura’s punches, meaning it was much more than just a simple inner manifestation.
Inner Sakura also lives through several of Naruto’s video games, as this manifestation was used as one of her primary abilities in many games. While this could be attributed to Sakura’s lack of techniques early on, Inner Sakura still had such an impact that she made several rounds invarious video game titlessuch asNaruto: Ultimate Ninja, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 4. Overall, Inner Sakura was a beloved aspect of Sakura’s character, yet bidding her goodbye was necessary for the sake of her character development.
