Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-33731988-20180116041116/@comment-734582-20180118180123

Yea, the whole problem with Sakura is perception. Naruto and Sasuke both have moments of growth in which that growth clearly pays off. Sakura however, has never followed through such a promise. Not only is a ridiculous amount of attention put on her for being behind, but then every time she thinks she caught up, she's kicked back into the dirt.

Even against shin she still needed to be saved by sasuke, once again showing that she can't handle herself. Even though logically, she should. She's the only character that goes "oh i've caught up~!" -cue action sequence- "oh no i need to be rescued".

Take Kiba. He's clearly not Naruto's equal, and at no point is this adressed. He never goes "i'm behind" nor "now i've caught up!". Same is true for shino. Or pretty much anyone else in the K12. They show up, and fight.

There's never a point where the arc is finished. There's never a point where she unambiguously surpassed someone. At best she's Tsunade's equal. Sasuke surpassed Orochimaru, since he not only achieved the power Orochimaru sought but defeated him in combat. He has the power to make or learn all the jutsu in the world, and so fulfilled Orochimaru's dream. Jiraiya lost to Pain, yet Naruto defeated him. With help, for sure, but it's a clear accomplishment. He is a perfect Sage, and did something about the hatred in the world. it's not gone, but the amount of hatred has clearly and measurably decreased.

Sasuke clearly surpassed his mentor and fulfilled his mentor's dream. Naruto clearly surpassed his mentor, and fulfilled his mentor's dream. In his case, with Kakashi (elemental rasengan), Jiraiya (sage mode/hatred), Minato (rasengan/Kurama) and Kushina (Perfect jinchuriki).

Sakura however, neither fulfilled Tsunade's dream nor completed her jutsu nor took away some old shame or so. Despite being a Senju, Tsunade has no wood release. Sakura achieving that for herself would be a massive feat of medical skill and show that she's clearly beyond Tsunade. No such things exist.