Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-31278419-20170331010234/@comment-26104757-20170404174923

Thekillman wrote: I disagree. Lee's weakness was called out repeatedly, but it was always in context of overcoming it. The Eight Gates allows him to overcome his weakness, but it causes great hurt and damage. He loses to Gaara and it nearly cost him everything, including his dream. But he overcomes that weakness. The next time they meet, it's as allies and Gaara helps him.

You'll notice this occurs during Part 1. Lee's progress within a year is much, much more substantial than Sakura's. I'm not against having a character go from fodder to an absolute beast within such a short time, but we were introduced to Lee when he already found his resolution; to succeed the life of a Shinobi by using Taijutsu. Although he lost to Gaara, Lee entered that battle as an established fighter with strong morals he inherited from Gai, and proved that by defending his Ninja Way.

Undoubtedly, Lee worked in blood, sweat and tears to achieve as much as he did, but in comparison to Sakura, she wasn't given the same influential mentorship and development that came with it.

Thekillman wrote: Sakura had a similar arc in Pt1 where she acknowledges her weakness and works to overcome it. Even when it's not much, it's pointed out as at least something. But as the story progressed it was more and more "i'm weak" and not "i'm overcoming my weakness".

I disagree. In Part 1, the resolution between Lee and Sakura have no similarities at all. She believed her weakness was herself, which in part was true. But as I mentioned in my previous post, she had no one other than herself to content with, and not the help of a mentor to overcome her weaknesses​. When you are born into a Clan with no notable name, received no extensive training, posses no Kekkei Genkai of some sort or any exceptional talents and lack the guidance of an Educator — there is only so much you can do by yourself.

Sakura was weak, and she knew that. But she also knew there was nothing she could do about it.

Thekillman wrote: In the end, Lee was able to contribute, even if a little, to the Ten Tails fight (even against Madara). Sakura on the other hand is mostly healing people that contribute. She's built up as being badass against the Ten Tails fissions yet immediately she retreats and goes healing people.

In Part 2, Sakura is a completely different person. Tsunade entered her life, and with her came an opportunity to improve, which she did. During the War, and more particularly when she invoked the Strength of a Hundred Seal, Sakura wasn't on the battlefield solely to fight. She is a Medical Ninja, after all, and could now utilise the extent of that. She even said it herself when she summoned Katsuyu, "I can now remain at the front line and heal everyone." That's not retreating, or should be looked down upon, not when you have someone who can restore the health of hundreds and hundreds of people.

Thekillman wrote: Unlike Lee where weakness was something to overcome (to the point he was always training), in Sakura it was something she could never overcome and never really tried to.

Her development was slow, and the pay out mightn't have been as grand as Lee, but she did overcome her weakness eventually. Sakura always relied on the strength of her team members and chose to coward behind them, but even as she stood before Madara and knew that he was much stronger than her, it was her who overcame that fear and made an audacious leap forward so that Naruto and Sasuke could gaze at her back, and not the other way around.

That's what I most appreciate about Sakura, watching her mature from a 'common girl' to a 'formidable Kunoichi'.