Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-31278419-20170331010234/@comment-734582-20170404164518

Slug Princess00 wrote: The difference is not the character themselves, but the timeframe in which they were presented. Remember, Lee entered the series already established, so we didn't experience his human qualities contrasting Sakura who started out with nothing but the basics. Her development was gradually slow in Part 1, and that's what I appreciate. Unlike Naruto and Sasuke, she didn't begin with the security of inheriting a Legendary Clan or acted as the host of a Bijuu. Lee, too, was given the opportunity to display his use of the Gates. What people fail to understand isn't the 'pay off', but the expected need to have any main character excel rapidly, and when that expectation isn't met, they are titled as 'useless'. 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.

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". 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.

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.