Sakura Haruno: A Regretful Character in Naruto Due to Her Family

After Masashi Kishimoto and Ikemoto discussed their thoughts on Konoha Day during an interview, Sakura Haruno from Naruto became a widely discussed topic. The author expressed regret for not exploring Sakura’s relationship with her parents, especially considering the other two members of the main trio had a strong familial bond.

Despite not making an appearance in the manga series, Sakura’s parents were still considered a part of the storyline by the official author and their character designs were done by him. However, they were ultimately not included in the series. While their development with Sakura may have gone unnoticed by most fans, it was one of Kishimoto’s regrets.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Naruto: Kishimoto’s Regrets About Sakura Haruno Explored

Sakura's parents as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)
Sakura’s parents as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

During the Konoha Day interview, the interviewer asked Masashi Kishimoto if there was a character from his magnum opus that he would have liked to explore before the series ended. The author selected Sakura and discussed how he would have enjoyed delving into her relationship with her parents in the manga.

The author disclosed that, among the characters, Sakura was the sole one whose parents were not depicted in the official manga series. The author expressed remorse for not introducing them earlier in the series, as the decision to do so later would have caused complications.

Despite making appearances in the anime, the author emphasized the significance of her parents’ roles in the Naruto movies as a subtle development in the relationship between the character and her parents. Ultimately, the author’s intention was to include a few scenes featuring her parents in the official source of the series, but it was continuously postponed until the series reached its pinnacle.

Who are the parents of Sakura?

Kizashi and Mebuki as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)
Kizashi and Mebuki as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

In episode 271 of the Naruto anime series, it was revealed that Mebuki Haruno and Kizashi Haruno were the parents of Sakura Haruno. Both Mebuki and Kizashi were shinobi from the Hidden Leaf Village and their character designs were created by the author himself for the Road to Ninja movie. Despite this, the author remained firm in his decision to not introduce them earlier.

In the alternate universe of the Road to Ninja movie, Kizashi Haruno was still a kind and caring man who had a daughter and a wife. However, in this reality, Sakura’s role was replaced by the protagonist and Kizashi took on the role of the Fourth Hokage who tragically perished during the Nine-Tails Rampage Incident. While his jutsu technique was not disclosed, he remained a skilled shinobi from the Hidden Leaf Village.

Kizashi and Mebuki as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)
Kizashi and Mebuki as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Despite her kind-hearted nature and care for her daughter, Mebuki Haruno had a wild streak that set her apart from her husband’s more mellow demeanor, suggesting that Sakura inherited her fiery temper from her mother. Tragically, in the Road to Ninja movie, Mebuki and her husband, who held the position of Hokage in this alternate universe, both passed away. Additionally, Mebuki was skilled in the art of Taijutsu.

Mebuki and Kizashi, Japanese names meaning ‘budding’ and ‘sprouting,’ respectively, reflect the developmental process of a flower. This connection may have influenced their daughter’s name, ‘Sakura,’ which translates to ‘cherry blossoms’ and is a renowned symbol of beauty in Japan.

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