OMFG I've been thinking......and it's not crack!

[anguisel.livejournal.com]

With the whole chapter of 406 focusing on Shikamaru and Naruto, the hamsters in the wheels started a-going.

We've seen images of Naruto hanging out with Chouji, Shikamaru and Kiba off and on in the anime and the manga. The only reason I could think of would be that their parents were 'cool' with it and didn't seem to mind the whole Kyuubi thing unlike the rest of the village. But I can't seem to recall anything of Sasuke hanging out with people except for his brother. I can understand him being somewhat isolated because of his clan and whatnot but after the massacre do you think that Sasuke further 'isolated' himself from everyone because of his thoughts on revenge? I do remember seeing in the anime during the Third's funeral of him interacting with Sasuke in what looked like trying to cheer him up. I'd also think that, because of the way he is, the Third would have made at least some attempt to try and get Sasuke to interact with others and make some friends.

What do you guys think?

Comments

[senior-witch.livejournal.com]

I think that Sasuke was isolated because in some way he lived in a different world than the rest of the kids, in a world that was not happy and cheerful, but where catastrophe could break in at any moment. It is difficult to communicate if you live in a different world. (I have met several children in RL who had to cope with a difficult fate, and they all had problems to connect to kids of their age. And one cannot even blame the other kids who still live in their happy, safe world - they have a right to live in that world, until they are old enough to cope with tragedy. It's the grown-ups who have to help the kid who has suffered - and I don't think that Sasuke got much help, considering that most people in Konoha were not too sad about the massacre. (Just look at Shikamaru's and Chouji's talk the day after the event - no compassion, just gossiping.))

Somewhere in volume 26 there is a backflash about Naruto trying to talk to Sasuke when he is sitting at the beach of the lake and mourning. Sasuke does not react however. Only in corresponding episode of the anime, he turns his head and smiles after Naruto has left.

[hannahattack.livejournal.com]

I can't really remember since it was a long time ago that I re-read it, but I think Kiba and Sasuke talk as though they are at least familiar with each other/somewhat friends before the first test of the chuunin exams. I think, anyway.

And Shino and Sasuke spoke when chasing after Gaara, when Shino stayed behind to fight Kankuro, which stick out in my mind as Shino spoke so much then(when he usually didn't), if I can remember properly.

So I think he had at least 'acquaintances', just never really close enough to anyone to call 'friends'.

[runespoor7.livejournal.com]

Chouji's parents were not cool with Naruto either - back when he'd followed Mizuki's advice and stolen the forbidden scroll, there's a panel where you see Chouji's father yelling that they should kill. It's not just a figure; his face drawings are the same as they are in the other scenes you see him.

About Sasuke, I think it's worth remembering the kid was left to live in his clan's area even after the massacre. So it's possible that the elders thought it'd be best if he was allowed as little opportunity to interact with other children as possible. Not that I think Sasuke would've needed a lot of encouragement to withdraw from normal life. :/

[askerian]

Yeah, but they're also in the same class at the academy, so of course they'd have a passing familiarity with one another solely on virtue of spending several hours a day in the same room for a year or several. Shino might have sat by Sasuke from time to time because he knew Sasuke wouldn't talk his ear off, or the other way around, and Kiba seems the kind who can be casual with just anyone, but I have a feeling that's as far as it went.

[ylmik-wisty.livejournal.com]

That flashback scene with the Sandaime was only in the anime, so I dunno if you count the anime as canon or not. I suspect that Sasuke probably was not very close to any people outside of the Uchiha clan. He might have had some vague playmates, but nothing very strong. And since Sasuke was only interested in showing his father that he was as excellent as Itachi, he probably did not focus on making friends when he joined the Academy that year. Then of course the massacre happened and he was even more withdrawn and focused on something entirely different than going to school and making friends with fellow future-shinobi. Sasuke simply did not pursue friendships. It does not mean he's completely isolated; I mean, during the Chuunin exams when the other genin were introduced, he had a short banter with Kiba. And also with Shino later on when Shino wanted to fight Kankurou, leaving Sasuke to go after Gaara. So he probably knows all his classmates somewhat, just from spending lots of time with them in class. But yeah, he never had any true friends before bonding with Team 7.

[ylmik-wisty.livejournal.com]

Actually in the manga, Sasuke does smile. (Chapter 229). Just in case you'd like to know. :P

[ylmik-wisty.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, and Naruto occassionally being with Chouji, Shikamaru, and Kiba. I don't think it was because of their parents. It's because they were the only boys there that Naruto could even talk to. Shino's not included because... yeah, his personality and Naruto's personality are complete opposites, they wouldn't even be able to hold a conversation (especially not when Naruto was 12 and brash and immature...). So being in a class with them, Naruto's gotten into a couple of scrapes with those boys, but they didn't become friends until after they graduated and Naruto started proving himself. Again referring to the chuunin exams when the genin were introduced, Naruto's descriptions of his classmates were not very flattering, not even towards Chouji, Shikamaru, and Kiba... so I don't think they considered each other friends at all back then. Just classmates.

[senior-witch.livejournal.com]

Found it! I always overlooked it as there are only two panels of that scene in chapter 229, while the rest of the scene is in chapter 228. Absolutely heart-wrenching.

Many thanks!