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Reene, as far as I'm concerned, you warned, and whited out what you said. If I didn't want to hear it, I could've simply not read it.
So if I said anything offending, I'm sorry, 'cause I had no right.
And I wasn't trying to direct what I said back at what you were talking about, I just feel -not just anyone here- but people everywhere have been pushing Kishimoto, and disrespecting all the work he does, like it takes no effort at all to make this manga come together.
I wasn't saying, "he's a god, you should all worship him", rather, I just don't want people to think this manga just comes so easily.
Atleast, I feel some people think that way sometimes. ( Not neccessarly saying that any of you here do )

And, you know, I agree with you, 100% about Kishimoto making WAY too many characters. Ever since I first started watching Naruto, I've wondered how he kept up with all the characters he had, and in the end, I see he could not.
But people make mistakes, he's only human. Hopefully, in his next manga, he'll learn from it.
But as far as Naruto goes, it's too late. He even already has the ending planned out, and he can't change it now.

Although, I have to ask, did he ever actually SAY the story was supposed to be mainly about Team 7?
What if... he always wanted it to be about Sasuke and Naruto's relationship?
It's just... something I think about.
I mean, you could say there is 'proof' in the manga that support it, but was it ever writen down in stone?

I donno.
I'm not saying I support that either. Ever since Sakura promised she would protect Naruto and Sasuke, I think it sealed the fact that Naruto and Sakura both need to be there when they bring Sasuke back. But I always try to keep an open mind.
Because I'm not Kishimoto. And what I think, is not neccessarly what he thinks, and anything could happen.

Blah. >< And no matter what I say, I am on your guys side, and Sakura should get more time to shine~

Oh, I also want to say thanks to everyone who puts up with my lectures and not yelling at me 'cause I can't keep my thoughts to myself. >>
You guys are so mature~ xD maybe that's why I vent more here, than anywhere else, because you guys don't try to hurt me when I do.
But seriously, if I ever start sounding rude, even if I say I don't mean to be, you can tell me. My brain is slow, sometimes it takes me a good bump to the head to make me realize when I've done something wrong. T__T

I've been irritated about this issue for god knows how long. But at this point, I've just come to terms with the understanding that Kishimoto cannot write his girls. It's just not in him.

What I've wanted to know is why the girls are so difficult to write for him. It's a shounen manga yes, but isn't it just a BIT stereotypical that every girl is a fangirl (or ultimately has a secret crush on someone?) >___> That or she's involved in some tragic love story and the poor girl/woman never ends up with what she desires.

(And then there's Tenten, and that poor girl has yet to be given a last name.)

I'm just feeling a bit disappointed because he just seems to be sizing up his female characters to girls that are more typical in shoujo manga. -_-

I wish Anko was in Shippuden. gonk

I LOVE YOU SAKURA. I just wish Kishimoto would add in you in the duels a bit more. *sigh*

I understand the Naruto/Sasuke bit is important, really important, and I actually think those two need to get their own feelings/rage out of the way before the Team 7 (with Sakura included) can be reunited again.

Otherwise, I would have to agree Renee. Team 7= Naruto, Sasuke, AND Sakura. Not just Naruto and Sasuke, no matter what fandom argues.

I donno.
I still have faith that Sakura has atleast one more big role to play.
I think she will still keep her promise to protect those two boys.

As for what, why, where and how things changed for her, I think Kishimoto left that for us to interpret in an open way. I mean, we figured it out, eventually. He didn't spoonfeed us with that part.

What has upset me for the past few chapters is the fact that Sakura does not show this same skill. Once we get past the Gaara arc, all we see is Sakura in the background, just like she had been in part 1, with a few moments of being in the spotlight in between. In essence, her role has become like that of hers in part 1.

Kishimoto has said that it seems he's given Sakura too much spotlight, which probably means he didn't mean to focus on her so much. In the end, it really is a shonen manga, where all the central characters are male. I know this is sexist, but I also think that it isn't in Kishimoto's skill to write females. He tends to focus on them for a few chapters or so, but they quickly fade into the background, like everyone else.

I kept to the hope he'd at least put Sakura somewhere in the foreground, though. Seeing as she's the main female character, she deserves at least that much. But that hasn't been the case. That's what disappoints me in the manga.

But I'll keep on hoping, though. As long as the manga isn't ending, then there's no point in giving up yet.

That always happens to me!! Dx

But, How/why Sakura changed... I thought that was said.

Or maybe I'm too simple minded.

Our only hints for what goes on in Kishimoto's mind for the next chapter is the actual title.
'Loss'

I don't see a spoiler that really matches with it...

And I thought Sasuke didn't know who Madara was? So how is it he recognizes him?