A recurrent motif for Naruto and Sasuke is their varying positionality. Sasuke (yin, heaven) is often placed above Naruto (yang, earth). Sasuke is the one who ostensibly holds all the cards and dictates the flow of their relationship; + (1/4)
ch. 3 cover of naruto with little bird sasuke, who is being introduced as a major character in his life (october 4, 1999) — ch. 185 cover redraw (june 9, 2003) sasuke has left konoha and naruto is pursuing him
I was thinking of canon divergence, making Sasuke gain the mangekyo because of his love for Naruto, but I quickly disregarded it thinking it's so cheap. Then I learned that's how Sarada got hers.
hilarious that one of sasukes precious memories regarding naruto was telling sakura off for mocking naruto for being a mannerless orphan ijbol. he was so proud of himself for standing up for naruto in his absence my babyyy💔 her only inclusion in his deathbed memories