Hot take: Rukia is just Sakura but well written
Why do I think this?
Well, both Rukia and Sakura are strong-willed female leads with deep ties to the main character (and often get shipped with him, even though their relationship is more sibling-like than romantic). Both are the smartest in their friend group, both end up marrying someone who previously tried to kill them, and both lose the majority of their fights, with only a couple of clear wins to their names. However, the key difference lies in their execution.
Sakura, unfortunately, is the exact opposite of Rukia in terms of impact. If you replaced her with almost any other female character in Naruto, it wouldn’t significantly change the story. Sure, there are moments where she plays an important role, but in the grand scheme of things, she doesn’t have much lasting influence. Kishimoto essentially added her to complete the Team 7 dynamic, playing off Naruto and Sasuke while fueling their rivalry with a love triangle that felt like an afterthought.
Now, this isn’t inherently a bad thing. Every character is designed to serve a function within the story, and Sakura’s was to be the third member of the trio. The problem is in her execution—her character arc is an absolute mess. She constantly flip-flops between being a competent medical ninja who can hold her own in a fight and a lovesick fool simping for someone who has given her no reason to love him.
Say what you will about Renji and Rukia’s relationship, but at least they have an actual history and emotional connection. Renji only "tries" to kill Rukia once, and even then, it was more of a test to see if she had truly lost her powers. Sasuke, on the other hand, was just being an asshole with her being his number 1 simp for no reason.
So, in short: Tite Kubo is better at writing women than Masashi Kishimoto. Not exactly a high bar, considering the competition, but still worth mentioning.
What do you think? Am I onto something, or am I just talking shit?
Why do I think this?
Well, both Rukia and Sakura are strong-willed female leads with deep ties to the main character (and often get shipped with him, even though their relationship is more sibling-like than romantic). Both are the smartest in their friend group, both end up marrying someone who previously tried to kill them, and both lose the majority of their fights, with only a couple of clear wins to their names. However, the key difference lies in their execution.
Sakura, unfortunately, is the exact opposite of Rukia in terms of impact. If you replaced her with almost any other female character in Naruto, it wouldn’t significantly change the story. Sure, there are moments where she plays an important role, but in the grand scheme of things, she doesn’t have much lasting influence. Kishimoto essentially added her to complete the Team 7 dynamic, playing off Naruto and Sasuke while fueling their rivalry with a love triangle that felt like an afterthought.
Now, this isn’t inherently a bad thing. Every character is designed to serve a function within the story, and Sakura’s was to be the third member of the trio. The problem is in her execution—her character arc is an absolute mess. She constantly flip-flops between being a competent medical ninja who can hold her own in a fight and a lovesick fool simping for someone who has given her no reason to love him.
Say what you will about Renji and Rukia’s relationship, but at least they have an actual history and emotional connection. Renji only "tries" to kill Rukia once, and even then, it was more of a test to see if she had truly lost her powers. Sasuke, on the other hand, was just being an asshole with her being his number 1 simp for no reason.
So, in short: Tite Kubo is better at writing women than Masashi Kishimoto. Not exactly a high bar, considering the competition, but still worth mentioning.
What do you think? Am I onto something, or am I just talking shit?