____________//INFO: SAKURA: CHILDHOOD ♥

 
_____//MEETING INO

In comparison to some of the other characters', Sakura's childhood does not seem as abused and troubled but all the same, being bullied can be a very traumatising experience, especially for a little girl. Sakura's past was first revealed in episode thirty-one...

The evening sky is tinted with purple and yellow and a girl's sobs can be heard. As the scene changes, we see little Ino crouching in front of a little Sakura with Ino asking, "You always get called 'forehead girl' and get picked on, huh?"

Sakura looks up and asks who it is, so Ino replies and asks the same question. Sakura responds but Ino claims not to have heard her so she shouts her name again. Ino sticks her finger at Sakura's forehead saying that it IS wide and realises that is why she hides her forehead with her hair. Ino then starts to leave but tells Sakura to return tomorrow because she has something for her.

As it turns out, she has brought a red ribbon and has tied Sakura's hair up so her hair doesn't hang in front of her face. Ino thinks that Sakura looks a lot cuter this way and the ribbon is a gift. Sakura is thankful but is still worried about her forehead, so when she confesses, Ino reasons that Sakura is only picked on because Sakura hides her forehead and so she should display it proudly; Sakura is cute, so there is no need to be afraid.

Ino then takes her to meet some friends and tells Sakura to say "hi". Sakura seems overjoyed but is still very shy and hides behind Ino when greeting the other children.



_____//BLOOMING FLOWERS

As well as coaxing Sakura out of her shell, Ino has protected Sakura from bullies and has taught Sakura many things to which Sakura is very grateful. Ino's most important lesson was probably during a flower arrangement lesson, as revealed in episode forty-one.

A group of little girls are gathered around a female ninja who is telling them kunoichi must obtain a wide range of knowledge and education, not just ninja techniques. If she does not act womanly enough on the field, she will have trouble spying, apparently. So today's topic is flower arrangement and the teacher sends them off to pick flowers.

Whilst catching up to Ino, chibi Sakura trips up emphasising how she used to be weaker than Ino. Sakura, although she is named after a flower, mentions she is no good at these type of tasks but Ino tells her there is a trick to it. That is, to pick a main flower and then add other flowers to accentuate it; flowers should not fight to be number one.

As an example, she points out the cosmos to be the main one and the thoroughworts (the flower that Sakura just picked) are just extras and goes on to display her knowledge of flowers.

Then, three bullies come over to make fun of Sakura but Ino throws thoroughworts into the leader's mouth claiming that the girl has no curves so she mistook her for a vase and put flowers in her. When the girls leave, Sakura praises Ino saying Ino knows a lot, is stylish, cute, has great shuriken throwing technique and excels in ninjutsu and gets depressed at these thoughts.

Sakura asks if Ino-chan if she is a cosmos, is Sakura a thoroughwort but Ino dismisses that thought. Ino says Sakura is not yet a flower, just a bud but Sakura isn't really cheered up by that thought. Sakura asks why Ino gave her that ribbon and Ino replies she thought it would have been a waste for Sakura to waste away as a bud and there is no meaning to a flower unless it blooms because it may turn out to be more beautiful than the cosmos.



_____//THE RIVALRY

A little Sakura runs excitedly up to her new friends and annouces that there is now a boy that she likes and tells them to guess who it is. One of the girls immeditaely guesses it is Uchiha Sasuke and Sakura wonders how she knew it was him. She is then told Sasuke is the most popular guy and everyone likes him. Throughout it all of this, Ino doesn't look very pleased.

On another day, when Sakura still does not know that Ino also likes Sasuke, Sakura informs Ino that she has heard Sasuke likes girls with long hair so both of them grow their hair out.

A few years later, Sakura and young Ino are seen sitting on a bench when Ino asks Sakura what's up with that serious look on her face. Sakura solemnly asks Ino if she likes Sasuke-kun too and Ino is shocked by the unexpected question and doesn't answer. Sakura takes this as her answer and states that from now on, they will be rivals.

Years have passed and both girls are still rivals and both of them still like Sasuke. On the day of the team dividing, they meet in the forest and Sakura again states she won't lose to Ino anymore. Ino says she won't lose to Sakura in everything and Sakura moves to return the ribbon but Ino gets upset at this gesture and points out that the forehead protector should be on her forehead, not replacing the ribbon.

Sakura retaliates with, "When I put this on my forehead, I can't lose to you as a female ninja." Moments pass and Ino finally smiles and agrees it is a good idea and then they shake hands, Ino thinking she will do the same when the time comes. Ino does not forget this and during their fight in the chuunin exam, both girls put the forehead protector on properly to indicate they are going to fight seriously.

I think it's terribly sad that Sakura threw away her friendship for a boy, I mean what happened to that thing with girls saying friends are more important with boyfriends? Hanabira has a good theory for Sakura declaring a rivalry though. Even though Sakura does refer to Ino as a rival, they are both good friends and Sakura knows she owes Ino a lot for shaping her character.