(no subject)
I stopped at the end of the tunnel, where there were two forks leading to the light. I could barely see through the brightness but I made out two familiar figures: there was Sasuke standing at the left end and Naruto standing at the right end. Both were equally far and equally small. Their voices were very quiet but somehow they resonated in my mind, as if I were under genjutsu.
"Wait for me until I get better," said Sasuke.
"Wait for me until I bring him back," said Naruto.
I stood there dumbly at first, not knowing what to do since the both of them had said those things to me at the same time. I looked to the left end where Sasuke was and I looked to the right end where Naruto was. Behind me there was a low groan and I could sense the urgency in their calls, Sakura Sakura Sakura . . .
I didn't move at all. The rumbling grew louder until everything started to shake uncontrollably. When I looked up to the sky and instead saw rocks tumbling down, I finally realized that I had really wanted neither.
This is a piece that is hard to understand if you're not familiar with the Naruto fandom. Inspired by Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and in reaction to Sakura's minimized role in the canon and her stereotype as the fandom bicycle, I wrote this to provide an alternate perspective on Sakura's passivity. Instead of portraying her unwavering faithfulness in a selfless, dutiful light, I wanted to explore the inevitable sense of helplessness and disillusionment that comes with living for someone else.
For now, I'm satisfied to leave it like this. Perhaps when I am able to write actual stories, I will consider revisiting the Naruto fandom and reviving this concept.
"Wait for me until I get better," said Sasuke.
"Wait for me until I bring him back," said Naruto.
I stood there dumbly at first, not knowing what to do since the both of them had said those things to me at the same time. I looked to the left end where Sasuke was and I looked to the right end where Naruto was. Behind me there was a low groan and I could sense the urgency in their calls, Sakura Sakura Sakura . . .
I didn't move at all. The rumbling grew louder until everything started to shake uncontrollably. When I looked up to the sky and instead saw rocks tumbling down, I finally realized that I had really wanted neither.
This is a piece that is hard to understand if you're not familiar with the Naruto fandom. Inspired by Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and in reaction to Sakura's minimized role in the canon and her stereotype as the fandom bicycle, I wrote this to provide an alternate perspective on Sakura's passivity. Instead of portraying her unwavering faithfulness in a selfless, dutiful light, I wanted to explore the inevitable sense of helplessness and disillusionment that comes with living for someone else.
For now, I'm satisfied to leave it like this. Perhaps when I am able to write actual stories, I will consider revisiting the Naruto fandom and reviving this concept.