my take on how Kishi has shown Sasuke cares quite strongly about Karin - the summary -
This is another one of those old laps I wrote last year.
Since it was kind of out-dated (it’s from when 619 came out) I tried to update it a bit by adding Sasuke’s apology to Karin. But aside from that I basically left it as it was haha ALSO it was written with neutral readers in mind, for the FC’s “misconceptions” section, so that’s why it’s a bit more detached than usual.
Anyways here goes!
Why Sasuke does not see Karin as ‘just a tool’ and in which ways Kishi has showcased that he definitely cares about here have all been thoroughly discussed both here [the FC] and in Tumblr, so I thought of addressing the matter from a different angle.
That is, not whether or not Sasuke cares, but that he cares quite strongly about her - as per 619’s wording.
Note: First and foremost it’s worth clarifying that the point of this post is not to claim that Sasuke harbors any romantic feelings for Karin as of now—the nature of his feelings for her is ultimately beside the point and holds no weight in this particular argument. So that is a subject I won't be touching upon here.
Note 2: I’ll be drawing parallels to and mentioning Sasuke’s bond with other characters, especially Naruto and Itachi.
On Sasuke’s feelings for Karin, and displays of their strength
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Even without Karin around, SasuKarin was brought forward by many due to what was stated in 619—a ‘revelation’ that was more of an explanation rather than anything new, in all truth.
But was it really that surprising? Hadn’t Kishi already been clearly hinting—and sometimes, outright proving—that Sasuke cares quite strongly about Karin?
The short answer to that is: yes. My long answer is SasuKarin’s Manifesto. So, this one will try to be somewhere in between.
Like I mentioned above, in my opinion, Kishi has both hinted at and outright proved that there’s something quite distinct in Sasuke’s feelings for Karin and that they shouldn’t be undermined.
The first indisputable proof came (you guessed it) in 415. And while somehow some—see: many—waved away the fact that Sasuke was irrationally adamant about staying behind for Karin at the risk of his, Suigetsu’s and Juugo’s lives (and that he passionately refused to listen to reason – and I say passionately because his lines were bolded in contrast to Juugo’s for a reason, and the motion lines were there for a reason as well), 619 pretty much came and stated what should have been obvious all along.
Sasuke point-blank awakening a new power of his Mangekyo at the thought of losing Karin—due to his raw refusal to let such a thing happen, is note-worthy and non-debatable proof that he cares, and he cares a lot.
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In 619, Kishi helpfully explains that those moments when a ‘change’ is produced in an Uchiha’s eyes it’s because the Sharingan is naturally reflecting their struggle with the despair of having lost/being about to lose a person the Uchiha feels “a strong love” (愛情に深い) for.
Tobirama’s words are backed up by all the instances in which Sasuke’s Sharingan has reacted to Sasuke’s emotions, and as such evolved in some way. It’s no surprise to see they’re almost exclusively related to Itachi and Naruto, who are without a doubt Sasuke’s strongest bonds. And yet, the only instance unrelated to either of them happened due to Karin.
So, what does this—that Sasuke’s Sharingan, did ‘react’ to Sasuke’s drive to save Karin, but not, for example, when Suigetsu was the one to put his life on the line or when Sakura was caught by Gaara back in the Forest of Death—seem to imply?
That while Karin’s may not be on ‘Naruto’ or ‘Itachi’ league, Sasuke’s feelings for her are strong enough to place her on a different tier from the rest of his Nakama bonds (ie: Taka, Team 7 minus Naruto).
In other words: that for all intents and purposes, Sasuke’s feelings for Karin seem to be strong enough to separate her from his other ‘Nakama’ bonds, and bring her closer to his most important bonds instead.
This is (ironically) backed-up by what transpired between Sasuke and Karin during the Kage Summit and, most especially, Sasuke’s fight against Danzou. Why? Because Kishimoto had Karin play a role that paralleled that of Naruto back in Part 1—and it goes without saying just how meaningful such a thing was.
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The fact that in such pivotal moments, rather than letting Taka as a whole play a role, Kishi separated Sasuke and Karin from Suigetsu and Juugo. That it was Karin’s Sasuke that was directly juxtaposed with the guy he became (482). And that it was his betrayal of Karin, the fact that he sacrificed her that was used as Sasuke’s absolute Turning Point (Moral Event Horizon) and as the moment when he descended into “true darkness” speaks volumes.
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As Teachan so aptly explained in her post here, Kishi could have used Suigetsu or Juugo or even made Sakura or Kakashi the victims (since they were about to get there)—but he didn’t. And just like how back in part 1 how far Sasuke could sink was showcased through his bond with Naruto (for it was the strongest out of Team 7, and Sasuke stated this himself), Kishimoto did the very same thing with Karin here—and so, the implications of this should be clear, IMO.
And they happen to be backed up by 619. It’s also funny to notice that it’s only after 480 that Sasuke goes back to bring up the mindset he had acquired at the end of Part 1—a mindset that goes against his behavior for Naruto’s and Karin’s sake in the fight against Haku and Killerbee respectively, and his actions for Team 7 and Team Taka during the Chuunin exams and 414.
Lastly, another obvious evidence that points to Kishi deliberately singling Karin (and her importance to Sasuke) out from the rest of Taka are the statements he has delivered through other characters (mostly, through Suigetsu and Juugo themselves). The most telling ones do not focus on Karin’s feelings for Sasuke, no. Rather, they address Sasuke’s side of their bond, stating that he has “specifically chosen her as his favorite”, that he “knows her quite well”, etc.
To conclude this little summary here, it’s important to highlight Kishimoto’s writer intent; because you bet all these implications are deliberate and 619 only goes to further prove this.
Now that those are out of the way and can provide some perspective for the ‘hints’ I mentioned at the start of the LAP, I’ll bring some of those hints up—because just like 619 is properly backed up by the manga, Karin’s role in Sasuke’s descent into darkness and Sasuke’s actions for her in 415 did not come out of anywhere. But rather than do yet another panel-by-panel analysis of their moments, I’ll go for something far briefer and (hopefully) more straight-forward.
Sasuke’s reactions and behavior toward Karin stand out a lot more when compared to his behavior around others:
- She’s the only one to get an ‘I need you’ from Sasuke, something he says neither to Suigetsu nor Juugo.
- Never tells her to ‘shut up’ or snaps at her.
- Basically takes her side over Suigetsu’s when Karin and he argued. Even when Karin is the one to start it.
- There was clear difference between Sasuke’s reactions when Juugo and Suigetsu got hurt by themselves, than to when Karin was caught in the danger alongside them.
- When each of Taka saved him, Karin was the only one to get an explicit thank you from Sasuke in the form of a “You saved my life, Karin”.
- Again, compare Suigetsu putting his life on the line for them in 414 to Karin almost dying in 415.
- Even in 579 there was a difference between his reactions to Kabuto bringing up Karin, Juugo and Suigetsu. (scroll down a bit)
- And of course, there’s Sasuke’s apology to Karin. When one compares it with how unapologetic he was when faced with the reproaches from the Rookie 9 in chapter 631 (“I honestly don’t care what any of you think about me”), it certainly seems to suggest that Sasuke does care about what Karin thinks of him, doesn’t it?
And while some may call these subtle, the truth of the matter is they are fairly consistent and as such seem to be making a point. They serve—again—to make Karin, and Sasuke’s behavior toward her, stand out.
And of course, there’s another thing that singled Karin out from everyone minus Naruto and the Uchiha. That smile Sasuke gave her.
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Now, where did these 'strong feelings’ come from? Right now, all we can do is make a hypothesis about the matter. But going by the fact that merely 1 minute into knowing Karin, Sasuke was already displaying distinctly uncharacteristic behavior for her - well, if you ask me, that may as well indicate that there’s simply a natural affinity somewhere between them.
Leaving that aside, however, it’s also easy to guess it may have something to do with their similar pasts, as we know (casually, through his bond with Naruto) just how much importance Sasuke gives to someone knowing the pain of “loneliness” and/or “loss”. So if there was a kindred-spirit understanding between them, it’s fairly easy to see why Sasuke feels about Karin the way he does, why he acknowledges her the way he does - and why it is precisely for her that his Sharingan has reacted in ways comparable to its response toward Naruto and Itachi.
I’ve got no doubt that once the time comes - once Kishi can finally address Sasuke’s “What am I?” and let him take Itachi’s words regarding Nakama truly to heart - we’ll start seeing more instances that will back up 619 even more.
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