Back in the old days, when we all used to watch that one anime about Boruto’s dad, we met a character named Itachi Uchiha. He is one who gave the audience quite the set of mixed emotions. Itachi was introduced as a villain. A black coat, malicious eyes, plus purple nail polish completed the “bad guy” look. After 500 episodes, we found ourselves wiping away our tears taking a deep breath that the whole time Itachi was the most moral character of them all.
When we met Sasuke, we found that most of his identity was wrapped up in his older brother Itachi. From planning his murder for the first half of the anime, to trying to avenge him for the second, Itachi’s ultimate sacrifice for his beloved younger brother defined Sasuke’s character. Whether for good or bad, the oldest child leaves quite the mark on the younger sibling.
Years after Itachi’s death, we meet Sarada Uchiha, the girl who is going to save the Uchiha name! Her identity is wrapped up in who her parents are. She questions if Sakura is her biological mother plus becomes bitter with Sasuke for never being home. She ends up going on a grand adventure with Naruto where she meets Shin, a creation of Orochimaru whose identity is wrapped up in carrying on Itachi’s will.
Throughout Naruto plus Naruto Shippuden, there seems to be many characters who have some sort of identity crisis. I was an emotional high schooler once, so I understand this. I question my identity every other day. Like Sarada , I question if I am loveable. Even today, I was at lunch plus told my friend about feeling like nomer one wanted to be really close friends with me because my personality is just so intense. Her answer was the classic, “Jesus loves you!”
Honestly… that wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Sakura always told her daughter that Sasuke loved her, but without him there, she couldn’t feel it. Sometimes it’s hard to feel God’s love if he isn’t physically there. But we can have assurance of God’s love because of the bible plus how God presents his love to us in the form of other people. What a pleasure it is to be used by God to love other human beings! Sometimes, you just need a friend to give you a hug plus remind you the truth, that you are made in the image of God plus you are loved beyond anything you can imagine. These Christians are a sort of “Jesus with flesh” as my church puts it.