Sasuke loves Naruto

Well, it is because Naruto is the one pursuing Sasuke, and insisting that he wants to mend the bond between them while Sasuke keeps telling him to stop. So Sasuke asks him why, and Naruto says because we’re friends. I don’t consider that a confession. Not to mention, Naruto is the one who shows signs of internalized homophobia and is the one who cares what others think of him. So it just simply makes sense that Naruto is the one who has an issue with coming out. Sasuke on the other hand doesn’t care about others opinion of him.

And in 699 Sasuke says he didn’t expect Naruto to come to see him off. It’s like something happened between them. Actually, many think Sasuke confessed here and Naruto couldn’t return the feelings, at least not to the point of becoming a couple. Another hint is Sasuke’s vague comment in Gaiden, which makes Naruto nervous. I don’t think it’s anti-naruto to wonder why Naruto doesn’t come out. I do think it makes sense why he doesn’t. He wants to live up to people’s expectations. Even his mother said to him to find a girl. I don’t know about others but I at least don’t hate Naruto for it. It’s depressing if anything.

My friend too always says Naruto is her favorite character, and she’s the one who even brought up this theory to me. So I don’t think it automatically makes one anti-naruto.

Am Sorry, I never said it was you (???). Even the Asker wasn’t referring about you or anyone in particular. But I’ve come across such claims in this very platform which was made many years ago... Such as this Discourse from 2014 and probably this kind of theories got spread like a wildfire...

The Person in that attached post literally calls Naruto as this scumbag for breaking Sasuke’s heart. And there are so many old disgusting posts like this that I’ve came across which blames Naruto for everything. I was only talking about them. 

IF only people just wonders about why Naruto don’t come out, I wouldn’t even bother... because I, myself, feel that way too and I would gladly join them. But calling him as this Scumbag who broke Sasuke’s heart is going way overboard and definitely they are Anti-Naruto.... No matter what. 

Whether you agree or not, What Naruto said in 485 is a Confession. A Declaration as to how he felt about Sasuke all along. Of course, it isn’t romantic. Well, none of the things are explicitly romantic when it comes to Naruto and Sasuke... as compared to Hinata and Sakura admitting their feelings. 

If this scene was just about Naruto stating his reason that they are “FRIENDS”.... Then he didn’t have to wait this long. He could’ve reached out Sasuke when he was 8 and said all of this.... He could’ve literally said this during the Waves Arc... He could’ve admitted this in VoTE1 as opposed to his internal monologue of these very similar words. No. But he did it in this specific moment with so much drama built up to it. If this was about “JUST FRIEND”... Then this build up is not necessary. Of Course this is a Confession. (Similar to how Hinata did it in Pain Arc)...

Also, it isn’t like Naruto chased Sasuke romantically or to selfishly want to keep his bond intact despite Sasuke’s insistence of cutting down... It was only because Sasuke became the Literal Initiator of this Bond by doing so many things for Naruto during their Genin Days... 

Sasuke gave him the Lunch during Bell Test

Sasuke sought Naruto out (under the pretense of going for a walk) and spent his Training time with Naruto in the Waves Arc. 

Sasuke offered his life in that same arc...

Sasuke calling Naruto (and Sakura) as his Precious Comrades...

Sasuke acknowledged Naruto before chunin exams...

(Surprisingly in all the above moments... Sasuke was the one who signals the existence of a Bond)

When everyone thought Naruto was not even worth a single cent... It was Sasuke who valued Naruto to the point of giving up his own life at the expense of his dream.

Most of these initiating acts from Sasuke are what led Naruto to believe that “There is a Bond between them”. But all of a Sudden, Sasuke started to send mixed signals by acting in a contradicting way in VoTE1. And that led Naruto to think that he misinterpreted everything and he was heart broken that it was painfully one-sided. And that’s why he thought to himself, “But it can’t be helped.. I still don’t want Orochimaru to take you” 

Sasuke repeatedly asking "Why do you go so far for me" Question to Naruto was entirely because he never imagined that Naruto would also feel about him the same way how he felt about Naruto all along. He simply thought Naruto thinks of him as just a Rival. 

Until the moment Naruto admitted that “Sasuke’s bond was what he sought all along” because Sasuke smiled at him back when he was 8... We have shown earlier from Naruto’s POV that Naruto treasures this moment a lot.

Much later we got to know that Sasuke also treasured this moment from his own POV. An implication that Sasuke also wanted to bond with Naruto.... Sasuke’s stunned reaction in the above panel comes down to “So, it’s not just me who thought of you as my precious bond.... You also did consider me as your precious bond??? Just like me”... 

That’s why Sasuke’s sharingan evolved after this scene because his feelings got reciprocated but he has to break that reciprocated bond which is the source of his immense pain.

But............................

Did Naruto know that Sasuke really felt the same way about him, in this moment???

Did Naruto know about Sasuke’s brain full of memories was filled only with Naruto???

Naruto wasn’t aware of any of these feelings from Sasuke’s side. Only the readers were privy to that information.

Similarly, During the Bridge scene... Sasuke asked the same question and he was Stunned to hear that Naruto still considers him as his Friend. Because prior to that, we know Sasuke was asking about Naruto under the pretense of catching Kyuubi. We know that Sasuke thought for a brief moment about Team 7 picture (with Naruto as the sole connection). We also know that Sasuke thought that he was alone after Itachi’s death but then he had Naruto. So, Sasuke clearly thinks of him as a Friend despite acting like he wanted to severe that bond.... And when Naruto reciprocates their bond at his worst time, Sasuke simply couldn’t believe it. 

And Part 2 was all about Naruto's own way of reciprocating Sasuke's bond a bit by bit, by acknowledging him even in his worst times just like how Sasuke cared about him many years ago. So, Saying that Naruto chased him just to keep their bond, While Sasuke really wanted Naruto to stop doesn’t make sense. 

Yes. I’ve heard about this too. 

But no matter what many claims... There is literally no evidence or panel proofs that shows Whether Sasuke made private confession after Chapter 698 or not. It was very deliberate and intentional from the Author’s side to keep Sasuke’s true emotions just in the form of Monologue, not once but twice. (Once during the Waves Arc and Chapter 698). If Sasuke didn’t confess explicitly in both of those moments... then how could he confess OFF-PANEL alone???

Basing our claims entirely on Something that wasn’t shown explicitly is very similar to what SS does always... “Sasuke kissed Sakura (but Off-panel)”... “Sasuke spent a night with Sakura in Gaiden... So Sex happened (but Off-panel)”.

From what I see, Naruto here was looking poker faced or even we can consider to be sulking... Probably Naruto wasn’t happy about the fact of Sasuke leaving the village and probably they had an extended argument... But eventually Naruto respected Sasuke’s wishes, and he let him go... Hence Sasuke saying, “I thought you wouldn’t come to see me off” is more like, “I thought you were angry with me and hence I thought you won’t come to say farewell”.

Again... More than the Rejection of confession, this makes more sense. Because if Naruto rejected his confession, Naruto wouldn’t be looking like he was so sure of himself with no hint of regret or doubt or depression...  Instead he would’ve looked like this...

Or this

Or this

All of these expressions were from Naruto when Sasuke was admitting about breaking their bond.

So All of a sudden Naruto would become more confident and emotionless in a span of single chapter after supposedly rejecting Sasuke’s OFF-PANEL confession??? I find it very hard to believe and it’s kinda disrespecting Naruto as a Character. Especially when it doesn’t have any precedence to it.

There are so many people in SNS fandom calling Naruto is an abuser and being pushy towards Sasuke... And I don’t understand why they want Naruto to be even more pushy to the level of Sakura by following him in his Journey????

This claim is almost like SS, to be honest.

Yes, He was.

But it is also very possible that Sasuke never confessed his feelings... And Naruto being a confused person with Internal Homophobia... finally thought that those feelings were actually nothing that needs to be validated and married the first girl who came in his way... And living his life with depression and over working himself by counting headbands. 

And Sasuke’s salty comment about Co-Operation poked Naruto in the right spot and hence his nervousness... Almost Like, “Why do I feel like The Co-Operation he was talking about is something that is aimed at my real feelings?”

OR we could take it in a way where Sasuke was being salty about the reality of always having to secretly meet once in a while like some forbidden lovers but not being able to be together for an extended period... (due to circumstances). It’s more like “Hmmph, Isn’t this the kind of Co-Operation you always wanted???” And Naruto might be feeling stung by Sasuke’s words. (Yes, I am indicating that they might be cheating too...)

Again... We’ll never know unless we get the information. 

Even in the Broke back Mountain, Ennis was extremely closeted and the Don’t Care Jack was the one who brought Ennis out of the closet... to the point of having Intercourse and then Cheating eventually. 

But saying Naruto rejected Sasuke’s confession based on this one panel which could be interpreted in many many ways.... + Add the Fact that Naruto never knew How Sasuke felt about him all along which could have validated his feelings in some way -- Simply makes no sense. 

This is what the Asker Asked me...

No... Sasuke never explicitly said he wanted to be around Naruto... That was just a Monologue. So, Naruto don’t know anything from Sasuke’s side.

Yes, Naruto was aware of his feelings somehow... But did Sasuke validated/reciprocated the nature of Naruto's feelings???? Validation would have happened had Sasuke verbally openly admitted his Chapter 698 confession... But he didn't.

Is Naruto, that kind of a person to value so much about others' opinion???

If that's the case, he wouldn't be standing with Sasuke Under the Bridge.

Even if he considers other people's opinion so much (which I doubt it), Won't Naruto agree to cheat???? At the very least??? Just like Ennis and Jack???

I think so.

Please feel free to disagree. But As long as we don’t have any explicit information about Sasuke confessing and Naruto rejecting it.... I don’t think Naruto is to be Blamed. It shows people just want to jump at the chance of slandering Naruto as a Scumbag for this non-existent reason which is not even his fault to begin with. Especially when he has shown to have Internal Homophobia.

how tf is crying a feminine trait

You don't have to be aggressive you know. Especially without even knowing what I am trying to say.

Men don't cry much... They are encouraged to show their frustration through Anger. Have you seen Jiraiya, Kakashi, Sasuke, Itachi and many other male characters cry very often???

And yet, Naruto cries for other people. But instead of taking that Gesture as a Guy who likes to emphathize other people... There are shippers who take it as a feminine trait and make him into a doormat in fanfics just like how they portray Sakura.

I am talking from their POV.

Still, Crying is something women were allowed to do... Whereas it's considered as shame among men. Whether you agree or not.

I don't mean Crying in a degrading way.