Sasuke in the end

[Rlinfamous]

Personally, I think there's a strong chance Naruto and Sasuke will both die in the end. Sasuke will be redeemed by his actions in the final battle (after losing to Naruto prior to that), but I don't see their bloodlines continuing beyond them. I think a major thing Kishi's been getting at, especially recently, is that the Rikudou left behind Ninjutsu, entrusted to his two bloodlines, to leave his protection help humanity mature. However, the Ninjutsu system and the existence of such powerful techniques is now simply perpetuating hatred, and the "bad guys" are all scrambling to collect all the pieces of what the Rikudou left behind. Rather than being the hero's Rinnegan facing the evil Juubi, it is now only Naruto, a Jinchuuriki, who is capable of fending off evil Doujutsu users and protecting humanity. Things have come full circle; together, Naruto and Sasuke have the powers of both halves of the Rikudou Sage, and it is their job to end the cycle and perish with Tobi/Madara, without leaving behind their powers for others to collect.

I'd like a happier ending, too. However, a major theme in this manga is that it's not how a Shinobi lives, but how he/she dies that is important. In my opinion, it almost would feel incomplete if Naruto himself didn't make an equally heroic sacrifice.

[paulbee]

Personally, I think there's a strong chance Naruto and Sasuke will both die in the end. Sasuke will be redeemed by his actions in the final battle (after losing to Naruto prior to that), but I don't see their bloodlines continuing beyond them. I think a major thing Kishi's been getting at, especially recently, is that the Rikudou left behind Ninjutsu, entrusted to his two bloodlines, to leave his protection help humanity mature. However, the Ninjutsu system and the existence of such powerful techniques is now simply perpetuating hatred, and the "bad guys" are all scrambling to collect all the pieces of what the Rikudou left behind. Rather than being the hero's Rinnegan facing the evil Juubi, it is now only Naruto, a Jinchuuriki, who is capable of fending off evil Doujutsu users and protecting humanity. Things have come full circle; together, Naruto and Sasuke have the powers of both halves of the Rikudou Sage, and it is their job to end the cycle and perish with Tobi/Madara, without leaving behind their powers for others to collect.

I'd like a happier ending, too. However, a major theme in this manga is that it's not how a Shinobi lives, but how he/she dies that is important. In my opinion, it almost would feel incomplete if Naruto himself didn't make an equally heroic sacrifice.

Famous, I'd never thought much of the Cycle of Hatred motif that Kishi brought into the story for the simple fact that it is Clearly Wrong. One can, without thinking too hard, poke giant holes all over the idea. The very existence of the Alliance demonstrates that the cycle of Hatred can be addressed and overcome.

As for the benefits of ending the Senju/Uchiha bloodlines, consider the fact that mankind is fully capable of creating world ending weapons and Jutsus all by themselves, without the Rikudou's bloodline or Bijuus (Tsuchikage's dust technique is scary awesome).

As I see it, if Naruto and Sasuke were to die, then without a charismatic leader like Naruto to show the way, humanity would simply shrug their shoulders and resume their greed, and hatred. I fully expect Kishi to back away from the cycle of hatred as an underpinning principle in the Manga. Indeed, by the time Madara is finally defeated, there will be only one person with the clout and support to be able to re-write the laws, and change how humans in Naruto have lived, and that would be Naruto himself.

As I see it, Sasuke's redemption is essential if only to underscore the fact that Naruto has changed the world system, and the cycle of hatred has indeed been finally broken.

Finally this is a Shonen manga. Therefore, the childhood dream of the main character naruto (to become the greatest Hokage), Just Has to happen. Yeah! Think about it, there are Thousands of bright eyed little Japanese Kids all waiting with Baited breath, for Naruto to finally become the hokage. Do you really think that Kishimoto would really take that away from them by killing him off, after they/we have waited so many years to see it happen? I think not....

[knife eater]

I just want to point out that its clear redemption is not a theme which can still apply to sasuke. Redemption is for madara, you can't introduce such a character with his history of treacherous deeds and grabbing for power, introduce him as being on a level so much higher than anyone else, all thanks to his philosophy and alignment to the things naruto stands against and still say sasuke needs to be redeemed. All sasuke did was run away from home, disrespect his elders and dreamed of revenge for something he couldn't understand. A firm spanking and a few weeks bootcamp will set him
Straight.

Madara is the only character to truly not be reached. Even oro would get discomfort around naruto in a subtle shade of self honesty. Sasuke's redemption is just a sad idea to keep expecting n ow that itachi has shown him the path to being a hero.

[paulbee]

I just want to point out that its clear redemption is not a theme which can still apply to sasuke. Redemption is for madara, you can't introduce such a character with his history of treacherous deeds and grabbing for power, introduce him as being on a level so much higher than anyone else, all thanks to his philosophy and alignment to the things naruto stands against and still say sasuke needs to be redeemed. All sasuke did was run away from home, disrespect his elders and dreamed of revenge for something he couldn't understand. A firm spanking and a few weeks bootcamp will set him
Straight.

Madara is the only character to truly not be reached. Even oro would get discomfort around naruto in a subtle shade of self honesty. Sasuke's redemption is just a sad idea to keep expecting n ow that itachi has shown him the path to being a hero.

Sasuke is right now (currently) on a path which leads him to the attempted destruction of Konoha, and the murder of everyone who lives there. You might say that "A firm spanking and a few weeks bootcamp will set him
Straight ", but who is going to be able to do all that, and can it be done without killing Sasuke assuming anyone is even able to kill him?.

Redemption for Sasuke will be to turn him from the path of Hatred, Vengeance, and intended murder, without taking his life and to help him to return to being a good guy.

Madara on the other hand is the architect of much evil who relishes and revels in power and domination of others. He may trully be beyond redemption.

[almara]

well, i do kinda agree with you paulbee, i do think however that it has to come at the cost of sasuke's life in some way, bcoz i cant see any way for sasuke to return to his old life, i see no way that he will return to his old life at all, i think its impossible but it is entirely possible for sasuke to be redeemed through his death but with that said, a part of me wants sasuke to live, bcoz if he does then he will be the one that ends up with sakura and naruto will end up with hinata which is kind of a dream scenario for me in that department but if sasuke dies then sakura will most likely end up with naruto which i dont really want but in the end its kishi's decision and if sasuke survives he needs to make it atleast plausible that he would survive.

well, we dont actually know for sure if madara is the architect of all the evil, all we know is that tobi(not madara as in edo madara) that has caused all this, and we dont know for sure where tobi comes from, we do have our suspecions tho but no verification. Tobi can still be any1's guest, be it a self modified human or a creation of some currently unknown person.