is a fictional character in the Naruto manga by Masashi Kishimoto. Introduced in the last chapter of the manga, she becomes the heroine of the spin-off Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring (2015). A young ninja in training, Sarada is the daughter of Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha.
Her character is first explored in the film Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015), where she has become a low-ranking ninja (Genin) from the village of Konohagakure and dreams of becoming its leader, the Hokage. Sarada also appears as a main character in Ukyō Kodachi's manga series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2016) and its anime adaptation, which show her interactions with her family and with her future teammates, Boruto Uzumaki and Mitsuki, along with whom she is led by Konohamaru Sarutobi.
Kishimoto felt pressure when he created Sarada because he thought he lacked experience in drawing female characters. Kishimoto also wanted to convey Sarada's relationship with her parents across her spin-off manga. Critical reception to Sarada has been positive. Her interactions with Boruto and Sasuke as well as how she aims to become the Hokage based on her character arc have been praised.
Concept and creation
Masashi Kishimoto conceived Sarada Uchiha as a character who would not initially be perceived as feminine. He felt pressured when developing Sarada for the Naruto spin-off manga, Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring (2015), as he was worried about how the franchise's primarily male audience would respond to a female lead character. Masashi Kishimoto's brother, Seishi Kishimoto, shared similar concerns. Kishimoto read several unspecified books about women's traits to select the right characteristics for Sarada's personality. In the end, he gave these characteristics instead to another character appearing in the spin-off — Chocho Akimichi. He did this because Sarada's story was dark, and he aimed to balance it with Chocho, who would help keep the story comical and entertaining for readers due to the contrast to Sarada's arc. Another aspect Kishimoto wanted to develop in the series was the bond between Sarada and her mother, Sakura Uchiha. For the finale of the Naruto spin-off, Kishimoto wanted it to end with the focus on Sarada's family.
Kishimoto chose to portray Sarada as slightly dark but strong-hearted rather than cute. He imagined the character as a female version of her father, Sasuke Uchiha. He also incorporated elements from Sakura into Sarada's characterisation and had both female characters wear similar clothing. Kishimoto also said that he aimed to make Sarada cute even while wearing glasses. Sarada was originally going to have long swept hair, but Kishimoto felt it would not fit into her look as a ninja and modified her hairstyle. The author also felt the glasses would make the character look more appealing. Her ninja outfit was based on one of Sakura's from Narutos first part, but Kishimoto additionally decided to cover Sarada's arms. During the finishing touches in the making of Sarada, Kishimoto made her eyes look like Sasuke's, and her glasses were also meant to hide this resemblance. Japanese rock band Scenarioart in charge of performing the ending theme song of this story arc were given directions by Pierrot to make song show the distant but caring relationship between Sasuke and Sarada. As a result, although the lyrics often mentions the farewells Sasuke and Sarada had, the intention was meant to make it look optimistic as they are destined to meet once again. For Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the character remembered Boruto all this time and has been sure of his innocence. Sarada was redesigned by Ikemoto by giving her a more masculine black jacket. She wears Boruto's jacket deliberately as a remembrance of Boruto, fearing she might forget her. She even buys the same brand as him.
In the Boruto film and anime series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017), Kokoro Kikuchi voices Sarada in Japanese. When the new story arc about Sarada's family was announced for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Kikuchi said that she expected fans to "feel the strength and energy of the Uchiha family" throughout it, despite feeling nervous about voicing Sarada; she also looked forward to the interactions between Sarada and Chocho, who have completely different personalities. In the English version, Laura Bailey plays her in the video game Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (2016), and Cherami Leigh voices her in all subsequent appearances. Leigh stated that she is grateful to voice Sarada. She also said that, while it is exciting to play her, she feels a lot of pressure because of how "legendary" the series is; nonetheless, Leigh and the other Boruto English voice actors felt honoured to play the characters based on the importance of the franchise.
Appearances In Naruto Sarada makes her first appearance in the last chapter of Naruto. She is the daughter of Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha. As the central character of Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring, Sarada searches for her estranged father. She mistakenly feels that Sakura is not her biological mother; after noticing that Karin, a woman who used to be one of Sasuke's allies, wears similar glasses to hers, Sarada believes that she is her real mother. Excited about seeing Sasuke after many years, Sarada gains the bloodline eye technique known as the jutsu, which she has inherited from him. However, she does not have a good first impression of her father, wrongly believing he does not care about his family. When the Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki, the leader of Konohagakure, helps her understand that family is not a matter of blood, Sarada realises that she would love Sakura regardless of their blood relation, and she wishes to save and protect her at any cost. It is eventually shown that Sarada has inherited Sakura's natural control over chakra, and thus she is able to gather it in her fists and cause a devastating effect on a target because of her superhuman strength. At the same time, it is highlighted that Sarada has also inherited her mother's "Cha!" (しゃーんなろー! Shānnarō!) verbal tic. Sarada eventually learns from Sakura that she is her real biological mother. After she confirms this, Sasuke says that Sarada's existence shows the connection between him and Sakura. Karin later explains that she was Sakura's midwife when Sasuke and Sakura were travelling together. Before leaving again, Sasuke shows Sarada how much he loves her by giving her the same gesture he once gave Sakura, the forehead poke, and promises to come home soon. Having admired Naruto and his dedication to his village, Sarada makes it her goal to become the next Hokage one day.
In Boruto
Sarada is also a supporting character in the film Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015), where she appears as a low-ranking ninja (Genin) and forms a team with Boruto Uzumaki, Mitsuki, and their teacher Konohamaru Sarutobi. Sarada, Boruto and Mitsuki participate in the ninja examination to become mid-ranking ninjas, Chunin. After passing the first round, Sarada helps her team win the second round by breaking through a genjutsu with her Sharingan and managing to obtain the flag she has been looking for. In the third round, Sarada uses her Sharingan again but this time combines it with her naturally good chakra control, and she is able to quickly defeat her adversary, Tarui. Despite this, the team fails to pass the final exam. Once the exam is interrupted by two figures known as Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Kinshiki Otsutsuki, Sarada tries to help clear the area, and her father protects her after she is almost crushed by a falling wall. Naruto is captured by the two villains, and Boruto asks Sarada and Mitsuki to protect Konohagakure while he goes with Sasuke to save the missing Hokage. After the mission ends, Sarada asks Boruto if he wants to become the next Hokage, to which he answers that he has decided to follow Sasuke's footsteps instead to become vigilante and protect her once she becomes the Hokage in the future, making Sarada to blush. Sarada also appears in the novelisation of the film by Ukyō Kodachi. During the making of the film Boruto: Naruto the Movie, some scenes involving Sarada's interactions with Boruto were removed because of time constraints. Nevertheless, Kishimoto's most important scene between these two was kept: Boruto motivating Sarada to become the Hokage in the future.
Sarada also appears in Kodachi's manga sequel to Naruto, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2016). While the manga of Boruto starts with a retelling of the film, the following chapters contain new stories. Konohamaru Team is given a ninja mission, but all three members reject it when Sarada learns that Boruto is protecting somebody from an assassin and saves him along with Mitsuki. The anime adaptation shows Sarada and her friends before becoming ninjas. While being childhood friends, Sarada and Boruto do not get along well but end up becoming closer once Boruto saves Chocho during a competition between students from the ninja academy. The anime also retells the events of Sarada's spin-off manga, where she manages to bond with her father. Similarly, the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations light novels by Kodachi include Sarada's role in the anime. In a later arc, Sarada's group goes on a trip to the Mist Village but ends up trying to stop a rebellion, with Sarada defeating one of the swordsmen leading it. Following this arc, Sarada and her friends become ninjas after passing a test, and she, Boruto, and Mitsuki form the new "Team 7" under the leadership of Konohamaru. In the anime, Mitsuki disappears from the Leaf Village, prompting Sarada and her friends to search for him. Once facing Mitsuki's new allies from the Stone Village, Mitsuki interrupts the battle and takes down Boruto. Sarada is also present in an original video animation where Team Konohamaru is sent to stop an apparent thief.
In other media Outside the manga and anime series, Sarada appears in an omake from the manga Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan Legend (2014), where she spies Boruto's training with Sasuke. She also appears in the ending of the video game Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 and becomes a playable character in the updated version Road to Boruto (2017). Besides reenacting scenes from the Boruto film, Sarada also appears in the game training with her father at her request. She is also playable in the video game Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker (2018).
Reception