Sasuke x Hinata

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Pairing
Pairing: Uchiha Sasuke/Hinata Hyuga
Alternative name(s):
Gender category: Het, M/F
Fandom: Naruto
Canonical?:
Prevalence:
Archives:
Other:
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Sasuke x Hinata, also commonly known as Sasuhina, is a het pairing in Naruto fandom.

Canon

As children, Sasuke and Hinata both attend the Konoha Academy in the same class.

Later on in the first half part of Naruto, they both take the chuunin exams. Hinata is impressed by Sasuke's win in his preliminary match.

In part two of the Naruto manga, or Naruto Shippuden in the anime, their next instance together is in the Fourth Shinobi World War when Sasuke makes a proclamation to become hokage. Hinata is shown reacting to this, however, she is not given special focus aside from being surprised like her peers in the vicinity.

What is considered the first canon interaction between Hinata and Sasuke happens in the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations movie and sequel series. Sasuke appears at the Uzumaki residence looking for Naruto, and is greeted by Hinata, who tells him Naruto is at the hokage tower.

Fandom, Fanon, and "Appeal"

There is a lack of substantial material between Sasuke and Hinata in canon, if there is any at all, shippers are easy to admit.[1] To both shippers and non-shippers, Sasuhina is a ship characterised by never having any interactions, positive or negative. That way, shippers feel that headcanons and discussions of fanon in the community do not have to be restricted by what is presented in canon.[2] As such, it provides the basis for shipping them in the first place. That is, compared to the canon pairings Naruto/Hinata (Naruhina) and Sasuke/Sakura (Sasusaku), Sasuhina is a blank slate void of the criticism both ships receive for either being 'underdeveloped' or negatively developed by the end of the series.

There are factors outside of canon interactions and moments together that draw people towards the ship. One reason often cited, is the "aesthetic appeal" of the couple.[3] Often Referencing their Shippuden designs, Sasuhina fans note that both characters have matching purple and blue colour schemes. Nowadays, this reason extends to their Boruto designs. However, differing qualities that shippers seem to pick up on despite their shared colour schemes, also appeals to shippers, both visually in narratively.

A major draw to Sasuhina is the perceived parallels between Hinata and Sasuke's backgrounds and writing. While it is usually understood that the connections made between Hinata and Sasuke are probably accidental, considering they do not interact in the Naruto story, shippers find similarities and differences between them that then becomes a foundation for hypothetical development between the two. People find their upbringing quite similar: both are born into the head family of the Uchiha and Hyuuga; in these families, both feel or are outclassed by a sibling figure (Sasuke with Itachi as a child, Hinata with Hanabi and Neji). Both characters have complicated relationships with their fathers, coming from pressure or desire to be acknowledged; both clans are known and revered for their occular jutsu (doujutsu), the sharingan and byakugan, which both characters posses, and often a point of discussion, comparison and contrast.[4] These narrative parallels stand out as being similar yet different, especially in how they play out and resolve. This is explored in depth by fans in both fanfiction and meta, though not necessarily to prove a canonical, purposeful connection between Sasuke and Hinata, that is, that they will or should be a couple in the story, but to show why people see connections between them regardless. See: July Winter and their textual analysis.

Similarly, some people also feel their personality traits are similar in ways that make Sasuhina distinct from Naruhina and Sasusaku. Both canon ships exhibit a yin-yang theme described by fans, where one half of the relationship is more outspoken and 'bright' and the other half is reserved and 'dark'. Pairing Sasuhina puts both dark and reserved characters together, is used as an argument against the plausibility of the ship and an argument for why they may compliment each other in what can be called a "quiet understanding"[5] between the two. Within this, however, differences between their dispositions are drawn from looking beyond surface level qualities; while both are considered the reserved half of their pairings, between each other, a line is drawn between being shy and stoic.[6]

It is both by the longevity of the Sasuhina fanbase, forming communities across platforms since the early-to-mid Naruto fandom online, and the high number of fanworks dedicated to the ship, that it avoids being labelled a rarepair, but is firmly relegated to crackship status in the fandom. Comparing Sasuhina to another non-canon het pairing Sasuke/Karin (Sasukarin), where Sasuke has more extensive interactions with Karin as a team member, and Karin having romantic feelings for Sasuke from the get go, Sasuhina still has significantly more works on Fanfiction and Archive of Our Own (AO3). As of May 2023, there are over 1.9k works in the Sasuke U./Hinata H. pairing filter on Fanfiction[7] and over 1.5k works in the Hyuuga Hinata/Uchiha Sasuke tag on AO3[8], compared to 252 works in Karin U./Sasuke U. on Fanfiction[9] and 276 fics in Karin/Uchiha Sasuke on AO3[10] respectively. The trend continues for Kibahina, another non-canon ship for Hinata. Like Sasukarin, this was considered a plausible pairing for Hinata in past shipping discussions, albeit a rarepair due to both Hinata and Kiba making up part of the supporting cast. Kiba I./Hinata H. currently count at only 88 filtered works on Fanfiction[11] and 432 tagged works on AO3[12] (May 2023).

Despite taking into account untagged works exist on both sites, especially for Fanfiction adding shipping filters as a late addition to the platform, the gap in numbers is still noteworthy. It still sets Sasuhina apart from other canon ships for its prevalence and little to no support from canon material.

Challenges

Fan Month

Common Tropes in Fanworks

Following the appeal of Sasuhina's flexibility, many works focus on how they may properly meet for the first time, and develop a relationship from scratch Sometimes, their relationship, before romance development, may be framed by adversity between the two characters; fics set in or written during the Shippuden period may follow hostility or tension between the two due to Sasuke's status as a rogue ninja. Sasuhina shippers also like to write growing feelings amid interacting with each other more on the backdrop of a redemption or physical recovery from the war.

There is also a trend to incorporate tropes that follow a theme of forced proximity, so as to give Hinata and Sasuke a narrative reason to interact.

  • Arranged Marriage - Since Hinata and Sasuke are children of clan heads, many fics play with the idea of a marriage alliance between the Hyuuga and Uchiha as two esteemed doujutsu clans.
  • Canon Divergence - 'Post-war' is a common setting for Sasuhina fics as a point of divergence before the Boruto timeline. writers use this to explore missions, traveling scenarios and other alternative sequences of events that lead to Sasuke and Hinata falling in love.
  • Alternate Universe - Aside from canon divergence, a significant portion of Sasuhina fics centre on Modern AU plots. This ranges from high school AU, to college AU, to various explorations of Sasuke and Hinata in different professional settings. In what seems to be inspired by both being born into head families of their clans, this is sometimes translated into modern plots where the Uchiha and/or the Hyuuga are prestigious families, and follow the alliances or conflicts that may follow in the plot.
  • Angst - Fan writers may bring both characters together from their experiences of loss with Itachi and Neji, especially after the war. Alternatively, they are written as being able to relate to other on other points of angst, such as growing up with high expectations. Sometimes this is coupled with comfort and both learning about each other and to love each other.

Example Fanworks

Fanfic

  • My One In A Million by Renoa Heartilly - In a world of many options, he only really needs one. In-Universe, post-War Sasuhina. Finished. Commonly recced for the quality, and as what fans felt was a believable characterisation of the pairing at the time.[13] As of now, it is the most favourited (tagged) Sasuhina fic on Fanfiction.
  • Fate Doesn't Make Mistakes by Jortalus - Sasuke once took love for granted, and it slipped through his fingers. He returns to Konoha in order to attend a ceremony that forever changes the dynamic of Team 7; during his stay, might he find something else worth sticking around for? Meanwhile, a tournament is devised to give career soldiers an escape from boredom and frustration. (Post-war)
  • Becoming an Uchiha by College n Curls - Some say that the union was meant solely to create the ultimate weapon at Konoha's disposal. Others claim that it was out of familial sacrifice. A small segment claim that it originated through the love for another man. What no one would say was that it was a mutual, or even consensual, agreement. SEQUEL POSTED. Encompasses the arranged marriage trope in Sasuhina ficdom.
  • Blood and Milk by MarvelHero1610 - For every ambitious move, a sacrifice must be made. Sasuke is an unknowing pawn in his father's quest for power. Hinata is the rejected child of Lord Hiashi and the price paid for a debt on her life. Powers above them force the two together. Will anything tear them apart? AU. An AU where events diverge pre-canon. More of a political drama as the backdrop of their juvenile relationship and their betrothal.
  • All That Glitters is Taboo by ElReino - AU: Somehow, Hinata has ended up as the primary makeup artist for a certain Uchiha Sasuke, who is one of the biggest male pop stars in the country. She struggles with becoming a professional while trying to keep her personal life far, far removed. Unfortunately for her, it does not quite work out that way. Sasuhina. Drabble series. Complete
  • Cracks in My Mind by Sommernacht - As Sasuke is waiting to leave for his atonement, Hinata approaches him with one question that changes everything. Forced to reconsider his past, he now has to figure out what he wants to remember… and forget. Post-war, SasuHina.
  • To Make Uchiha Laugh by Crimson Siyrean - Hinata is excited to be joining team 7 for a mission, only to find Naruto and Sakura won't be joining them. Kakashi, Sasuke, and Hinata head out together onto what she quickly deems to be the worst mission of her career. slight Hinata/Sasuke. An older fic with a rare exploration of Sasuhina in their genin days.
  • The Wedding by szajnie - A week long pre-wedding celebration turns into something unexpected for two of the guests. Old friends, rivalries, and romance blend together for an eventful ceremony. Sasuke x Hinata along with some side pairings . Modern Day AU.
  • Straw Saga by Katarinahime - Sasuke is an asshole lawyer. Hinata is a sweet, kindergarten teacher. It couldn't possibly work out, right? Especially after mistaking her for his waitress and being his rude, bastard self. But maybe, she's just what he needs. Whatever she is, he's keeping the straw. SasuHina
  • A Sign That You Were Here by Pastelberries - Hinata was certain she was dead, but apparently, she wasn’t that lucky. Instead, she was faced with a husband that shouldn’t be her husband and two children that shouldn’t be her children. She now has the chance to live the life she yearned for long ago. Although, everything comes at a price. While not a conventional Sasuke x Hinata shipping fic, they're still relevant to the plot.

Fanart

Fanvids

In the earlier fandom, Sasuhina fans were fairly active in creating AMVs:


There is also some fan animated/fanmade animatic content:

Other Fanworks

Archives and Communities

Sasuke U./Hinata H. pairing filter on Fanfiction

Hyuuga Hinata/Uchiha Sasuke tag on AO3

Livejournal

Deviantart

Fanfiction.net

Tumblr Communities

Other Fannish Resources

Fansites and Fanlistings

Fanzine

SasuHina Fanzine - annual digital fanzine founded in 2020. Tumblr and twitter.

Fic-rec lists

References

  1. ^ https://jinx-shiren.livejournal.com/86510.html "Now, for the extremely nerdy part: I ship SasuHina like crazy. Like, that's been my lifelong OTP that trumps all the other ships I love from any other series. Yes, I am fully aware that all throughout the 700 episodes of the anime and 500 chapters of the manga they never once interact. Not. Even. Once." - What is commonly said about the ship.
  2. ^ https://idontliveinatent.tumblr.com/post/126989429609/if-ur-new-in-the-sh-tag-here-is-a-summary "anti: the mangaka ships other ships! sh shippers: good that way he won't ruin our far-fetched headcanons" - Common sentiment around the pairing that has been echoed by fans.
  3. ^ https://www.deviantart.com/sasuxhina-fanclub/journal/Why-You-Love-SasuHina-236009583 - Many replies in the discussion mention how they "look good/cute" together.
  4. ^ https://julywintertheories.weebly.com/yin-and-yang.html
  5. ^ https://ship-manifesto.livejournal.com/205873.html - Title of the ship manifesto by zamkenobi that expands on this concept of the pairing.
  6. ^ https://retasu.neocities.org/hiraethv2/why "I entertained the idea of a relationship between Sasuke and Hinata because I was, and still am, a sucker for the shy x stoic person trope." - Notable insight, can be observed in multiple pieces of fanwork.
  7. ^ https://www.fanfiction.net/anime/Naruto/?&srt=1&r=10&c1=2045&c2=2040&pm=1
  8. ^ https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Hyuuga%20Hinata*s*Uchiha%20Sasuke/works
  9. ^ https://www.fanfiction.net/anime/Naruto/?&srt=1&r=10&c1=3880&c2=2040&pm=1
  10. ^ https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Karin*s*Uchiha%20Sasuke/works
  11. ^ https://www.fanfiction.net/anime/Naruto/?&srt=1&r=10&c1=2045&c2=2054&pm=1
  12. ^ https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Hyuuga%20Hinata*s*Inuzuka%20Kiba/works
  13. ^ https://jesterry.livejournal.com/24201.html "In-universe and SO in-character I bet Kishimoto himself would have loved it without a doubt. Moreover, the STYLE.[//]It's pretty difficult to explain, but the author pulls on the universal strings, making you realize we're all very similar to each other in what we truly crave for and how we feel about it. So when you read you feel united with the whole world and elated by the magnificence of this fiction." - Explains Renoa's and My One In A Million's place in the Sasuhina fandom as a key piece of work.
Naruto
Characters Uzumaki Naruto • Haruno Sakura • Uchiha Sasuke • Tsunade • Nara Shikamaru • more
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