Lessons about Friendship from the Naruto Manga.

From the Japanese Manga, Naruto, Chapter 474.

Intro:

Sasuke disrupted the Five Kage Summit with Uchiha Madara appearing at the end and declaring a war against the Hidden Villages. The Kages of the 5 Hidden Villages decided to form a joint alliance and they are on the way back to their own respective villages.

Sakura appeared before Naruto and attempted to make him change his mind about keeping his promise to her (of bringing Sasuke back to the Hidden Leaf Village) by declaring her adoration for him. Naruto dismissed her affections which he noticed that it was a facade and that she was hiding something from him. Sakura, in a pseudo-anger, claimed she's returning to the Hidden Leaf Village but, in reality, she was going to look for Sasuke herself and bring him down herself. Sai realized this and sneaked back to speak to Naruto. Kakashi, listening to all of this at the side, realized what Sakura was about to do and told Naruto. Naruto was caught in disbelief because he knew that Sakura loved Sasuke deeply. Sai went on to explain to Naruto...

Sai:

Sakura smiled at me and said she'd work with everyone but this time, I knew it was a facade. 

Naruto:

No way...Sakura-chan would never....

She loves Sasuke so much.....

Sai:

It's because she loves him...that she doesn't want him to sink any lower.

It's because she loves him that she wants to rescue him from the evil path he walks now.

Even if the only way to do it is to dispose him with her own two hands, I believe she's prepared to do itbecause she loves him.

                                                                             

Gaara came along with Kankuro and Temari to inform Kakashi of what happened at the summit and of what Sasuke did. Speaking to Naruto...

Gaara:

Sasuke has stopped looking for you. He seeks the darkness of his own free will.

Naruto... you once said to me, "I'm the future Hokage!"

Well, I became the Kazekage.

If you're truly prepared to take up the mantle of a Kage, then as Sasuke's friend, you know what you have to do. 

I consider you as a friend.

As a child, "friend" was simply a word. Nothing more, nothing less.

But after I met you, I understood - that the that the word's meaning was what counted.

Think carefully about what that word means and what you can really do for Sasuke.

______________________________________________

Humans are social creatures. We need company - of family and friends. As the saying rightfully placed it, "No man is an island" and from there, we establish connections with others. For guys, those who are close enough, we call them brothers and for our female counterpart, they call friends who are close enough sisters. Regardless of what we call those who are close to us, it isn't what we call them that is of significance, it's what we do.

On one hand, we've "friends" whom we hang out with all day to play and have fun. We are unable to share our thoughts and emotions with them and the connection is weak. They, we consider "fair-weather friends". They tell us what we want to hear and say things without much thought of whether what they said is beneficial to us. Simply placed, they do not shoulder the weight of their words and speak freely and irresponsibly to us.

On the other hand, friends, whom we consider brothers or sisters, are those who stick through thick and thin, who are truthful and honest with us, whose advice we can well heed for they are for our benefits (note: by benefits, I do not mean welfare).  They laugh and share joy with us, they empathize with our feelings, they trust us and, similarly, we can trust them. They, at times, chastise (definition: rebuke or reprimand severely) us when we stray from doing the right thing, in an act that's called tough love, much like how our family members do. They do so willingly even if we, in a willful (definition: having or showing a stubborn and determined intention to do as one wants, regardless of the consequences or effects) and petulant manner, choose to forfeit and break away from the friendship.

There‘s a saying by Confucius：

子曰： 巧言令色，鲜矣仁。

“巧”字大部份是指高妙、聪慧、灵巧、美好之意。“令”字亦是指好的、善的。“巧言令色”便是指“话说得很动听，脸色装得很和善”。

”巧言令色，鲜矣仁“便是指一个人所说的话十分动听但是却一点也不诚恳。这样的话不是“仁”的表现。

Having read numerous newspaper articles and encountered some in my life, how many of those who egged their "friends" on to do something wrong, something illegal, or something immoral that's not punishable by law, are "real friends" or "true brothers"? Someone who "encouraged" their "friends" to ostracize another classmate through bullying and cyber bullying? Someone who egged their "friends" on to rebuke against their parents (or their teachers or even those true brothers) who are trying to bring them onto the right path?

Someone who only wants to hear the good things from others and only wanting to play with "friends" all day is simply being immature in thinking and anyone who propels another to think the wrong way is most unfortunate.

True friends/brothers build each other positively and in doing the right thing and thinking the right way. Fake "friends/brothers" don't. 

Before this day is over, perhaps it's good to think what kind of a friend are we and what kind of "friends" are we hanging out with.

子曰：吾日三省吾身。（为人谋而不忠乎？与朋友交而不信乎？传不习乎？）