>>283712154
>If you were the writer what would you do to improve sakuras development.
Unironically, have her join the Akatsuki.
She can receive the offer from Zetsu after defeating Sasori, and accepts because she sees it as a good way of getting close to Sasuke, since Itachi is in the Akatsuki meaning that Sasuke will eventually need to face the organization. Plus Orochimaru used to be in the Akatsuki and they might know about him.
She's there as a mole, and once the finds out the details of the jinchuriki collection plan, also tries to slow down their progress so it takes longer to get to Naruto.
She gets paired with Tobi (Deidara dies, but not before getting a real fight with Naruto and Kakashi), because her taijutsu and healing pair well with Tobi's kamui shenanigans. She thinks she's getting away with being a spy/saboteur because Tobi is an idiot, but Tobi is also playing her.
Sasuke vs Deidara is replaced with Sasuke vs Sakura when Sasuke attacks her on sight after seeing her in Akatsuki robes. Sasuke wins in a less asspull-ish way.
She can leave the Akatsuki at this point, since the Pain Assault comes soon after that. Then she can get a fight against Konan.
Everything after that can be pretty much the same, but Sakura's hesitation to destroy Obito's Rinnegan feels more meaningful if he's her former partner.
The thing is, I don't think her obsession with Sasuke is even inherently bad. She just needs to do cool things and be proactive in her obsession. Which she really doesn't in the series proper.
This also lets her be more capable while excusing her being useless. Since she's not present to help Naruto and the other good guys, and holding back as much as she thinks she can get away with in her Akatsuki duty.
