who's better looking?

After the time skip and their encounter with the first Akatsuki members, Sakura and Naruto were looking for a 3rd team member in order to go on a mission (iE finding Sasuke). It turned out that Sai would be the 3rd member and to put it simply, at the beginning Naruto and Sakura absolutely did not get along with him.
After they found out, Naruto told Sakura he didn't like Sai at all, followed by Sakura's comment that he looked a bit like Sasuke (like his face and also his voice). Naruto then snapped that they wouldn't look anything alike and that Sasuke looked tons better. (Note: )
"..not just a little bit! Sasuke doesn't look anywhere near bad!!"
Naruto, Chapter 285

How right you are, Naruto. Erm, but moving on. On their way to their next mission, Sai again started to provoke Naruto (if he was doing it on purpose or not; we can argue about that, Sai claimed he didn't do anything but anyway..) which only lead to Naruto losing his temper and declaring Sasuke would always be the 3rd member of Team Seven and that he wouldn't accept such a placeholder as Sai. After that Sai thanked Naruto for not associating him with Sasuke because Sasuke would be a traitor and a mere runaway. Naruto got furious, but Sakura stepped in and finished the business what Naruto was about to start - she punched Sai and threatened him not to ever badmouth Sasuke again.

As one can imagine, through that the teamwork between the 3 and especially between Sai and Naruto didn't improve at all. In fact Naruto refused to work together with him, but once he had tried, it was Sai who cold-shouldered him and acted on his own, which resulted in the success of the mission, but not due to teamwork. When Sai said again something about Sasuke having betrayed the village and why Naruto yet calls him a friend, Naruto didn't take it anymore and declared he'd be ready to do anything to save Sasuke, even work with the likes of Sai.

Sai was confused why Naruto would go so far for a friend. Sakura then explained Naruto thinks much more of Sasuke, just like of a brother..

The reason why I added this section was, that again it just shows how determined and strong-willed Naruto is when it comes to Sasuke. He's ready to do anything he has to in order to save him, even if he has to cooperate with someone like Sai. Again, Naruto's will power and inner strength surprised me, but what broke even more in on me was the fact that those scenes really proved Naruto has matured a lot. He didn't let Sai provoke him anymore and instead of fighting, like probably the younger Naruto would have done, he immediately came to the point, meaning in future he will work together with him, if that's what it takes to bring Sasuke back.

Naruto, hats off.

Found at Chapter 285-88