Great pictures.
The thing is SS is -not- like other relationships, really, nor is really any relationship like these relationships. It's draw of interest is that it is -not- any of the above, though some may wish or make it out to be.
The thing is Sasuke is not a good father, or husband, and these have never been argued to be so. But he is a father and husband, and the fact that he was going to end up with Sakura is well informed.
The above are reasons -not- to like SS, but if SS was like the above, it would be probably boring. The dynamic of SS is of interest to read, because it is different, and has issues. You can certainly say that it is not a great couple because Sasuke is not there, but it makes sense on how it happened, or that it was going to happen. Your pictures are really why I -don't- ship it, despite it's fascinating working dynamic.
However, to answer the question, the end of Gaiden, with them eating together, and finally, having a family picture together, more or less is fitting of a "family" picture.
We also dont' definitely know if they never kissed? We certainly know Sasuke is not comfortable with public kissing ,nor really grasps it, which makes sense concerning his social development. But even regardless of this, the compelling point is that it is -not- like other couples, it could not fit any of the above, because Sasuke is really not a normal person, he is very stunted in that sort of growth, and that makes it interesting. But that also is why I don't ship it.
Still, nothing post 700 really has to do with how they became canon, because the Manga more or less informs on that how.
The thing is SS is -not- like other relationships, really, nor is really any relationship like these relationships. It's draw of interest is that it is -not- any of the above, though some may wish or make it out to be.
Which proves my point, All of the above are romantic relationships. As you yourself said, SasuSaku is not like any of these relationships. I.E. it is not romantic. Yet we are told by Sakura in the above panels that it is supposedly a loving romantic relationship..... where they have never kissed, never spent more than a year together after getting "Married.", etc. What it draws interest from is irrelevant. It's not a romantic relationship. Canon relationships imply that the two parties are A. Romantically interested in each other. B. Have become exclusive to each other.
Both of these is still one sided. Sakura is interested in Sasuke, but there is Zero evidence that Sasuke is interested in Sakura. Even if you based your argument on the post gaiden panels no sane person would assume these two were a couple.
The thing is Sasuke is not a good father, or husband, and these have never been argued to be so. But he is a father and husband, and the fact that he was going to end up with Sakura is well informed
Nope. In 693 he clearly states, "I'm not interested in her at all." You also failed to produce one Panel that matched any of the above romantic couple photos. I provided plenty for Naruto and Hinata and Naruto in Sakura. In fact, even if you take his attitude in 699 you can't infer that he's romantically interested in her. He bonks her on the forehead then ditches her again, just like his brother did to him. The only difference is he didn't try to kill her this time.
The above are reasons -not- to like SS, but if SS was like the above, it would be probably boring. The dynamic of SS is of interest to read, because it is different, and has issues. You can certainly say that it is not a great couple because Sasuke is not there, but it makes sense on how it happened, or that it was going to happen. Your pictures are really why I -don't- ship it, despite it's fascinating working dynamic.
Fascinating working dynamic??? Interesting to read??? Stop putting words into my mouth. I said it was a bad couple bc they aren't romantic in the slightest, not bc Sausage was never there. Sakura at best is a stalker who never cared about what Sasuke wanted. Sasuke is an abuser who attempted to murder her in 693 bc she told him she "Loved" him. Or when she tried to kill him to save him???
Sasuke is the worst part of Sakura's character. Get rid of her obsession and she would be a much more interesting person. It's shallow and garbage and the only reason it is used at all is to keep readers guessing who Naruto will marry in the end.
However, to answer the question, the end of Gaiden, with them eating together, and finally, having a family picture together, more or less is fitting of a "family" picture.
I present Normal Family eating together:
Happy, engaged, Loving
SasuSaku Family Eating together:
We have Depressed, Bored, and Oblivious
I present Family taking Photo:
Not the intimacy, caring, and giant smiles everywhere. Family is clearly tight knit and close
And SasuSaku Photo:
And I simply must ask in capital letters and bolded, not bc of you but bc of the blatant disregard by the writer: WHERE IS THE INTIMACY IN THE PHOTO FROM SAUSAGE?????????
And I will add that if we are talking the reasonableness of SasuSaku being canon, the evidence should be coming from Parts 1 and 2. There are zero photos that match any couples photos from Sasuke and Sakura from parts one and 2
We also dont' definitely know if they never kissed? We certainly know Sasuke is not comfortable with public kissing ,nor really grasps it, which makes sense concerning his social development. But even regardless of this, the compelling point is that it is -not- like other couples, it could not fit any of the above, because Sasuke is really not a normal person, he is very stunted in that sort of growth, and that makes it interesting.
They haven't kissed.
In the first panel Sakura looks depressed after being asked that question. In the second panel she says she thought of something better. Then proceeds to forehead poke her daughter.
Why didn't she just say yes???
In fact, let's take that and apply that to my logical formula from earlier
Sakura is asked about whether she has ever kissed Sasuke + Sakura looks depressed then claims she got something better + Sasuke has been gone for ten years and hasn't returned + Won't even poke his own wife on forehead after leaving + Doesn't even recognize his own daughter.
When have they kissed and what evidence proves it???
And I'll tell you why it's not interesting. Arguably 99% of fictional couples, as well as 99% of real life couples do not poke each other's foreheads and consider that better than a kiss. They just Kiss. Even back during puritanical times, couples kissed. Why? Because its more interesting tongue wrestling than it is boinking each other on the forehead. If I want to plow a woman to kingdom come, I'm not going to boink her on the forehead, I'd rather boink her tongue. It's much more.... stimulating.
And if Sasuke didn't grasp public kissing.... what? Hasn't he snogged Naruto at least 60 times by now? I think he gets the implications.
Still, nothing post 700 really has to do with how they became canon, because the Manga more or less informs on that how.
That's hilarious, so to what point did Gaiden serve then? The whole point of Gaiden was to reinforce the SasuSaku relationship bc most ppl call kitten on it. In fact the issue that set everything off in that story was the fact that even in story Sarada herself didn't believe that Sakura was her mother.
The irony is it only made things worse