There are three types of love when going by Sternberg's triangular theory of love. There is romantic love, passionate love, and companionate love. Let's see how Sternberg's theory can be applied to Naruto or more specifically, NaruHina.
Let's start off with analyzing romantic love concerning this pairing. Romantic love is when couples experience high intimacy and high passion, but low commitment. This definition completely rules out NaruHina as a relationship based on and being fueled by romantic love. One may argue that Hinata has high passion concerning Naruto--and she does. However, HE is NOT passionate when it comes to Hinata. One may argue that Naruto was passionate when he turned nine tails after what pain did to Hinata. However, it's in Naruto's character to be passionate with the vast majority of people and especially with his friends. If it was anyone else in her position, he would've reacted the same way. Why? Because Naruto is naturally passionate when it comes to friends. He loves his comrades and hates to see them hurt. Plus, there are numerous times where Naruto shows his passion to multiple friends (Iruka, Gaara, Neji, and yes of course Sakura). Passion is defined as having a strong and nearly uncontrollable emotion. Throughout the series Naruto has demonstrated this trait with many different people time and time again. In fact, I dare say that one of the people he's most passionate towards is Sasuke. The mention or sight of him would cause Naruto to surge with an intensity of emotions multiple times (I don't feel as if I need to back this up with specific evidence since I believe it is clear and self-explanatory; however, if one would like me to provide evidence concerning this, then I shall). He's become passionate concerning Sasuke almost every time Sasuke was brought up or when he met Sasuke in earlier shippuden. With Hinata, however, Naruto has only expressed such passion towards her once and possibly twice if you want to count the time Neji and Hinata fought. That is nowhere near the amount of times Naruto expressed passion concerning Sakura or Sasuke.
Naruto and Hinata do not experience high intimacy either. Intimacy is defined as close familiarity (which they do NOT have. You can't be familiar with someone if you have not had multiple significant conversations with said person). Intimate acts that are particularly romantic are also obviously classified as a form of intimacy. Surely the handholding scene was intimate, right? Yeah, it was…not. In Hinata's mind it was, as suggested by her thought bubbles. However, on Naruto's side is was not. It was a mere tactic used to transfer chakra. Whatever shred or trace of slight intimacy conceived during that moment was eradicated once Naruto proceeded to hold hands with everyone else for the exact same purpose. Hinata wasn't special in this case and the scenario wasn't intimate in the slightest. For something to be truly intimate, it needs to come from both sides.
Let's move on to infatuation. Infatuation is defined as high passion, but low intimacy and commitment. This does not describe their relationship for their relationship does not consist of high passion. They do, however, have low intimacy. Commitment is slightly harder to analyze since, if we're going from Hinata, then one can see that she is undoubtedly committed to Naruto. However, it's not necessarily the same the other way around. Naruto's not committed to her as an individual. He's committed to her in the sense that he's committed to all of his comrades. Regardless, his commitment to her is not nearly on the same level of Sakura or Sasuke. He's committed to them individually rather than just generally. He puts more focus on Sakura and Sasuke than he does with anyone else.
Lastly, let's take a shot at companionate love. Companionate love consists of high intimacy and commitment, but low passion. It's difficult to determine which category of love NaruHina falls under due to the one-sided-ness of it all. Naruto is not intimate towards her nor is he committed, but Hinata is. Regardless, further research into companionate love indicates that it's also defined as a "deep, abiding attachment characterized by feelings of caring, affection, and respect" (http://www.psycholog...onate-love.html). This definition seems to be closer to the NaruHina relationship. Hinata has a deep attachment to Naruto due to her respect for him (and his ninja way). She cares for him enough to jump in front of danger to save him and she has routinely showed affection towards him. Naruto, though his attachment is not necessarily deep, does care for her as shown when he was concerned for her after the battle with Pain ("Did I hurt Hinata and the others?") as well as when he saved her from a zetsu. Those acts can also show signs of affection since affection and caring are more or less the same thing (they are synonyms after all). He has also shown her respect by saying that she is strong as well as thanking her after her speech. He appreciates her and she appreciates him. The affection, caring, and respect are the only things that are reciprocal between them whereas intimacy, passion, and commitment are not. Naruto and Hinata are therefore mere companions, not lovers.
As for NaruSaku, I would classify that as consummate love which is defined as having high passion, intimacy, and commitment. I would elaborate on this in order to justify my reasoning but I'd rather take a break from this LAP for now. (Plus, If I continued this post would be way long so yeah. I'll probs analyze NS later.)
