He probably expected Hinatatas and Naruto to be the new stars and Hinatatas to be the new heroine while Sasuke and Sakura became side characters, but that obviously failed. People loved Team 7. They loved Sasuke and Sakura as much as Naruto. Sasuke probably the most popular of the three. They were very stupid to think that Naruto would still hold onto his crown after breaking up the team like that.
Yes, i finally agree with you.
Sasuke could sustain his popularity fine alone just like the entire Shippuden.
Naruto + Sakura as a main couple was logical decision for a sequel. Since hardly any other couple/kids would be able overshadow them. But we all know what happened during the fake confession and Sakura/NaruSaku popularity.
Kishimoto made NH to turn Hinata even more popular and boost Hinata/Naruto popularity for the sequel and save some Sakura popularity between SS fans. But this was double edged sword.
Sasuke/Sakura are main characters. Naruto alone never could sustent the NH illusory popularity.The last failed miserable. Naruto/Hinata is no match againt Sasuke/Sakura and the Uchiha name.
Not even Boruto is a match against Sarada. Half of the old Naruto fandom agrees Sarada would be a better protagonist than Boruto just because she is a Uchiha and more interesting character thanks to her parents.
I know a lot of people say that they're glad NS didn't happen because of how horrible Burrito is. But I can't help but disagree. I really do believe a NaruSaku dynamic would be way different than what we currently have. Hinatata is kind of a useless doormat, so it's easy for Naruto and her crotch goblins to wipe their feet all over her. I know Studio Pierrot tried to fix the awful dynamic by forcing Hinatata to suddenly act Kushina/Sakura-like but it obviously did not work. Honestly, no one is buying it. Very OOC for her.
If you only obligatory requirement to enjoy the sequel was just to see Sakura at Hinata's place as Naruto's housewife in Ikemoto's manga.
So you're pretty admitted you doesn't care about good writting or Sakura's character
Sakura/Kakashi are the only OG characters saved from Boruto disaster because they didn't appear in this manga.
While Sakura isn't perfect in these SS Spin Offs/Novel/Anime Episodes. It's much better than Boruto's manga.
I would prefer Sakura's death than NaruSaku in Ikemoto's universe considering Hinata's situation.
At this point only a NaruSaku reboot with a new Mangaka or Kishimoto, could save the series for the Hardcore NaruSaku fans who coudn't enjoy anything post 699.
But SasuSaku, the whole Team 7 and some old characters like Itachi are still the only thing proving money to Boruto in Japan because Boruto Characters are too much a failure. Hinata still have some popularity to enter in TOP 10 worldwide.
Boruto and especially Sarada are very well received characters. They hardly will erase their characters to create Shinachiku, just like Dragon Ball Super didn't erased Pan and Bra. The chances are very low to change SS/NH even in a possible reboot.
So most, if not all of us, really couldn't care less about whatever damage control the IP owners have done since the ending. The damage is done. They couldn't make NH/SS appealing during the original run and had to try and justify it after they were already married with kids. If you have to do that, then you've done a horrific and awful job with your pairings. Like, below bottom tier awful. Especially when you have a very well developed and healthy, natural ship that literally everyone aside from fanatic shippers expected to happen. We all hate SS because we're Sakura fans. He rarely treated her well, even when they were together as a team. Before Sasuke decided to go rouge. Before the time skip. Their 'best moments' were when they were 12 years old. After that Sasuke tried to murder Sakura and she was even prepared to murder him as well. I get people love angst but by no means should anyone ever consider that to be 'good' or 'healthy' or the 'ideal relationship'. imho it should be treated as it is. Horrible and tragic if you're going to do it. Never portrayed as a good thing or in a positive light.
Even in the final arc, Sasuke went on about how he didn't love her, was willing to let her and Kakashi die a horrible death in lava, call her useless. Sakura not even recalling if Sasuke had glasses and was in horrible debt with zero help from Sasuke. Kishimoto's original comments about Gaiden was for the fans to decide who was Salad's real biological mother. A novel that pretty much told us that Sakura followed Sasuke and bothered him non-stop until he caved and 'married her'.
I will not defend SS here or repeat the same things again. I never saw this interview about Kishimoto deciding to readers decide who is Sarada's mother. .
This is the only interview i knew:
Ironically Sakura role as as mother was very well praised and boosted her popularity.
Sakura/SS fans becomed super angry with Kishimoto's trolling in Gaiden and less in than two weeks his editors obligated Kishimoto to made clear Sakura and Sarada are biological mother and daughter. Replacing Sakura with Karin could be a very a very stupid and suicidal move against the audience and SS fans because this was a real risk to the sequel future and Boruto Movie. This is the fisrt time Kishimoto was aware of Sakura/SS true popularity after the ending.
More than anything a spin off about Sakura's pregnancy and this period is another very good idea to milk the SS fans. if Kishimoto didn't want to write about this. Jump can easily got any Shoujo Mangaka.
Profissional Shoujo Mangakas are comming in public these days to praise Kishimoto and SS:

They are practically begging to write about SasuSaku.
I see this thread sparked to life since I was last here.
I skipped the previous page, give or take since I don't have a lot of time to spend on the computer. But Therece, I just want to say that you're def in the wrong place if you think anyone here is going to give SS/their fandom even the smallest hint of respect or kindness. The people here have been here since before the series ended, dealt with the ship wars and the absolute horrible disrespect the fandoms had for each other. And we dropped Naruto after it ended.
If you guys really want everybody to agree with you or show bitterness about the ending or rival fandoms forever. There's nothing to discuss anymore. Not waste my time too because i'm tired too..
Looks like some of you never will recognizing nothing good about SS, the post ending material with Sakura, better episodes and her new popularity ranking. Even SS fans who are hardcore Sakura fans are neutral towards the NS fans if they doesn't attack SS, but some of you still seems them as a mortal enemies.
So it's better just closer this forum or let this place die because sadly NaruSaku is finished in canon and there's nothing to talk about them. Kishimoto/Jump are hardly receiving feedback from NaruSaku fans in Japan.
Edited by Therece, 06 May 2023 - 10:17 PM.