So let me get this straight....
So Naruto spent all that time and effort trying to win Sakura's affection, all because of rivalry.
But at the same time, he always loved Hinata. In fact, he loved her so much, that he ignored her for several years.
I mean, it seems like SP wants to have their cake and eat it too. They want to portray this grand love epiphany where Naruto gets to experience "real love" for the first time, but they also want to sell us this narrative that Naruto was always in love with Hinata.
Am I understanding this correcty? I really hope not.