While you're correct you're are also wrong. People stopped caring about the plot and the story because the plot, the story, the messages etc. are utter garbage.
The only thing that still have some interest are the pairings. It's sad I know, but it's all Kishi's fault or his superiors for telling him what to do and he has to do it.
We all know that the main character will eventually get what he wants. Even the NH/SS fanbase knows this on some level. But people stopped caring about what the main character wants because at one point it just got annoying and uninteresting. And people would ratter focus on the pairings something that's still somewhat interesting.
Whether you feel the plot is garbage or not is only a personal opinion rather than a objective one. The objective thing is though that despite what the plot is, we still just can't abandon it in favor of selective focusing. People stopped caring about the plot a long time ago around the Pein arc and really focused on the pairings more because Kishimoto stepped up the drama with Hinata's confession. That's when people I feel forgot the plot in general. They forgot that Naruto is the main character and then complain when no other character is making an impact. Well, did Bulma make much of an impact in Dragonball or was the entire focus on Goku?
From my understanding though, the pairing wars have become garbage as well with the pairing drama not making any sense either. People rather rely on "potential facts" rather than actual facts that the plot has shown. They are not even focused on the actual pairing plot either and are more focused on what they believe they see and not what is. Let's be honest, we are not even paying attention to what is really there.
Take example what Sasuke said in chapter 693. He says he doesn't love Sakura, but some repeatedly make the claim that it is some complicated love affair where he is "afraid to love." However, it might just be as simple as him just not caring or doesn't see Sakura that way if he sees her in any way at all. I have seen people try to pull the idea of the snowflakes behind Hinata's picture as some symbolic metaphor for NaruHina somehow. So even the pairings wars have become a joke at this point and really people are just yelling at who is a better girl for Naruto rather than whether or not Naruto will succeed where the rest have failed.
The fact is this book isn't about Sakura or Hinata, but we are trying so hard to make it sound like the whole story focuses them when it is not supposed to. Of course, there are many who never focused on the plot in the first place.
What is the original intention of the manga plot? It's not a harem so it can't be about the love focus.
Probably should change the title of this book to "Who wants to marry the luckiest loser?" or something...XD
It's like....reading a Superman comic and wondering if Batman will come in and save the day. Batman can make an appearance, but the comic isn't about Batman. If people wanted to see Batman, why not read Batman comics? Same concept here, if people wanted to see real love drama...why not read a harem instead?
Edited by James S Cassidy, 22 October 2014 - 05:30 PM.
I just hope that this time...the odds being different....I just hope by some miracle they announce a pairing. If not...well...I'd still ship it XD I really like that pairing XD
But....NS still lives on and so does Sakura 
The Gold Saints
, and the little tiny bits with the side cast that doesn't revolve around Naruto, the part with Naruto doesn't interest me as I don't like the title character anymore.
