Look, I understand the concept of both girls getting what they want in the manga, but we cannot and I mean absolutely cannot count Naruto's feelings out at all. The main protagonist's status already grant him to be the main focus to win everything he wants/desires/wishes. How is it that Naruto has to be the one that will be shattered by Sakura? How is it that Naruto can win everything he set on except love interest? How is it that Naruto has to be the only guy to let go of his feelings? I don't buy it at all.
I am always a Naruto fan and always support him to overcome the odds. He really speaks to me and to hear that something like love interest can be the only one that he can give up on is ridiculous. If that's the case, why Kishi continues to have Naruto asking dates? Why he still have feelings for Sakura? Why he doesn't drop it? Why? Because HE WILL NEVER GIVE UP!
I hate how people doesn't support the main character Naruto. Look, I am all fine if you like other pairings, but to say something that Naruto has no chance or he must be the one to quit is no doubt ridiculous. If Naruto loses Sakura to Sasuke, then what was the point of our support to Naruto? Yeah, he can become a Hokage, saves Sasuke, and surpass Kakashi, but not getting love. See how weird it sounds. Again, Kishi recently reminded us that Naruto is still in love with Sakura.
Not everyone wins, but Naruto must be the winner because of the representation of the theme: never giving up, believe yourself, overcome the odds, and so on. Kishi even told us to keep supporting Naruto. Not the manga, the main protagonist. Now let me ask you this. Noticed that Hinata's confession is hardly mentioned in any other media. Why? Because it was only effective to Hinata's character, not the story. And guess what, they showed Sakura's hug in there. Why? Because it follows the story. Whose story? Naruto! Even her confession was kept, not to mention him saving Sakura in bridal style. Funny thing is that other media ignore SasuSaku's part. If there's any, it would be the last talk with the "Thank you".
Now ask yourself. Why so much support on NaruSaku from the anime studio who is biased with all the Hinata love? Why many movies with NaruSaku fanservice? Why games show and add NaruSaku fanservice? Why one special promotional ova have NaruSaku towards the end when the manga is almost to the end? Why, out of all people, did Kishi made a movie with bunch of NaruSaku moments as well as ignoring NaruHina and trolling further SasuSaku?
Let's face it, Hinata is only a character with development that needed closure or rather, just got one. Nothing more. We all made it sound like she's there throughout the whole manga so far. Sasuke, well, he's Sasuke. All of part 2 development so far is about SasuNaru, nothing else. Sakura and Sasuke conflict was horrible and not one good came out of it. Not even Sasuke feeling bad at all. Hardly a dialogue. At. All. So why Naruto has to quit? Hm. After all, Naruto and Sakura are really close friends. Nobody in that relationship shows hatred to each other and both of them has shown interest from each other. Why they have to drop it? Ok. I'm done ranting.
I agree that its completely ridiculous to think that Naruto is the one who is going to give up on his feelings. The utter disregard and dismissal of Naruto's feelings for Sakura are one of the things that make me the most frustrated with some NH/SS shippers.
Naruto is the main character, his feelings have been portrayed just as seriously as the girls' feelings, and he's had those feelings just as long as the girls.
Plus, Naruto is the person who canonically has the power to change people's hearts - so why do people think its more likely that Hinata is going to change his heart and that Sakura is going to change Sasuke's heart? They have no basis to think this, especially given the fact that Naruto and Sasuke have never shown anything beyond friendship for the girls ever.
The late Ann Landers, a famous advice columnist for decades, had this to say about love:
QUOTE
“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.”
Or if you prefer Bruce Lee:
QUOTE
“Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.”
Honest, true love can only be realized when it is mutual and given without reservation. Naruto and Sakura already love each other. Romance will be the icing on the cake.
These quotes are so unbelievably apt - they just outline so much about what I love about Naruto and Sakura's relationship, especially the first one. It's based off strong friendship. There is understanding between them, even if its not always explicit.
There is forgiveness from both sides for mistakes and arguments - like Sakura never blaming Naruto for hurting her in KN4 mode, or them getting past their argument at the summit, for example.
And this ties in to the fact that neither character is perfect, and their relationship isn't either. They accept each other, flaws and weaknesses and imperfections and all. Because they've been through so much together, and known each other for so long, that they do know these less than admirable qualities about one another. They've seen each other at low moments. But none of that has changed how much they care abut the other, and how the other's happiness and safety is a priority.
I always thought a telling page was chapter 535 page 7
when he emerges and uses his sage mode he searches out his important people and there is one person who according to some is an important person to him who is conspicuous in her absence.
I just bought volume 57 recently and this came to mind
Interesting observation. This reminds me of the arguments that NH's last interaction means Naruto's feelings are changing because there was more focus on the NH save than the NS save
Naruto didn't show anything romantic there for Hinata at all - the thank you was the long-awaited response to Hinata's actions during the Pein fight, closing up that part of Hinata's character development. Because ultimately, that's all I think Hinata's feelings for Naruto are really about - her own character development.
Naruto's complete lack of non-platonic/romantic interest in Hinata, her lack of involvement in his life and in the story overall, and her focus on her own feelings rather than Naruto's, all seem to point to the fact that this is about Hinata, not NH. Given this is the arc where so many character's are getting loose threads tied up, I really do think this arc is where her feelings are going to be completely resolved.
This topic is locked
after all it doesn't matter how much the girl loves the guy if the guy does not reciprocate her feelings a relationship might be started but it won't end well.
