One would think that if Naru/Hina and Sasu/Saku were such excellent and perfect pairings that Kishimoto wouldn't need to come out and defend his choice of putting them together. With each 'reason' he/SP gives it is just throwing more and more fuel on the fire that is the ire of 'true' Naruto fans, those of us who enjoyed the series for it's messages of perseverance, determination in the face of obstacles, that hard work will trump 'genius' as well as friendship and loyalty, and not those 'fans' who only like the series for it's terrible ideas of romance and love. Naruto has dissolved into a worse version of Harry Potter with all the shipping wars that have gone on, especially since JKR came out earlier this year with that article on how she might have made a mistake putting Hermione and Ron together in the end. At least in Harry Potter, the red herrings/teases that JKR gave the readers were just that red herrings/teases, and that they flowed in the story. She didn't go back after finishing book 7 and change the first couple chapters of book 1 to include Ginny as Harry's 'forgotten guardian angel'.
It's hilarious to read reviews from Hinata lovers/Sakura haters on ff.net in my Naruto-RW story who are bashing me for 'bashing' Hinata or 'praising Sakura', or even comparing the two with their fangirl/stalkerish tendencies when I am trying to build both Hinata and Sakura's characters up to a respectable level.