Naruto didn't love Sakura in chapter 3. I'm willing to buy and agree that Naruto did love Sakura, but I will not agree that it was in chapter 3. It was a crush back then, and that is something that I can't argue against, because its clearly shown and established that way.
You're willing to "buy" it? As you said, "showing is telling" and Chapter 3 and then on pretty much showed that Naruto did indeed love Sakura-Chan. In Chapter 3, it clearly showed that he was starting to understand why he loves her. He was starting to understand the depth of his feelings for her. He even started understand the reasons why, as his words said- "I'm finally starting to see what I love about Sakura-Chan." His feelings started turning into love at that point. Even before he made the Promise it was clear he loves her. Sai's talk with him was the icing on the cake.
You can read back in this thread I think on NH built up. I haven't done one on SS, but there are touched points on them during the Chuunin Exam's for a starting place if you want to go back and analyze them.
NH has NO build up, SS is even worse. I can count on my fingers the number of moments NH had, and none of them showed any romantic feelings from Naruto's end at all. Hinata trying to let Naruto cheat off her test was overshadowed by Sakura-Chan's willingness to put his dream over EVERYTHING even if it meant that Sasuke failed. Naruto defending Hinata from Neji? Naruto turned it into his own personal mission to prove that hard work can beat geniuses. All NH moments was overshadowed by NS moments everytime. But I would love to hear some of these NH and SS "touched points" you are talking about.
Whoa, Naruto was not pursuing Sakura in the Last. Have you watched it? You would not get that detail wrong if you watched it. And if you haven't watched it, I'm not sure if you should really remark further on it, because your next part is also incorrect. You don't have to watch it, but I think it's poor form to bring up the Last if you haven't watched the film, as you can't analyze it accurately, and your statements come from an incomplete picture, worse if they're from second-hand.
Uhm, yes he was in the beginning of the movie. In The Last, Naruto was STILL pursuing Sakura-Chan. It was even revealed during their kitten talk that Naruto may have even told her that he loves her. Then she started on with her, "your love is out of rivalry isn't it?" Which is pretty ironic coming from her. So yes, Naruto was pursuing her in even The Last. If I remember correctly, Naruto and Sakura-Chan even went on a little mini date.
Your last statement is debatable, as I don't think love works that way, but ultimately if it does, then I would hold it to a view that Naruto didn't really love Sakura, and instead, true love grew for Hinata. And I'm not a fan of that view, personally, though it might be an accurate statement. I think Naruto had an attraction for Sakura while his love for Hinata grew.
Did you read the same Manga I read? Even in Chapter 3 it showed that his feelings for her went beyond just her looks. He loves her need for acknowledgement just like him, how similar they are. That was one of the first reasons. He loves her fiestiness, how smart and talented she is as shown by how amazed he was by how she was working on Kankuro in the hospital, and how strong she is. His feelings for her goes well beyond looks. I would love for you to elaborate on how Hinata's love for Naruto is beyond his nindo and never giving up attitude though. Naruto showed actively throughout the Manga even to the last chapters that he doesn't love Hinata and that Sakura-Chan is the apple of his eye, and you have no evidence to prove otherwise, other than The Last Retcon. But then again, Gaiden and the Boruto Manga pretty much further proves my point about his feelings toward Hinata.
Edited by Illnevergiveup3, 23 July 2017 - 04:13 PM.