@Analyzer
Okay, I've read most of it. I'm too lazy and you write a lot, lmfao. Well, I'll first begin to say there are two principal points to discuss:
1. Does NH and SS make sense narrative-wise?
2. Did Kishimoto planned NH and SS from the beggining?
Those two points have nothing to do with each other, so they shouldn't be mixed up. Kishi could have planned any couple and execute it as poorly not to make sense. Agree on that?
1. I read of what you had to say about NH development. I agree on that there were not romantic development for any of the characters. But there was romantic implications from character A to B all over the manga. All of those times one-sided or what we know as paralelism (like when Sakura and what was the name of the red-head? 
ran towards practically-dead Naruto and Sasuke respectively).
BUT I do not agree nor I see logic on your arguments over NH development meant to be a romantic one. All I see and that is a fact is that she, as you declared, isn't irrelevant. But that's actually all, there isn't anything special about their bond, to say, at much should be in the same line that Neji or Shikamaru (even when way more weight). Those two characters, just as Hinata, had their moments with only Naruto in intense situations. Were they also meant to be a possible romantic interest? Hinata's relevance has always hang around making Naruto shine, as a lot of characters have fallen on at their respective moment. She's the typical kind-hearted shy girl that has a crush on the protagonist and will make sacrifices to get noticed. Of course there will be moments where Naruto should actually notice her (senpaaaai, kyaaaa 
)
So, my thought is this. If you actually think there is any romantic development for anyone, which I agree, where do you get that NH was meant, narrative-wise, to be end-game? To prove this, there should be something special about NH, which there really isn't. As how I say there is as much relevance than Neji or Shikamaru.
On another note, you say NS belongs to fanon. I won't question your love for NS since it doesn't matter, we are talking about what makes sense, aren't we? NS bond development is heavier and as special as Naruto's and Sasuke, based on decision-making moments, those two bonds are over Neji's, Shikamaru's and Hinata's with Naruto, or can you prove me wrong? Even if we can agree that Naruto and Sasuke's bond is only mouth-to-mouth, story-wise its only existence has affected the entire plot all over the manga.
So, please, tell me, how does NH and SS make sense again? I read about what yousaid about SS. If Sakura didn't end up with Naruto it would half-make sense for her to end up with Sasuke, that is if she had not make any personality growth, which I thought he had, but at the end didn't.
2. As for this point...well, as I've said before I don't really care about this. Mostly because any affirmation about this doesn't have enough proof to support it so I think about it as a waste of time as a whole. We can still discuss about it, recognising the subjetivity involving it. Why do I say this? Well, it's pretty obvious, isn't it? There are two options: He planned NH and SS as end-game or he didn't. His first affirmation regarding this topic was made after the ending. I do not recall exactly the moment he refered when doing it so you gotta pardon me. He said something close to "I thought about NH and SS being the end-game after The Confession." Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was from this time or I believe the begginingof the war? that he realized he wanted to do this. So, by his own words defending the pairings, it was not always planned. Also if I recall correctly he also talked about how he did thought on making NS canon up until he turned to NH & SS. Also, adding the very controversial lines: "Besides, Sakura would be much terrible of a woman if she moved on."
Since I left this site not so long after the movie was released, please enlight me on where he said NH and SS were end-game all along. Probably would an interview after the one I've mentioned. Which makes his affirmations contradictory, thus not a reliable source for stablishing what it is a fact or not.
Get what I mean when I say this topic in particular is not worth discussing? Kishimoto really contradicts himself all over his interviews so I only get tired, to be honest.
Philip (if you know him) it's my Jorah! Heheh.
"Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, unfortunately."
Okay, I laughed.
