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Yup. This is the chapter where Naruto and Sasuke have "died," Sakura and Karin are desperately trying to revive them but conclude (in mirrored panels) that 'at this rate, they will die'...and Hinata has fallen face first after being tripped by a rock. It's all in Chapter 662, "The Real End."
So my thoughts are no matter what came afterward, this is how Kishimoto would have liked to have ended it. With NS, SK and Hinata/Rock-kun.
I also have a theory that Kishimoto had had his way, he would have left it as an open ending, like the novelization of the Gutsy Ninja. Where the intent is shown on the part of the characters, but he doesn't have to illustrate the main pairings getting together. Just gives the impression for the readers.
(And really, even the actual ending of the manga reflects Kishimoto's tendency to leave things vague, with so many confusing panels and open-ended situations.)
Anyway, I think it's significant that 662 was titled "The Real End." I think this is how he would have left it if he wasn't tied to a contract.
Yeah, if he was locked in a contract, and he knew the original direction of the story had been given up in favor of more money for the series...then I could see him trying to insert his opinion in some other, more creative ways.
I think it's simply to fishy to think otherwise. I mean, why call it that title?
Knowing the ending that was to come, I honestly think that this is the way Kishimoto would've liked it to go down, if he'd had his way.
And that's not to say that either Sakura or Karin would have been absolutely paired up with Naruto and Sasuke in the end. I still bet he would have left it open. But I think it would have ended with those parallels. And most importantly, Hinata wouldn't have been in the mix at all.
In "The Real End," Hinata is shown as the side character she's been all along in the manga. Not being able to do enough and falling dramatically short. I think the name of the chapter was intentional, for readers to find when they came back and reread the manga after bait-and-switch ending.
Tricksie, is it your purpose in life to write these great posts that really make buffoons like me have to think? lol You bring up a number of very interesting points...
Quick! Have an ass-kicking Sakura!
(quanto volevo andare all'angolo delle chiacchere... 
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but love Yu Yu and I'm a big big big fan of Saint Seiya 
) Seriously, ask a woman our age (or a few years older) about Sailor Moon and mostly we still get starry eyed about it. (You boys and your 'this is a girl's cartoon I ain't gonna watch it' 
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I hate this so so so so much.
