The subsequent development changed that, but it could have been done. Likewise with this scene, this could be it. She got what she said she wanted and this could be the end of her development. Nothing in this scene, really demands he proceed any further with it.
I agree. I'm not expecting Hinata to just suddenly disappear from the action, but it's possible that her main focus is over. Or not. I mean, I didn't see Kishimoto forcing her into the plot in this way, when she has had no role up to this point, so who knows. But like others have said, it feels so forced. Contrived and... manufactured, if that makes sense. It's difficult to see how Hinata could possibly be relevant to subsequent events, especially when it comes to Team 7. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.
However, this does not make anything canon because there is no distinct reciprocation on Naruto's end and he doesn't really do or saying anything that is inconsistent with what has come before it. It's the same attitude and type of reaction as before and the last time we got anything read on his romantic feelings it was all Sakura. I don't know Japanese culture and maybe this type of hand holding means only one thing there, but the context of what Naruto does here doesn't explicity scream "I love you" and I don't see him resolving such a consistent and naggin plot point with that gesture while Naruto is saying nothing of romance. I think the final resolution will be more explicit (kissing, mutual declarations, etc.).
Yes. You'll notice that all of Naruto's internal dialogue was about being inspired and supported. Kishimoto had to switch to Hinata's thoughts to make it about romantic feelings or any relationship between them. That's a very obvious and important distinction. The only way their interactions ever have any romantic significance or weight is from Hinata's perspective. Kishimoto had a chance to give Naruto a more romantic thought about Hinata -- even if it was as simple as "wow, she really does love me" -- and he didn't. Zip.
Could it be because Naruto is dense and doesn't think about romance in the middle of battle? Sure, it could be that. But his clone still managed to call Sakura "Sakura-chan" -- in the middle of battle, when he saw that she was okay. It's a small tell, perhaps, but it's a tell -- and there has yet to be a single tell where Hinata is concerned. Could Naruto finally have a tell for Hinata? Sure. But it hasn't happened yet, and in my opinion there's just as much reason to believe it will never happen as there is to believe it suddenly will.
Since part I, has any character focused on romantic feelings during fights except Hinata? I can't think of any, but that doesn't mean anything. I'm just curious.
Finally, I agree with the one step foward two steps back. She says she needs to stand on her own and she does for a few panels and then falls back to crutch mode. The jump seemed abrupt, but given that Neji died it felt appropriate, but rather than standing strong she almost bashfully focuses on that rather than the actual task at hand? Whatever.
Perhaps it's intended as continuity? I mean, her character has always been weak and revolved solely around Naruto. It would be unrealistic for Hinata's romantic focus to have completely transformed in a few moments. Just like it would be unrealistic if Naruto's did....
If I were Obito, I'd really be ticked and want to stomp Naruto into the ground. A friend just dies in his arms, and Naruto is back up in five minutes spouting his ninja way? Obito wanted to hurt Naruto, and he failed. So I could see Obito going after Hinata just to get back at Naruto.
But I could also see him saying "I'll take the thing you love..." then pulling a switch and going after Sakura. Sakura's "death" at Obito's hand would taken down both Naruto and Kakashi. So there's a high collateral damage there. (I say "death" because she would never get killed off. There'd be a reset button somewhere.)
Yeah, my imgination keeps drifting back to this as well. And we know that Obito, and Zetsu on his behalf, has been spying on other characters for ages. It would not be a stretch to discover that Obito already knows/suspects Naruto's feelings for Sakura.
I don't know. Kishimoto has so many irons in the fire right now, it's difficult to guess where he's going to go next. But as I said in my last post, I just don't see Obito stopping his assault on Naruto's psyche. Even Madara commented that Obito seemed very keen on Naruto's response. Since Naruto didn't cave after Neji's death, it seems likely that Obito will up the stakes.
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