You know... it's weird because i already think of it countless times and never had this feeling, but today while i was reading your post i thought :
But... what the hell for Kishi would have created her to be a civilian in a manga about NINJAS, other than to become Naruto's love interest ? I don't know if it's a crack theory that popped in my head just know but... thinking of it... it's really weird. What would have been the purpose of Hinata ? We pretty never see civilians, only ninjas more of the time... Moreover this old drawing with her and Naruto keeps bugging me since I saw it LOL.
It's really weird because when i'm reading the manga, my logic screems NaruSaku.
Please don't yell at me everyone LOL it was just a thought and I would like to have you non-partial thoughts ^^
maybe she was supposed to be the original Ramen Girl before Ayame but she wouldn't look right as the ramen girl imo , so then Kishi thought about making Hinata's love interest Naruto because he knew romance also brings forth more readers .. therefore he dragged it out til the end . but NS was obvious since chapter 3 .