But Sasuke is Naruto's stated goal, again and again and again Naruto mentions wanting to bring him back. Where are all the moments where he can't shut his mouth about how he needs to get it on with Sakura? Naruto wanting to be with Sakura and wanting to save Sasuke, respectively, are not presented as equal goals. It is possible that Naruto will forever be in love with Sakura but not getting together with her is not a big failure for him. Not becoming hokage and not saving Sasuke would be. (Anyway. When has Naruto even stated that Sakura is his goal?)
Considering how the issues with Sasuke affect his willingness to confess to Sakura, do you really find it surprising for him not to bring up his love for Sakura very often? Whether it's a goal or not Naruto wants Sakura's happiness, whether it's with him or not. The promise cemented this trait of Naruto very clearly. His love for Sakura is deep and selfless. Saying how much he wants to make Sakura love him would truly diminish the display of selflessness that defines him. So he rather keeps quiet about it.
God, I saw this mentioned in the Naruto Forums and honest, my first thought was:
"Sasuke is a terrorist and a murderer, Sakura is a girl who just doesn't fall for Naruto. Two hardest challenges? Totally on the same level, my ass.
"
Sasuke is like the most important thing to Naruto. Saving him is more important to Naruto than becoming a hokage, and he has wanted that from the very beginning. Sakura is a girl he has romantic feelings for. Again, when has Sakura even stated to be one of Naruto's goals?
If you response towards me is to say "my ass" I don't know how seriously I can take you as a debater.
Could you elaborate why Sakura is not a high challenge. If you want to put Sasuke as the undisputed #1 that's fine, but it seems your trying to downplay the story with Sakura a little too much. Sakura is not some girl Naruto wants to take to ninja prom, his love for her is very serious. And the fact that we're still waiting to see if she might be with him in the end is what makes it a challenge.
When we say Sasuke and Sakura are the hardest challenges is because they look the most unlikely to change their perceptions by the end. It's not about what Naruto can do for them, it's about waiting in anticipation if they'll finally look at things differently
Additionally, saving Sasuke is the standard Naruto set for himself in order to fulfill the rest of his desires. Remember "How can I be Hokage if I can't save a friend?" but also don't try to forget "How can I tell her how I feel if I can't even keep my promises?". If we go by that pattern Sasuke is the goal standard to fulfill in order for Naruto to open himself to the possibilities of other goal.
You can try to argue it however you want but it seems that Naruto holds his willingness to become Hokage to the same level as confessing to Sakura. If you want to believe otherwise is because of different perception and not because of fact.
If he does not give up on trying to get Sakura even after she has made it totally clear that she does not want him, then it is Naruto forcing her to be with him. It has not yet gone so far, and I doubt Kishi will ever let it go so far. This is why I see Naruto either moving on or Sakura falling for him. Doubt that Sakura and Sasuke get together and at their wedding reception Kishi will portray Naruto hitting on the newlywed Sakura.
Do you really think Naruto would push his love for Sakura if she got together with Sasuke? Of course not. He would still love her and be happy for her.
As for why he would still love her, because it's a very Naruto thing to do. But that's just my opinion. Naruto simply loving Sakura has never been shown as a mistake. It's sad that she doesn't love him back, but it's never shown that Naruto is better off not doing so. Again, take Jiraiya as reference.
Sure. But Sakura has been stated again and again to be in love with Sasuke. When was it last mentioned that Naruto was in love with Sakura, still?
Your desire for Naruto to repeatedly say that he love Sakura in order to confirm his feelings is your own. Naruto already confirmed with Sai that he loves her. You don't need anything more. Your conclusion that Naruto doesn't love Sakura anymore because of it is your own believe and not a fact whatsoever. Until Naruto says that he doesn't love Sakura he still does. I can't help you to find justification to put down Naruto's feelings when there is none, you could only ask Kishi about it. Any speculation about Naruto not loving Sakura anymore comes out of a personal desire to see it happen and not from actual fact.
Your questions:
Apparently her undying love for him, made clear in the summit arc and in ch 540 again. There is nothing that stops Sakura from moving on, in itself, but the manga so far hasn't potrayed this at all.
Her hope that he will come back and maybe things will be different between them. She gave up that hope once, but even then she still loved him. Sakura just loves Sasuke. This keeps getting shown again and again through the manga.
After recent chapters, very real hope that Naruto is falling for her.
My point is just to get you to see that things are not as obvious as you think. That the manga is still full of potential and possibilities for pairings other than NS. That's all.
You say: Sakura has an undying love for Sasuke
I say: Naruto has an undying love for Sakura (this is shown how his feelings remain intact regardless of her love for Sasuke)
You say: Sakura hopes things will be different, that she just loves Sasuke and it keeps getting shown
I say: Naruto hopes he can confess and therefore win Sakura's affection with his own power. His love for Sakura keeps getting shown (case and point when Naruto admitted it to Sai)
You say: After recent chapter very real hope Naruto is falling for Hinata
I say: After the development throughout the whole story there's an extremely high real hope that Sakura is falling for Naruto
The manga is full of potential, but I'm just hoping you understand that bringing up these issues will only make you go in circles. Whatever defense you want to give Sakura and Hinata it can be done equally or even better with Naruto.
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