You know, it actually took a really long time for this ending to really hit me. More than a week, in fact. Most of the time I don't think about it too much because my mind is otherwise occupied, but when I do actually stop to think on it, I just can't seem to wrap my head around it. The whole thing just feels plain wrong. I don't care what the antis say, everything pointed to NS and SS and NH make zero sense.
Ugh, just thinking about SasuSaku actually being canon literally makes me feel physically ill. I can tolerate NaruHina, even if it is horrendously underdeveloped and about as interesting as watching paint dry, but I don't think I'll ever be able to look at SS and not want to puke. It's just so offensive to me and I can't comprehend how anyone can look at it and not see it's abusive overtones.
I had heard something about Kishimoto saying that writing romance was just too embarrassing for him. If that's true, I guess it could explain why he took the "easy" way out with NH and SS and tossed NS to the wayside. But I find that a pretty weak and stupid excuse. Romance was too far outside his comfort zone so he decided to half ass it instead? It would have worked better if he hadn't made romance relevant during much of the story and hadn't thrown so many hints towards NS. So much potential utterly wasted in this manga.
If anyone's looking for a shounen with a good romance and a strong heroine, I suggest reading Chrno Crusade. The main pairing is perfection and the story is beautiful. It does have a sad ending though.
Edited by BakeNeko-Chan, 17 November 2014 - 06:48 PM.