I'm sorry, but I only see the same hypocritical, double-standard arguments of always: Naruto will get over Sakura because she's always shutting him down, but Sakura never will get over Sasuke despite he's always shutting her down; it can't be considered Naruto loves Sakura because he's never uttered it, but it was plainly preposterous claiming Hinata didn't love Naruto despite she never thought it or said it outloud before chapter 437, and it's plainly preposterous guessing Sakura has fallen in love with Naruto despite it's been hinted, right like it had been hinted with Hinata...
I'm tired of fandom's double standards and willfully stubborn blindness. If a fan ships Character A/Character V together and watches one scene between them, he/she claims that moment unarguably shows their love. But if he/she watches the SAME scene between Character A y Character B, he denies it implies romantic develoment. Any and all proof or hint will be denied it if isn't convenient or doesn't help the shipping.
To me, it's always been clear that: Naruto loved Sakura; Sakura loved Sasuke but was gradually falling for Naruto; Sasuke loved NOBODY, and wants NOBODY'S love; Hinata liked Naruto, Ino liked Sasuke and Lee liked Sakura.
Out of all those relationships, I only ship NaruSaku. Still, I acknowledge all of them, not only the ones are convenient to my shipping. And I thought Naruto and Sakura would become one pairing HUNDREDS of chapters -literally- before I supported them. So I think I'm not being an hypocrite only sees what he wants seeing.
Naruto has stated he likes Sakura SINCE THE BEGINNING, and it's been stated in almost all databooks and relationship charts (but the third, but it's been restated in the last mini-databook, which covers the last chapters). Having Naruto in love with Sakura now wouldn't be bad writing on Kishimoto's part. Having him falling in love with Hinata all of sudden, only because she's confessed in a suicidal moment, WOULD be bad writing.
So the chances of NaruSaku have hit rock-bottom because Hinata has confessed? Right like they hit rock-bottom when Sakura confessed to Sasuke? Or the chances of SasuSaku hit rock-bottm when Ino confessed Sasuke and Lee confessed Sakura -and risked his life for her-? Confession is NOT equal to reciprocation.
I think I know why NaruHina fans tell NaruSaku has been destroyed right now: Hinata's confession was their last hope. If she didn't confess or Naruto rejected her, all hope would be lost. Therefore, they refuse believing Naruto can turn her down. And given that they have convinced themselves Hinata has an important role in Naruto's life and Naruto doesn't love Sakura (despite he's said so, and has proved it with words and facts), they think it's certain he'll love her back.
The thing is... Naruto loves Sakura. He has said it and he had proved it with words and facts long before Hinata opened her mouth. He barely knows Hinata, she isn't an important person to him, and they've barely talked in 443 chapters. It isn't guaranteed at all he'll love her back.
Oh, and the last mini-databook covers up to chapter 437, but it doesn't mention the confession. Hinata doesn't even show up in the relationship charts. Given that in the last databook shows up SHIHO, you can see how important Hinata is to the history.
Nevertheless, apparently that person was starting to get deffensive and hostile. I think you should tell that person if he/she can't argue without trying putting the other side or you down, then the two of you should stop the debate.
Talking about debates, I think you should read this tiny mini-comic:
AntiNHSS Pairing WankEdit: I've just noticed this tiny paragraph:
QUOTE
LMAO. So do you mean to tell me that Sakura's and Hinata's confessions to Sasuke and Naruto (respectively) won't mean a thing as the story goes on? And why should Sakura and Naruto go for each other, when... 1. Naruto knows how Sakura feels about Sasuke? 2. Sakura NOW knows how Hinata feels about Naruto? It'd reflect poorly on both Naruto and Sakura.
Their confessions won't mean one thing to the story? How much do they matter? The story is about Naruto, his fights and his growing, and how he accomplishes his goals out of sheer determination and stubborness. It's NOT about the unrequited feelings of Hinata and Sakura.
But yes, they will mean anything: closing some dangling plot threads. As far as I can see, Sakura's confession killed SasuSaku and let Sakura moving on. When the rescue party returned to the village, she stated she'd visit NARUTO first. And since then we haven't seen her thinking over her feelings for Sasuke not one single time. It's possible she still likes him, but it's very ambiguous.
Hinata's confession seemed more focused on Hinata than on Naruto/Hinata's relationship, like always. She managed shedding her weaknessess and shyness and becoming the brave person she wanted being. Even if she doesn't end up with Naruto, she'll have managed her main objetive: becoming stronger. Therefore, it doesn't matter if he returns her feelings or not. She'll have fullfilled her goals, shut the last plotline involving her, and be able move on.
It'd reflect poorly on Naruto and Sakura? That's another scurrilous, grasping-at-the-straws, searching-anything-to-lambaste-regardless-the-sense-it-does argument makes no sense and isn't one reason against one pairing.
Moreover, if you have seen the series, it's a moot point: Sakura was chasing Sasuke since the beginning, Naruto knew it, and still chased her; Sakura knew what Ino liked Sasuke and she didn't step out of the way. And Ino was her best friend.
And using that twisted, convenient logic, Sasuke knows Naruto likes Sakura, and Naruto is his best friend, so why would he pursue one relationship with her (even if he likes Sakura, which he doesn't)? Why would Hinata chase Naruto if she realizes he likes Sakura (and remember she has never chased him)?
If Sakura believes Naruto is in love with Hinata and she'd make him happy, she could choose backing down (but to make that argument, you'd have to admit she loves Naruto more genuinely than she ever loved Sasuke), but if Naruto loves her, because Sakura should step out of the way? Her priority is Naruto's happiness, not the feelings of a girl she barely knows.
Edited by Jenskott, 10 April 2009 - 08:05 AM.