I'm sad to say it, but at this point I feel that NauSaku must happen for me to feel satisfied with the end of this manga. I believe and hope that it will, but the threat of an open ending (mostly due to a threat of NaruHina fan backlash and plummeting residual sales) has been nagging the back of mind lately, so I thought I would reaffirm my reasons for believing in NaruSaku by putting them into words.
#1 - I think that it's obvious to most of us on this site that Kishimoto has been planning NaruSaku since the very beginning. Many point to the facts that this is a Shounen manga and Kishimoto has mentioned not caring so much about romance in past interviews. However, in reviewing some of Kishimoto's interviews, I have concluded that, at times, he intentionally feigns a lack of interest and foresight into certain aspects of the manga to thrown off speculation. For instance, saying that he has no plan to defeat Madara recently. If he would have said this in Part 1, I might have believed it, but at this stage in the game, there's no way he couldn't have at least an outline of the events. He has been working toward this for more than a decade. And while the intricate details maybe worked out closer to publication, I can't conceive that he wouldn't have something in mind. Kishimoto could have left love out and focused on friendship from the very beginning, but he didn't. He created the Team 7 love triangle from the onset. To what end? Having the heroine of the story end up with a guy that at best has not acknowledged her virtues throughout the story? Having the hero give up on his dream girl and instead settling for a girl that has more of fixation on him than deep and profound feelings? A character that may not have been nearly as consquential if she had not drawn such fan support. The answer is NO! This is Kishimoto's story, Naruto is its' hero, and Naruto is in love with Sakura. Not just because she thought he was cute or because of her impressive skills in Part 2, but because she sought acknowledgement from Sauske just as he did. He related to that and fell for her. Those feelings have only deepened as the story has moved forward (based on the interation of the two in Part 2). I can't believe that Kishimoto would take something in which he has invested so much of his life and not follow through due to external pressures. If Naruto had not become as popular, I don't believe that there would still be a debate at this point. The question would be when, not if. An open ending would not follow through with the original vision, and not send the positive message of the nice guy winning the girl over through perserverance and action.
#2 - As was mentioned in a previous post, the setup at this stage is too perfect. Too many parallels. Too much development. How will Sakura react once Naruto is revived? Her reactions to him have been increasingly affectionate throughout the story. I don't think that she will just say "yeah" and slap him on the back. The idea of her revisiting her thoughts of losing him forever before his final confrontation with Sauske is also interesting. The only, and I mean only, roadblock to NaruSaku now is Sakura's lingering misconception about Sauske. The only thing that could possibly be holding her back at this point is the bench scene at the very beginning. I don't think that the importance of this scene can be overstated. Basically, Naruto unintentionally imprinted Sakura with the idea that Sauske is her soulmate. While you might say that they were just kids, something this profound was bound to have a lasting impact, as we have seen throughout the course of the manga. Once Sakura realizes that it has been Naruto all along and not Sauske, the deal is done, as far as Sakura is concerned. In Naruto's case, Sauske must be saved and Sakura must make an uninhibited choice. I just can't see a long sappy confession from either Naruto or Sakura leading to this end. Confessions tend not to end well in this story. Both characters are at their best when they take action. I see it going something like this.
Naruto is about to face Sauske
He has one last meeting with his classmates
He tells them why they cannot interveine as previously foreshadowed (possibly in small groups or at once using shadow cones).
Sakura is the last one he sees.
Not wanting to have any regrets, possibly going to his death, he makes a cryptic remark about still wanting to kiss that forehead, then he heads off to battle
Sakura has a ton of flash backs and she realizes what Naruto really means to her
Naruto faces Sauske and of course finally reaches him somehow
Sauske finally acknowledges that Naruto is the stronger ninja and his way is right
Sakura appears, Naruto turns for fear of seeing her rush to Sauske
Instead she tackles him and kisses him
Game over... Move on to the epilogue.
#3 - While less important in the grand scheme of things, I feel that Hinata's character development should finally be realized as well. As many here have stated, she has an unhealthy fixation with Naruto. Unhealthy to the point that it is doubtful that she can sustain her reason for being without him. This is not good, and it sends a bad message. Having her being able to stand on her own and forge her own future is the only way to accomplish that. The best answer in my mind would be to have her recognize how Naruto feels about Sakura and how Sakura feels about Naruto. Have her think back as she watched Naruto through the years. Have her remember how Naruto and Sakura interacted with one another. Have her understand that that is what real love is. Seeing her happy for them at the end, then having her own destiny during the epilogue would be perfect... But, and I'm literally praying that this idea is not on the table, a major cop out would be to have Naruto become the new 6 paths and create a permanent clone of himself... PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not let this happen!
Anyway, that's all I've got.
Feel much better now... 
it looks so real such an amazing art 
