From the two translation I read it comes of that Oda is being really nice and complimentary to him is because they are both friends. Also there really isn't a point for Oda to rub it in Kishi face about how his series is failing. Since it's failing and the reason behind (the decision to go with that ending and The Last) are probably open secrets at Jump.
Honestly Sakura the only one that actually looks good. Naruto looks terrible (some time he does look ok at best) with that incredibly short hair and it only looks good in images from The Last is when he had his headband on to hide his forehead. Sasuke barely even recognizable now.
I think the whole ninja were going to fade out along with everything else you were wondering about was abandoned the second he realized that the spin off/sequel would be boring (not a lot of action) if the kids weren't ninjas. So Naruto accomplished nothing so his son's story could be even slightly interesting.
Everything shows how clearly the final pairing were decided at the last minute, and none of it was set up in the story.
It is obvious that kishi never really consider making either nH and ss canon until he was forced to, or really given thought to how the couples would work if he had to make them the official couples.
As for the excuses why NS didn't happen. Every interview it feels like they had to come up with a new reason why NS couldn't happen and why the two other pairing did happen. The reasons are obvious they are trying to find an excuse/justification for why the ending had to be this way to appease the disgruntle fans and justify the ending in their own minds. When an excuse angered those fans instead of calmed them down they tried another one.
Wait I thought Sasuke was going to be their team captain? Is it more about apprenticeship ie Sasuke take Bolt under his wing and Naruto does the same for Salad?
It was probably and mixture or coercion (this is what all your fans truly want, and you can have another story a sequel your fans will love and you can write the spin off movie) and being forced (we all already have a movie 6 books the sequel movie in production either you do this ending or fans will question why the ending corridict all this stuff/ also the editor are not letting you do a NS ending) to do it.
Both Sasuke and Kakashi were aloner in the group. Naruto and Sakura were needed for the group to work. Naruto interested Kakashi with his potential, and Sasuke with the brotherly/rivalry bond. While Sakura gave support where she could. Also the first half of part 2 especially the reintroduction and bell rest shows how well Naruto and Sakura work together and how close they are.
From what i recall it was an excuse to try to explain away all all the MK=NS parallels.
Honestly what was the point of Naruto or Kakashi becoming hokage if we don't actually see it? Sure Kakashi was a last minute thing but Naruto people have been waiting to see that since chapter one. Everything.
I always thought it was because Guy volunteered/requested he be put on his genin team. So as long as Lee could do all the non chakra related skill adequately he passed.
Seems that way.
nH fans hated MK=NS parallels they love nH=MK parallels. Remember all they ever care about was being right logic doesn't matter to them. They decided early on Sakura was a slut who needs to die and Hinata was a goddess who should get anything she ever wanted and nothing was going to change that.
Of course Hinata's boobs are bigger. Kishi finally been told why her fans love her and why they wanted her to get together with Naruto. Her gigantic breast. In the manga they were always hidden behind jackets... most of the time, the original sketch for her outfit for the Last they were cover by so jacket, and in chapter 700 they weren't that big or noticeable. But since he now know what the fans want make those thing as big and visable as possible.
Wait this was from the gallery show!?... This just goes to show how uninterested Japanese fans are of nH. Since none of them bothered to post this image online (but they did they SS family photo) we would know if they did since the nH fans would be bring it up in all their arguments(which they will probably start doing).
This image was probably drawn around the same time as the SS family photo or Sp did that other nh=MK picture. The intention behind were to suppress the MK=NS parallel. Remember one of the big reason why no one believe the ending were because of all the parallels to NS=JT/OR/MK. So to dismiss that point someone told/suggested/order kishi to probably do this image to help support the ending and the nH=MK parallels.
Here my comparison of the two images.
First off who was in charge of coloring for this new image? All the colors are dull and subdued. It help remove the lively comical effect the original image colors help add to the scene instead this one has a more dull depressing somber tone instead.
Room:
Original: The original house was very vibrant and colorful had picture on the wall we can see a kitchen behind Naruto. Looks like a family lives there.
New: Those table and chair are the most colorful thing in that room! Even they look dull in color compared to the old picture. Everything else is uniform and blank, and the window look metallic. It just make that house fell cold and lifeless.
Children
Original: Since we know who Naruto is we know he in a rush to start his day so he can get one step closer to becoming Hokage. He also look more cheerful with the lighter colors.
New: The only thing we know about Bolt is that he hate his sh*tty old man. So for all we know he's trying to escape his sh*tty family sh*tty breakfast.His hair is hiding if he has a quirked eyebrow like Naruto does in the original so i can tell if he is being playful or not or if he is angry? Also since we only seen the daughter smiling in the three images we have of her. I can't tell what she is thinking since she always has the expression. Dull surprise/"oh that's my brother"/the egg is going to fall out what!?
Parents
Original: The upset parent kushina has her hair rise up in a comical fashion also is holding a spatula and frying pan in her hands. Her husband looks on with a nervous expression. It feels very comical and live like this is another day with the wacky Uzumakis.
New: Naruto right arm is covered by Bolt. His expression i guess is suppose to look comical, but because the colors, his expression and everything else removes that effect entirely. hinata doesn't react to her husband at all and just has a dull surprise expression looking at Bolt.
Persona 5 hype 
