Grrr....one more LAP....
So, I finally read that recent interview with Kishimoto, and I've decided he's a complete tool.
Passive and insecure. After many attempts he struggled on a gimmicky storyline, but he had no idea how to carry on. His only special talent seem to be in making cliffhangers. But they aren't really cliffhangers if they lead the readers nowhere and contribute nothing to the story. They are just a giant flashing sign that the author is drowning.
No wonder he's gotten as far as he has in the commercial world. He's their yes-man. He's even admitted he's not capable of writing without good guidance, and once that left, he was rudderless. So that's why he so readily sold out his characters/story for popularity contests and editor/publisher suggestions.
As for Sakura and his 'not understanding why she was so unpopular'all I have to say is WHAT A COP OUT. A writer alone determines the fate of the character, not the reader. If he wanted her to be more popular, then he could have written her with more developed and complicated storyline. He should have made her more important to the story. This is his only job.
Instead he answers the questions as if he was powerless. Even when the interviewer suggests 'it was too late to drop her (Sakura) from the storyline' Kishimoto is ambivalent instead of outraged. This bonehead interviewer acts as if it's common knowledge that Sakura was just a frivolous part of the storyline. But she was intrinsic to it. It's Hinata that was the throwaway character (only built up by the anime). But instead of defending his work or explaining it, Kishimoto just meekly agrees.
Kishimoto doesn't even understand his own work. He seems to me very passive and malleable.
That the otakus and fans are driving the industry instead of the other way around. And he may have had Naruto in mind when he gave that interview.
As I've said many times, this story was directed toward the beta males ultimately. Most of the females characters are based on those dreams. The submissive big kittens Princess who loves the self insertion character your suppose to identify with who loves you and only you is a classic example. Hinata's only goal is to get Naruto's d!ck, so for many beta males who transfer their desires into the story it means she wants them and them alone. She's a sex object who doesn't dare reject you, no indeed she WORSHIPS you, and has no other character drives. Even when her family members of dying, and being kidnapped her emotions are dictated by what she thinks you are feeling about her.
"Waifu" indeed. It's pathetic, and the mentality behind such ideas ruined this story.
Honestly there is NOTHING wrong with weak willed, submissive characters in a story. That isn't what this is about, which I'm sure many of you understand. Having character with differing personalities is fine. Creating a caricature to appeal to despicable ideals though is a horse of a different color. I'm not one of these people who have much respect for the victim hood mentality of this day in age, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to speak my mind when it comes to horrible story structure and characterizations like this.
Why are Sasuke and Hinata so terrible characters? Cause their cheap! If Sasuke looked like Quasimodo, and Hinata looked like one of the evil step sisters from Cinderella the majority of their fans wouldn't support them. They get away with weak characterizations, and quite frankly destroying the themes of this story simply because of their designs and how "hot' they are.
Which is why when Kishimoto says he tried to make Sakura more "popular" and "loveable" he choose to draw her to be more "beautiful". Why? Because he doesn't know any other way to develop a character. Human emotions and character development? What the hell is that?
Your sig make reading your posts a little hard ! It's funny ! Which manga is it from ?
Such a great character. 
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Tricks, babe, you sure have some great posts in this section of late! 
