I just don't understand it. I seriously don't. Even before the ending, I've always maintained that there is zero chemistry between these two characters and that any romantic/married interaction between them would either be OOC or simply add nothing to the story. Now seeing that we have the ending and the following installment (Boruto), it would seem that my initial assessments were on point. In every scene Naruto and Hinata are in together, their relationship is referred to as being "perfect." Characters are made to tell us that they are "perfect together." We are never shown 'why' they work so well together. They simply do and we are encouraged to blindly accept it. Even worse, I can't help but get the feeling that the Boruto writers are aware of this, which is why Naruto and Hinata's interactions with one another are kept to an absolute minimum (there's likely a similar justification for keeping Sasuke and Sakura apart so much in Boruto). And it makes perfect sense. Hinata is a flat character. She brings nothing to the table. Take away her love for Naruto and what do you have exactly?
I'm reminded of the classic Disney movies (i.e. Cinderalla) where the lead character is in love with the prince/princess at first sight, knows little-to-nothing about said prince/princess and the marries said prince/princess at the end of the movie and lives "happily ever after." The movies rightfully end at these characters living "happily ever after" because any story afterwards is going to be dull and uninteresting without creating/inventing new characteristics for both the prince and princess characters to have. Or even worse, something like this would be the writer's logical conclusion:
Now yes, I understand most fans' justification for preferring Naruto and Hinata together. Generally, it's a matter of "I would choose Hinata", "I hate Sakura" or anything along the lines of inserting oneself into Naruto's position, but that's not what a reader should do. Naruto wasn't designed to be a self-insert character along the lines of Kirito from Sword Art Online, but a character (who though relatable) had his own wishes/desires from the getgo. From a writing standpoint, I just don't see any reason for him to give up on pursuing Sakura without the proper character development that would be needed to get him to make that kind of decision.
But this thread isn't a "Why NaruSaku should have happened" thread. It's a "what's the appeal of NaruHina from a writing standpoint" thread. And frankly, I don't see any. The characters don't play off each other as is the case with Naruto and Sakura (although that could've been changed had we gotten sufficient character development on Hinata's part) and Naruto just isn't allowed to be "Naruto" when Hinata is around. Whereas with Sakura, Naruto being Naruto is a source of endless gags and character development, Naruto cannot be Naruto around Hinata without deflating the entire scene they are in and Naruto's antics flying over her head. Brilliant case in point:
Which version would make a more interesting short story? Conflict is a good thing.
As a result, the writers have no desire to showcase how "great" Naruto and HInata's marriage is (with good reason) and instead inadverdently take it to its logical conclusion. A husband who is never at home and hides from his wife and children. In any other story, tendencies like these would be interpreted as Naruto being unhappy with his marriage and possibly having an affair with someone at his office. Things we know Naruto would never consider doing, but nonetheless things the writers have allowed as possibly interpretations all for the sake of pairing him together with Hinata without bothering to evolve her character beyond "Naruto-kun."
*sigh*
Edited by ThroughWithLove, 24 February 2017 - 10:00 PM.