People are hurt. Understandable. The manga and mangaka let a group of his fans down for reasons that we may never know. Sure, we can speculate that there were outside influences (e.g. editor, fans), but there always exists the possibility that Kishimoto thought that the ending he had envisioned from the start didn't quite match-up with the ending he decided upon after all was said and done.
For whatever reason, Chapter 699 is the end. 700 and the movie will officially close the series, but I know that a lot of individuals won't stay until the end. That's your prerogative as readers. It's your prerogative to digest your entertainment in which whatever way you see fit. But do remember something...
The end came swiftly. When the announcement came that there were only 5 chapters left, I don't think anyway was prepared for it. There were so many loose ends that never got tied up. So many plotlines that got laid to rest prematurely. And that's sadly, an indication of Kishimoto's fatigue. Ten years of writing the same story over and over again. I think he just wanted a change in scenery.
It sucks. But at the end of the day it is what it is.
However, on the same token. People are leaving the forums because they are hurt.
When did Heaven and Earth solely become about the physicality of the pairing existing in canon? Wasn't the thought, wasn't the hope that Naruto as a series would conclude with good development? Wasn't that the point of this all?
So to the people who will continue to stay. Make this a haven for good character development from good series, instead of abandoning the people that you've spent the last ten-plus years discussing Naruto x Sakura together with.
Sounds the most realistic to me.
