In the first chapters and episodes it was revealed that the women would drive the love interests and the boys would have no idea of what they wanted and why.
It points to the difference in maturity between the genders at that age.
Sakura always loved Sasuke.
Hinata always loved Naurto.
Ino and Karin's affections towards Sasuke were shallow, either being based upon popularity or raw sexuality which do not by themselves produce long loving relationships.
Sakura wanted to give Sasuke a home and a place to be happy for the rest of his life.
Hinata wanted Naruto to succeed at every goal he had and was willing to die to help him.
Both Hinata and Sakura faced death for their love. (Hinata against pain, Sakura against Crazy Sasuke)
(Some folks have said that Sakura was "weak" for not killing Sasuke when she had the chance, I would propose that she was strong, that her love was stronger then her punches. She resisted peer pressure from her fellow K11 and made a decision based upon love.)
The core of Hinata's love was a love of support and belief, strength and kindness.
The core of Sakura's love was a love of healing and forgiveness.
Both were exactly what Naruto and Sasuke needed.
When you're in real deep love that's what it feels like, like someone else knows what you need before you do.
So the question is why would petty crushes determine how the couples came together?
If that was the case then Lee and Naruto would have had an epic battle over Sakura and Sasuke would be a kinkster hanging out with Karin.
Hinata always pushed Naruto, supported him, when literally nobody else except Iruka would.
Both of the pairings have been heavily foreshadowed throughout the entire series, distractions were meant as such, not only as a trick to just throw the reader off the path, but to show that is how life works as well, the confusion of love and desire and what their difference might be.