Welcome!Hey All,
New to these forums. Been a Naruto fan for about 3 years now, started with the show in japanese finally got caught up and had to start reading the Manga...
That being said... I tried to read through all the thoughts and predictions up until the current page 35, but had to skim. So please forgive me if i repeat something already previously stated!
First off on the Naruto/Hinata vs Naruto/Sakura thing. It's true that Naruto has never said he loves Hinata, however, his feelings for Sakura have always been rather superficial other than team members with deep friendship, I'm pretty sure her and Sasuke will ultimately end up together. As for Hinata, I don't know if it was in the Manga, but back on the Naruto pre Shippuuden series, there was an episode where Naruto was looking for a Beetle with Shino, Hinata, and Kiba. Naruto saw Hinata and thought it was a dream one night and referred to her as the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. There's definitely a little foreshadowing going on there, plus she had taken her hair down. I don't think he's ever looked at tomboyish, shy Hinata that way, but there was definitely an unknown attraction. Additionally, the feelings that Hinata has had for Naruto are the most genuine of almost any others in the Manga, and it goes way, way back. I'd be amazed if Kishi kills her off as she professes her love, and finally shows great strength. Even as a catalyst to develop Naruto, it seems like a waste of major storyline development if you ask me.
Now on to what's going to happen next. Man, I'm as lost as the next guy. But, did anyone else think it was a weak d*ck way for the "Sage Master" to die? With a blown Genjutsu, and a quick stab to the chest? I sure did. I have a feeling there is a Genjutsu in play. Now, whether it's the frogs, who I would hope would have more than one trick up their sleeve, or Naruto possibly... I don't know. But Naruto did make the comment he doesn't know any Genjutsu, I'm thinking that might have been Itachi's gift that was automatically triggered at some point. In either case, I'm hoping it is. Because the raw, destructive power of the Kyubbi is pretty lame to me. In the first series, Naruto would absorb the Chakra and actually become bad a$$. In the time jump, it is just super powerful that seems rather haphazard, lack of direction, and really didn't do crap against Orochimaru. So... we shall see, but maybe the infusion of the last sage clone will manage to play some part in all this. Or maybe there is still "that jutsu" that Jiraiya spoke of as well.
Thanks for listening!
Well, most would not say Naruto's feelings for Sakura are superficial, and many believe Sakura just had a crush over Sasuke back then.
Now, unlike most, as regards the kyubii, I don't think Naruto is handling it, but that it came out on his own because of Naruto's anger.
And I think that Pain has a way to control the kyubii (as he's not alarmed) or that he's waiting for Madara to arrive.