Likeliest of all the ladies Naruto settles down with? Hinata. Will it happen? No.
Why Hinata and not Sakura? This whole Naruto canon (almost sickening at times) is very cyclical. Minato -> saves Kushina (social idiot and kidnapping victim) when they were small; Naruto defends Hinata (social idiot and kidnapping victim) when they were small. Then from both moments on, Minato and Naruto were the apple of their eyes. Sakura on the other hand called dibs on Sasuke, Sakura's character fault is loving Sasuke and Naruto wouldn't get in the way of his best friends. Case in point, the whole scene where Sakura confesses her love and to stop chasing Sasuke, Naruto shut her down. Establishing - Naruto won't ever believe that Sakura's heart is 100% into him and will always keep a special place in her heart for Sasuke.
Why Naruto will end up with no one? We go back to the cyclical nature of the show. They are repeating the social elements and team events of Team Hiruzen. In this little foil, Naruto plays the role of Jaraiya (Master to Naruto) which we all know died wifeless. Have you ever considered that Jaraiya makes a better teacher than husband? Jaraiya has been the master to MANY ninja - its like his life project when not writing books. Has Naruto shown love interest in girls? No. Pervy interest? Yes. Has Naruto started taking on students? Yes. Interested in fatherhood? No. Who shows fatherhood interest, you ask? Shikamaru (parents alive, taking care of Asuma's wife and child, firmly into the will of fire). The differences in Minato and Naruto are glaring when held up next to Naruto and Jaraiya.
Sorry Hinata, your Minato just isn't the settling down type. And Sakura you have it the worst, you're going to be on a bench crying sending Jaraiya to his death one day...forever alone.
Naruto didn't shut Sakura down. He just said he hates people that lie to themselves.
Let's look it this way? Who was exactly lying himself? Sakura who knew clearly where Sasuke has gotten to or Naruto who was hyperventilating later because of denying Sasuke's fall in darkness?
And once again I say, since when I hate people that lie to themselves has been turned into I don't love you anymore?
Here is where the picture of old Team 7 is hattered symbolistically for us becasue Kishi lets us know that actually, Naruto is the one lying to himself and sees things as they used to be, he still clings to that past.
Naruto did show love interest in Sakura. If you're going to tell me that all those times he suffered back in part 1 when Sakura was still in love to Sasuke are for the sake of art, I am going to tell you you're lying to yourself.
And actually we know that Jiraiya has always loved Tsunade. Guess who was about to cut loose the attitude towards Jiraiya if he was going to get back home? Yes, Tsunade, Sakura's correspondant. Foreshadowing much?
You'll say no, it doesn't matter, but I'll say this, Kishi didn't made all those parrallels and development on Naruto and Sakura's part just so in the end he'll be sending the message that Naruto had to give up on Sakura and that the bad guy gets the girl.
God, I told myself I am not going to come into this anymore... :|
I just have this fear involving yaoi and yuri. I have nothing against the people who like them but just the idea seemed to weird to me. (and it's strange because one of my friends is a lesbian and I'm okay with it...as long as her target isn't me)
