Few examples
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SJ: Sakura and Rock Lee don’t appear to have any of the special powers that ninja like Naruto, Sasuke and Gaara have – do you think those two characters are popular because they provide a kind of reader’s-eye view of the story as it unfolds?
MK: Is Sakura popular in the U.S.? Well, Lee only has taijutsu. And as a girl, Sakura is [physically] weaker than the others. So I can see why it’s easy to empathize with them. They represent human weaknesses.
Though this is from 2006 or something, but it obviously proves that Sakura isn't meant for any great power-ups. And it proves she isn't "liked" in Japan either, lol.
Also this quote is a bit newer:
NC: We know a lot about Naruto, Itachi, Gaara and Kakashi, but does Sakura have dark secrets we don't know about yet?
MK: She's a normal girl, so I haven't given it much thought.
Also this suggests Tsunade will die:
Is Jiraiya dead?
Kishi : He lives.....in your heart.
Naruto has to be grown up. Shikamaru also needed to be grown up. And Sakura will have to be grown up, too. Lee? Lee doesn't need to be grown up anymore.
Though I did not find the one, where he specifically said that Sakura wont have the same role as Naruto, but am pretty sure I read it once. It's fairly new. I would say from last summer. But you can almost interpret from above anyway. Also the one, where Kishi laughs, when he is asked, if Sakura has higher possibility of becoming hokage before Naruto, can't find it though, but it is fun xd
The Japanese interviews are usually better, but need to find them translated on forums.