True, but remember for a moment that no one was supposed to know Naruto was Kyubi's host, and those who knew weren't supposed to talk about it. Not even Naruto knew it for a long time.
Nevertheless, Hinata understood Naruto better than anyone else, and even today, amongst his friends, no one really knows what he has been thru. I guess the only person who understand Naruto better than anyone else is Iruka, both because he also lost his parents, but also due to what Sarutobi told him about Naruto and for what he saw Naruto accomplish even at an early age. He saw the boy for "who" he was instead of "what" he was. No wonder he considers a younger brother.
For everyone else, Naruto was just a troublesome lazy boy who would be no good in his life ever. There were times even Sarutobi didn't believe Naruto would accomplish much. And let's keep in mind that Sakura only began seeing Naruto in a different way during the Chunnin, when he was actually winning. Before that, he was only the boy who stood between her and Sasuke, and only in part 2 during the Save Garaa arc she began do understand a bit more about Naruto's actions and behavior.
I'm NOT flaming you. But that's simply untrue. We see her change since the beginning of Shippuden. It becomes apparent in her thoughts and small actions towards him.
But that's exactly the problem, some of us see only what we want to see. Yes, she began showing Naruto some feelings that are more than friendly or even brotherly concern, and yes, for a long time I thought, and even hoped that Kishi would work on that line. However he didn't. Once they met with Sasuke, Sakura went back to her old self, and didn't even give Naruto a second look. Well, she might have during his wind chakra training, though I am not sure those pills were a sign of affection at all. Maybe she just wanted him dead
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Sakura is gorgeous btw
Sorry to say, but your last comment is just sad, and show how clueless you are. Self sacrifice is the greatest demonstration of love that exists in the world. It's so rare that only a handful of people is actually capable of commiting it. Hinata didn't go down because she thought she could win Naruto over, she went down to give him a chance to stay alive, which she did. Still, her actions are her own, and may or may not change Naruto's feelings; that's a different matter. But to call self sacrifice a "silly crush" is just out of any reality. Ino has/had a silly crush on Sasuke, but never would she be willing to die for him. Hinata risked that for Naruto, Sakura for Sasuke, and I daresay she would even do it for Naruto as well, even if she doesn't love him romantically (which is not yet certain)
You are right, hinata is an underdeveloped character, but we may say that every character not part of team 7 (and hokages, Ero-Sennin) are also underdeveloped. For instance, let's take Iruka. He had a major influence in Naruto's life, but he seldomly appears in the manga, especially these days. Are we to say he is unimportant? We could also say the same about Sasuke. How many chapters has it been since Sasuke make a decent appearance? The importance of the character is not how much he appears, but how important those appearances are.
However you are right in saying Naruto's interaction with Hinata is minimal. For this pairing to make sense Kishi would need to speed develop her character a lot more, and it may appear to us as a rush up job. Regarding the "throwing herself" it may be that Naruto is just too dumb struck at the moment (or plain dumb anyway in love affairs) to realize what really happened.
On the other hand, if we rely on facts alone, it stands to reason to say that Sakura will end up with Sasuke, since she loved him forever. Had Sakura thought about both Naruto and Sasuke when that shinobi asked who was the guy in her life, or had no picture shown, as if she was in doubt, I would undoubtly belive that Sakura and Naruto would end up together. But that scene was a let down on this matter showing that despite everything Naruto did and accomplished for both her and Village, Sasuke is still the only one she loves.
So if we are to rely only on major character development, great feeling reciprocity for over many chapters and all, Naruto will end up alone, just as Sakura, and many others. So far, even with minimal appearances the only pairing that makes sense is Shikamaru and Temari.
In the end I must agree with everyone who says Kishi has a poor stlye writing romances in the manga, and that has been proven true over and over. I strongly believe that no matter which way Naruto goes, or not, it will appear to be only a half hearted effort, and undeserving of the story as a whole.
Of course the fans from one pairing or another will say I am wrong, IF their pairing is the chosen one, but unless Kishi puts some really good work on it (either way will be fine), it will be true nonetheless.
PS. Tsunade
Jiraya Forever!!!/Cheers
