The story of Naruto primarily focuses on the journey of Uzumaki Naruto as he strives to reach great heights, transforming from a person seen as an incompetent ninja into the most powerful shinobi of his era. While this is the central theme of the narrative, it is essential to note that other significant elements are also present.
Naruto, like many other shonen series, features emotional themes that are well-developed. Notably, the relationship between Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuga Hinata takes center stage, especially as the series progresses and culminates in their eventual union.
Later on, the author, Masashi Kishimoto, officially revealed the reasoning behind this decision and its significance for the future of the story.
The Romance Arc of Uzumaki Naruto
The romance arc of Naruto is quite captivating. Right from the beginning of the series, it is clear that Naruto has feelings for Haruno Sakura, while she is in love with Sasuke. This creates a love triangle within Team 7, and Kishimoto intentionally incorporated this dynamic to enhance the emotional depth for the audience. However, this subplot does not receive the resolution that many fans hoped for, as it remains unresolved in a way that feels incomplete.
Naruto’s affection for Sakura remains consistent throughout the series, as does Sakura’s affection for Sasuke. Many fans speculated that these two would ultimately end up together. After all, Naruto is the main character, and Sakura is portrayed as the leading female character in the early parts of the story. However, Kishimoto had other plans.
From the outset, Kishimoto developed Naruto’s relationship with Hinata. Although Naruto always liked Sakura, Hinata was portrayed as someone who quietly admired him from afar and supported him, no matter what. Thus, it was quite possible for these two characters to eventually come together.
When Kishimoto decided to distance Naruto from Sakura, fans saw clearly that the author chose Hinata to be Naruto’s partner, and this was precisely what transpired during the timeskip between chapters 699 and 700 of the Naruto series.
In the final chapter, it is made clear that Naruto and Hinata have officially gotten together and even have two children. Their children’s names, Boruto and Himawari, are revealed later on.
Why Did Kishimoto Pair Naruto and Hinata?
Fans often wonder why Kishimoto paired Naruto and Hinata as a couple. After all, Sakura was also a very viable option for him. This is particularly noteworthy because as the story progressed, Sakura’s perspective on Naruto changed significantly.
Though she once viewed him as merely a backup option, Sakura eventually began to pay more attention to Naruto. The possibility of these two ending up together, especially with Sasuke still existing as a criminal, seemed quite appealing. At the same time, Sakura could also have the potential to forget Sasuke at some point, considering she spent a significant amount of time with Naruto, which could lead to a developing romantic relationship. Ultimately, the author chose to have Naruto end up with Hinata.
“Hinata has always followed Naruto because she has liked him from the very beginning. Throughout the story, Hinata has been the only one who steadfastly supported him, even when he faced numerous challenges. Although Naruto faced failures and setbacks during his journey, Hinata remained patient and made every effort to stand by him. She understood everything and felt deeply when Naruto resolved not to give up.”
However, Sakura also recognized this about Naruto throughout the series. And because Hinata had been there for him from the start, I think I feel sorry for Hinata for not being able to reach him,” Kishimoto explained his choice of character pairing.
Thus, the primary reason for this initial pairing was because the author had sown the seeds for Hinata’s affection towards Naruto from the start. Although initially, he didn’t think much about it, it became evident that Hinata continued to support Naruto throughout the narrative, as that was the entire purpose of her character development. Kishimoto simply did not want to take away the significance of her feelings.
According to the author, he feels for Hinata, who has pursued Naruto from the very beginning, even if she couldn’t be with him. It must also be noted that Hinata is the only character who has consistently supported Naruto since the outset, not only when he began to gain recognition and praise. Hinata’s love for Naruto never wavered, and she surely deserves to be with him.
