Summary
ThroughoutNaruto’s serialization,Naruto’sgrowing relationship with Hinata was a widely debated topic among fans. In chapter 437, Hinata finally brought herself to confess her true feelings when Naruto was at the mercy of Pain.
Though after this arc, we never heard Naruto’s response or if he felt the same, his attitude towards her did somewhat change as he grew to respect and rely on her more. Come the final chapter, in a time skip, the two are shown to be married with two children, Himawari and Bolt (pronounced and commonly referred to as Boruto). Moreover, Hinata is finally shown to be living peacefully and leisurely, and Naruto finally attains his goal ofbecoming Hokage.
A Childhood Crush
One of the factors in Hinata’s relationship with Naruto was how she respected him. In an anime-exclusive flashback during episode 166 ofNaruto Shippuden, Hinata is being bullied by a group of kids, forcing her to apologize for accidentally bumping into them. It’s then, at that time, thatNaruto comes to her rescueand picks a fight with them, even though he’s by himself.
His resolve to do the right thing,even if it means sticking out, is something exceptional - and Hinata herself noticed that. Over time, she looked to him as an inspiration to believe in herself and attain her own strength. While Naruto was heavily ridiculed by his peers, Hinata was cheering him on from the side-lines. Naruto, on the other hand, undoubtedly cared for Hinata, but was oblivious to her feelings.
The Humble Girlboss
Hinata always posed a challenge to those she battled, so she was always strong in her own right. But come episode 166, she decides to repay the favor Naruto did for her all those years ago, despite knowing she wasn’t strong enough. At that time, she finally confesses her feelings and an intense battle betweenHinata and Pain commences. While she’s able to rid of some of Naruto’s restraints, she loses the battle, but not without an iconic display of her newly found strength.
Shortly after Neji’s death in episode 364 ofShippuden, despite the loss, Hinata’s words of encouragementsucceed in getting Naruto back up on his feet. A common meme in theNarutofandom, is his ability to use “talk-no-jutsu”, referencing how his pep talks tend to speak to his opponent. In Hinata’s case, she too uses “talk-no-jutsu”, which moves Naruto, the “master” at it.
The Final Straw
InThe Last: Naruto The Movie, which serves as the final film for theNarutofranchise, the two’s relationship is further explored and expanded upon. When a group of shinobi embark on a mission, Hinata is kidnapped on the job, and is forced to become the bride of the enemy. It’s at this time, however, that Naruto realizes his true feelings for her in her absence. After an intense rescue mission and reuniting, a scene plays of them reliving all the memories they had together, before the film ends with a passionate kiss. There is no room for doubt that, despite her reclusiveness, Naruto loved her for who she was.
A movie, titledRoad To Naruto, which was released in 2012 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the franchise, Naruto and Sakura find themselves in an alternate universe where all the characters' personalities are reversed, including Hinata. Even though her shy characteristics of the “original” confused him, it’s visibly clear through his actions that Naruto is uncomfortable with an assertive and aggressive Hinata, implying that what she considered her weakness, was what he found endearing about her.
Naruto
A popular shonen anime based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, Naruto follows its eponymous shinobi’s journey as he goes from his town’s outsider to its hero.
