Kishimoto Finally Explains Why Naruto Didn’t End Up With Sakura: It Wasn’t Pity for Hinata
Masashi Kishimoto ends the Naruto ship war: Hinata won because she was there from the start, unwavering in her support—making her the clear choice over Sakura.
The Naruto endgame debate is eternal, so let's just go right to the source. Masashi Kishimoto has explained, more than once, why Naruto ends up with Hinata and not Sakura. And no, it's not because he felt bad for Hinata. It's because that pairing was built from day one.
Hinata showed up first and never left
In a translated interview, Kishimoto lays it out: Hinata isn't some late-game pivot. She was the one quietly watching Naruto work, cheerleading him when no one else would, and absorbing his never-quit worldview long before anyone gave him the time of day.
'Hinata was always the only child who was supporting and cheering for him... Although Naruto was unsuccessful and sometimes things went badly for him, he was persisting and trying his best.' - Masashi Kishimoto
Their first meeting set the tone
Flash back to the first day Hinata enrolls. Three kids hassle her. Naruto, who doesn't know her and is absolutely not the strongest in the room, jumps in anyway. He gets outnumbered and knocked out for his trouble. Hinata thanks him afterward and lets him keep her scarf. From there, she keeps a close eye on him:
She sees a lonely kid trying to be seen, pushing past everyone's low expectations. She watches him refuse to quit even when the village treats him like a problem. That resilience is what she internalizes for herself. Over time, it turns into love — obvious to literally everyone except Naruto. She even throws herself at Pain to protect him and steps in when Naruto starts second-guessing himself. Quiet, consistent, and fearless when it counts. That's the arc.
Why not Sakura?
Kishimoto has also said Sakura recognizes Naruto's growth, but that doesn't mean the two of them make sense romantically. Sakura's connection with Naruto is real — it just plays better as friendship and battlefield trust. Her heart keeps drifting to Sasuke. Forcing a romance there would feel... forced. And about that line people twist into a 'pity' narrative: Kishimoto mentioned he would feel bad not 'rewarding' Hinata after she supported Naruto from the start. That's not a sympathy pick; it's an author saying the thematic and emotional groundwork he laid should pay off. Hinata's steady, selfless love mirrors Naruto's own consistency and grit. It's a match of worldview, not a consolation prize.
The fandom favorites, ranked
- Naruto and Hinata
- Minato and Kushina
- Shikamaru and Temari
- Sasuke and Sakura
- Dan and Tsunade
- Asuma and Kurenai
- Sai and Ino
- Obito and Rin
- Tsunade and Jiraiya
- Choji and Karui
Agree? Disagree? Let me know which pairing you will go to war for in the comments. And if you want to revisit the buildup yourself, Naruto is streaming on Crunchyroll.