Masashi Kishimoto, Creator of Hit Manga-Turned Anime Series, ‘Naruto’ Opens Up on Naruto-Hinata-Sakura Love Triangle

After 673 anime episodes, 11 anime movies, and 700 manga chapters, the Naruto Series creator Masashi Kishimoto revealed that he never expected his work to be this popular. While the success is a welcome surprise, Kishimoto divulged that he also never meant for a Naruto-Hinata-Sakura love triangle to happen.

In an interview with the Weekly Shonen Jump, Masashi Kishimoto stated that he didn't introduced Sakura as a special female character. Instead, Kishimoto considered Sakura as another character at the same level with the characters of Kiba and Shikamaru. The Naruto creator however said that he planned a Hinata-Naruto union right from the get-go.

It is understandable that fans would wish for a Sakura-Naruto love story since Naruto and Sakura are teammates with Sasuke. Interestingly, Sakura have always been in love with Sasuke but despite Sasuke knowing her feelings, Sasuke have always spurned her advances leading fans to believe that Sakura would then turn her attention to Naruto.

Fans remember that Naruto had a thing for Sakura right from the start. However, a Naruto-Sakura-Sasuke love triangle would have been messier than a Naruto-Hinata-Sakura love story due to the conflict between Naruto and Sasuke.

Masashi Kishimoto concedes putting Sakura in the middle of a Naruto-Hinata love story would create a chaotic love triangle if not for the fact that the Naruto Series is a battle manga. Kishimoto said that wasn't much space and time to include a love triangle as confusing as that.

Masashi Kishimoto admitted that he intentionally gave hints to the Naruto series fans and led them to believe that there might be something romantic brewing between Naruto and Sakura. But as mentioned above, Kishimoto already made up his mind early on that he meant for Naruto and Hinata getting in the end.

While the Naruto Series may have concluded, Masashi Kishimoto maintains that he is still part of the team that develops the new series "Boruto." Kishimoto maintains that he is still involved in the development since the new series was adapted from the movie script that he created. Boruto is the son of Naruto and Hinata. He is teammates with the daughter of Sakura and Sasuke.

Now that the original Naruto series is over, Masashi Kishimoto is turning is starting a new manga and series according to a report from Saiyan Island. Needless to say that Kishimoto will be keeping a close eye on the story he started.