Selfless Love That Is Not Second Best

Hinata wants to walk with Naruto forever whether or not he loves her back. I think that’s beautiful. Not to mention selfless (unlike what detractors are saying, especially about what her thoughts were in this week's chapter). Her desire is to stay by his side so she is willing to work hard not to fall behind and to keep up with him. She will do whatever it takes to keep him safe and happy, regardless of how he feels about her.

For Hinata, having her love returned is not a priority and is most likely a notion she does not consider to be even remotely possible, despite how much she wishes for it to come true deep down.

Naruto has acknowledged her existence, appreciated what she has done for him, accepted and believed her confession of love, vowed on her blood to win for her sake, given her his ninja way, saved her many times, felt grief and rage over her supposed death at the hands of Pain and shaped her into the person she is today. He has done many more things for her too. A lot more than Hinata has ever dared hope for.

As such, she is happy to love him from afar. She’s grateful for everything he’s done and said to her. Being by his side for the rest of her life is all she wants and the least she feels she can do to repay him. Hinata knows he’ll let her walk with him and hold his hand.

That is why, as a NaruHina shipper, I think that maybe, just maybe, Naruto will surprise her by reciprocating her feelings. He’ll ask her not only to stay by his side and walk with him forever as a close friend and a comrade but also as someone precious to him; to hold his hand and never let go as lover, girlfriend and wife would and to grow old with him.

When Naruto becomes Hokage, Hinata will be by his side as a soulmate and his wife. Or maybe his girlfriend and future fiancee. Either way, that is what all this NaruHina foreshadowing is most likely leading to and this week’s chapter reinforces that possibility.

Naruto won't be settling for second best. He never has. To state or imply that he would is an insult to his character, to Hinata, to her love for him and to how he views the Hyuuga heiress. Hinata is not second best nor is she a third wheel. She will not be used by the jinchuuriki or be the subject of a rebound. Again, to even entertain such a notion would be to undermine both characters and their bond with one another.

When Naruto gets together with her or is shown to be in the midst of it, or even when it is stated he has already done so, it will be because he loves her romantically and because she is one of the most precious and important people to him; nothing to do with her being the alternative to Sakura or any other girl, him being on the rebound, her being second best, him being forced or feeling obligated to be with her, her being nothing but a trophy wife, him wanting to resurrect the Uzumaki clan with a suitable partner, her being the heiress to a powerful and well-known clan or any other ludicrous reasons detractors make up out of thin air. It will simply be because their development as a pairing has led to them being together forever and because their lives are one.

Well written and impressive! Nothing to add to that.

phoenixmiko wrote:Hinata wants to walk with Naruto forever whether or not he loves her back. I think that’s beautiful. Not to mention selfless (unlike what detractors are saying, especially about what her thoughts were in this week's chapter). Her desire is to stay by his side so she is willing to work hard not to fall behind and to keep up with him. She will do whatever it takes to keep him safe and happy, regardless of how he feels about her.

For Hinata, having her love returned is not a priority and is most likely a notion she does not consider to be even remotely possible, despite how much she wishes for it to come true deep down.

Naruto has acknowledged her existence, appreciated what she has done for him, accepted and believed her confession of love, vowed on her blood to win for her sake, given her his ninja way, saved her many times, felt grief and rage over her supposed death at the hands of Pain and shaped her into the person she is today. He has done many more things for her too. A lot more than Hinata has ever dared hope for.

As such, she is happy to love him from afar. She’s grateful for everything he’s done and said to her. Being by his side for the rest of her life is all she wants and the least she feels she can do to repay him. Hinata knows he’ll let her walk with him and hold his hand.

That is why, as a NaruHina shipper, I think that maybe, just maybe, Naruto will surprise her by reciprocating her feelings. He’ll ask her not only to stay by his side and walk with him forever as a close friend and a comrade but also as someone precious to him; to hold his hand and never let go as lover, girlfriend and wife would and to grow old with him.

When Naruto becomes Hokage, Hinata will be by his side as a soulmate and his wife. Or maybe his girlfriend and future fiancee. Either way, that is what all this NaruHina foreshadowing is most likely leading to and this week’s chapter reinforces that possibility.

Naruto won't be settling for second best. He never has. To state or imply that he would is an insult to his character, to Hinata, to her love for him and to how he views the Hyuuga heiress. Hinata is not second best nor is she a third wheel. She will not be used by the jinchuuriki or be the subject of a rebound. Again, to even entertain such a notion would be to undermine both characters and their bond with one another.

When Naruto gets together with her or is shown to be in the midst of it, or even when it is stated he has already done so, it will be because he loves her romantically and because she is one of the most precious and important people to him; nothing to do with her being the alternative to Sakura or any other girl, him being on the rebound, her being second best, him being forced or feeling obligated to be with her, her being nothing but a trophy wife, him wanting to resurrect the Uzumaki clan with a suitable partner, her being the heiress to a powerful and well-known clan or any other ludicrous reasons detractors make up out of thin air. It will simply be because their development as a pairing has led to them being together forever and because their lives are one.

I agree with you
naruto is no longer a child anymore, he is maturing a lot(even tho he still tends to be an idiot sometimes) and all of that is thanks to hinata's support from the beginning. she showed him and visa versa that she acknowledged him and she understood him and that she is willing to cheer him up, to make him smile, to help him do his best as well as to help him believe in himself like how did to her. she loves him like no other, he may not be as perfect as other shinobi but he showed her his worth by not giving up and that even when you fail, you should always get back up.
naruto is aware of hinata's love for him and also the lengths she is making to make him happy, to protect him, to help him succeed. the same way naruto changed hinata, hinata changed naruto. her constantly being supportive and showing how tremendously she cares for him and is willing to do anything to help him achieve his dream and the biggest one is turning him into a man .
when naruto becomes hokage and chooses hinata it isn't as you mentioned above that he felt obliged to her. he chose her because he is mature enough to know that the woman he wants/needs by his side is someone who has been giving him everything (love,support,care,tenderness,believing in him, willingness to put her life on the line for him to protect him) and also the woman that has been in his heart all along.(btw, I think hinata has been in his heart all along but it needs developing some more)

Well there are a few things I do agree with you on, but I do disagree with Hinata not having her love returned, especially since she has made it very clear that she will spend the rest of her life at Naruto's side and for that to really happen, Naruto does need to reciprocate. when I think about it Naruto is much closer to reciprocating Hinata's love for him than he was at the start of the series.

Kishi has been throwing in some tidbits every now and then to show us that A) Hinata has the intention to be with Naruto and hold his hand while walking through the village, B) remember the first time they held hands, him softly smiling at her and squeezing her hand (which might I add, is closer to a reciprocation then Sakura's Skull Bash) C) the willingness to put it all on the line and lastly, D) she has made it perfectly clear to Naruto that she wants to be with him forever.

Hinata not only seeks Naruto's acknowledgement, but also wants Naruto to love her in return, and as I pointed out, Naruto is closer to reciprocating Hinata's love him.

remember chapters 437, 559, 573, 614, 615, 633 and most recently 649, in almost every one of those chapters alone we see Hinata saying she wants to be with Naruto, so in reality a reciprocation is very important to her and her character.

here is the question, why have a character in love with Naruto from the start? only to destroy the development between the two if Naruto says nothing? sure his actions are louder than words, but when he does say something, he means every letter of it, so for him to say he loves Hinata, it will be a moment that will come with great joy.

We'll said, also nothing to add. Thanks for sharing; was a great read. I also agree with Bato's disagreement as Hinata clearly does want to stop chasing after him... You even said it yourself, Hinata becoming his soulmate/someone to grow with Naruto to a old age is obviously being settled in a place she wants to be. So the feelings being returned to Hinata is definitely a priority hinata wants to achieve by keeping up and trying hard (:

Anyway thanks for sharing again ^_^

Naruto will not end up with Hinata because he did not have any other choice. Him being the hero of the leaf and probably of the war, his popularity might enable him to get several possibilities regarding romance...

But Naruto has already proved that he rejects superficiality (fakefession). He knows that he needs someone who will love him in his high and in his low times... and his heart is naturally driving him to the person who can provide him the best for his life.

Thanks to this person, Hinata, Naruto could evolve in a positive way during his whole life and surprisingly, she was there when he was completely down to boost his moral and to make the best out of it.

Naruto is or has realizing/realized that his heart is connected to Hinata's heart. Would he have been so influenced by her and her words if that was not the case?
He is not someone who would lie to himself and he now knows what true love is.

He even does not have to chose because his and Hinata's hearts are already one.

Great post. Although Hinata having her feelings returned is something she wants.

Also, I really don't see the big deal in Hinata saying she wants to stay by Naruto's side.   Kishimoto is just reminding us, yet AGAIN, how this girl is going for it. She's not backing down. Hinata is no longer the shy girl from part one. To me it's just the author emphasizing NaruHina is endgame. Of course we would all like more Naru -> Hina. But truthfully speaking I think 615 is the most we will get until after the war when the rest of Hinata's vow comes true.

Anyone find it ironic that Hinata thinks about being by Naruto's side after his future is talked about?

Darkhope wrote:
Anyone find it ironic that Hinata thinks about being by Naruto's side after his future is talked about?

Yeah but I didn't really bring It up as I also had a feeling that, that happening was coincidence. Anyone else?  

Azuula wrote:

Darkhope wrote:
Anyone find it ironic that Hinata thinks about being by Naruto's side after his future is talked about?

Yeah but I didn't really bring It up as I also had a feeling that, that happening was coincidence. Anyone else?  

And that's not the first time. It was the same at the end of chapter 647. Naruto decides not to "look back" bot to look forward and there's a panel with Hinata next to his.

http://eatmanga.com/Manga-Scan/Naruto/Naruto-647/page-22

^ oh that's pretty true... But Kishi is too unpredictable so who knows if it was coinsedence of not xD
I don't see it as an coinsedence as he specifically picked Hinata to say something :)

I can't believe in coincidence when it is in the fictional story, since artist has preparation time to think a lot of things beforehand and write things in a way they should be by his will and not by coincidence.

^lol true. Very true.

That was really well and beautifully said phoenix miko. I agree 100%.

And to Darkhope's point, I don't think any of that was a coincidence. After everything that's been building up, there's no way that's a coincidence, but with Kishimoto there's no telling XD