The Road Less Traveled: Why Naruto Should’ve Ended Up with These Characters Instead of Hinata

The finale of Naruto Shippuden saw the titular hero finally achieve his dream of becoming Hokage and, in an even more significant development for the series’ romance arc, marry Hinata Hyuga. For many fans, this was the perfect conclusion to a long-running narrative thread, a fitting reward for Hinata’s unwavering loyalty and love. However, for a vocal part of the fandom, this pairing, while heartwarming, felt like a missed opportunity. The relationship between Naruto and Hinata, particularly the lack of genuine interaction and development throughout the majority of the series, has long been a point of contention. This has led to a great deal of speculation about other potential partners for Naruto, characters who had a more compelling dynamic, a more equal partnership, or a deeper, more intertwined history with the hero. While the “NaruHina” ship has sailed, it’s worth exploring the road not taken and considering which other characters would have made for a more engaging and impactful romantic conclusion for the legendary hero of the Hidden Leaf Village.

The core issue with the Naruto and Hinata pairing is a lack of meaningful on-screen development. For much of the series, Hinata’s love for Naruto was a one-sided admiration, and Naruto was largely oblivious to her feelings. The film The Last: Naruto the Movie attempted to bridge this gap, but for many, it felt rushed and shoehorned in. A great romantic pairing in a story is often built on shared experiences, mutual growth, and a genuine connection that develops over time. The following characters, while they may not have been the final choice, all had a stronger foundation for a more compelling love story with Naruto, one that would have felt more earned and more in line with the series’ core themes of overcoming adversity and forging powerful bonds.

Sakura Haruno

The most obvious and long-debated alternative is Sakura Haruno. From the very beginning, Team 7’s dynamic was built on a love triangle of sorts, with Naruto’s crush on Sakura and Sakura’s infatuation with Sasuke. While Naruto’s feelings for Sakura were initially presented as a childish crush, his admiration for her grew into something deeper. He respected her intelligence and strength and was a constant source of encouragement for her. Sakura, in turn, was one of the few people who saw Naruto for who he truly was, beyond the prankster facade. Their bond was forged through years of shared missions, battles, and a common goal to bring Sasuke home. A relationship between them would have been a powerful statement about the importance of friendship and the slow-burn evolution of a crush into a genuine, mature love. It would have also brought a much-needed sense of closure to the original Team 7 dynamic, a fitting end to their collective journey.

Sasuke Uchiha

While an unorthodox choice, the rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke is a central pillar of the entire series, and it has more romantic subtext than a traditional rivalry. Their bond is one of the deepest and most complex in the anime world, a connection that transcends friendship and borders on a profound, soul-bound attachment. They are two sides of the same coin, with Naruto representing light and Sasuke representing darkness. The series is, in many ways, a love story about their shared journey, their mutual desire to understand and save one another. The final battle in the Valley of the End was not just a fight for survival; it was a desperate attempt to reconnect and understand each other. A romantic pairing between them would have been a revolutionary and powerful conclusion, a testament to the idea that love can conquer even the deepest hatred and bring together two people from completely different worlds. While this is an unconventional choice, the depth of their bond and the significance of their relationship to the plot makes it a compelling, if unlikely, alternative.

Gaara

Gaara and Naruto’s relationship is a beautiful story of two outcasts finding common ground. Both were jinchuriki, feared and ostracized by their villages. Their early rivalry gave way to a deep, unbreakable friendship, built on a mutual understanding of loneliness and a shared path toward redemption. Naruto was the first person to show Gaara true compassion and empathy, and this moment fundamentally changed Gaara’s life, leading him to become the beloved Kazekage. A romantic relationship between them would have been a powerful statement about the ability of love to heal and transform. Their shared history as outcasts and their parallel journeys toward leadership would have made for a compelling and emotionally resonant story. A relationship with Gaara would have been a powerful symbol of overcoming trauma and finding love in the most unexpected places.

Shion (Movie 8, The Last Princess)

While not a canonical character, the bond between Naruto and Shion from the movie Naruto Shippuden: The Movie is a compelling one. As the priestess of the Land of Demons, Shion initially saw Naruto as a tool for her own survival. However, as they journeyed together, she began to see him as a kind and courageous person, and her cold heart slowly opened up to him. Their romance, while brief, was one of the most developed and emotionally impactful in the series. The film even ends with Shion asking Naruto to help her create a new generation, a bold and unambiguous confession. A pairing with Shion would have been a unique and satisfying conclusion, a testament to Naruto’s ability to forge powerful connections with people from outside his own village and a symbol of his ability to inspire hope in the most cynical of people. While she is a non-canon character, her story and her connection to Naruto are so strong that she deserves to be on this list of potential romantic partners.