Which Girl Would Naruto End Up With?

It's always amazing to see how much people can get riled up over Naruto's love life. Indeed, Naruto's love life is the subject of many debates and flame wars in the internet. Either way, we can't deny the fact that the whole 'romance' aspect of the anime makes it more interesting. And, since Naruto's the main character he has to end up with someone, right?

There are two girls in the series who posses the possibility of ending up with Naruto. Unless, the author Kishimoto throws in a new female character onto the mix.

Haruno Sakura

Sakura is and has always been Naruto's crush, even from the beginning of the series. Although she is Naruto's teammate but she wasn't not necessarily his friend at the beginning of team Kakashi. In fact, Sakura displayed a lot of hostility towards Naruto in the beginning of the series, owing perhaps to Naruto's reputation as the academy's 'deadlast'. However, she warms up to him as the series progresses and starts to care for him as a friend. Sure, if you look at it this way, these two seem like they're headed for the holy matrimony. Naruto's the main male character and Sakura's the main female character and they would probably end up together, right? Wrong. Things aren't that simple.

Ir'a given fact that Naruto has a crush on Sakura, but Sakura is in love with Sasuke instead; Naruto's direct rival. He is everything he is not since start. As a genius, Sasuke is also good looking, and powerful without even trying. Sasuke does not blatantly return her affections but there are little clues in the series where you'll see that these two; Sakura and Sasuke definitely have something together. In fact, Sakura and Sasuke's relationship is one of the most romantically developed in the anime what with the hug in the forest of death where it is only through Sakura's hug that Sasuke, possessed by the cursed seal, comes to his senses. There's also Sasuke's acknowledgement that Sakura is one of his 'precious persons'. And then there's this huge matter of Sakura's confession of love, true 'I'll-sacrifice-everything-for-you' love. And though Sasuke knocked her out, he does leave her with a thank you which is enigmatic and poignant.