Glitter Times

There were so many ways to fix this issue too. Like, the most obvious one would have been to include A SINGLE SCENE with Naruto thanking her for her nearly giving up her life for him, but he's not ready/sure how to address her feelings. That would have established the fact that he acknowledges her confession, is grateful for her actions, but is not in a mental or emotional place to do anything about them. That would have been the most respectful way to go about it, and as a viewer I would have accepted it and been happy with it. Then the rest of the show would go as normal, with the added inclusion that, at the very least, Hinata is becoming a more established figure in Naruto's mind and not just an afterthought. Maybe even sprinkle in some scenes with Naruto thinking about her and/or talking to maybe Sakura or Kakashi and asking for advice. Maybe include Hinata in more scenes and missions with him where they interact and Naruto learns more about her as a person. It's not too much of a rewrite, I think, it's a simple solution and it pains me that it got overlooked so easily.

Then, if you really wanna get creative with it, either make Naruto gently turn her down after the war, citing once more that he just doesn't see her in a romantic light but would still like to remain friends with her---OR make them date for a little while and break up. HEAR ME OUT, bc this helps flesh out both their relationship BUT ALSO Hinata's character. Being turned down or broken up with the guy she spent years pining after would force her to come out of his shadow and find who she is outside of Naruto's influence. Bc one of the major criticisms about Hinata (mainly in Shippuden) is that she has her whole personality centered around Naruto. And so, in that way, she grows into her own person, becomes a more fleshed-out character, and begins to live a life without him in her mind 24/7. She's the fucking love interest of the main character, she DESERVES to have her character well written! AND THEN!! Make Naruto notice. Make him see this familiar yet new Hinata in a different light. Make him think about her, obsess over her like he did in The Last. Make em hang out as friends first, with Hinata finally being comfortable in his presence AND in her own self, and make Naruto fall for her instead. You have well-written characters now, you have the drama of "oh no I like her, fuck, what to I do, I already fucked it up once with her," you have the romance and the giddiness of seeing the protagonist bending over backwards trying to think of ways to win her back, as well as the satisfaction of watching a now confident young woman being respected and loved the way she deserves! And when they eventually do end up giving it another go, it happens with a lot more thought and care! IT'S NOT THAT FUCKING HARD GODDAMN IT!!