Π few thoughts on how the Naruto manga and anime should have ended.
1. In my opinion, most of the characters should have died during the war. I think Might Guy's team and he himself should have died. We were essentially given the lead-up to Guy's death in the battle with Madara, and we saw a dramatic farewell to his character, but in the end, everything was destroyed by the Deus Ex Machina and his miraculous rescue. I also think his entire team should have perished, which would have been quite symbolic. Guy's team was the most united and strong, and their deaths would have been symbolic.
2. Kiba and Shino should have died. These characters essentially stopped developing and contributing to the plot, but their deaths would have shown the consequences of the war and allowed for growth for Hinata; she would have been able to survive it with her sensei, Kurenai. Hinata could have been shown caring for Mirai.
3. Kakashi and Obito should have both died. We were literally shown how both of them were willing to give their lives to protect Sasuke and Naruto. Their deaths would have been meaningful, would have had meaning, and would have allowed Team Minato to retire and reunite in the afterlife.
4. 50% of the people caught in the eternal tsukuyomi should have died. Or even more⦠We should have been shown the damage, the consequences of everything.
5. Many villages should have ceased to exist. There would have been too many deaths, a ruined economy, a crisis, the aftermath of the war.
6. Naruto should have become the 6th Hokage. Yeah⦠I hate the Hokage and Konoha itself, but I understand that the story should have ended with Naruto becoming Hokage, after all, he is the main character. The last chapter really should have been about Naruto's Kage Ceremony.
7. Sakura and Naruto should have been together. I can't stand Naruto, and I'm neutral towards Sakura (she irritated me at one point, then I liked her, then irritated me again, but in the end, I'm neutral towards her). I really think Naruto and Sakura were supposed to be together. Even Kishimoto's wife loved that ship. From the first episode, we see that Naruto's dream is to become Hogake, gain recognition from the village, and be with Sakura. He loves her, wants to be with her, and at the same time, he was afraid to confess his feelings to her. Sakura herself also loves Naruto, but because of her childhood obsession with Sasuke, she couldn't open up to these feelings. I still remember Sai telling Sakura that Naruto loved her and how she cried. I remember thinking, "What a powerful scene, she has to change them, they have to open up to each other." I remember Sakura crying during her conversation with Sai, and how she hugged Naruto after the battle with Pain. Sakura should have grown beyond her obsession with Sasuke and realized that Naruto was truly the one who always cared about her. This would have given her and Naruto growth. Sakura is very similar to KushinaβMinato noted this. And I remember Naruto telling him she was his girlfriend. Sakura tried her best to save Naruto after he lost Kurama. That's why I 1000% believe they were supposed to be together.
8. Hinata should have become the head of the Hyuga clan. I'm also sure Hinata should have grown out of her unrequited love for Naruto. Let's be honest, this relationship doesn't develop her. Of course, Naruto was someone she looked up to; she wanted to be strong like him and truly loved him with tenderness. But he didn't love her. She died for him, told him she loved him, but he never talked to her about it. It hurt. Hinata had to accept this and move on. She had to embrace her heritage and defend her right to leadership of the Hyuga clan. Out of love for Neji, she was determined to reform the clan and abandon the slave stigma and segregation. Hinata should have become a strong leader of her family and received the recognition she deserved.
9. Sasukeβ¦ my favorite character. I feel so sorry for youβ¦ But you have no place in this world. His entire familyβhis entire worldβwas destroyed and trampled. He's been through too much pain and suffering. He's left alone, and there are no more Uchiha. In my ideal ending, he becomes Hokage and changes the Shinobi world, but I understand that in Kishimoto's universe, that wouldn't have happened. Sasuke should have died, dying in battle with Naruto, defending his views, his clan, his freedom, his rights. He should have found peace and reunited with his family in heaven (except for you, Itachi, you're in hell) and found peace. I don't see a bright and happy future for this character. He can't live in the future; the trauma is too great, the grief is too great, and it's simply too late. This world doesn't deserve you.
Why did we get what we got? And why did we get Boruto? Why isn't there a proper ending?
Because Naruto is a franchise that brings in a lot, a lot of money. Because the anime ran for 14 years, which means jobs, income for the studios, actors, and so on.
I think Kishimoto was simply given a condition to end the story so the studio could continue milking the cow. Kishimoto is retired and earns passive income. The studio is in the black and is making Boruto. The next anime will be about Naruto's grandson, and so on. Yes, the ratings have dropped, but it's still a very profitable project. I want to say that no one will abandon the story for a logical ending.
All this reminds me of Attack on Titan and its incoherent ending, and the rumors that Isayama was forbidden from finishing the project the way he wanted. There are also rumors that the authors of the Death Note manga wanted to end the story earlier, but the studio forbade it. It's all big business.