Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-31492005-20180306150245/@comment-33731988-20180317013040

Orihika wrote: Why can't people understand that most of the time when Sakura hits Naruto its for comedic purposes...You all make it seem like Sakura beats Naruto, lowering his self-esteem, causes him to lose ambitions, and feel like nothing. And usually when Sakura hits Naruto, its because he is performing the Sexy Jutsu, or something else idiotic.

I believe Naruto's crush on Sakura ended when she lied to him. This is where Naruto realized Sakura would never like him in the way he does. Soon after, he began to realize the Hinata had feelings for him in the Pein arc, but due to his personality he was still sorta in the dark, he began to see it more within the war after Neji died, and finally he became fully aware within The Last.

For your first point, I very much agree with you. Sakura wouldn't hit Naruto if he's just saying a simple 'hi', it's only when he's doing something idiotic.

Your second point, I wouldn't exactly call it lying. It's not like she's a sadist and just wanted to see him suffer. She was genuinely concerned about his well-being and would've lived with a lie for the rest of her life if she had to.

@HeroOfSacrifice if you really view it as different, then feel free to share.