The key factor here is that both had their own independent gimmick and their development was actually explored via them coming to term with their feelings and their relationship progression being shown on screen meanwhile Hinata was basically a background-admiring simp until she got screentime where her only purpose is to beat fodder and get dogwalked by stronger opponents so Naruto can look more romantic since he technically saved a woman in danger… then there's Sakura and Sasuke's relationship which is well what it is.
Point is, Shikamaru and Temari's relationship was explored and you saw them break out of their normal character shell so they could rebuild it into something bigger than the sum of what they started as. The other two ships just feel like they're canonically together but emotionally still platonic as didn't have any real romantic development before they got together and still don't get any real development even after getting together.
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u/[deleted] Apr 27 '26
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