Naruto 437 spoilers
Oooookay. So I don't know what your friends' page looks like, but mine has spoilers galore for this, and they all seem to be saying Hinata this and Hinata that. Mainly that "OMG HINATA DIED!"
And, um. I don't really get where they get that. I will admit to reading spoilers before reading the chapter, and so thought I was gonna be prepared for sadness and Hyuuga-angst. I was surprised. Hinata's fight/entrance was kinda short and hurried. She gets knocked out almost right away, but I don't think she's dead. With all cannon deaths, even the not so important people's deaths, there has been a moment (well, except for Shizune. But let's face it. That woman was more not even a secondary character really. More like third. Only slightly more important than the girl in glasses whose name I still don't know.) You know, where things go to black and they think one last thought, and maybe long-dead loved one meet them in the afterlife, like with Kakashi. Hinata just looks knocked out. It was like she was there one second, and knocked out the next. Barely enough time to register she had effectively confessed for a moment.
I know that I could be seeing things in a skewed manner since I am a Hinata fan, but .... really? No. Plus, as weird as it is to say about someone who just levelled a town, I don't see Pain killing a girl who is so obviously outclassed, and defending someone she loves. I just don't. Its like his weak spot- people protecting out of love. After all, in his own twisted way, that is what the malnourished dude (AKA Nagoto) is doing. Besides, as a story, what a random and WTF moment that would have been.I mean, it is WTF anyway, but if Hinata IS dead she's effectively become The Lost Love of the Hero and therefore important. Important people get moments.
If she is just knocked out we either get A) awkward and sudden Naruhina. Which is just weird. Because they don't really interact, and Hinata hasn't been that important before. I suppose that is hypocrictial of me, since I love Ginny/Harry and they don't interact much in seven books. But Harry does save her from a snake, so at least you kinda get some foreshadowing there. Plus, well, I sorta thought it would end up NaruSaku because Sakura is starting to notice her changing feelings towards the man.
And, not that I ever thought it would EVER become cannon, but Neji/Hina! Come on! They have so much story to them!
Actually, on that note, I was more interested in what Team Gai thought as they approached their home. Because coming home and seeing that would raise some seriously freaked-out thoughts from me.