hinata is kishi's favorite female character.
Announcer: Kishimoto-sensei’s answer?
Kishimoto: Since I can’t say various names as my favorite, I like all of the characters, but of course it’s Naruto.
Announcer: By the way, what about (your favorite) female character?
Kishimoto: Female characters… it feels kind of creepy to say I like a character that I made. I like them all. But I like Hinata.
Ramen chef fan: What’s that?! If we had asked this question at the beginning of serialization, we might have known the ending!
And now here is what he said in the current interview:
*MK = Masashi Kishimoto
Q: Who is your favorite female character and why?
MK: Does this mean within my own Naruto or?
Q: Yeah.
MK: I’m kind of a little shy of having to mention a character that I myself created… Uhh… I guess maybe I should say Hinata. Yeah, I think I’ll go with Hinata.
Q: Why?
MK: Why? I guess because she’s not violent at all.
*staff laughing*
MK: Yeah Sakura she’s kind of a hard woman.
Q: That’s Sasuke’s problem now.
MK: Yeah yeah you’re right!
Q: He deals with that by not being home.
Translator: *Translates that line for Kishi*
*Kishi and everyone laughing*