Did Naruto know Hinata likes him?

At first, Naruto was completely oblivious to Hinata's feelings. Despite her constant blushing, nervous behavior, and admiration, Naruto never recognized her affection for him.

Hinata was introduced as a shy girl with a deep admiration for Naruto. She always supported him from the shadows, believing in him even when others doubted his abilities. However, Naruto, being dense when it comes to romance, never realized her love.

Hinata's confession during the Pain arc was the first time Naruto was confronted with her feelings directly. She risked her life to protect him, telling him, "I love you," before attacking Pain. At that moment, Naruto was shocked and overwhelmed, but he did not have time to process her confession as he immediately transformed into his Nine-Tails form.

Even after this event, Naruto did not address Hinata's feelings. He never mentioned the confession, and their interactions remained largely the same. This led many fans to believe he either forgot about it due to the intensity of the battle or chose not to think about it.

It wasn't until The Last: Naruto the Movie that Naruto truly realized Hinata’s love for him. The movie explained that Naruto had never understood what romantic love was. He had mistaken his childhood crush on Sakura for love, never recognizing Hinata’s feelings as anything beyond friendship. After being shown memories of Hinata's devotion to him, he finally acknowledged and reciprocated her love.