Not sure if this will make you feel better, but in one of the largest anime discussion boards in my country, largely populated by guys, it's basically accepted as an ongoing joke that Naruto/Sasuke is canon. I actually don't know where I was going with that lol.

Also I feel like Japan seems less strict on student/teacher relationships, even if it's still frowned upon. Two movies about student/teacher relationships were released during year end last year, and it also feels like a common theme in Japanese TV dramas. Most of them actually seem like they're potraying the couple as "not that bad, just misguided and in love" too, which grosses me out but w/e, that's another story. But basically, if Naruto was female, I feel like the writers actually wouldn't be against it...which, eww.