I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in this story.

Naruto="xxxxx"

Sasuke=xxxxx

"She loves me."

Do you love her?

It had been a year since Naruto was able to bring Sasuke back home and things were finally starting to get normal… as normal as they could get for Naruto.

"The fact that I love her is what makes it so painful."

They had just finished training when out of the blue Naruto made his first statement about Hinata.

Then why don't you go be with her?

"It would be too painful."

For who?

"For both of us."

Why?

"We can never be together."

Why is that?

"You know what's inside me, that is why."

What does that have to do with you loving her?

"Everything… you know the Akatsuki is after me."

So?

"With them after me the probability of me being killed is very high."

Then don't get killed.

"Easier said than done."

It was starting to get dark out, allowing Sasuke to see that the shadows were making Naruto's depressed look seem even sadder.

"If she still loves me after this whole mess with the Akatsuki is over… then I'll be with her, until then I can't."

That could still be years away from happening… you know you are causing her just as much pain as you are to yourself.

"It would cause her even more pain to be with me."

How so?

"If I were to be with her, I would cause her to worry whenever we fight with the Akatsuki."

She would worry even if you didn't fight them, don't forget we're ninjas.

"Yea, you know she loves kids right?"

So?

"If I'm with her and I get killed I will never get to experience what it is like to be a father, or her a mother."

So have them now, your both old enough.

"Then if I die my kids will grow up not knowing who their father is, I know how painful that can be and I will not have them grow up with that loneliness. Also I would rather keep her at a distance."

Why?

"So I don't get our hopes up and have them crash on us later on."

How so?

"If I'm with her it—"

It would give you something to fight for, it would give you a reason to have to come home… you want to know something?

"What?"

You always become stronger when you have a reason to get stronger, so stop torturing yourself and her and just be with her.

"What if you're wrong?"

I won't be cause you will prove me right… besides I think it will be harder to keep her away from you now more than ever.

"What makes you say that?"

She heard everything you just said.

With that last statement he left the two alone.