Hello my lovelies! I wanted to write a one-shot on Naruto's feelings towards Sakura. I noticed that he really loved her throughout the Naruto series and he really wanted the best for her even if she didn't love him back. This is in no way a NaruSaku fanfic because I ship SasuSaku dearly but I won't deny that Naruto was clearly in love with Sakura. I hope you all enjoy this!
Reviews & Favs would be the loveliest!~
Hero
Naruto was in love with Sakura. From the moment he laid eyes on her at the first day of ninja academy. She was as cute as a button with pink hair and vivacious green eyes. Sakura kept Naruto mesmerized.
Sakura was in love with Sasuke, which Naruto found completely absurd because Sasuke was a teme and temes should never get a pretty girl like Sakura.
He tried his best to impress Sakura but to no avail because she only ever had eyes for the Uchiha.
When he was a genin, he fought hard to get Sakura's attention. He went as far as doing a henge as Sasuke to get her to kiss him. And kiss him she almost did.
When Sasuke abandoned Konoha, Naruto promised Sakura that she would bring him back. He saw the hurt in her eyes and he couldn't stand it. His inside churned at the fact that the person he loved was hurting. So he made her that promise so a little life would come back to her little green eyes. He wasn't able to bring that stupid bastard back even though he tried so hard for his and Sakura's sake. In the end, Naruto in a way abandoned her too to become stronger with Pervy sage and for that he felt terrible.
As the years went by and the age of adolescence was over, he noticed what a strong and beautiful young woman she had become. He noticed it as soon as he entered the gates of Konoha after two grueling years. He remembers walking down the familiar streets of Konoha and seeing her slightly matured face adorned by her emerald eyes, button nose, and short pastel hair. She looked amazing.
It hurt him sometimes to know that a woman as captivating as her was untouchable. Her heart was stamped with the love she had for the teme. Naruto wished it could be him in her heart.
Naruto was more than sure that Sakura loved him, in a brotherly sort of way but he didn't want that. He wanted to feel her lips on his, her eyes on him, he wanted to feel her love. Sakura-chan was a soul of love and he wanted that love to be directed towards him. It was pretty selfish and he soon realized that.
He didn't exactly get to see Sakura grow but he knew she did it all for Sasuke. However, behind that tough exterior Sakura put up, she was broken. She was torn by the feelings of hatred and love towards Sasuke and Naruto felt selfish for letting his own feelings get in the way of their friendship. He realized that it was time to put her feelings before his.
Naruto made it a priority to bring Sasuke back to Sakura.
And he did.
He brought life back into his Sakura-chan.
It was okay that Sakura didn't love him back.
Because sometimes the hero doesn't get the girl.