Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its property do not belong to me.
Author's Notes: This is my first Naruto fan-fiction, and is based on the feelings Naruto has for Sakura. Please enjoy! Any honest criticism and comments are welcome.
One-sided Love
A Naruto fan-fiction
There were many times when he found himself wondering why he even bothered to care. Why his heart wouldn't just give up, despite having already acknowldeged the fact that he would never have the chance to win her heart.
Haruno Sakura's heart.
Sakura-chan, the girl of his dreams. The girl with the near shoulder-length, soft and silky pink hair. The girl with the bright, sparkling green eyes that would bubble up with joy when she was happy, then well up with tears at the mere second something bad happened – mostly to do with the last member of Team 7, Uchiha Sasuke, long-standig best friend yet rival of his.
Sakura-chan, the girl whose heart already belonged to someone else. The girl whom he had always admired and idolized for her beauty, intelligence and intensity. During their academy days, alone and in a small corner, unnoticed by anyone, especially by Sakura-chen, he'd just stare at her. Watch her flaunt her intelligence. Observe how her then long hair swirl behind her artfully as she tossed her head, determined not to let Ino get ahead of her.
Sakura-chan, the girl whom he could never have. The girl whom he'd protect even if it meant sacrificing his own life and abandoning all his dreams and hopes of being Hokage. Not just any Hokage, though. The Hokage that would surpass all the other generations of Hokage in the past. The girl whom he'd always care for, even if he never could have her.
He'd shrugged it off dismissively at times, just acknowledging it as a mere infatuation, and nothing else. But when he saw her bound to the tree, near suffocation by Gaara's sand during the Chuunin Exam, he realized that he had fallen honestly and completely in love with her.
It didn't matter that it was a one-sided love. It didn't matter that not only were his feelings not returned, she had fallen in love with Uchiha Sasuke.
Because just so long as she was happy and enjoying her life fully, it didn't matter anymore. He would do anything if it meant that she would be happy. Even if it made his heart hurt and bleed so badly. Even if it meant that he would have to give up his happiness to make her happy.
All he could wish for was just that tiny bond of understanding he had with her. After all, her smile was enough to make his day.
He never would want her to be unhappy or sad. He wanted her to remain the way she was – beautiful, intelligent, intense. And always carefree, like the birds in the sky that the lazy-ass Shika was so fond of observing. Always carefree, never burdened down by anything.
And he would just love her from a safe distance away.