On Love
1. Naruto is no philosopher. He is unnervingly like a child in that way despite his maturing years. But he has always instinctively understood the most tangled truths of human affairs and it's no different when it comes to love. He has long loved his team mate and in different ways; from the innocent adoration of childhood days to the fiery passion of inchoate adulthood. Now he has finally graduated into loving her quietly but in an unchanging, unflinching fashion. He has never wanted to possess her. Yes, he would be an incredibly happy man if she returned his love in all the ways he wants her to, but he'd never dream of making an indenture of his love. Her happiness is paramount to him. If she sought it elsewhere than in his arms, Naruto would wholeheartedly welcome it.
For Naruto knows all too well that love is sufficient unto itself.
2. When she was young, it hurt Sakura too much to think about how her love wasn't enough to keep Sasuke home. The terrible insufficiency of her affection, its ultimate futility haunted her even in her most wakeful moments. Her love was wanting, she had deliriously chanted to herself during those sleepless tear-gauzed nights. It takes her quite a while, but she slowly comes to understand one day. That she had asked too much, knew too less, of a broken child, of love.
She still loves him, but without any desire of taking. Just help him heal softly, slowly, even from a distance.
3. She waits, though. Not with any definite object in mind but because Sasuke was the first to make her aware of the tender wounds that love brings forth. Because ninja who abandon their comrades are worse than scum. She has always been too loyal, just like her blond partner. So she waits, the sentiment vague but the fount overflowing. She's kind in her rejections, alluding to a presence that has always had his claim on her being. The idea of moving on never comes without a distasteful feeling, a promise of self-shame. Until one fine morning she realizes midst play-brawling with Naruto that she isn't waiting any more and there's not the slightest inkling of guilt in her heart.
She feels ridiculous that she had thought she could direct the course of love.
4. Naruto continues to pester Sakura with invitations to ramen dates. The lingering phantom of want is easily masked by the endearing playfulness of the gesture. It's their precious tradition and Naruto is determined to continue it regardless of possible romantic scenarios in the future excluding him. Sakura relents most of the time, but not without ineffectually admonishing him about the dubious nutritional qualities of said food and him pouting cutely. They never half the bill though; Gama-chan always singlehandedly bears the brunt.
When one summer afternoon, Sakura without any preamble asks him out on a ramen date, making it clear that Gama chan must not leave his confines, Naruto is flabbergasted.
5. Their ramen session is rather unusual.
Naruto is too perplexed to enthusiastically appreciate the culinary wonder before him. Hope is such a subtle glutton; he tries not to overthink it. Sakura seems almost incandescent with suppressed energy. The moment Naruto slurps down the remaining soup, she grabs his hand and leads him towards the Hokage Mountain. As they quietly watch the sky blaze golden like the last flames of a dying candle, Naruto tentatively curves an arm around Sakura's waist, drawing her closer. There's a question in the way his fingers flutter over the stretch of bare skin between her blouse and skirt. Naruto waits for a heartbeat, for an eternity, for the not-so-gentle remedying of crossed lines.
The sky bleeds joyously when a smiling pair of lips descend feather-like on his mouth.