Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did the entire war arc would be lots different and The Last would be all about Team Seven and not some garbage scarf.
So here's a short. NaruSaku.
"But I don't understand.."
It pained me to see the hurt in his eyes, eyes that normally danced with good cheer and never failed to cheer me up just by looking into them. But this is for the best, I know it. I can't hurt her, not Hinata. She's been through enough.
"She loves you. I…can't."
Naruto shook his head in denial, refusing my words.
"And you think I can love her? Just like that? You think I can just forget about what I feel for you and go on with my life living a lie?" His voice rose with each word as he grew more and more furious at the very idea of it.
"It's better this way!" I snapped
"For who?!"
"For her! And you too! She's always been watching you, always silently cheering you on, always hoping that you'll succeed! All I've done is belittle you and hurt you over and over again" I chocked on the last word, guilt rising up in my chest as I remember our early genin days. All those times I hit him.. Called him a dumbass..
"Sakura…" Naruto's voice changed, it turned contemplating. He was thinking. I shut my eyes, waiting for him to tell me I was right. Waiting for him to choose Hinata like everyone knows he should…
"Your an idiot."
My eyes shot open "What?!"
Naruto laughed, staring at me with a warm smile on his face that made my stomach flip.
"You're my first and last love." He said, shaking his head, smile never leaving his face "You're one of my first bonds too. So what if you used to hit me a lot? We were kids. I did dumbshit things that probably earned me a whack upside the head or two."
The smile faded and he adopted his serious face "Hinata may have watched me from far away, but she never came and spoke to me. Never offered to be my friend. Nothing against her!" He quickly amended "it's just I could have been happy a lot sooner if she had just bucked up a little. Hinata is my friend and nothing will ever change that, but the idea that she's entitled to me is retarded and I won't let you make yourself miserable thinking it!"
He stepped forward, putting his hands on my shoulders and staring deep into my eyes
"I told you once that I hate people who lie to themselves."
"Naruto.."
"What kind of Hokage in training would I be if I let you start?"
Whatever I was going to say died in my throat as he leaned in and kissed me. It was clumsy and he clearly didn't have much practice but it was passionate. It was filled with determination. He was rejecting my rejection and a part of me was elated, a small part that grew bigger and bigger as I returned the kiss with as much passion as I could.
I loved him. He loved me. We were going to be together and no one would change that.
I wasn't going to lie to myself anymore.
