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Hinata peered around the tree into training grounds 7, where Sakura and Naruto were training.
Naruto was deflecting all Sakura's punches until she slammed one into his gut, causing him to retch.
"My win again, Naru-AH" Sakura was thrown backwards across the field and crashed into the ground, the earth exploding upon impact and destroying half the field.
Naruto pulled himself up, clutching his gut. "Y-You destroyed my organs, Sakura! I-If I didn't have Kurama with me-"
"If you didn't have Kurama with you, I wouldn't have been thrust across the earth and nearly killed!" Sakura retorted as she picked herself up, body covered in dirt and mud. She spat.
Naruto sweatdropped. "Uh, Sakura, forget that, I think we destroyed this entire area."
He was right, Sakura noted as she looked beneath her. The entire ground was disheveled, new mountains and debris everywhere. It was now a dumpfield. "You should pay for the reparations."
"EHH?!" Naruto's eyes widened comically. "You destroyed the-"
"You threw me!"
They were now within range of each other and squabbling like little kids, grabbing each other and fighting like five year olds rather than training.
Hinata exhaled in relief, now hidden behind the trees at the very edge of the training field untouched by Sakura's ground attack. She had planned to admire just Naruto but Sakura was just as hotheaded.
She sat herself down on the tree roots and thought.
They were fighting but they were having fun too.
From the very beginning, before anyone ever took notice to him, Hinata had always watched Naruto. She knew everything about him, she understood and admired his nindo, and she could read him best.
Because of that, Hinata could see it in Naruto's eyes: he was happy with Sakura. There was no denying that no matter how much she tried to cheer herself up by remembering the time Naruto held her hand, with his warm and comforting chakra.
It didn't matter how much she loved Naruto, Naruto just didn't feel the same. She didn't want to shame him into accepting her love, out of any pity or because of Neji's death. She wanted Naruto to genuinely love her, but that was impossible. He was in love with Sakura. And if she truly loved Naruto, she would stay out of the way and let him have his happiness.
Hinata would never amount to Sakura. And Naruto deserves someone he loves, not simply a person who loves him, as there were millions of people who love Naruto. Hinata was just one admirer out of millions.
That was reason 1, because of Sakura.
There was another reason.
If Sakura didn't get together with Naruto, she would get with Sasuke.
Hinata never knew him personally, but she hated Sasuke. Sasuke made Naruto hurt all these years- and now that she thought about it, Sasuke hurt Sakura too. He tried to murder them multiple times, he was insane.
Maybe, he's changed at the end, but where was he now? Out of Konoha! A man like that, who feels like he doesn't belong in Konoha that he's constantly absent on a journey of redemption- he- he doesn't belong with someone as sweet and kind-hearted as Sakura!
But if Hinata confessed to Naruto, and against all odds, he accepted her proposal- Sakura would...suffer. When Sasuke returns.
That was reason 2, because of Sakura.
And so, resolving herself, Hinata pulled out the red scarf, and clutched the ends of it with her pale hands. She squeezed it, trying to tear it into shreds.
It didn't work. She couldn't do it.
Am I physically this weak? Or is it my heart that's weak?
Hinata propped her face into the scarf and sobbed, salt tears feeding the grass.
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Sakura sighed. It was another night at Ichiraku Ramen, and she decided to get straight to the point. Glancing downward at her ramen, she nudged Naruto's shoulder while he was chowing down his. "Ne, Naruto, what do you think about Hinata?"
"Mfff?" Naruto took his time to finish his ramen before turning to Sakura. "Well, she's kinda weird! But she's nice too, she really saved my nindo back then! I'm grateful to her and everyone who had my back, 'ttebayo!" Naruto grinned, before growing curious. This was one of the rare times Sakura wasn't droning on and on about Sasuke- ever since Sasuke returned he could never have a proper conversation with her, and he was tired of avoiding her questions about Sasuke's whereabouts or any rumors that have to do with the teme. "Why'd ya ask?"
"Well..." Sakura twirled her chopsticks. "Hinata really likes you, you know?"
"W-WHAT?!" Naruto spluttered, and Sakura's eyebrow twitched.
"Baka! She's liked you from the start, when everyone hated you- including me!" Sakura scolded. "She's good at reading your eyes, if she could see that you weren't a monster." Sakura smacked the table then. "Oh! Remember when Pein invaded the village? She jumped in front of you to protect you from Pein! Even when she knew she would die, she still did it because she believed in your ninja way. Hinata loves you." Sakura propped her chin on her palm. "Did you forget?"
"I-I don't know. I've never been loved that way before, so I held off a response." Naruto shook his head. "She's not the only person who believes in my nindo, or risked herself to save a comrade." He looked at Sakura then. "How is that any different from the times you and Sasuke risked your lives to save me?" Naruto looked thoughtful then. "Comrades protect each other, us Konoha shinobi believe that now. Hinata is one of us, but so is Sasuke, Neji, Shikamaru, Chouji, Iruka-sensei...you..."
He was right, Sakura realized. Many, many people sacrificed themselves in the war in order for Naruto to live on and save the world. Hinata didn't quite stand out so much anymore- "Well- she slapped you out your senses!" Sakura decided. "Obito almost had you there-"
Naruto widened his eyes. "You're right. When my friend died I thought...maybe Obito was right." Naruto pushed himself up. "I could have joined his side."
Sakura froze. That would have been bad, really bad. She was suddenly grateful to Hinata's actions.
"But Hinata knows my ninja way better than I do," Naruto sounded appreciative. "Neji's like an older brother to her, but she still stood strong, when I couldn't even stand." Naruto grinned. "She's almost as strong as you, Sakura, maybe stronger! Teheh, I can't tell, you two gotta stand side-by-side one day so I can compare!"
Sakura snorted. "Baka...Our strengths lie in different areas. Emotionally, I'm weak, while Hinata's strong. Physically, there's no competition." Sakura cracked her knuckles then, a determined glint in her eye. "I'm the strongest woman in the world!"
"HIEEEEEE!" Naruto exclaimed, sweatdropping, she's scary!
She reached over and touched his cheek as he tensed, "I know for sure now, that our bond is the same one you share with Sasuke, one of familiarity shared between family. But there's a different type of bond, a very special one- such that you wouldn't mind leaving behind all your friends and family to be together with that one person. It's that precious a bond, and I know this because I felt this way towards Sasuke." Sakura squeezed his hand. "And I doubt you're willing to give up your dream of becoming Hokage and run away from Konoha just to live alone with me on the moon or something bizarre," Sakura pointed at the moon above the night sky for emphasis. She had no idea how ironic things were going to turn out.
Naruto looked at her with panic. "Uhh...Sakura, you're really not going to run away from Konoha when you get married, right?" He said tentatively, feeling reluctant to leave behind everything when he does get married with Sakura. "I don't want to quit being Hokage."
"That only proves- you don't love me in that way." Sakura smirked smugly. "And trust me, you'll want to, when you get a bond like that."
Naruto hmph'd. "That's true! But I won't ever have a bond like that! I mean, to leave behind Konoha to live with just one person?! But I've made so many friends." Naruto cringed. "You're being unrealistic here, Sakura."
"Naruto, you deserve someone who loves you wholeheartedly." Sakura insisted, losing her patience. "Not some girl who has her heart split in half between you and Sasuke. I've had feelings for both you and Sasuke at different points in time- I'm a half-assed lover. You deserve better."
"But Sakura, I-" Naruto paused. "Wait! You had feelings for me too?!"
"Baka! Hina-"
"I have feelings for you too!" Naruto started blabbering in excitement, "You're telling the truth! Last time you said that, you were lying to relieve me of that promise to bring Sasuke back. I thought you won't confess again if Sasuke ever returned, so I told you to stop lying to yourself- but now that you're confession again- it must mean- it's real-"
Slap.
"Naruto-BAKA!" Sakura scolded, her palm stinging from the red mark on Naruto's cheek. "During all this time, did you really believe I was a heartless bitch with no affection towards you?"
"What! No!"
Sakura lowered her hand. "You were just content with me being together with Sasuke while you at least get to spent a little time with me, or my half-assed sibling-like affection." Sakura crossed her arms and hmph'd. "Nope! Not happening!"
"B-But Sakura..."
"I don't want you moping around alone, or with such an unfulfilling girl like me, for the rest of your life. Which will totally happen if I'm the only girl you're close to and if you don't broaden your horizons." Sakura decided. "Besides, after all this time, you haven't established that special type of bond with me- so our relationship is not going to work out without feeling like an arranged marriage. But, you never know until you give Hinata a chance, see what she's like personally."
Naruto turned thoughtful. He didn't really know much about Hinata, maybe he should get to know her.
"I love Sasuke first and foremost, I can't help how I feel." Sakura continued. "She's a kindhearted girl and you're a good person- and I'm a selfish bitch. I always said I would change but those were just empty words."
Naruto cringed. "S-Sakura...don't say that." He was about to explain why she was wrong but she waved a hand in dismissal.
"I'm simply saying you deserve better, and if you want to make me happy- you need someone who loves you a hundred, thousand times greater than I do, with no mixed feelings, but wholeheartedly." Sakura crossed her arms. "Besides, you only took an interest in me from your rivalry with Sasuke." (Canon Movie Naruto doesn't deny this when Sakura said it.)
"That's not true! My rivalry with Sasuke intensified because of you! Not the reverse! That makes me sound like a loser who played with your feelings when I asked you to go on dates with me! I'm not like that!" Naruto protested hotly.
Sakura burst out laughing at his indignant expression, before shaking her head. "You never change, Naruto. I can see why Hinata likes you so much." She pushed herself up her stool and paid for the ramen. "Tomorrow night, 9:00PM, date with Hinata, lantern festival."
"W-Wha!? Saku- you can't just decide that- I'm no good at-"
Sakura stuck her tongue out childishly before turning around. "You're on your own!"
"GAH!" Naruto tripped over the seats and hit the floor. "Owwww."
But inwardly, he chuckled. How long has it been since he went on a date? He had no idea what he was expected to do- maybe he should ask Jiraiya-sensei!
Oh wait...he's dead...Sulkily, Naruto decided he'll read some old copies of Icha Icha. That's the second best option...
But Kakashi-sensei hoarded all the volumes...
KAKASHI-SENSEI! WHY DIDN'T I THINK TO ASK HIM!? Naruto ran straight for the Hokage tower.
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Sakura opened the door to her home and stepped inside, lowering her arms. It was pitch-black and quiet.
Her parents had disappeared along with the hundreds of missing shinobi during the war.
Heh, I guess that makes me an orphan just like Naruto and Sasuke. Sakura chuckled solemnly. If she were a little younger, she would have delighted that she had no parents to scold her-
but this silence was deadening.
Sakura opened the fridge, took out her leftover lunch and ate at the dinner table.
Alone.
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