Chapter Nine
Over the next few months, Sakura and Sasuke fell more deeply in love day by day. But…Hinata and Naruto were starting to not communicate as much. Hinata knew something was wrong with Naruto but she was too afraid to bring it up. Hinata would always call Sakura to tell her what was going on and Sakura was even clueless herself. Hinata would always lie in bed and wait for him to come home. When he did get home, he would just go straight to sleep. It hurt her really bad and when Hinata was hurting, Sakura was hurting. Sakura couldn't stop worrying about what was going to happen to their relationship. Another few weeks had passed and Sasuke was also starting to feel distant to Sakura. Sakura would always cry herself to sleep but Sasuke wouldn't know because he was never around. One day, both Sasuke and Hinata were out on missions and Naruto came over to try and cheer Sakura up because he had a feeling that she was feeling horrible. As soon as he came, Sakura asked, "Are you ok? Hinata is really worried about you." Naruto replied, "I'm fine, she doesn't have to worry." Sakura nodded and said, "So why did you come over anyways?" Naruto shrugged and said, "I thought you might be feeling a little lonely since both Sasuke and Hinata are gone." Sakura looked at him with shock. "Wow, I didn't know you cared so much…" Naruto looked at her and said, "Of course I care about you!" Sakura just stood there and Naruto turned around and said, "So do you want to go somewhere?" Sakura replied, "Yea sure." She smiled and grabbed her coat and walked outside. Naruto walked after her and closed the door behind him. Naruto started off the conversation with, "So how are you and Sasuke these days?" Sakura put her head down and Naruto noticed that tears were falling to the ground. "No, no, no! I didn't mean to make you cry! I'm sorry!" he said. Sakura shook her head and said, "No, it's alright. I'm just fine." She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at Naruto and smiled. Naruto looked at her worried and hugged her. "I'm fine Naruto, really." Sakura said. Naruto let go and nodded and said, "Yea, sorry." Sakura smiled and said, "Its ok. I know you're just worried about me." Naruto nodded and kept on walking. They made it to the park and sat down on a bench. Sakura looked up at the sky and smiled. Then she looked down and said, "Naruto, I have a question…" Naruto looked at her and said, "What is it?" Sakura looked at him closely and said, "How much do you love Hinata?" Naruto looked down and said, "I love her with all my life. I will never, NEVER, stop loving her. She IS my life." Sakura smiled and looked back up at the sky and smiled. "I'm so happy to hear that. She's been…worried about your guys' relationship. Maybe you should talk to her about it." Naruto nodded and said, "I will, once she gets back of course. And maybe you should talk to Sasuke. I know that you're having problems just like me and Hinata…do you want to talk about it?" Sakura looked down again and said, "Well, me and Sasuke-kun haven't been communicating much…just like you and Hinata. I miss him being romantic and passionate like he used to. Maybe…marriage changes everything. I would give anything to go back to the way things used to." Sakura started to cry and Naruto hugged her tightly and said, "Don't worry, it will. I promise." Naruto looked up at the sky and started to think of something. Sakura noticed this and said, "Naruto…what are you thinking about?" Naruto looked at her and said, "Oh! Nothing!" Sakura looked at him weirdly and said, "You sure?" Naruto smiled and said, "Of course sis." Sakura was happy that she and Naruto spent this time together. It made them become closer. Hinata is quite close to Sasuke so Sakura couldn't WAIT to tell Hinata that Naruto and her got closer. Sakura learned that Naruto really isn't such a bad guy. He really helped her that day and made her feel happy. She and Naruto decided to walk back home together. Naruto smiled and said, "Sis, guess what?" Sakura said, "What?" Naruto smiled wider and said, "I love you sis!" Naruto picked her up and put her on his back. Sakura giggled and said, "I love you too brother." She hugged him tightly around his neck and accidentally started to suffocate him. Naruto stopped walking and said, "Sis! You're suffocating me!!!" Sakura loosened her grip and said, "Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" She looked at him worried and he smiled and said, "Don't worry about it!" Sakura giggled. They finally made it back to Sakura's house and Naruto took her off his back and said, "Here you are! Home sweet home!" He smiled and kissed her forehead and said, "Bye sis." He started to walk away and she ran after him and kissed his cheek and giggled. "Bye brother." She walked back into the house. Naruto just stood there for a second and then smiled. He turned around and continued to walk home.