Chapter 8: Earth reaches Heaven

A.N: This is the other of the two chapters I suppose most reader has been waited for from what I gather . This is my take on how Naruto and Sakura finally realize that they love each other. This chapter will have most of the NS moments between them during the 698 chapters. It will be base on both Naruto and Sakura POV, as both we'll be interacting in their mind. Naruto with Kurama, Sakura with her inner. This one is about Naruto's reliving the event of the story.

Note that when a character go in his mind, I'll consider that time will either slowdown or completely stop. That is the way I find to put everything in the story and in the end, why I expected NS as the endgame of the story. Something outside happen if you ask me. Anyway onto the story. (character thinking) Kurama, Inner.

Naruto hesitantly then quickly put a quick kiss to a forehead. Now Naruto was as red as a tomato. Sakura however did enjoyed it but find it too quick. She didn't notice Naruto color change because of her own thought. However, something hit her. What if Naruto doesn't love her anymore. He did said something about going talking to Hinata about something personal that he didn't want to share with her. They share everything. Plus something about finding the right word. She made him wait too long. Did he move on. Did he ever love her? Did she deserve him? She needed to know.

"Naruto may I ask you something?"

Naruto just snap out of his trance, he couldn't believe his Sakura-chan let him kissed his forehead.

"Yeah Sakura-chan, anything you want."

"I just want to know what did you talk with Hinata? Are you two together now?"

"No, we're not together."

"SHE DARE REJECT YOU, YOU DESERVE BETTER" Sakura exploded.

"Sakura-chan, she never reject me, it was I who rejected her."

"WHY? I mean she's beautiful, gentle, smart and love you since, well since forever. It was like she was a dream girl. She never lecture, annoy you as much,, wake you up or hurting you like some girls did. ( By other girls I mean me ) Never mind what I said, she did deserve you."

"It's because... How can I say this."

Naruto was deep in his thought carefully thinking of what he was about to say, to do.

(Naruto's mind)

"What do I do? Maybe I did done a mistake with Hinata. Maybe my crush for Sakura was just to rival Sasuke."

"Don't start to doubt yourself now kid. You started to get cold feet because you're afraid of rejection. Plus that theory about you loving Sakura to rival Sasuke is really stupid kid. That one of the worst excuse I've ever heard. For one, You like her before you ever team up with Sasuke and her. Secondly, Sasuke never give a damn about her romantically, so it's not like you tried to get what he want. Finally, other girls like Ino, Amy and every other girl from you class like Sasuke. Did you ever tried to date another girl than Sakura. You always act special toward her, especially when you're alone with her. You don't need to do that unless it is how you feel."

"Maybe..."

"There is no maybe, You started to get cold feet because you're afraid of rejection. I guess it can't be help, let me show you everything you lived with Hinata and Sakura. Just answer the question honestly and listen to your story with both girl. 1St Hinata, how did you describe her."

Then, Kurama shows Naruto how he did describe her during the chunin exam.

"A weirdo who look away anytime I look at her. A shy and dark girl."

"You didn't have feeling there, thought it could have change through the course of time. During the 1st exam, she did try to help you cheat, but you refuse and make your pledge that even if you stay genin your entire life, you'll still be Hokage. You didn't feel anything for her either there."

"Ok"

"Then when she handed you ointment, thank to Kurenai that you knew what it does, what was your 1st reflex after thanking her?" asked the fox. Then he show him.

"Wow, this work well, wanna use some too Sakura-chan?"

"That's right, you automatically shift your focus to Sakura. Then Hinata fight with Neji, you cheer for her. Like almost everyone who got a heart. He was an arrogant asshole to her. A little Sasuke's wanna be. You wanted to teach him a lesson. That is you being a good guy. But it wasn't love either that motivate you. You barely notice the girl."

"You're right, I think it's about the last time I saw her before I went on my trip with pervy sage."

"That's right, after that, when you see her again, you surprised her and she faint while you talk to her other teammates, well more like to Kiba since you forget Shino again."

"Common, not you too. It's not my fault if this guy didn't stand out. Plus his face was with a hood and he got sunglasses."

"Touché. Anyway that's not about him. When did you see Hinata's next?"

"During the pain invasion."

"Yes, she did confess her feeling for you before getting stab by Pain. She was 1 of your classmate. You felt enraged that an innocent girl like Hinata get stabbed. Rage that you couldn't protect her. Rage that she did come, when you asked to face Pain alone. I feed from your rage and I was able to put up a 6 tails cloak. Sorry about those moment by the way, I never had the chance to apologize."

"Apologies accepted, no problem. Just never hurt anyone if I've got enrage ok, especially not Sakura-chan."

"See what you did just there. Anyway, after you father seal me again, you find relief that she wasn't dead. But you never think back of her confession. You were relieved that your friend was still alive that's all. Then there was the war. This is where you see Neji died. She help you snap out of it. Then I assist myself. You hold her hand to give her my chakra. You than power up the entire army the same way. But when you hold her hand how did you feel?"

"I was grateful to her and fired up to see what I can do. I could help the other and that it wasn't the time for grieving."

"But you didn't feel love again."

"You right, I never really did love Hinata. I mean I like her as a friend. But that's all."

"Now if we move on to Sakura I guess that obvious bench scene when you henge as Sasuke work. You did understand her more. Then you ask her for tip. What was you reaction when she climb up the tree."

(Flashback)

"Wow Sakura, your great, I expected nothing less from the girl of my dream"(Though I'm a little angry)

(End of flashback)

"Back then, it was so easy for you to express your feeling. Today you wonder how everyone knows. Though the way you interact with each other, you have to ask about it to confirm like Konohamaru did back then . Though she was too much in Sasuke back then"

"Yeah I rather not remember that moment."

"You were jealous when Rock Lee appear and proclaim his love to Sakura before the exam."

"Yeah, I was. I did see bushy-brow as my rival at this point."

"She did protect both you and Sasuke, after you pass out against Orochimaru. You know about that lecture Iruka gave you. You complete each other if you think a little about it, though thinking ain't you strong suit."

"Look who's talking."

"Stupid brat"

"Dumb fox." They both begin to laugh afterward.

"Anyway, you cheer for her during her match with Ino. The difference here was when it all seem lost, you still continue to cheer her on alone. In the end, they did have a draw thanks to you. You help her grow strong with your support. She did the same in your fight with Kiba and in your fight versus Neji. You still keep your feeling for her during those event and she has started to consider you as a teammate and a friend. She started out by plain hating you if you remember."

"Yeah we did make some progress."

"Remember during the Gaara fight."

(Flashback)

"Kuchiyose no jutsu. Sakura-Chan, I'll swear I'll protect you."

…...

"What makes him so strong..." said Gaara

"Naruto stop. Sakura is okay." said Sasuke

"Yeah, good." Then he passes out

"I see. Love. That what makes him so strong."

"Back then, I did give you chakra and I could have taken over if I felt negative emotion. But you didn't hate. Hatred wasn't your fueled, it was love. Even Gaara noticed it. You fight to the limit for her. Just like you did against Sasuke too. However, you did felt a little hatred for Orochimaru and you felt betrayed by Sasuke. That how I was able to grow 1 tail. Then you were so afraid that Sakura would reject you when you failed her. You expected her to hate you. Despise you. But she did none of that. She comfort you and decide that you'll do it together next time. Then you went to your trip."

"I see. I always did love her then."

"When you comeback for you trip she was blushing and asking you if you find her more womanly. But you had to screw it up. Though I guess she understand now what you meant."

"Well she hasn't change in my book. She was still the same Sakura. The most beautiful woman to my eyes."

"I guess. Anyway remember the bell test. You felt scare but proud how strong she had become. You did beat your old sensei, thanks to your plan. You surprised her. So much that if you had money, you could have gone on a date with her. Now she was more open to the idea. Remember when you saw her extracted the poison from Kankuro in the hidden sand village, what were you thinking."

"That Sakura-chan was amazing."

"You still had your feeling, you admire her skills as a ninja even more. If we checked afterward, you interrupt her when she was about to get worries about you during the mission. Why is that?"

(Flashback)

"But what happen to a jinchuriki when their bijuu are extracted?"

"They die"

…...

"You still cried easily Sakura-chan. Don't worry we'll make sure Gaara is saved."

"Naruto it's not about Gaara I'm worry about, it's y.."

"Let's go"

(End of Flashback)

"I didn't want her to worry about me. I wanted to save Gaara. I knew that she could ask me to back off the mission. With her tears in the eyes, I might have listen to her."

"Oh I see. Well you knew she had those worries and cried for you. Though that wasn't the only time. Let's continue. She punch Sai straight to the face because she knew it hurt you while he was bad mouthing Sasuke. That punch was more because he hurt you than defending Sasuke, you know that right. She become very protective of you. Feeling make someone do irrational things."

"Punching Sai back then ain't so irrational if you ask me"

"But running toward you in 4 tails state while swearing to save Sasuke for you while crying, trying to reach you, that more what I had in mind."

"Oh… I missed that part."

"Before Yamato tell you the truth, she did lie to you. She didn't want you to feel the guilt or the shame. Somehow, she always see you, not the monster I was. Even after what happen. That something in my book. To continue after you failed to retrieve Sasuke, you still rely on each other and swear to get stronger together. Then you were training for the Rasen-shuriken. She cooked you those horrible food pill, though they did help you keep you strength."

"She did go 100% in nutriment proprieties and 0% in taste. But she did help me the way she can."

"Poor girl tried to warn you with not to use the Rasen-shuriken again. She even offer to feed you your ramen afterward, how did you feel back then?"

"Like it was a dream come true. I was excited, nervous, I didn't want to mess it up."

"So you were still having feeling for her."

"Yes"

"And tell me, how did you feel when she hugged you in front of the whole village to thank you."

"I was surprise, happy and a little scared"

"Why?"

"Because for the first time, at that moment, I felt like those gesture was more than gratitude and not just for the pain attack, I felt like she did love me back. But I couldn't be with her. Not now. We still have to save Sasuke 1st."

"That why you tell Sai that you can't tell her how you felt yet? You didn't fulfill your promise to her. Do you understand that Sai, a guy with no emotion or knowledge of it at all, decipher that you loved her"

"Well when you put it this way."

"She did confess to you in the land of Iron. You see that she had an ulterior motive, but you couldn't believe her at the same time. I tell you this kid, she lied about not caring for Sasuke. But she did blush during her confession and was upset when you reject her. I believe a part of her love Sasuke, but a part of her love you too and that was hard to admit to herself. Sasuke was her 1st love, it always hard to move on. But she did lie to protect you again. She didn't admit that part completely to herself, if you ask me. When you reject her, even if it was for the right reason, you did hurt her too. She got rejected by both of you. There goes you rivalry theory. You love her since day one. If you didn't, you would have accept her confession back then, but you always think about her happiness and her feeling 1st, thought part of it was that you want to have her for the right reason. You wanted to fulfilled that promise first."

"You maybe right but I couldn't accept her under those circumstance. I wanted to hear her say those word so much, but not like this. I need her to do it because she want 100% to mean it."

"Damn straight kid. After you did save her like a super hero or something from Sasuke shortly after."

"Heros always late, remember."

"Yeah you're right chuckle the fox. Finally there was the war. You saved her at least 3 times, always care about her, become jealous when she called Sasuke 1st, admire and fear her skills again. You even tell your father that she was more or less your girlfriend. You wanted to say yes, but you knew she wasn't yours yet. You have to win her over completely. You were closed but you weren't there. See even during the war. You show feeling. If you still need convincing, just remember what you mother said."

(Flashback)

"About woman, well I am a woman so I don't really know about it. Just don't pick a weird one, pick one like your mother."

(end of flashback)

"If you listen our conversation, I believe Sakura fit the one like your mother. Loving, caring, protective and at the same time impulsive and short-tempered. Plus you still think Hinata is weird, but in a good kind of way."

"You right. I love Sakura since day 1. I never deny it. She was the one. I'm almost there. I can' give up on her, especially now that I think about it. You right, that rivalry theory is so stupid when you think about everything we've been through, maybe in an alternate universe it might make sense. But seriously Kurama, do you have a book with my life written in it or something?"

"Of course not, it's not like it was written or anything somewhere. Anyway now that I've clear your head, time to use it and pick your word. Time for your big move kid."

"Yeah, thanks Kurama."

(End of Naruto's mind)

Back out of his head, Naruto stand up and then said:

"You see, Hinata is everything you just said, but as I told her, I'm not the one for her. I need a girl who's been there for me, take care of me, that has been able to stand up to me. A girl who lecture me when I'm doing something wrong, who has my back. My girlfriend should be a girl that I consider my best friend. Someone like you Sakura-chan. You did lie to me in the land of Iron, but I believe now it wasn't about your feeling for me. You did it to protect me. I know I can talk to you about almost anything. I've seen your best and I've seen your flaw, but that what makes you Sakura-chan, and I'll never change it for anything in the world. Plus you have every qualities Hinata had Sakura-Chan and in my eyes, it's like 10 times more. You're the perfect girl. I admire you, you help me so much. You always had my best interest in your mind. You always see me for who I was, instead of the monster I had inside back then, even after everything you witness. You're courageous. What I'm trying to say is that I love you. Always had and always will. If you don't love me back, I understand and I hmph..."

Naruto was cut by Sakura's lips. He took him 3 second to realize what was happening before he begin to kiss back. They kissed for what seem an eternity to them, it was actually 3 min. Sakura was holding Naruto by the neck while he was holding her by the waist. After they release the kiss, they were panting.

"Wow"Naruto said

"Yeah wow, it was 10 time better than what I expected. I'm sorry Naruto it took me that long to realize it. I love you too. I want to protect your dream. You were always there for me. You cheer for me, you comfort me, you save me, you support me and you help me got stronger as a ninja and grown as a person. We had a lot of catch up to do and I promise your wait was worth it. I love you Naruto-kun. And if you dare say that I lied to my … hmph"

Naruto cut her with a quick kiss. He then said

"I believe your every word. Your eyes and your smile told me that your happy. So am I. Don't worry Sakura-chan, I would have wait my whole life for just this kiss and it will be worth it. Though I don't quite remember it now that I'm tried think about it."he added with a smile on his face.

She's smile back and said

"I guess I'll have to help you remember."

And they kissed again while they both whisper to each other those magical 3 words, I love you. They finally had found love in each other. It was always there. They just needed time to found out.

A.N: Done. As you can see those 2 chapters contains most NS moment thanks to the flashback in the manga. I compare how Sasuke and Hinata would fair in a relation with Sakura and Naruto. Nothing seems to point toward that direction in the story for me. I felt like NS should have been the endgame because every arc got an NS moment on it. I didn't even put character that Naruto or Sakura didn't see, like Kakashi reflecting on the dream of his student for example. Or parallel like Sannin love triangle vs team 7 love triangle. Or Minakushi (I refer to Minato and Kushina, but I didn't parallel them like the way they met was pretty similar). Those chapters shown what Kishi throw away when he make NH and SS canon. It makes no sense to me and I feel like he sell out, no matter how many interviews he did telling otherwise, especially when he contradict himself. That's the fun fact about story, your word are written so the reader can always comeback to see it. He could have develop this during the war or not put so many NS foreshadow. I feel cheated, but I thank him because I wouldn't have the patience or the motivation to start writing this. I need to improve my English, after all, it's not my 1st language and the best way to learn is to write it right? I added my thought in the story about the last rivalry theory again that supposedly explain "Naruto crush" for Sakura because it's ridiculous in my opinion.

Anyway R&R. Next time will be epilogue in the future call: the 7th Hokage. It will come out later in December. I've got my final term exam coming.