Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.
Sakura was concerned.
She knew that Naruko was really affected by Sasuke leaving (again) even if she didn't show it.
Those two always had a special relationship. While Sasuke was chasing his brother, Naruko was chasing him. He was her rival, her teammate, her enemy and her brother. Truthfully, even though she always proclaimed that she was going to be Hokage loudly for the world to hear, it was no secret that part of the reason Naruko became a great ninja was because of Sasuke.
And it hurt. Because Sasuke always looked at her too.
(Sakura hated how close they were, and hated herself for feeling that way.)
Sometimes, it felt like she was never really there. It didn't matter that she was part of Team 7, it didn't matter that she devoted everything to becoming better, because it was never enough (and it never will be). Sasuke and Naruko always looked at each other, and there was no room for anybody else.
(From time to time, she wondered if it was because they were both orphans. And then she felt guilty, because she loved her parents so very much, even though they sometimes argued and didn't always understand-)
Sakura took a deep breath and walked towards the memorial stone. Occasionally, she would find Naruko there tracing the names of her parents and Jiraiya-sama, looking so mournful, and she'd wonder why she didn't fight harder for Sasuke to stay.
(Because she's still the same useless fangirl that never grew up, a mean little voice snickered.)
"Hey Sakura-chan."
Sakura shrieked and automatically punched towards the side. Naruko laughed and dodged her punch, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.
"You're always so easy to scare, Sakura-chan."
Sakura glared at Naruko without any heat. Secretly, she was glad that Naruko didn't look so down. She never really knew what to do to cheer her up (some teammate you are, the same voice laughed).
"For someone so loud, you can be really sneaky," Sakura grumbled.
Naruko smirked. "I'm a ninja, Sakura-chan- Sneaky's my middle name!"
"And here I thought it was Ramen." Sakura retorted.
There was a companionable silence as the girls gazed at the names on the stone. Sakura glanced at Naruko, and her heart clenched as she spotted the weary gaze in her eyes.
"So," she remarks, her voice purposefully loud, "a little birdie told me that you have a crush~"
Naruko startled and whipped her face around, eyes comically wide. "W-What?! Where did you get that idea?"
Sakura giggled. "Really? So you don't have a crush?"
"I don't!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
Sakura became silent. Naruko looked at her suspiciously. After a few minutes, Naruko relaxed, eyes automatically seeking out Jiraiya-sama's name on the memorial stone.
"What about Hari?" Sakura says slyly.
Naruko spluttered, hating the way her face reddened in embarrassment. "H-Hari? What about him?"
"Don't you like him?"
"No!"
"But you visit him all the time?"
"It's not like that! We're just friends!"
"... I'm not sure I believe that."
"Sakura-chan!"
…
Naruko really hated how Sakura always had to link everything to romantic love.
Naruko didn't like Hari! She didn't!
She just… felt comfortable with him. Free. He didn't know her, not really, so he didn't have any expectations. Didn't know how lonely she was as a child, how bad of a genin she was, how she struggled with making a place for herself. He didn't know any of that.
To him, she's just… Naruko.
(Huh. Maybe that's why he introduced himself as 'just Hari'.)
She wanted to be alone.
…
The Hokage Rock was the best place to think (even if looking at her dad gave her mixed feelings).
As she walked up the mountain, studiously avoiding the Yondaime, she saw a lone figure leaning on the railing at the top. She cursed the way her heart did a little flip once she recognised Hari. Sakura's silly words must have affected her more than she thought.
Wondering if she should go up to Hari, she paused near the Nidaime's head (and wasn't he such a sourpuss when she met him in real life). Her neck felt refreshingly cool when standing on the mountain side-ways like this, her long hair falling behind her.
Huh. Maybe she should stand like this sometimes. (It's nice… just staring at the sky like this. She felt strangely free of worries).
She almost forgot about Hari, until she saw him waving down at her.
Automatically, she smiled and waved back, her keen sight keeping track of the way his messy hair naturally framed his face.
(Dammit. She really hated Sakura now, for making her so aware of him.)
She lifted herself up with ease, landing next to Hari swiftly. She glanced at him. He seemed content to stay silent, eyes looking ahead with a look of longing.
Naruko couldn't see what he was looking at.
"What are you thinking about?"
Hari smiled sadly. "I want to fly."
Naruko blinked. Sometimes, this man says the oddest things. "You want to fly?"
He nods, still looking at the sky.
Naruko scrunched up her nose. "Then, why do you sound like you miss flying?"
Hari startled, then chuckled. He turned to his, finally looking at her in the eye. "What makes you think that way?"
Naruko shrugged, inwardly flustered at his piercing gaze. "You just sound like you miss something."
Hari stared at her as if looking at her for the first time.
"Huh," he said in slight wonder, "We must be really close."
Naruko's heart thundered in her chest. "What?!"
He tilted his head. "Nothing. It's just that… I never thought someone would be able to recognise my moods."
Naruko ignored how pleased she felt that she knew Hari well enough to know how he feels. She cleared her throat, wanting to-
Suddenly, he frowned, his lower lip jutting out slightly.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"What?" Her thoughts cut off, slightly dazed at the image of Hari pouting.
"Am I the only one who thought that we're close?"
Naruko frantically shook her head and hands. "No! I didn't know we were close- I lov- like it! I like that we're close!"
Hari smiled at her. "I'm glad."
Naruko smiled back. "Me too."
…
It was only later that Naruko realised that Hari had never answered her question.