The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the village as everyone began to head home from the day's activities. Sakura was restless, her mind racing, thinking of how Sasuke had been acting lately. There had been moments—small ones—where she thought maybe he had softened a bit, maybe after all this time, he was finally opening up. But still, he remained as distant as ever, and it gnawed at her.
She knew he was back in the village, and after the recent gathering where she noticed his subtle exchanges with Hinata, her frustrations had only deepened. She had waited for him for years, stood by him through everything—the pain, the betrayal, the longing—and now, with the war over and his redemption in progress, she believed it was time. Time for them to finally have the future she had always dreamed of.
Determined, she made her way to Sasuke's usual training spot. When she arrived, she saw him standing there, his back turned to her, his usual dark cloak billowing slightly in the breeze. He was finishing up some sword practice, the sheen of sweat on his forehead barely visible in the dim light.
Taking a deep breath, Sakura approached him, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil brewing inside her. "Sasuke-kun, I wanted to talk to you."
Sasuke glanced over his shoulder, his expression as unreadable as ever. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and turned to face her fully, but his eyes lacked any trace of the warmth she hoped to see. "What is it?" he asked flatly.
Sakura's heart sank a little at the coldness in his voice, but she pushed on, hoping to find a crack in his armor. "I just… I've been thinking. It's been so long, and things have changed. You're back now, the village is at peace, and I think it's time that we—"
Before she could finish, Sasuke cut her off, his gaze sharp. "Sakura, I've told you before. My focus is elsewhere. I don't have time for what you're talking about."
His words hit her like a punch to the gut, but she forced a smile, trying to hide her growing frustration. "But Sasuke-kun, we've known each other for so long, I've been by your side through everything. Don't you think it's time to—"
Again, he interrupted, this time more firmly. "I never asked you to wait for me, Sakura."
Her heart lurched, but she wouldn't give up. She couldn't. "I know you didn't ask, but I—"
"I don't need this right now." His tone was final, and without another word, Sasuke turned his back on her, grabbing his cloak and beginning to walk away.
Sakura's vision blurred with unshed tears, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. She stood there, stunned, watching his retreating figure. Every step he took away from her felt like a confirmation of everything she had been denying to herself—that he would never see her the way she wanted him to. That no matter how long she waited, his heart would never belong to her.
Before she could fully process what had just happened, she heard footsteps approaching from behind. Ino had been nearby, having seen Sakura approach Sasuke earlier. She had lingered, couldn't resist to eavesdrop, hearing the exchange as she followed at a distance. Now, seeing Sakura standing there, broken and motionless, she couldn't help but step forward.
"Sakura…" Ino's voice was soft, trying to be careful, but there was sympathy and truth behind it.
Sakura wiped at her eyes quickly, trying to compose herself, but the lump in her throat remained stubbornly in place. "What do you want, Ino?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
Ino hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I saw what happened… and I think it's time you—"
"I don't want to hear it!" Sakura snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation. "You don't understand, Ino. I've waited for him for so long. Ever since we were kids, I've been waiting. I've stood by him through everything! I've given him time and space, but now it's time for him to get me. It's time for him to see what's right in front of him."
Ino sighed, her patience steady. "Sakura… Sasuke didn't ask anyone to wait for him. Not you, not me, not anyone."
Sakura's eyes widened, her fists clenching at her sides. "What are you talking about?"
"I used to feel the same way," Ino admitted quietly. "I had feelings for Sasuke too. But after the war, after everything that happened, I realized that he wasn't going to change in the way I hoped. Even during his redemption, he's still the same Sasuke—cold, distant. He's always been focused on something else, something none of us can understand. And when I saw that, I moved on. I started looking for something real, something tangible. Someone who could actually care about me the way I deserve."
Sakura's face twisted with a mix of hurt and anger. "So what, you're saying I should just give up? After everything I've done for him?"
Ino's gaze softened, but she didn't back down. "I'm saying that you should accept him for who he is, Sakura. He hasn't changed. He's still the same Sasuke. And if that's not enough for you—if you need more from him than what he's able to give—then maybe it's time to stop waiting."
"I can't stop waiting!" Sakura's voice cracked, her hands trembling as she hugged herself. "I love him, Ino. I've always loved him. Doesn't that count for anything?"
Ino stepped closer, placing a hand on Sakura's shoulder, but the gesture was not met with acceptance. "Sakura, love isn't supposed to feel like this. It's not supposed to be this hard. You deserve someone who sees you, who wants to be with you just as much as you want to be with them. Sasuke... he's not that person."
But Sakura pulled away sharply, her eyes blazing with fury now. "You don't understand anything! I've waited for him my whole life! I'm not just going to give up now!"
Ino's expression faltered, knowing that her words were falling on deaf ears. "Sakura, I'm just trying to help—"
"I don't need your help!" Sakura shouted, her voice cracking with the weight of her emotion. "I know what I'm doing. I've waited for him, and he'll come around. He has to."
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed away, leaving Ino standing there in the quiet, watching her friend's retreating figure with a heavy heart. She knew Sakura wouldn't listen, not now, not when her emotions were so raw and tangled. But as much as Ino wanted to help, she knew that some lessons could only be learned the hard way.
And as the cool evening breeze swept through the village, carrying with it the last light of the setting sun, Ino couldn't help but wonder how long Sakura would continue waiting for a man who might never look back.
The afternoon sun filtered through Sasuke's apartment, casting a dim light across the room. It was an ordinary day for him. Yet, his mind wasn't as calm as it seemed.
Over the past weeks, Sakura's constant attempts to win his affection had grown more insistent. Despite his clear rejections, she seemed unwilling or unable to take his words at face value. It was beginning to get under his skin. He had tried to be direct with her, tried to explain that what he wanted was a relationship more like the brotherhood he shared with Naruto—a bond built on mutual respect, not romantic pursuit. But Sakura didn't see it that way, and the tension between them was growing thicker by the day.
Each encounter had left him more exasperated, pushing him to avoid her entirely. Even at their friends' gatherings, he found himself withdrawing, keeping his distance. The last thing he wanted was to sever their friendship, but Sakura wasn't making it easy. In fact, she was making it harder than it had ever been.
Just as his thoughts began to spiral deeper into frustration, he heard a soft knock at the door. Sasuke rose from his seat, wiping his hands on a towel before heading to the door. Opening it, he found Hinata standing there, looking more than a little disheveled.
Her long hair, was slightly messy, and her forehead had a thin sheen of sweat from what must have been an exhausting mission. Her top was dusted with dirt, and there were a few scratches visible on her arms, but none of that detracted from the calm aura she carried.
"Hinata," Sasuke said, stepping aside to let her in. "why are you knocking? you can use the key, you know ."
She gave him a small, tired smile as she walked in. "I just didn't want to invade your privacy, we just returned a few hours ago. I thought I'd stop by and… well, I guess I just needed to see you." Her voice was soft, but there was a vulnerability beneath it, the kind that only he had come to recognize. Hinata never spoke without carefully considering her words first.
Sasuke watched as she made her way into the apartment, her movements a little slower than usual. She paused near the window, casting her gaze out at the village below. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint rustle of the wind through the trees outside, carrying the scent of autumn with it.
"I wouldn't give it to you if i didn't want you to use it whenever you want.. " He sighed
"You look like you've had a rough mission," Sasuke commented, his tone softer than usual.
Hinata nodded, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the sill of the window. "It wasn't too difficult, but it took longer than expected. There were… complications."
Sasuke knew that Hinata rarely complained, even when things were tough. It was something he admired about her, but he could see the weariness in her now. Without thinking, he moved toward her, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, his fingers lingering near the scratch on her cheek.
"You should clean that," he said quietly, his voice carrying a hint of concern he didn't usually let show.
Hinata blushed lightly at the contact, nodding. "I will."
He stepped back, giving her space. "You know where the bathroom is. I'll get you something to drink."
Hinata smiled, and with a nod, she disappeared down the hallway. Sasuke went to the kitchen, pouring her a glass of water as he tried to shake the thoughts that had been plaguing him all day. Thoughts of Sakura, of her persistence, and the way she refused to see that the more she pushed, the more he pulled away.
Sasuke was snapped out of his reverie when Hinata reappeared, looking slightly more refreshed. She had washed her face and smoothed her hair down, though the exhaustion still lingered in her eyes.
"Here," Sasuke said, handing her the water as they settled into the comfortable quiet that always seemed to exist between them.
She took a sip, her fingers brushing his for just a second. A moment of warmth in the stillness. "Thank you, Sasuke."
He sat down across from her, feeling that familiar sense of calm that only Hinata seemed to bring. For a moment, they didn't say anything. They didn't need to. The silence was comforting, a reminder that not everything had to be said out loud to be understood.
But, despite the comfort, his mind couldn't shake the weight of Sakura's recent attempts. his eyes were distant as he tried to put the right words together. He hadn't talked about this with anyone—not even Naruto. But for some reason, with Hinata, it felt like he could.
"She hasn't stopped," Sasuke finally said, his voice a little strained. "Sakura."
Hinata looked up at him, her eyes soft with understanding. She didn't say anything right away, letting the silence stretch out until he was ready to continue.
"I've tried to explain it to her," he went on, his fingers going through his hair. "That I don't… feel that way about her. I never have. But she doesn't listen. She thinks that if she waits long enough, things will change."
Hinata took a sip of her water, her brow furrowing slightly in sympathy. "That must be difficult for both of you."
Sasuke nodded. "It's starting to feel like I can't be around her anymore. Like no matter what I say, she'll always see me as… something I'm not. I care about her, but not the way she wants."
Hinata set the glass down gently, her voice quiet but full of empathy. "It's hard when someone you care about can't see you for who you are. I've… felt that before."
Her words hung in the air between them, and Sasuke knew she wasn't just talking about him and Sakura. She was drawing from her own experiences, her own past struggles with Naruto, the unrequited feelings that had lingered in her heart for so long.
"I didn't mean to bring this up," Sasuke said, shaking his head slightly. "It's just… frustrating."
"I understand," Hinata said softly. "But you've always been honest with her, haven't you?"
"I have," Sasuke said, meeting her gaze. "But it doesn't seem to matter."
Hinata's expression softened, her eyes filled with something gentle, almost reassuring. "Sometimes, people can't accept the truth, no matter how clearly it's spoken. All you can do is continue being honest and patient with her. She'll find her own way to accept it."
Sasuke's eyes lingered on hers for a moment longer, the weight in his chest easing just a little. He hadn't realized just how much he had needed to hear that, how much he had needed someone to simply understand. And Hinata always did.
There was something comforting in her presence, something that made all of his frustration with Sakura, with the world, seem a little smaller. It wasn't just her words, but the way she spoke them, It was in the way she always seemed to know what he needed, even when he didn't.
He let out a long breath, feeling the tension in his shoulders slowly start to melt away. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Hinata smiled softly at him, her fingers lightly brushing his as she stood up. "Always."
As she walked toward the door, Sasuke found himself watching her more closely than usual, a strange warmth settling in his chest. He didn't need to say anything more. She had understood without him having to explain, and in her gentle way, she had given him the reassurance he hadn't known he needed.
And for now, that was enough.