The soft glow of the kitchen lights illuminated Sakura's face as she carefully stirred a pot on the stove. The comforting aroma of miso soup, sizzling tempura, and simmering beef stew filled the air, mixing with the faint scent of rice cooking in the background. She hummed quietly to herself, her movements practiced and graceful. It was a rare moment of peace after a long day of work at the hospital, and she cherished the small, quiet time spent preparing dinner for her friends.

Sasuke was in the next room, washing some dishes, which Sakura had previously foamed so that he wouldn't have to struggle too much with just one hand. The faint clinking of plates and utensils echoed softly, but his thoughts were elsewhere, lingering on the unusual weight of the day. It wasn't often he found himself so drawn to the idea of spending time with others—especially when it came to something as simple as a meal. Yet, today felt different. Being with Sakura, even in these mundane tasks, felt more natural than it ever had before.

Sasuke turned, his gaze shifting to the open door as Naruto and Sai entered the house with their usual exuberance. The air in the room changed instantly, the presence of the two familiar faces bringing an energy that Sakura's quiet, domestic routine lacked. The boys were here.

Naruto grinned as he entered, his eyes immediately locking onto the food spread out on the table. "Wow, Sakura-chan! This looks amazing!" His voice was loud and full of excitement, as always.

Sai stood behind him, more reserved but still offering his usual calm smile. "Indeed, it looks very delicious, Sakura. Thank you for preparing it."

Sakura's face lit up as she turned to face them, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm glad you both could make it. I made some of your favorites."

Naruto's eyes widened at the sight, and he took a step forward, ready to dig in. But before he could reach for the food, he paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Oh, but we brought gifts, didn't we, Sai?" Naruto said, his grin widening as he reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of sake. "For the chef!" He held it up, the glass bottle glinting in the light.

Sai, who had remained quiet until now, stepped forward with a small box in his hands. He placed it on the table, lifting the lid carefully to reveal a delicate dessert—matcha-flavored mochi with red bean paste, wrapped in a neat layer of edible leaves.

"I hope you like it." Sai said quietly, his voice soft but genuine.

Sakura's eyes softened as she looked between the two of them. She reached out, taking both gifts with a smile. "Thank you," Sakura said, her voice warm. "You didn't have to, but I appreciate it."

"Of course," Sai responded with a small, genuine smile. "We wanted to contribute in our own way."

Sasuke, who had been watching the exchange from his spot at the table, took his seat next to Sakura. He looked down at the food, appreciating the quiet togetherness of it all. It wasn't often he found himself in these kinds of moments, but tonight felt different.

The dinner was quiet and pleasant. Everyone was enjoying the food, and this fact made Sakura happy.

As they continued to eat, the chatter around the table slowed, and Naruto broke the silence.

"So, Sasuke," Naruto started, his voice a bit more serious than usual. "What are you thinking? Are you staying in Konoha, or are you going to leave again?"

Sasuke paused, setting his chopsticks down before answering. "I'm not staying," he said quietly. "I thought I wouldn't return to Konoha for a long time… maybe never."

Sakura's heart dropped. She looked down at her plate, unable to meet his gaze. The words stung more than she expected. She fought to keep her voice steady. "Never?" she whispered.

Naruto, sensing the tension, looked at Sasuke with a frown. "Come on, Sasuke," he said. "Why? You don't have to leave again. Everyone wants you here."

Sai, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "How long do you plan to stay here then, Sasuke? And where are you going after?"

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, staring out the window. "I won't stay here long. I haven't decided where to go next."

Sakura's hands tightened around her chopsticks, her voice small. "You're really going to leave again?"

Sasuke glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I don't belong here anymore."

The words cut through the room, and Sakura felt a pang in her chest. She fought to keep her emotions in check, not wanting to burden the others. "I just… I thought you might stay." She forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes.

Naruto and Sai exchanged looks, but they didn't press him further. The silence at the table was heavy, each of them feeling the weight of Sasuke's decision.

Sakura remained quiet, her thoughts swirling. She wanted Sasuke to stay, but she couldn't say it out loud. Not when he had already made up his mind. But maybe, she could have the opportunity to accompany Sasuke on this journey of his. Maybe he would keep the 'promise' he made before leaving.

As the silence lingered, Naruto leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "So, Sasuke," he began, his tone lighter now, "did you have any new adventures on your travels? I'm sure something interesting must have happened while you were gone."

Sasuke gave him a blank stare, clearly not understanding where Naruto was going with this. "Adventures?" he repeated, his brow furrowing. "I just traveled, trained and helped people. There's nothing interesting to tell."

Sai, who had been watching the exchange, couldn't help but join in. "Oh, I'm sure there's something you're not telling us," he teased, his usual calm demeanor giving way to a sly smile. "You've been traveling all over, meeting new people, right? Any… interesting encounters with women?"

Sasuke froze for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic. "Women?" he asked.

"Yes Teme, woman. You know, long hair, pretty face, cute, wears dresses."

Sakura glared at Naruto with a raised eyebrow in annoyance. Naruto swallowed and started laughing nervously. "Or even with short hair, who wears pants, there are many types."

Sasuke was looking at Naruto with a confused look on his face, clearly he didn't understand what Naruto was talking about at all.

Naruto burst out laughing, slamming his hand on the table. "Come on, Sasuke! You don't mean to tell us that all this time you've been on the road and not a single girl caught your eye? Not even one?" He leaned in closer, winking. "I mean, every woman we know practically falls over themselves just to get your attention!"

Sakura's face flushed, but she quickly tried to hide it behind her cup of tea. She wasn't sure why, but hearing Naruto's words made her curious. She glanced at Sasuke, waiting for his response.

Sasuke shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I didn't pay attention to that," he muttered, clearly still not understanding why they were so interested in the topic.

Sai smirked, clearly enjoying Sasuke's discomfort. "Oh, really? Not a single woman was interested in 'The Brooding Avenger'?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. "Not even one asked you out or gave you a letter?"

Naruto laughed again, nudging Sasuke's shoulder. "I bet you didn't even know what to do with all that attention, huh? You're the kind of guy who probably just ignores them. You should teach me how to do that sometime."

Sasuke's gaze shifted, looking down at his plate, clearly embarrassed by their teasing. "I didn't—" He cut himself off, not sure how to respond. The attention he had received from women had never been something he cared about, and it was strange for him to hear the others make such a big deal out of it.

Sakura, still listening intently, couldn't hide her curiosity any longer. "So… you really didn't have any… experiences?" Her voice was soft, but the question was clear.

Sasuke met her eyes for a brief moment, his usual stoic expression in place. "No," he said simply. "I didn't have time for that."

Naruto and Sai exchanged a look, both clearly finding the situation amusing. Naruto leaned back in his chair with a grin. "Well, I guess that's typical Sasuke. He doesn't even notice the ladies!" He chuckled. "But hey, we all know that when it comes to girls, you're practically a magnet."

Sasuke's face flushed slightly, though he quickly regained his composure. "I didn't ask for that attention," he muttered.

Sakura, still trying to process everything, let out a small laugh, her voice almost teasing. "It's hard to believe you didn't have at least one encounter while you were traveling, Sasuke."

Sasuke sighed, knowing he wasn't going to win this conversation. "I don't know why this is important," he said, sounding exasperated.

Naruto grinned even wider. "Because, Sasuke, it's fun to tease you! You always act so serious, like you're not human, and then we get to have fun with you."

Sai added, "And besides, it's not every day we get to hear you talk about something."

Sasuke, though clearly annoyed, couldn't help but appreciate the way Naruto and Sai lightened the mood. "Just drop it," he muttered, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

Sakura chuckled softly, taking a sip of her tea. "Alright, alright, we'll stop. But you know, Sasuke-kun, it's nice to see you talking with us like this."

Sasuke glanced at her, his expression softening slightly. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I guess it is."

The dinner, the laughter, the teasing, the conversations, everything seemed perfect in Sakura's eyes. She and Naruto, but especially Naruto, had worked and fought hard for this night, to be together with Sasuke. Despite everything, they were together again—Team 7, reunited, even if only for a fleeting moment.

It had been two weeks since Sasuke had returned to Konoha, and the quiet routine of their days together had become something comforting. Sakura and Sasuke had fallen into an easy rhythm: they'd wake up at the same time, have breakfast together, and then go about their separate tasks. She would head to the hospital for work, while Sasuke would train or go on errands.

Sasuke always waited for her at the hospital, patiently standing outside the door until she finished. Then, the two would walk home together, sharing more time together in the kitchen as they prepared dinner.

It was a Sunday now, and Sakura had the day off. Unfortunately, the weather was miserable—rain poured down in sheets outside, making it the perfect day to stay in.

Sakura sat on the couch, glancing out the window at the storm, then turned to Sasuke, who was seated beside her, leaning back casually.

"You know," she said, her voice light, "since we're stuck inside today, how about we do something fun?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Fun? Like what?"

Sakura grinned. "We're going to play a game."

"A game?" Sasuke echoed, clearly not sure what she meant.

"Yes!" she said, excited. "It's called 'The Question Game.' One of us asks a question, and the other has to answer it honestly. Then we switch. Simple, right?"

Sasuke hesitated, but then shrugged. "Alright, fine."

Sakura smiled, clearly pleased. "Great. I'll start." She turned to face him, her expression playful. "Okay, first question: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

Sasuke didn't hesitate. "Anywhere but here," he answered dryly, though there was no malice in his voice.

Sakura laughed, "Come on now, it's not that bad." She understood his response but still feeling a little disappointed.

"Okay, your turn," she said, shifting her position slightly. "Ask me something."

Sasuke looked at her for a second, and then his eyes narrowed in thought. "What's the one thing you've always wanted to do, but never got the chance?"

Sakura paused, taking a deep breath. She hadn't expected such a serious question. "Well…" she began, "I think I've always wanted to travel. See more of the world. As a doctor, I've been so focused on my work here that I never had time to explore beyond Konoha."

Sasuke fell into thought. Suddenly he remembered something he had said to her a long time ago, a sentence or perhaps a promise. 'Maybe, next time.' Would it be the right thing for him to ask her to come with Sasuke on the journey?

"That sounds…nice."

"Yeah, maybe one day," Sakura said with a small smile, feeling the weight of the words. "Alright, if you had a superpower-" Sasuke interrupted Sakura, laughing lightly. Her eyes widened, it was something new to see Sasuke smiling, especially with her.

"What?"

"Really? Superpower? What superpower more than what we have would we still be able to have?"

"Don't look at it that way. For example, I'd like to be invisible!"

"There are jutsu for that." Sasuke said calmly.

"Sasuke-kun, you're not being imaginative at all. Go on, think of something, come on."

Sasuke thought for a moment. "Turning back time," he said, his voice sounding very confident in what he was saying.

Sakura wasn't stupid, she understood why Sasuke would want this. "That's a good idea. I hadn't actually thought of that. Come on, it's your turn."

Sasuke stared at her, obviously trying to come up with a question. After a few moments, he spoke again. "If you could be any animal, what would you be?"

Sakura grinned, clearly enjoying this question. "That's easy. I'd be a bird. I'd love to be able to fly freely, go wherever I wanted without worrying about anything."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "A bird? Why not something like a wolf or a fox?"

Sakura shrugged. "Because those animals have to survive by fighting and hunting. Birds get to soar above it all, peacefully, no strings attached."

Sasuke was quiet for a moment, then, to her surprise, he said, "I guess that sounds nice."

Sakura blinked in surprise. "You think so?"

Sasuke nodded once. "Less... complicated." He paused. "Your turn."

Sakura smiled, wondering if she could push him a little further. "Okay, here's a good one. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?"

Sasuke was silent for a long moment, his eyes drifting toward the window. "I don't know. I guess… I would've liked to have learned how to trust people sooner."

Sakura was stunned. She had never heard Sasuke say anything like that. He had always seemed so confident, so sure of himself. "That's... a really deep answer," she said quietly.

Sasuke didn't look at her, but the slightest hint of vulnerability lingered in his words. "Trusting others is hard. I've spent too much time alone to learn how to trust anyone easily."

Sakura bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to say something comforting, but she knew words couldn't undo years of pain and isolation. So, instead, she just nodded. "Yeah... I get it. Trust is something that takes time."

Sasuke turned his gaze back to her then, and for a moment, their eyes met—silent understanding passing between them.

"Alright," Sakura said, breaking the silence. "Your turn again. Ask me something else."

Sasuke thought for a moment. "What's something you want to achieve in the next few years?" he asked, his tone more neutral now.

Sakura smiled slightly but there was clearly a sadness in her eyes. "I don't know if it will ever be possible, but I would like to start a family."

Sasuke seemed to freeze. After this answer many questions came to his mind. Why would it never come true? What did she have in mind? Just as he was about to talk about this topic Sakura interrupted him.

"Okay, my turn. What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you?"

Sasuke looked at her with a blank stare. "I don't get embarrassed."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Really? You, the great Uchiha Sasuke, have never been embarrassed?"

Sasuke shifted in his seat, his face slightly reddening. "I don't know. I guess..."

Sakura laughed. "Your funny I swear."

"Sakura"

Sakura raised her head and her beautiful green eyes looked Sasuke in the eye. "Yes?"

"Why would you think it would never happen?"

"Which Sasuke-kun? I don't understand."

"You said you didn't know if your wish to have a family would ever come true. Why?"

Sakura's heart sank. She didn't know how to explain it. She didn't know how to tell him that her heart had been taken by someone who didn't love her in the same way. She had expressed her feelings for him countless times, but each time, it felt like her words fell into the silence between them, unheard or unacknowledged. She knew Sasuke appreciated her, but that was it. She knew he would never love her. As if for a beautiful day she had urged Naruto to tell what had happened that moment after the fight, the moment Sasuke had put Sakura in a genjustsu. She knew the words he had said.

"It's complicated, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said as she took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"We have time."

"It's not something to discuss."

"Why?"

"Because it's not."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I thought the game was about giving answers."

"Some questions have no answers."

"Sakura you are - "

"-still incredibly annoying." Sakura said with a smile on her face. "I know."

"Yes, you are," Sasuke said. "But you are the most beautiful annoyance I have ever seen."

As Sasuke's words lingered in the air, Sakura's heart skipped a beat. She could feel a warmth spreading through her chest, the soft sincerity behind his teasing causing a fluttering sensation in her stomach. His words—though playful—held something deeper, a quiet affection that she rarely allowed herself to believe in.

Sakura smiled, her lips trembling slightly as she tucked away the wave of emotions threatening to surface. "You're still teasing me, huh?" she said, her voice soft, but steady. "I guess I'll take that as a compliment, Sasuke-kun."

She leaned back against the couch, trying to regain her composure, but inside, her heart was heavy with unspoken words. 'Maybe one day,' she thought, 'he'll realize what I've been trying to say all along.'

But deep down, she knew that "one day" might never come.

Hours passed, and Sakura and Sasuke had lunch like any other day. While Sakura was thinking of asking Sasuke if he wanted to watch a movie, the door suddenly slammed open. Sakura set the TV remote down on the couch and headed toward the door, confused about who could be there in the middle of the rain.

"Ino pig?!"

"Oh, hello to you too, Sakura. I'm fine, thanks for asking. And no, don't worry, I didn't get too wet in the rain. Was I tired from the mission we were supposed to go on together, but you canceled it last minute without any explanation? Yes, I was a little tired—thanks for asking again," Ino said in one breath.

"Calm down and come inside. You've been gone for three weeks, and the first thing you do is make fun of me?" Sakura said, opening the door wider for Ino to enter.

"Well, what did you expect? Sakura, you left me alone on a mission—A MISSION! We were supposed to go to Suna together to check on the clinic's progress!" Ino exclaimed as she kicked off her shoes and walked into the living room.

"Yeah, but Tsunade told me I had to stay at the hospital to finalize the new treatment procedures that Shizune and I had been working on."

"Why didn't anyone tell me anything? You just walked off, and—" Ino stopped speaking, her eyes widening.

Leaning against the couch was Sasuke, who raised an eyebrow, looking at Ino with confusion. He couldn't understand why she was shouting.

"WHAT?!" Ino shouted, her voice high with surprise.

"Ino, this is Sasuke," Sakura said with an embarrassed smile, preparing herself for an onslaught of emotions from her close friend.

"Really? Nooooo, it's him? Thank you very much, I didn't know!"

"Why the hell are you yelling?" Sasuke asked, irritated by the overreaction that he didn't even understand.

"Sorry, I thought Sakura was alone. I didn't know you were back. Apparently, no one plans to tell me anything," Ino said, crossing her arms in front of her.

Sasuke stood up and adjusted his clothes. "It seems like you two have things to talk about. I'll leave for now."

"Oh no, you don't have to leave just because Ino is here. We don't mind talking in front of you," Sakura said, stepping in front of him to block his path.

"Really, Sasuke, you don't have to go. We don't mind."

Sasuke glanced at both girls before turning to Sakura. "It's not that. I need to talk to Naruto about something. I won't be long."

"Ah, okay then. But be careful. Take my big umbrella so you don't get wet. It's in the bathroom."

"The white one?"

"Yes, the biggest one," Sakura said, pointing to the umbrella she could see from where she was standing.

"Hn. Okay."

Sasuke grabbed the umbrella and left. Sakura closed the door behind him and returned to the living room, where she found Ino sitting on the couch, her mouth agape and one hand resting on her cheek.

"What?" Sakura asked, confused.

Ino motioned for her to sit down and moved closer. "How long have you two been a couple?"

"Oh my God, no!"

"Oh my God, yes!" Ino said, slapping the couch.

"Ino, will you calm down? Give me a chance to explain, like a normal person—for once in your life."

"How?! What are you saying? This is exactly what couples who've been together for ten years would talk about!"

Sakura crossed her arms in front of her and looked at Ino nervously.

"Okay, okay, I'm all eyes and ears," Ino said with a smirk, leaning back on the couch.

"Sasuke-kun returned to the village two weeks ago. He's going to stay here for a while, and then he'll go back on his journey. I absolutely couldn't let him stay in an inn, so I told him to stay with me."

Ino opened her mouth in surprise. "You've been living together for two weeks?!"

"Yes."

"In the same house?"

"Yes."

"You and Sasuke?"

"Yes."

"In the same room?"

"No."

"Why not?! What the hell are you waiting for? Fate is knocking on your door!"

"Ino, we're friends—close friends, teammates. We both know that he and I won't be more than that. So don't talk nonsense," Sakura said, crossing her legs and hugging them to her chest.

"Okay, but haven't you studied his behavior a little? His reactions? Haven't you noticed that maybe he's starting to look at you differently?"

"No, I haven't. And I won't. This conversation is over. How many times have I confessed to him? Damn it, I told him again shortly after the war, and he rejected me. I can't handle another rejection."

"Who's saying you have to go out and hold a press conference? Just study him, or let the love go. Go after him and make it yours, or kick him out and find someone else. Girl, shinobi from unheard-of villages come to Konoha just to catch your eye. And you? Ohhh, Sasuke-kun! Come on, now!"

"Ugh, Ino!"

"Okay, but tell me. How have these two weeks been?"

"Very well actually. He and I have fallen into a common routine. We wake up at the same time in the morning. He mostly helps me. We cook together and have breakfast together. Then I go to work while he trains with Naruto. He's helped Kakashi-sensei in his office a few times. Afterward, he meets me outside the hospital when I finish work. We go home together, or sometimes we do some shopping. Then we cook dinner together. After dinner, we might play a game or watch TV. These thing, friends things, Ino."

Ino straightened up, took a deep breath, and slapped her forehead as hard as she could. "Sakura, Sakura, Sakura, Sakura!"

Sakura opened her eyes in surprise. "Are you crazy? Did Suna's sand damage your brain?"

"No, Suna's sand did me a lot of good, but it seems like Konoha's 'goodies' have given you problems."

"What's wrong now?" Sakura asked, rolling her eyes, annoyed by Ino's behavior.

"Do you understand... that these things... are not things friends do?"

Sakura raised one eyebrow in confusion. "What? Don't friends cook together?"

"Sakura! The point isn't in the cooking, it's in the action! Sasuke Uchiha wakes up early in the morning to cook with you? Breaks his comfort to wait for you to finish work? And even more so, Sasuke sits and plays or watches TV with you?! Are we talking about the Sasuke Uchiha we both know, or is this some other Sasuke? Because what you just told me are actions that the Sasuke we know would never do for a friend."

"What do you mean?"

Ino got closer and kicked Sakura in the head. "Hello! Sakura's Brain! Are you there?! Girl, GIRL! Sasuke has feelings for you! I'll gouge out both of my eyes if I'm lying!"

"No, he doesn't."

"But he does!"

"No, he doesn't!"

"But he does!"

Sakura took a deep, irritated breath. "No, Ino, he doesn't!"

"Sakura, he does!"

"Come on, now! That's bullshit!"

"Sakura, I'm not saying this to make fun of you. I really mean it. The Sasuke we know refused to walk you home more than a hundred times after missions. Remember when we were Genin, right? He's doing the complete opposite now."

"But it has nothing to do with feelings. Ino, he was 12 or 13 back then. Now he's 19, more mature, and wiser. I'm pretty sure all of this is just him repaying me, so to speak, for all the things I've done for him."

"Believe what you want. But watch and study him. I believe he has feelings for you, and sooner or later, he'll express them. You'll see."

Sakura took a deep breath, and now hundreds of thoughts flooded her mind. More precisely, they were sinking—drowning, like ideas without a ship to hold onto and provide safety. Could this be true? Could Sasuke Uchiha have finally developed feelings for her?

Sasuke walked through the rain, heading to Naruto's house, his mind overwhelmed with confusion and thoughts he could no longer keep to himself. And who better than Naruto would listen to him? It's not like he had anyone else to open up to.

Sasuke knocked on the door, and Naruto opened it, one eye squinted and the other fully open.

"What's the matter? What are you doing here in the middle of this rain?"

"Do you have time? I need to talk to you."

"Of course. Come in. Hinata isn't home; she went to her father's. I fell asleep watching TV."

Sasuke entered, and together they made their way to the living room.

"So, what's going on? Did something happen?" Naruto asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I just need to talk." Sasuke said, sitting down on the couch.

"Finally."

"What?" Sasuke asked.

"I've been waiting for you to come talk to me for days. I could tell something was bothering you. What is it?"

"It has to do with Sakura."

"Why? Is something wrong?" Naruto asked, as he started filling two cups with tea.

"Today... we were playing a game."

Naruto turned his head, raising an eyebrow, a surprised look crossing his face. "You were… playing a game?"

Sasuke shot him an irritated look. "Can I talk?"

"Ah, sorry! Yeah, go ahead" he said, nodding his head. "Sasuke, playing games. Gods help me." Naruto whispered to himself.

"We were playing a game of questions. I asked her how she saw herself in a few years, what she wanted to achieve. Something like that."

"You asked that question?" Naruto asked in surprise and Sasuke gave him a nervous glance.

"Sorry. Go ahead."

"I asked her the question, and her answer was that she wanted to start a family, but she knew it would never happen. When I asked her why, she said it was complicated and then she shut the conversation down."

"Mhm." Naruto said, nodding his head in affirmation.

"That's it. I want to know why she said that."

"And how would I know?" he said, scratching his head in confusion.

"Forget it, Naruto. I shouldn't have brought it up." Sasuke said, already annoyed.

"Wait a second. Now that I think about it, this has a very simple answer."

"What is it?"

"Sakura can't start a family because her heart belongs to you alone. I said it romantically, didn't I?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Sasuke, it's simple. Sakura loves you. That makes it impossible for her to love someone else or start a family. Do you think it's easy for her to push those feelings away?"

"Who says she has to find another man?"

"Well, look, Sasuke. To have a child, you need a man, you know."

"I know, idiot. I'm not saying she needs to find someone else."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I'm that man."

"Ah, yes... you're the... WHAT?!" Naruto shouted.

Naruto blinked at Sasuke, his mouth hanging open in shock. For a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of the rain hitting the windows, as if the entire world had paused in disbelief.

Sasuke shifted uncomfortably on the couch, glancing away from Naruto's wide-eyed expression. His mind was spinning, and he regretted speaking the words out loud. The admission was raw, vulnerable, and terrifying, but somehow it felt like it had to be said.

"I didn't mean it like that," Sasuke muttered, his voice quieter now, as if trying to backtrack from his own truth.

Naruto, still stunned, closed his mouth and looked at Sasuke as if seeing him for the first time. Then, slowly, a grin began to spread across his face, a grin Sasuke knew all too well.

"Wait, wait," Naruto said, holding up a hand. "So, you're telling me… You, the great Sasuke Uchiha, the guy who's avoided emotional conversations for years, could have feelings for her? You? Like you, you or someone like you?"

asuke scowled, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. "You're making this worse."

"No, no," Naruto chuckled, sitting down across from Sasuke.

"I'm just surprised! You've always been so distant. And now you're—what? Admitting you're the guy who can make Sakura's dreams come true?" Naruto leaned forward, his eyes wide with mock shock. "Did you really just tell me that? Sasuke, the stoic Avenger, is in love with Sakura?"

Sasuke's face flushed, though he refused to meet Naruto's gaze. "It's not like that," he muttered, though it was hard to convince even himself anymore. "It's complicated."

Naruto crossed his arms, his grin fading into a more thoughtful expression. "Yeah, complicated. But Sasuke, let me tell you something. I've seen the way you look at her. It's different."

"I'm not good at this," Sasuke interrupted, his voice hardening slightly. "I don't know what to say to her."

"Say to her?" Naruto repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Sasuke, you've gotta be kidding me. You already know how she feels. You've been through too much together to deny it. What you need to do is stop being so damn stubborn and just talk to her."

"It's too soon."

"Too soon?! Sasuke, Sakura-chan has been expressing her feelings for you since she was 12, and even worse, she's had a crush on you since she was a child."

Sasuke sighed, his fingers tightening into fists. "I can't just say something like that. I'm not… I don't know how to explain myself to her. She deserves more than me. She's always been… more than me."

Naruto leaned back, his usual playfulness replaced with a more serious tone. "Sasuke," he said, his voice softer now, "you don't get it, do you? Sakura's never needed you to be perfect. She's always seen something in you that you might not even see in yourself. And yeah, it's complicated. She might be scared, and hell, you probably are too. But if you don't do something about it, you'll regret it. Trust me. I know."

Sasuke clenched his jaw, looking down at the floor. His thoughts swirled, and despite his best efforts to push them aside, he could feel the weight of Naruto's words.

"She's not… waiting for me," Sasuke said, his voice distant, almost uncertain. "She deserves someone who can give her what she wants. A family. A future. Not me."

"She's waiting for you. Trust me. Hey, I'm an idiot, but I'm not blind. Even waiting isn't the right word. She's not waiting for you to do something. She's just given her heart to you. Do you understand?"

"No," Sasuke said, sighing.

"How can I explain it? Look, deep down, Sakura hopes that one day you'll love her the way she loves you. But she's not waiting for that. Sakura can't wait to see you or for you to come back to the village, to be by your side as a good friend. But she's made peace with the thought that she'll never have you for herself, that you'll never love her. I don't know how much you understand me, I've never spoken more beautifully than today."

"Why? Why is she obsessed with this idea?"

Naruto made a strange face. "Sasuke don't fucking kidding me right now. How many times have you rejected her, have you counted them? Plus Sakura-chan expressed her feelings to you right after the war? What did you say to her? You are still incredibly annoying. Like come on now."

Sasuke took a deep breath, not knowing if it was hot inside Naruto's house or if it was from something else. "Like I said, she deserves someone better than me. Someone to give her what she deserves."

Naruto shook his head, his eyes hardening with determination. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Sasuke. You've got a lot of baggage. We all do. But the past doesn't have to dictate what comes next. And Sakura? She's the one who chose you, all of you—your flaws, your past, your mistakes. She's already forgiven you more than you'll ever know. So, don't hide from her anymore. If you want this, you need to be honest with her. No more running away."

Sasuke's mind raced, but a small part of him felt a flicker of hope. The words felt heavier now, more significant than they ever had before. What if Naruto was right? What if he could be the man Sakura needed him to be? What if they could have something real?

"Do you really think… I can make this work?" Sasuke asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't think so, I know." Naruto said smiling and reached out to put his hand on his shoulder. "Sasuke, you have time. There's no need to rush. Stay in the village for a few more weeks until the New Year holidays are over. Think and take it easy. No one is expecting you to announce your marriage tomorrow. You both need time."

Sasuke sat in silence, the weight of Naruto's words settling over him. For the first time in a long while, he wasn't sure what came next. But for the first time in a long while, he felt like maybe—just maybe—he could take the next step.

"Thanks," Sasuke muttered, standing up from the couch.

"You can also consult Kakashi-sensei if you want, that man has more experience than us."

"Kakashi has a bunch of work to do on his own. He doesn't need me as an extra."

"Don't say that, he's ready to drop all his work when it comes to the three of us."

Sasuke shot him a dark glare but couldn't help the small, relieved smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He didn't know if he was ready, but one thing was certain—he wasn't going to run anymore. Not from his feelings, and not from her. He would just take things slowly. Small but confident steps.