I didn't know why I made a sequel. But, I guess it would make more sense, lmao. Be careful for broken grammar.
There's no beta reader, we die like a man.
Naruto POV (third person)
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Naruto blinked.
"Huh? ... what?"
Sakura said she loved him.
He went blank, if this was a dream he would like to not wake up. Yet there she was, with flushing cheeks telling how was her feeling all this time, having given up on craving Sasuke's love.
A change of heart, it was not like her.
Naruto may be an idiot, but he was not blind.
Naruto was there when Sakura and Sasuke had a secret steal glance, for they thought nobody was watching.
Naruto was there when all Sakura had spoken and cared only for the raven boy, how her eyes reserved to one and only him.
Naruto was there when Sasuke had let his guard down only for Sakura while she was clinging into his arm (he got sulked when others touched him), for even Sasuke himself won't even realized.
Naruto was there.
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Naruto loved her. He always did.
Maybe back then because Sakura had picked his interest. It could be her hair that looked like cotton candy he had used to like with red ribbon glued over her head, or her big eyes like a deep green forest had a calming effect. Her smile was so sweet.
She's cute.
He liked her.
Their time at the academy, as they got older, she became prettier. Her hair had gone longer, it suited her. She always had been a lovely person, even other boys worshipped her. So did Naruto.
And there was Sasuke. The ultimate rival. Naruto called him a showing-off-boy, he couldn't stand still with the cheeky arrogant brat attitude. His hair looked like a chicken butt hadn't been combed for years. Naruto couldn't understand what girls had seen him, even Sakura.
Naruto would had liked to land a punch at Sasuke's silly face even for once, yet the result was quite the opposite. Whenever they had come face to face, always ended up in a fight. (Usually Naruto the one who had started it, he wouldn't admit.)
But then the three of them were put into a team together.
Thus come Kakashi-sensei, the man with a ridiculous mask, though at some point Naruto wondered what he had been hiding behind that thing. He bet the sensei had a big nose like a pig.
It should be the start of the bonds.
At first, Naruto couldn't imagine three of them would be a good combination, with Kakashi-sensei being the lazy old man as a keeper. Then he had a feeling for the bonds. An image he could picture, a family perhaps.
His heart fluttered. Happy.
He loved them very much.
He would treasured them.
There was a time at gennin days, an escorting mission. They got ambushed by bandits, for sure they had won but also got injured. Sakura had always come to Sasuke first to checked his injury even though she was not in good shape too and Sasuke would scolded her to take care her injury first, although he looked hadn't mind when she did the treatment.
Naruto had taken action to gain Sakura's attention, inviting her to eat ramen, train together, and maybe just walk around the park. But she always declined.
Naruto hadn't stood a chance.
Meanwhile Naruto never really understood Sasuke. Sometimes he knew, others times didn't. Probably because Sasuke was just a moody brat.
But then at chuunin exams, when Gaara had trapped Sakura with his sand, Sasuke did that again. "You better rescue Sakura no matter what, then run. I can still delay him," He stood beside him. "I've lost everything once, I don't want to lose my precious comrades again."
Perhaps they meant something to him.
But their battle at Valley of The End had made Naruto wondered.
He had seen her again, after training for over two years with the pervy sage. She was still dazzling and lovely, although at some point her body did had many changes. He liked it more.
He had asked her out again, even after they had met Sasuke at Orochimaru's lair and how the distance felt so real. He still got rejected.
There will never be a room left for him.
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Sakura hugged him.
Her soft voice was reassuring, telling him with patience because all this time the only one who's stood still by her side was him all along.
Naruto almost couldn't breathe. Perhaps at another time he would be delighted, hugged her back, grinning like a poet who got his love dearly. Take her to the dancing stage all night, memorizing all her movements. How her body made many steps, her laugh, her emerald eyes would be gleaming under the light.
Yet it's not the right time.
Naruto took a big breath, gripping Sakura's arms while giving some space. He was looking at her, deeply searching for earnestness.
"I hate people who lie to themselves." He knew her better.
She got startled, then the burning fire in her eyes back. Argued happened between them. In the end, she said to leave that one-time life promised.
Naruto gave a small smile, he was in a bit of a dilemma because now he knew the truth behind the Uchiha massacre. The burden he finally understood. "It doesn't matter, because I want to save Sasuke on my own will." And because you loved him.
Sakura said nothing, but her eyes said something. Stomping the ground she turned around telling the others to get back home with her.
Naruto could only watched her back, his eyes longing full of craving and sorrow.
The replacement came, his doppelganger sneaking away when he had a chance. Sai told Naruto the truth. For something Sakura couldn't said—the agreement for Sasuke's disposal. And for other matters, like she had known Naruto would reject her from the start, she herself intended to kill Sasuke.
"Sakura-chan wouldn't do that." That was what Naruto said. All he knew was that she, of all people, would never did that, for she loved Sasuke so much.
"The burden for having fallen with him. She can't leave Sasuke going further into the darkness." But what Sai said did slap him.
It's hurting her, left unsaid.
The image of team seven, it's cracking.
The information filled him in a rush, too much to handle all at once. For Sasuke has gone too far, falling into pitch of black, and Sakura has to take the responsibility.
Naruto couldn't breathe, he collapsed.
When Naruto woke up, he wished he made it in time. Running as fast as he could, sensing their chakra with sage mode.
But the hero always comes late.
Naruto saw it.
It comes in a slow motion. Sakura stood an inch behind Sasuke's back, her hand trembling, holding a kunai. Then Sasuke spun choking her neck, grabbing the kunai with chidori wrapping on it.
How Sasuke hand cut through her chest. The blood was dripping.
Sakura has a hole in her heart.
SakuraSakuraSakuraSakuraSakuraSakura
Hours ago Naruto could still looked her all in glory good, her body still in perfect shape like it always has been.
SakuraSakuraSakuraSakuraSakuraSakura
Naruto could still remembered how the three of them had a big smile. Sometimes, he and Sasuke would get into fights, and Sakura would be there to knock out their childhood rivalry.
The picture was shattered. Torn into pieces.
No no no no no no no
Since when it had gone wrong? He wondered. Maybe if he hadn't been a prick, be more wise and mature. He could made the best decision, Sakura wouldn't had the burden, and Sasuke—
"SASUKE!" His voice roaring. The seal has been broken, red skin Kyubi slipped out.
His anger was overwhelming, for he had trusted Sasuke that much he wouldn't involve Sakura in this. Sakura would be the left one untouched, it should be the invisible ruler, right?
He should be there sooner, even for one second. He could had prevented the incident happened. Sakura would be still there, breathing.
Naruto was crying, feeling numb, for once he couldn't care anymore.
He's full of pain. Mourning.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
If only Naruto knew what would be coming, he would gladly had accepted her declaration of love—even though it's a lie.
If only.
He wouldn't regret (and maybe had a happy ending).
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There will be a trilogy, next chapter will be Sakura POV.
