#Naruto... that is not how we respond-

[aprito]

The way that Sakura is inspired after cherry blossoms with both her name and appearance, and the cherry blossoms symbolise the transience and impermanence of life due to their short life spans. Sasori fights against a girl who represents the fleeting nature of life which completely contrasts his obsession with immortality and skurhliexbkjgfswgblpeq

LOVE that Sakura clowns on Sasori's fuckass stupid beliefs not only with her skill set but also with her entire existence. He was untouchable until he wasn't, he was smart until he wasn't, he was apathetic until he wasn't in the span of like, an hour. The best part being that the thing that ultimatively makes her so strong (her humanity and affection and care towards Chiyo) is the one thing he can't have and would absolutely lose if he were to turn her into one of his liveless bum bitch puppets.

She really is the ultimate troll. We love her.

[panharmonium]

Hi! I love your Naruto thoughts and meta posts with all my heart and I want to ask your thoughts on something that has been on my mind literally since I was 13: what do you think about the relationship between Sasuke and Sakura? I went from being a hardcore shipper when I was a teenager, to being against any romantic relationship in Naruto after finishing the anime when I was in my early twenties. Nowadays I'm very into platonic love and depictions of friendship and I think the anime's obsession with forcing the "romantic interest" curse upon the main female character robbed us of... so much. There are a few wonderful moments in the anime where Sasuke and Sakura acknowledge each other, but because she's always "the girl with the crush", her actions are so often interpret as irrational or selfish by the fandom.

Hi @riemmetric!  It's great to talk to you again! Sorry it's taken me so long to answer this; RL has been making demands of me lately and it took me way longer to finish writing this up than I wanted it to (then again, I knew from the minute I read your original ask that my reply was going to get long, so I suppose I should have predicted a delay XD)

It's funny, my sister once asked me to choose between Sasuke or Sakura for an “unpopular opinion” meme, and I ended up doing Sasuke solely because I think the negative fandom opinions about Sakura are so unhinged and divorced from the actual text that I wouldn’t even know where to start.  People are entitled to dislike whatever characters they want, obviously, but there are some fandom takes that are, for me, so obviously rooted in bad faith viewings/readings that there’s no urge in me to discuss them.  That said, since you asked, I’m happy to go into my own thoughts on this a bit, with the disclaimer for other potential readers that I only write about fandom things for my own personal enjoyment, not as a contribution to The Discourse. If you don’t like Sakura, great!  I have no interest in changing your mind. Please consider this a sincere invitation to scroll on by and go enjoy whatever parts of the fandom appeal to you.

In general terms: I love Sasuke and Sakura’s relationship as much as I love all of the relationships in Team 7.  If we’re talking about them specifically as a romantic couple, then I probably fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, because I do like them together in a post-canon (to be clear: non-Boruto) setting, after time has passed and they’ve continued to develop individually and reconnect with each other, but I also wouldn’t exactly call myself an intense “shipper,” in the sense that I have no interest in pulling things out from the text and incorrectly citing them as evidence that Sasuke has hidden romantic feelings for her during the canon period. He cares about her in the canon period, just like he cares about Naruto and Kakashi.  That’s not up for interpretation; it’s the text.  But Sasuke during the canon time period does not demonstrate specifically romantic interest in anyone.  

[A note before people who might ship Sasuke with Someone Else emerge to rail against this statement - please just scroll past and continue enjoying fandom in whatever way is most fun for you. It is cool to ship whatever fanon thing you want; I think that’s great!  But earnestly citing any loving or emotional thing Sasuke does re: various characters in this story (yes, Sakura included) as indicative of specifically romantic love isn’t supported by the text. I know there are always going to be enormous subsets of any fandom who insist that it is, and I'm certainly not going to barge into anyone else's space to complain about that (because other people having fun together is harmless and none of my business), but I'm not obligated to indulge it on my own blog, either.]

Anyway, that said - the reason why I love Sakura and Sasuke’s relationship (from here on out I’ll use “relationship” in a general, non-romantic sense) is precisely because Sakura isn’t just “the girl with the crush.” Sakura has an arc when it comes to Sasuke, and its trajectory moves in the exact opposite direction of “irrational” or “selfish.”  She specifically goes from “the girl with the crush” to “the girl who steels herself and tries to put her personal feelings for Sasuke aside for the greater good” to “the girl who knows she can’t put her feelings aside, but who also knows full well that Sasuke doesn’t reciprocate them, and who still wants to save him regardless, because he matters to her as a person and a friend.”

[I'm putting the rest of this under a cut to save everyone's dash, and also to emphasize once again that this is a personal post on my personal blog which I wrote in response to a question from a personal acquaintance, the full content of which no one is obligated to read. I am not sending this post to random strangers and forcing them to look at it. I'm not even putting it in the character tags. I'm typing it up on my own blog and putting it under a cut. If you already know that you don't like Sakura, but you still click the link/read the post and then feel an urge to comment and complain, I am going to copy-paste this disclaimer and remind you that I specifically recommended that you scroll past and go have fun with fandom in your own way. Thanks in advance for responsibly curating your own fandom experience!]

So, from the top:

1. the girl with the crush

Sakura is, obviously, completely obsessed with Sasuke at the beginning of Part 1.  She’s also deeply clueless about him and his history (bizarre though it is, the story seems to indicate that she initially doesn’t know what happened with his family, the same way young!Obito is initially clueless about Kakashi’s father).  But what I like about Sakura and Sasuke’s Part 1 relationship is how this changes over time.

The critical scene that kicks this off happens right at the beginning of the manga, when she and Sasuke are talking by that bench - she complains about Naruto and blames his behavior on him being all alone/having no family to scold him; and even says she’s jealous that he doesn’t have parents to nag him all the time.  This obviously triggers an outburst from Sasuke, who tells her she has no idea what loneliness means and that she “makes him sick”/she’s “annoying” (importantly, the exact same thing Sakura said to Naruto in anger earlier that day), which in turn prompts Sakura to reassess herself and wonder whether she’s been making Naruto feel this terrible all the time, too:

From that point on, it’s a process of her putting little pieces together.  She still has a MAJOR crush, and she still acts like a twelve year-old, but as we approach the end of Part I, Sakura actually has a more accurate grasp on Sasuke’s current state of mind than Naruto does.  Naruto is initially excited to fight Sasuke on top of the hospital, because he feels like Sasuke’s finally acknowledging him, whereas Sakura is the one who immediately recognizes that something is wrong about this situation.  She is also the one who, after this fight, is concerned that Sasuke is really unwell and might do something drastic like run off in pursuit of the power Orochimaru promised him, but when she communicates this to Naruto, he assures her that this would NEVER happen:

(Sakura isn't convinced, though, because she goes to monitor the exit out of the village anyway.)

I’m not criticizing Naruto for his response here.  I ADORE hearing him say that Sasuke is too strong to need Orochimaru, with such perfect confidence - I love seeing how much respect and admiration he has for Sasuke underneath all their fighting, because that’s the whole reason he’s always baiting Sasuke and yelling at him and claiming “you're not so great!” He looks up to Sasuke; he wants to be like Sasuke; he thinks Sasuke is awesome! (It’s that Obito @ Kakashi behavior, you know?) But the fact remains that he is clueless about what’s actually going on with Sasuke in Part 1, and he remains clueless(ly optimistic) for a long time.  

(Eg, when he catches up to Sasuke during the retrieval arc and Sasuke climbs out of that cursed seal coffin, Naruto waves at him and calls "Come on, let's go!" as if Sasuke has been successfully rescued and is now going to come running home.  Even in Part II, when Naruto hears that Sasuke killed Orochimaru, he beams and immediately says, “So he must be on his way back to the Leaf Village!”  And everyone else in the room is like, “....,” because they know better.  Naruto doesn’t yet fully understand [or doesn't want to accept] the extent to which Sasuke has willingly chosen this path, and it’s not until after Jiraiya’s death/the Pain attack/the Five Kage Summit that Naruto really starts to understand Sasuke more clearly, which is something he himself admits.)

Sakura, in Part 1, has access to more information about Sasuke - she’s there for his first dissociative monologue during the bells test, she’s there for the curse mark’s placement, she’s there for his first violent transformation in the Forest of Death - she is, in fact, the unwitting catalyst for it (“Sakura…who did this to you?”), and her compassion is the reason Sasuke is later able to overcome the curse mark’s influence - so she has a more accurate/complete picture of “how he’s doing,” for lack of a better phrase, whereas Naruto, who doesn’t know about the curse mark in the first place, is still in the dark.  This means that Sakura is able to accurately discern that Sasuke is struggling more than Naruto realizes, and specifically to predict that he’s going to run away.  

(This dynamic is then interestingly flipped in the back half of Part II, since at any point after the Five Kage Summit, Sakura doesn’t have access to extremely relevant [if currently questionable and unproven] details that would in any other circumstance inform her behavior).

Of course, just because she has more info in Part 1 doesn’t mean she has some kind of miraculous insight into Sasuke’s every thought and feeling.  There are parts of her attempt to convince Sasuke to stay in the village that are as clueless as any of Naruto’s assumptions, and they showcase the kind of magical thinking common to childhood - like when she says that if he stayed with her, she could give him happiness, she’d do anything for him, even help him get his revenge - this idea that she herself can do something to make him feel better, that she can love him powerfully enough to defeat his pain - obviously none of that is rooted in realism.

Is this part of her approach irrational and immature and inadvertently self-centered?  Of course it is!  But it’s no more irrational and immature and inadvertently self-centered than Naruto’s stated plan to drag Sasuke back to the village even if he has to “break every bone in [his] body!” 

Hating on Sakura for her Part 1 attempt to convince Sasuke to stay in the village while simultaneously lauding Naruto for his feels like a bad faith misread of what is, to me, pretty clear narrative intention.  The story doesn’t at any point intend for us to see her begging him to stay as a selfish or conniving attempt to get something she wants.  She’s begging him to stay for the same underlying reason that Naruto is: she cares about him.  She thinks he’s making a mistake that will only cause him more pain in the end (she’s right) and she wants to make it so he feels less pain right now (she can’t.  But she doesn’t understand that/isn’t able to admit that, and she’s willing to try ANYTHING that might help).  

It’s critical that this farewell scene is set in front of that same bench from their first important confrontation - she references that day and how angry he got at her, and this time she tells him that she understands his reaction.  She’s learned things and she recognizes how insensitive she was being back then (“I know what happened to your clan, Sasuke”), even though she still can’t fully grasp all the complexities of the situation. She tells him that him blowing up at her back then helped her understand what loneliness actually meant (as opposed to her previous shallow understanding of it), and she challenges him about his choice right now: "So that's it, you're choosing the lonely path?" And when she tells him that she'll be very lonely if he leaves, we're immediately shown a panel of Sasuke thinking of both his friends, with the very clear implication that if he goes through with this, he will be lonely without them, too - that he's still struggling with the idea of leaving them, no matter how hard he tries to pretend:

Sakura at this point knows that Sasuke isn’t interested in her the way she is in him, but she still wants to give him happiness, however fantastical and immature her ideas sound to us (and, I’m sure, to him).  “I’ll do anything, even help you get your revenge/we'll have fun every day, and...and you'll be happy! I'll make sure of it!” - of course, it’s completely childish.  It’s irrational.  It’s ridiculous to think that any of this would ever be effective, but no more ridiculous than Naruto’s belief that he can simply break every bone in Sasuke’s body and keep him in the Leaf by force.

Both Naruto and Sakura are children who have a deeply oversimplified understanding of Sasuke’s situation.  They both still think they can fix him themselves.  They both think they can save him themselves.  They both think they can convince (or force) him to do what they want, what they think is in his best interests.  Both of them don’t yet understand that he has to want to come back, if it’s ever going to mean anything.  Their attempts to keep him in the village are immature and unrealistic, yes.  What they aren’t, however, is selfish, because neither Sakura nor Naruto are doing any of this with the intention of advancing their own interests.  They’re only thinking about Sasuke - how to keep Sasuke safe, how to make Sasuke happy - even when neither of them are taking an approach that will actually work.

Naruto and Sakura are children.  They’re afraid of losing somebody they care about.  Their attempts to prevent that from happening are desperate and messy and ultimately ineffective, but they are also genuinely felt and rooted in a true desire to rescue Sasuke from his pain, which - and this is the single most important thing that should impact our viewing of Part 1 - is something that Sasuke RECOGNIZES.  He doesn’t spend that agonizingly long moment bowed over Naruto’s defeated body so we can pretend he doesn’t understand that Naruto was just trying to help him.  He doesn’t take the time to murmur, “Sakura…thank you,” before laying her out carefully on a bench, just so we can discount it and pretend that he doesn’t recognize and appreciate her genuine intention to make things better for him, however clumsy that attempt might have been.

2. the greater good

If Stage 1 Sakura is "the girl with the crush," then Stage 2 Sakura is a progression to “the girl who decides to put her feelings for Sasuke aside in order to protect innocent people, including (but certainly not limited to) Naruto.”  She’s driven to this decision by interactions with Shikamaru, who all too recently had to grow up fast himself (“We're not kids anymore...we can't allow a war to break out between the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Cloud because of Sasuke") and Sai, who risks his new friendship with Sakura and Team 7 in order to speak some hard truths and deliver one of my favorite lines in the whole story: “I don’t know what promise Naruto made to you, but it’s really no different than what was done to me.  It’s like a curse mark.”

(INCREDIBLE.  How can anybody be complaining about a season where Sai gets to say something that goes THIS HARD and Sakura LISTENS and takes DRAMATIC ACTION that actually propels the story forward in a meaningful way - )

[Okay, yeah, brief personal opinion interlude - it is just bonkers wild to me that there are people who complain about Sakura in the Five Kage Summit arc. That entire season is the greatest character arc she ever has.  Literally she has never been more interesting and dynamic than in Season 10; it’s the first time she ever gets to be as deep and fascinating as the boys; what is everybody so worked up about?  Oh, “she lied to Naruto that one time” - Sasuke joined infant-kidnapping baby-murdering human experimentation machine Orochimaru when he was twelve years old in order to (dare I say it????) selfishly pursue his personal goals and yet, somehow, we are still able to root for him.  He abandoned his friends/allies to imprisonment and death (Suigetsu and Jūgo) or outright stabbed them in the chest himself (Karin) in order to (SELFISHLY) get what he wanted, and yet, somehow, we are still able to love him, understand him, and be on his side.  Naruto is canonically not upset with Sakura about her lie after receiving context for the situation and I think we can probably take our cues from him without feeling the need to bring her up on war crimes; please calm down]

[Sorry, I just really love most of Season 10 and think it’s one of the best examples of how good this story can be when every single character gets to do something that matters (as opposed to things being all Naruto, all the time) so I get a little bit worked up over people complaining about some of the best writing Sakura ever gets.  I don’t understand what certain elements of fandom want from her. People complain about her being “useless” and not doing anything that contributes to the story, but then they complain just as much when she does finally get to act decisively and have just as complex/dynamic an inner world as the boys.  She’s “weak” for being unreasonably in love with Sasuke, but when she tries to be “strong” and put her love for him aside and eliminate him in order to protect Naruto and the rest of the world, she’s evil, because she should have been more understanding of his situation (despite the fact that she doesn’t KNOW anything about his situation).  But then when she can’t go through with killing him after all because she cares about him too much despite the things he’s done, she’s not "compassionate" or "kind" or "a good friend," she’s “weak” again. Nothing Sakura does in S10 is more wrongheaded or rash than any of the batshit, buckwild things Naruto and Sasuke have done in the past (and will continue to do in the future), but when Naruto and Sasuke have big feelings or take bold action, it makes them interesting characters, whereas Sakura can’t breathe in anyone’s direction without being minutely scrutinized for moral impurities.]  

Anyway. Back to a more measured response.  

Every single piece of development Sakura has with regard to Sasuke in this season satisfies me so much.  Her initial shock and disbelief at hearing that Sasuke had joined the Akatsuki?  Good, appropriate.  The fact that she starts to acknowledge the reality of what Sasuke’s done sooner than Naruto does?  Also extremely appropriate, very in-character for both of them.  Her taking Sai’s words to heart and deciding that the promise she asked Naruto to make when they were children is causing him to suffer and she has to relieve him of that burden?  Juicy!  AND thematically significant (promises!!!!  the burden that a promise places on a person, especially when it can't be kept - we've seen that before in this story and we'll see it again).  Her anguished pivot from wanting to protect Sasuke to realizing that she has a responsibility to protect the countless innocents who will die because of the war he’s trying to start?  HELLO THIS IS INCREDIBLE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.  Her knocking out the classmates who agreed to help her so they don’t have to share in her burden (and so the only person Naruto will hate when it’s over is her)?  BRUH.  Her being so committed and focused on her goal of saving innocents and protecting Naruto (not just from being harmed by Sasuke/the Akatsuki, but by the possibility that Naruto will someday have to hurt Sasuke himself) that she tries to take everything on by herself and walks into a confrontation that she absolutely cannot win??  INCREDIBLE.  (Literally the first time I watched this, I said, “Finally!!!  It’s Sakura’s turn to go off the rails!”  I laughed with my sister about how Kakashi isn’t even mad, because Naruto and Sasuke have been pulling stunts like this for years and Sakura was way overdue for her own meltdown.)  And then, after Kakashi intervenes in the fight - Sakura barreling back into the battle when she realizes he’s going to take on the burden of killing Sasuke himself in order to spare her and Naruto the horror - “I can’t let Kakashi-sensei bear this burden!”  I love her for that.  

And then, of course, in the end - her not being able to do hurt Sasuke after all.  Despite committing herself to the act, despite forcing herself to put her feelings for him aside, despite resolving to stop him from starting a war and killing innocent people, she can’t harm him.  She cares about him too much.  This, too, is thematically significant - think about Itachi’s “you don’t have enough hatred” - she doesn’t have enough hatred to kill someone she cares about, even if it seems like he deserves it, even if would be the right thing to do to protect others.  She can’t do it, and Sasuke almost kills her for her compassion.  

I love the dynamic this sets up between her and Sasuke, for a few reasons:

1) Personally, I think Sasuke respects Sakura much more for trying to kill him than he would have if she’d just tried to talk him out of his behavior or beg him to come home (a la their original confrontation in Part 1).  This is the first significant interaction he’s had with Sakura in years, and the fact that she does something SO contrary to his memory of her is an important demonstration of the fact that she’s not the same girl she used to be.  Sasuke spends a lot of time after his defection declaring to his old team “I’ve changed; I’m not that person anymore,” but this is one of the moments where he’s forced to acknowledge that his teammates have changed, too.  Time didn’t just stop for them when he left.  While he was turning into someone new, so were they.  They grew up without him, and his old memories of them can’t encompass the whole picture of who they are now.  

(This is a little tangential, but in general, I love the spectrum of reactions that Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi have in this sequence, and the way that all of them are ultimately messages Sasuke needs to hear.  Sasuke - who we know textually regrets what he did here, who apologizes to Sakura for it later - for “everything,” in fact - needs Naruto’s aggressively optimistic open-arms policy, yes, needs that potential, that unconditional possibility of return.  He also needs Sakura’s refusal to let him hurt her friends and start a war that will kill thousands of people, needs her surprisingly ruthless attempt to take him down; needs just as much her failure to do so, because it shows him that she still loves him too much to kill him even as she condemns him.  And he needs Kakashi’s grim line in the sand, needs someone who very possibly won't hesitate like Sakura (despite the horrifying personal cost), someone who will try to reach him but also won't let him escape and become the next generation’s Orochimaru, who won't let him cause untold suffering to untold numbers of people just because a teacher loved him too much to stop him when he had the chance. 

(And then even Kakashi chooses not to deliver a killing blow when he has the opportunity -)

(I know that in fandom people are more likely to be all, “oh, Naruto Good, everybody else Bad,” but I don’t think the narrative frames Sakura or Kakashi as “worse” than Naruto in any way.  The story goes out of its way to make it clear how desperately they don’t want to hurt Sasuke and how much they care about him.  And [this is just my interpretation, so obviously I won’t claim it as fact], I personally think that Sasuke - Sasuke, who, looking back, can see how lost he was then and how tortured he would have been if he’d gone through with many of his plans - would be grateful to Sakura and Kakashi for making an attempt to stop him when he couldn’t stop himself.)

2) On the other side of this, the fact that Sakura wasn’t able to deliver the killing blow means a lot. Sasuke was incapacitated under that bridge; he was completely at her mercy - but she stopped with the kunai an inch from his back.  She couldn’t kill him, even though she knew that he was completely willing to kill her (because he'd attempted to Chidori-assassinate her from behind just a few minutes ago).  That’s huge!  Sasuke is too out of his head right now to process this or understand it, but later, it's going to matter.  She stayed her hand.  She spared his life.  She loved him too much to hurt him, even when he’d given her every reason to take him down.  She hesitated, and he almost killed her for it, but her inability to strike him ultimately gave him yet another chance to come home, another chance to get better, another chance to have a life outside of his pain.  Despite everything, some part of her still hadn’t really given up on him, and that knowledge will matter later, when he’s finally able to acknowledge it.  

The point of all this is to say that I really have no complaints about Sakura and Sasuke’s dynamic in their S10 confrontation.  This season is the point where Sakura fully grows past her “girl with a crush” stage and into her “shinobi must make very harsh decisions” adulthood, but it never means that she doesn’t care about the person she’s trying to take down.  Her ultimate inability to deliver the killing blow remains a dangling lifeline for her relationship with Sasuke, an open door that Sasuke is able to walk through at the end of the story (literally, in fact, when Sakura opens that portal for him and saves him from Kaguya’s desert prison, and figuratively, too, when Sasuke apologizes to her).

3. she only wants to save you

The last stage in their relationship is what Sakura settles into during the war arc.  She started off Part 1 being just a girl with a crush, then tried to harden her heart and put her feelings for Sasuke aside in service of the greater good, but she was unable to actually follow through and kill him, and because of that, what she’s come to accept by the war arc is actually two things: that 1) Sasuke truly is willing to let her die if it furthers his goals, and 2) she wants to save him anyway.  

She has no intention of pursuing Sasuke romantically.  She knows full well that Sasuke isn’t interested in her.  She even knows that Sasuke isn’t really on their side (there’s a great scene where Sai questions Sakura about Sasuke’s return, and she reassures him that everything is fine, and Sai sadly thinks to himself “even I can tell your smile is fake”).  She’s well-aware that Sasuke didn’t try to help her when Madara stabbed her.  She’s well-aware that he left her to die in the lava pit.  She’s also well-aware that none of this is enough to make her stop loving him.  He doesn’t have to care about her - she still cares about him.  She still wants to help him.  She still wants to save him.

This is not hidden, hard-to-parse character development.  It’s explicitly articulated on the page:

Sakura’s not trying or wanting to make you hers!  She only wants to save you.

I’m not sure if people look at this last confrontation and unquestioningly take Sasuke at his word (as if we haven’t just read 71 volumes/watched 700 episodes showing us how how painfully distorted his thinking is), or if they stop reading/watching before the end of the scene, or if they don’t understand that Sasuke saying something doesn’t make that statement an accurate representation of reality.  The entire point of this scene is to show us how deeply mistaken Sasuke is about Sakura (and, by extension, the rest of Team 7).  He’s locked into a false pattern of thinking.  His single-minded focus on revenge and destruction has blinded him to the unconditional love his friends feel for him; he’s become so accustomed to using others and being used that he can’t understand or accept that someone would care about him without needing a reason, without needing him to love them back, without needing to receive something from him in exchange.

Sakura’s not trying or wanting to make you hers!  She only wants to save you.

Sasuke matters to Sakura as more than a love interest.  He always has.  She does love him romantically, yes, but she doesn’t only love him romantically, and her desire to help him is not and has never been contingent on him returning her feelings, romantically or otherwise.  Sasuke isn’t able to acknowledge that in this scene, but that doesn’t mean we’re supposed to just sit back and agree with his warped perspective.  Kakashi is the one who’s explicitly positioned as the voice of the narrative here.  We, as the audience, are supposed to recognize that Kakashi is the one telling us the truth.

[tangential thing 1: You don’t have to love Sakura's last plea to Sasuke here. It’s not my favorite, either - the best part, other than Kakashi’s speech at the end, is the moment after Kakashi collapses when Sakura’s expression changes from pained uncertainty to pure rage, when she grits her teeth together - when I first saw that, I almost leapt out of my seat like “Oh my god.  She’s finally going to let him have it.  It’s finally happening - ”  I wanted that so badly, and I still think it would have been a more effective writing choice for Sakura’s last words to lean more into her anger at the suffering Sasuke is causing all of them (himself included!) and less into yet another of Kishimoto’s “let me have Sakura articulate what a shame it is that she can’t do as much as Naruto despite the fact that I literally just went through a major reveal sequence in the war to show that she’s caught up to the boys; I can’t make up my mind about whether I want her to progress or not” - it’s extremely frustrating (and it's something he does at the very end of the S10 Team 7 reunion, too, which is the ONLY moment of S10 that falls flat for me).  But at the same time, even if there are ways this sequence could be more satisfying, it doesn’t change the fact that her plea to him is not remotely motivated by a desire to be with him romantically and not anything to condemn her for.]

[tangential thing 2: I do like how she remembers that moment when Sasuke says “Thank you.”  That panel precedes her saying “If there’s even a tiny corner of your heart that thinks about me…” (which I’m sure is one of the things that people like to criticize about this scene, aka “oh she’s sooooo self-centered” etc), but that particular line of dialogue is preceded by that particular flashback panel for a reason: Sakura knows that Sasuke DOES think about her.  He thinks about all of them.  Sakura remembers that “thank you,” and it reminds her that despite everything Sasuke has done and said since, despite all evidence to the contrary, she knows in her bones that his expression of gratitude back then was genuine.  He cared about her once.  He cared about all of them.  She’s trying to reach the part of him that still does, if it exists.]

[tangential thing 3: The fact that Kakashi says “she suffers from loving you,” and it triggers Sasuke to remember his own family - thinking about how much he suffered (and still suffers) from loving them - “Perhaps…those are the ties to a failed past” - the idea that it’s not worth it to have bonds if it means you suffer this much…that it’s too difficult, it’s too painful, and if Sakura and the rest of Team 7 were smarter they would just give it up (all Sasuke knows how to do now is sever potential bonds before they can hurt him; so why aren’t Sakura and the rest of his teammates doing that, why can’t they let it go, why are they making this so hard - ) << yeah, he clearly doesn't care about her/them at all.]

4. the shadow of my family

This has all been a really long way to answer the original question, but the short response to “What do you think about the relationship between Sasuke and Sakura?” is “I really care about it,” just like I really care about the relationship between Sasuke and Naruto, just like I really care about the relationship between Sasuke and Kakashi. And I don’t think the story ever asks me to choose between them.

I’m not sure whether it’s the impact of Boruto-era “canon” that gets in the way of other people approaching things this way (I don’t consider sequel material when I evaluate the original story), or if it’s Kishimoto’s frequent disinterest in/disrespect towards female characters, which yes, does sometimes make it harder, or if it's a shipping thing (bane of my existence), or some combination of factors, but for me, taking one member of Team 7 out of the equation hobbles the rest of the story.  I can’t read/watch Naruto while hating one of the protagonists and loving the other three.  It doesn’t work like that for me.  The story wasn’t written that way, and there’s nothing in the text that would cause me to receive it that way.

That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with disliking one of the main foursome (or any character, for that matter) - obviously we're all going to have different preferences, and everyone is free to enjoy or reject whatever parts of a story they want, or to like or dislike whatever characters they want. I know that some people have more fun disregarding canon and doing their own thing, which is fine.  My own personal zone of enjoyment comes from receiving the story as closely to how I think it was intended to be read as I can, and personally, when I look at this particular story, what I see is that all the members of Team 7 clearly demonstrate their love for Sasuke in ways that he himself later recognizes and acknowledges. All of them are driven by their desire to save him and their unwillingness to hurt him. All of them make repeated choices to chase after him when he runs away, to trust him when he hasn't exactly earned it, to give him another chance when he doesn't appear to deserve it. ALL of them, not just Naruto, do these things multiple times throughout the story, and Sasuke owes his life (and thus his eventual recovery) to ALL of them, many times over. Kakashi disobeys Hokage-elect Danzō and breaks the law to negotiate for Sasuke's life with a foreign head of state. Sakura and Kakashi both have opportunities to kill Sasuke in the Land of Iron, and they choose to spare him instead. Kakashi stops Sasuke from killing his only friends at two different points in the story, which would have been a mistake Sasuke couldn't have recovered from. Sasuke would have died in Kaguya's desert dimension if Sakura hadn't saved him (Sakura, who knew that Sasuke wasn't even truly on her side yet, who knew he'd abandoned her for dead multiple times already that day). Kaguya's bone bullet would have killed Sasuke too, if Kakashi, with his intention to die in Sasuke's place, hadn't leapt in front of it (Kakashi, who also knew that Sasuke wasn't fully on their side yet, who also knew that Sasuke had abandoned him for dead earlier that day). Sasuke and Naruto would have BOTH died in the Final Valley if Sakura and a severely injured Kakashi hadn't chased after them to heal their injuries.

Remove any one member of Team 7, and Sasuke never makes it home. Without the combined efforts of all three of his teammates, he doesn't survive.  That’s the way it should be, thematically, for a story whose first and most foundational premise was the importance of teamwork, and since Sakura was just as essential to that framework as everyone else, I’m just as invested in her relationship with Sasuke as I am in his relationship with everyone else.  You can’t remove one leg from a four-legged stool without damaging the integrity of the entire structure, and for me, discounting any single member of Team 7 irreparably damages the integrity of the entire story. 

TL;DR: I love all of the Team 7 relationships, including Sakura and Sasuke's, because despite what some segments of fandom seem to believe, the text of the story never gives me any reason not to.

[everymadara]

Chapter 661

[ettawrites]

Could you make genin Naruto, Sasuke, Gaara, Rock Lee and Neji x reader who is their crush and they end up having to fight reader in the chunin exam?

Yessss, yes I will 😊

Fighting Them During The Chunin Exam

A/N: half of this was written with writers blocks the other half was written when I was high, so don’t judge the quality okay 😊

Naruto

- One by one you both watched as everyone was drawn. When it was just down to four of you, Naruto prayed he would get Kiba

- You both gave a side eye when you were the last opponents

- Oh fucking shit

- He was actually a bit (really) mad, protesting that he could not fight you because you were a friend but when the only response was fight or surrender he bit the inside of his cheek

- “Friend”… yuh uh, he means totally smitten to the point he feels like a dog

- But he couldn’t surrender, not when he was this close to getting his chunin but he didn’t know where you guys would stand after it

- When you reassured him this is just how it was supposed to be and said you’d be honoured to fight him, he only frowned and scratched his head.

There he stood, across from you on this dirty cement floor and he was mesmerized on how you could just smile.

“This gotta be a joke, can you just redraw?” He asked the , displeased evident.

“There’s nobody to draw from, you both are the last opponents,” he irked, finding Naruto’s stupidly uncharming.

“Naruto it’s fine, let’s just do this, I’m hungry,” You slumpt, anxious to get this over with.

- he went easy at the start, only throwing kunais and he played defence

- When he realized you weren’t going easy, he was caught off guard as you punched him right in the face

- He stumbled, looking at you with somehow even more admiration

- Then he got serious and the fight really started

- You lost, but some part of you kind of anticipated it

- You were sprawled out on the floor, head pounding from the attack and you were honestly just so tired from the forest

- When you surrendered he felt relieved, he didn’t know how much longer he could take fighting you

- He ran over to you, he wasn’t happy with the win

- He apologized over and over, helping you up and taking you to the infirmary

- He was so glad you guys were still friends, you meant so much to him

- Totally just friends

- He takes you out for ramen after

- He still is on edge for quite some time, he makes excuses why he can’t train with you and he definitely won’t rough house like you guys use too

——

Sasuke

- king of looking like he doesn’t give a shit

- He does

- He’s literally panicking internally and in private probably bites his nails from anxiety

- He thinks he’s anxious to fight you, that has to be it? Out of everyone you are most worthy to him potential wise

- He’s lying to himself, he doesn’t wanna believe that he’s scared to fight you because you mean a lot to him

- He’ll avoid you for the month of training and when you come to confront him about it he’s eerily upset

“We’re not friends, I am getting my chunen license even if it means hurting you,” he says, stopped inside his door frame as he watches you fold your arms over your chest.

“So that’s it, friendship over because of a silly competition?” You respond, you knew sasuke was aloof and stubborn, but really?

“We never were friends,” he replied, as casual as one could and he hated the way your eyes got glossy. He watched you leave, regretting it but he won’t take it back.

- you were nervous, standing in the podium as the crowd was watching you

- Sasuke wasn’t here yet, which you’d hope he wouldn’t show up at all

- You were a bit annoyed as he spawned in with kakashi, trying to be ‘cool’

- He was surprised when you actually put up a fight, a good one too

- But also kind of proud

- He did not go easy on you, at all and was definitely being yelled at by Naruto on the stands

- he won, by default as you had passed out and could not continue to fight

- He wanted to check on you, instead lurking outside your door and kinda of just shuffling around

- He’ll ask the nurses if you’re okay, but he won’t dare go in already knowing he’s fucked up your guys friendship

——

Gaara

- low key you were shitting your pants cause WHATT???

- You saw what that boy did to Rock Lee, and now you have to fight him?

- He on the other hand doesn’t care, but the more it gets closer to the fight he starts feeling uneasy

- He’s… what they refer to as a monster? So why is he kind of concerned for this nobody wannabe?

- He had sat beside you during the first test, intrigued by you

- Your the first person that has ever smiled at him so.. genuinely

- And now he has to fight you? A big part of him was set on absolutely destroying you to stop this uneasiness in his chest

- I mean, he didn’t even know if he had a gentle bone in his body, all he knows how to do is ruin things

“You…” his cold voice came, you were walking home in the dusk from the ramen shop after hanging out with Naruto.

“Uh.. yeah? Hey?” You responded, confused and a bit anxious as you stuffed your hands in your pockets. He came closer, a blank look on his face.

“Forfeit,”

“Huh?”

“Forfeit the fight, I will kill you,” He explained, blinking so casually as he watched your complexed reaction.

- he, in his own scary way, was trying to warn you that he could not control himself

- He was kind of happy when you got his underlying message.. you really were different

- You forfeited privately, to your sensei who completely understood

- Gaara was grateful when the next night Baki had told him his opponent had changed

——

Rock Lee

- When you were paired with him for the semi finals he had frowned

- He apologized to Neji and his sensei

- Both were very confused

- He had that cute little ‘hmpf’ look on his face with an even cuter pout as he walked down the steps

- When he came face to face to you you saw this look in his eyes

- Both of you didn’t say anything when the ref asked if anyone wanted to forfeit before he called fight

You braced, drawing your Kunai when the fight began. Rock Lee raised his hand, looking like his traditional taijustu pose.

“I cannot fight you (y/n)! Please forgive me I forfeit,” he yelled, clasping his hands together and falling to his knees before you in a bow.

“…wha…?” You deadpanned, uneased by how loud he had just shouted that. He looked up, seriousness written all over him.

- You guys didn’t talk until after everyone had battled, finding him hiding from you behind the tree outside

- He slumped as you yelled at him

- He let you rant before he started his own ramble, explaining how he couldn’t fight you

- He would never lay a hand on you, it was against his ninja way

- His eyes started to water and his top lip twitched, clearly upset

- You rolled your eyes and went to go get ice cream with him

——

Neji

- you guys were paired to fight for the finals

- He was stubborn and if you’re a girl.. low key sexist about it

- He thinks he’s being a gentlemen but absolutely obliterating you with ‘facts’

- King of backhanded compliments

- But what he doesn’t know is you started to train with a really powerful sensei who was travelling through the village and offered to help you

- Throughout the whole month training time he was focusing on his fighting, but you were on the back of his mind

- He knew he wanted to win, but he also knew he didn’t want to hurt you either nor ruin your relationship

- So he spent a lot of late nights trying to figure out ways he could knock you out as quick and painless as possible

- This was all internally and completely private to him, he never expressed any weakness on the outside

- He was pretty confident in himself

- When the fight began and he realized.. you were actually catching him off guard he was perplexed

“I don’t-… how?” He coughed up blood, knees weak as he swayed to try and stay up right. You frowned, he hated that.

“I’m not weak Neji, don’t underestimate your opponent. You don’t know me,” Those words were said in order to hurt him, he had ruined your patience with his opinion of you.

“I.. thought I did,” he pondered, eyes lost.

- you gave the final blow to him and he was carried away to infirmary

- When he awoke he stared up at the ceiling for a long time after, feeling his wounds and thinking he deserved the pain for how much he took your abilities unseriously

- He vowed to never make you feel inferior to him and started to rekindle your friendship in hopes he didn’t ruin his chance

——

[skyahri]

One Bed |Naruto Men X Reader| HC

Characters: Sasuke Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, and Shikamaru Nara.

Summary: Classic one bed trope.

Warnings: Kissing. Bed sharing. Lead up to smut but no smut.

Masterlist Ko-fi

- - - - -

Sasuke Uchiha

It was shortly after the war.

The village was still recuperating from the loss, as was every other village, but there were still missions that needed to be fulfilled.

You were off to do some security work for the Daimyo, who had specifically requested the two of you to watch over his land while they rebuilt.

The only issue was that upon arrival, it wss revealed you'd be sharing a single room.

"You aren't the only ones to have suffered during the battle. Half of my property was destroyed!"

There wasn't much you could do, so you bit the bullet and followed one of the Ladies in Waiting to where you'll be staying.

One room? Whatever. One bed? Absolutely not.

You protested. It was inappropriate, even if you had known Sasuke for well over a decade at this point.

"We are low on resources at the moment, Y/L/N-san, Uchiha-san. It's why we have asked for your assistance in the first place."

You looked at Sasuke, who just gave you the same bored expression he always has.

You thanked the woman and began getting settled in your room. Sasuke offered to sleep on the floor, which you told him not to bother with.

You'd likely be here a few weeks, so it'd be best if you were both comfortable.

Sasuke was nice enough to let you shower first, which you'd gladly taken after two days' worth of travel.

He waited patiently for you to finish so he could prepare for bed as well. It was late, almost midnight, and he was tired.

It was awkward the first night. You'd slept uncomfortably back to back with this weird air around you.

You'd put on your most conservative pair of pajamas despite how warm the room was, and that only made things worse.

The second night wasn't much better.

But by the third night, you both grew tired of the tension. It was difficult to be fully rested when you'd slept terribly, so you formed some kind of unspoken, mutual respect for now.

You'd opted for your normal nighttime attire - a pair of shorts and thin t-shirt. You already felt better.

Sasuke, on the other hand, had been grateful for your prudish clothing. He had never said anything before, not that he had the time to, but he'd always been attracted to you.

Your revealing pajamas were not helping his comfort, so while you slept better that night, he did not.

Nor the next night.

Or the night after that.

By then, you'd become very aware of his antics. On top of being physically aware that he wasn't sleeping, you'd also become annoyed by his poor attitude.

He was already an ass as is, you really didn't need him sleep deprived on top of it.

So that night, as you lay in bed next to him, you roll onto your stomach and prop yourself up on your elbows to look at him.

"What's your problem?"

"I don't have a problem."

"Really? Could've fooled me."

He tsked at you. Why'd you have to be so annoying?

You pushed yourself up so you'd be sitting on your knees, your hands flat on the bed so you could still lean forward to talk to him.

His eyes darted down to your chest before looking away entirely.

No way. There was absolutely no way.

"Are you... bothered by my clothes?"

"Don't be stupid." He snapped.

You tried to suppress a knowing smirk but failed.

So you leaned forward and kissed him.

Despite his surprise, he immediately responded to your kiss, going so far as to roll you over onto your back so he'd be on top of you.

"Maybe I am a bit bothered."

Kakashi Hatake

This is Kakashi’s first Kage Summit, and he asked you to be his plus one.

You accepted with no hesitation. You were anxious to get out of the village since the war ended and going out with Kakashi was sure to make it all the more interesting.

The summit was boring. That's a good thing compared to the last summit, but it still made you want to gouge your eyes out. They discussed the status of their villages and what sort of issues they'd been running into, blah blah blah.

When it was nearing midnight and everyone was growing tired, they agreed to call it a night and resume in the morning.

Everyone went to their respective quarters, but when you got to the Leaf Village's wing, there was only a single room with a bed.

Apparently, during the rebuild, they'd slipped up and only added a single room instead of the usual two, and no one had noticed (Thanks Sasuke).

It wasn't too big of a deal. You'd known Kakashi since your Genin days and slept in the same room plenty of times.

You were a bit surprised when he actually got into bed with you though.

Despite all those sleepovers, this was the first time you'd actually slept so close together.

You stared at him. Not on purpose, just happened to be doing so while your mind was racing.

"Is this an issue? I can sleep on the floor."

You shook your head.

"You sure? You were giving me quite the look."

"I was just... wondering what you'd look like under the mask."

You lied. You couldn't tell him how you were thinking about sleeping in bed with him and it's implications.

He snorted and did something that completely caught you off guard.

He pulled down his mask.

You blushed. How could you not? All these years, and he chooses now, the most random moment, to finally reveal such a wel kept secret.

And then he does something else that yo weren't expecting.

He leans forward and kisses you. You kiss back. He pulls away after a minute.

"I've been waiting to do that since we were teenagers."

You laugh at him, then pull him in for another kiss.

Shikamaru Nara

Shikamaru, being the lazy man he is, put off booking a room to stay in for so long that there was only a single room left st the inn.

You'd scolded him, and he took it, knowing he should've done it when he'd gotten the mission report.

The room was on the smaller side and contained only a single bed and dresser.

Neither of you were interested in sleeping on the floor for the next week, so you agreed to share the bed.

Something you wouldn't have done if you'd known Shikamaru was such a... uncharacteristically chaotic sleeper.

Seriously, he moved around more at night than he did during the entire day. Maybe it's all the pent up energy.

Within an hour of him knocking out, he was already sprawled out across most of the bed, leaving you two options: sleep on the edge or lay on him.

You tried to sleep in the bit of space he hadn't taken, really, but it seemed he was basically drawn to you.

You caved, allowing whatever was going to happen to happen, too tired to fight it any longer.

When Shikamaru eventually woke up, you were on his chest, one arm thrown over him and peacefully sleeping.

He got flustered and quickly tried to get out from under you, waking you in the process.

He was able to dart away without much suspension. Or at least he thought.

The next night was the same, minus the internal battle you'd had prior.

When Shikamaru woke up to the same dilemma, he decided it was best to fall asleep after you.

That night, he'd stayed awake under the guise of a mission report update for the Hokage.

You'd simply shrugged and gone to bed.

He followed when he was sure you were asleep, making sure each of you were on your respective sides of the bed.

He was surprised when he woke up with him on top you, head on your chest as if it was the most casual thing to happen.

He'd begin to stammer about, but stopped when you'd groaned.

"Settle down, would you?"

"I was just-"

"It's not that big of a deal, Shika, just go to sleep."

He listened to you, despite not understanding what was actually going on.

In the morning, he attempted to talk to you about it, but the conversation didn't quite go as planned.

"Yeah, you're a cuddler. Not much I can do about it, so it's whatever."

From then on, it slowly became more natural for your nights to get more personal, even once you'd gotten home.

[bomber-grl]

What being their crush is like

Pairing(s): Characters x Gn!Ninja!Reader (teammate)

Character(s): Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha

Naruto Uzumaki

An absolute fool for you

The only ways you could’ve caught this morons affections is by either being attractive or being kind to him back when you both first started out at the academy

Either way he’s absolutely smitten and so when he hears your name called out after his in class- he’s ecstatic that you’ll be on the same team

If you have a crush on someone else he’d be pretty bummed out but it won’t deter him

(He was especially motivated by sasuke and Sakura- it was just to get him away from them)

He’ll try to buy you ramen, flowers, honestly just anything to show you that he’s the most suitable suitor

Which couldn’t be further from the the truth (in the eyes of everyone else)

He’d be so open about liking you

Well, when he’s not around you

He’ll always talk about you and how wonderful you are- it’s so painfully obvious to any outsider looking in

And when someone brings up his more than obvious crush on you he’d flush and act as if they had gone mental

Like what

Also bonus points to you if you constantly back him up when he’s being teased and support his dream to be hokage

Literally +1000 points

Well a certain period of time passes and throughout said period he’s constantly flirting with you

How? Well he’s always complimenting your fighting/ jutsu and trying to ask you out on a date

If you are even slightly hesitant to respond

Like by a milisecond- then he’d rub the back of his head and laugh it off

Going on about how he was just joking and I don’t know what

Then one day you end up accepting

Which is funny because of the fact that he left a very traditional love note hidden somewhere he knew you’d fine

[insert you going home and finding it]

Literally not surprising to anyone and most people would assume that Naruto would confess boldly

But I disagree- he’d be pretty shy and uncertain despite his tendency to be reckless

If you accept or not will be up to you but the next time you see him he’s all awkward and stuff but still manages to try and play it off

It’s up to you to break the ice

Sakura Haruno

Again, Sakura likely started liking you because of your attractiveness

It was just a surface level crush until she saw that you had an actual good character

She’s so beyond happy that you’ll be on the same team, I’m not even exaggerating

You’re all in the same class and so as classmates you’re all bound to have crushes on the same people

That’s to say- a good amount of people also had a crush on you and the moment your name was announced alongside hers-

She just mentally imagined flipping them all and shoving it in their faces

Miss girl is honestly so sweet, she’s always trying to spend time with you and if you have any trouble with anything

E.g. ninjutsu, fighting, etc. she’ll always be there to help

Maybe a little too willing at times

Now, we all know that Ino and Sakura have had this rivalry and often banter

Well, all of a sudden (if Ino isn’t fighting over you) she’s probably making fun of you and being very loud about her opinion on you

It’s either that she thinks you and Sakura are a perfect match (negative) or that you’re terrible and not the best option (also negative)

Either way you’re catching strays

Sakura obviously gets riled up over this and tries to defend you no matter where or when

Which leads to you being there for Sakuras Chunin exams and experiencing the whole match

It’s an event that leads to character growth- but when she goes back she doesn’t expect you to be there waiting for her

She’s honestly flattered you’d wait for her and is mentally smug about it

When she flirts with you it’s honestly super obvious too

I can’t even deny that

Like at times she’d defend you and act as though you’re always right and idk what else (which is her odd way of flirting because she sort of stares)

And then sometimes she just opens up about private stuff around you during the quiet moments

Plus she also gifts you little trinkets- like flowers or something casual and small

Either way- when she confesses it’s probably spontaneous asf

Like you’re walking around at night and she gets this urge to just spill her guts

And she does

She’s basically like why the hell not be like Naruto

She’s super flushed and awaits your response right then and there

If you like her back and know it- that’s that

But if you tell her you need to time to figure it out then she’ll accept

Just know she’s lying awake at night wondering regretting it

Sasuke Uchiha

He acts super neutral towards you

Which wouldn’t be an obvious pointer that you’re his crush towards the average person but cmon

He’s sasuke

So ofc it’s obvious he has a crush on you

Honestly the only way I’d see him having a crush on you would be if you were close to him pre massacre and have been by his side since forever

(Unless you’re willing to wait the long game *cough*cough* slow burn)

He’d be pretty dependent on you while also being super independent

It’s honestly confusing sometimes

When it comes to the whole you being apart of his team, he doesn’t feel a particular way about it

(Or so he tells himself)

He’d try so hard to be nonchalant around you

Like not even joking

But if someone insults you or does something slightly disrespectful- he’s giving them the death glare

And then excuses it with just being annoyed by (more often than not) Naruto

Since he usually pokes fun at ppl and stuff

(If you didn’t know him before the academy and even if you did) He’d probably admire your skills and how smart you are

Like he’d watch you from afar and is honestly jealous and simultaneously sees you as a rival

Again, super confusing.

The most affection you’d get from him at this stage is his (once in a lifetime) compliment about your fighting or something

Then he’d walk away

You’re left standing there super confused while he walks away with a light blush dusting his cheeks

He ain’t fooling nobody

He obviously feels super weird about having a crush on you because of his whole mission on finding his brother and -

Yea.

So even though he does like you more than he’d want to admit- he would never confess

Not likely

Which is what you thought

Until you find out that Sasuke left the village and there’s no point in trying to go after him or anything at all really

It’s a betrayal to you and everyone else

It’s dark by the time you get home and enter your room

You pick up this thing Sasuke had given you- his excuse? It wasn’t worth his time and so he had given it to you

You didn’t care much for his excuse and just kept it on your dresser

Upon closer inspection you noticed a paper sticking out and obviously took it out

It was a letter- one could argue it was sasuke confessing

He went on about how he liked was ok being around you and the paper note wasn’t all that long

Just a few lines (if any)

There was a rip towards the bottom and you were left wondering what it would’ve said

Spoiler - it was Sasukes actual confession that he cowardly ripped off and threw into a body of water, hoping you’d never find it

-

A/n: got a tad carried away

[alixezae]

content includes: darkish content, unprotected sex, p in v penetration, overstimulation, breeding kink, pet names such as baby, pretty girl, good girl, sweetheart, choking but the sexy way, dirty dirty talk, fucked dumb!reader, cervix fucking, squirting, back scratching, slight dumbification, clit rubbing, soft sex, stomach bulge, fluff, angst, etc..

parings: gojo x reader, nanami x reader, geto x reader, sukuna x reader, choso x reader, kenjaku x reader, mahito x reader, yuki x reader, shoko x reader, toji x reader, shiu x reader, naruto x reader, sasuke x reader, reigen x reader, etc..

GOJO SATORU

“WELL, WE SHOULD PROBABLY FUCK, RIGHT?”

@kingkonoha

♡ — SUMMARY; you & gojo are both sealed away in the prison realm. with nothing else to do, you might as well start fucking, right?

────HEAVEN IN YOUR CHEST

@kizoken

♡ — SUMMARY; no summary just whiney gojo

“notice me senpai!”

@itachiiwrites

♡ — SUMMARY; Since Gojo canonly is into older women as well, I can't help but think of Senpai!Reader who's extremely flirty.

“HAVE YOU SEEN MY PANTIES?”

@coffee-and-geto

♡ — SUMMARY; in a lazy, hot summer afternoon, it’s your boyfriend’s turn to do the laundry. but why doesn’t he respond when you’re asking where’s your panties?

“What? You’re married? And you’re a dad?”

@kingkonoha

♡ — SUMMARY; Yuji finds out that 𝐆𝐎𝐉𝐎 has a family.

𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃, 𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐔 𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩

@fairy-angel222

♡ — SUMMARY; a day with your favorite person on earth leads you to a fancy hotel for one weekend.. where you finally give yourself to your boyfriend, Gojo Satoru.

I WANT TO KISS YOU / キスしたい

@arminsumi

♡ — SUMMARY; you and Satoru falling in love despite a language barrier.

LET ME MARRY YOU

@arminsumi

♡ — SUMMARY; The risk of dating you his too much for him to handle, so he breaks it off, only for him to come back to your doorstep years later and ask: "Let me marry you."

𐙚 I’D RATHER BE KISSING YOUR WAIST

@honoredalone

♡ — SUMMARY; gojo satoru is the strongest, but that didn’t leave him without his scars. internal and external. the biggest scar making him shy away, but that didn’t stop you from loving it.

GETO SUGURU

𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑!!!

@s0dium

♡ — SUMMARY; Never in your wildest dreams did you think you’d find out that your crush, Geto Suguru, was just like you: a murderer. Not only that but you share the same passion; killing criminals and pedophiles!

DOCTOR’S ORDERS, GIVE US SOME PRIVACY ! (FT. GETO)

@sonarspace

♡ — SUMMARY; what is a doctor without a nurse?

Horny Geto Suguru

@s0dium

♡ — SUMMARY; Geto Suguru cannot stop having sick fantasies about you

❝ PUFF , PUFF , FUCK ! ❞

@sugutiva

♡ — SUMMARY; riding suguru while he’s high .

HUSBAND SUGURU! + PREGNANCY ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

@slttygeto

♡ — SUMMARY; Husband Suguru! whom before you even got married, sat you down and mentioned to you how starting a family wasn’t something he was looking forward to. you know of his past, of the trauma he’s been through. he fully expects you to break up with him when he tells you that, knows how much you want to have a baby of your own, but you don’t. instead, you cradle him in your arms and tell him that you love him and appreciate what you have right now, not what you don’t even see in the picture.

love countdown!

@milkbobatyun

♡ — SUMMARY; it was the night before he left for okinawa, little did you know how much everything would change.

☆ R U GONNA STAY THE NIGHT?

@omgeto

♡ — SUMMARY; geto suguru, 'top dog' on campus, is used to ploughing through all the ditzy little freshmen without any concern for their feelings. but now his biggest challenge, is you, and it's not getting you in his bed, its getting you to stay in it.

RYOMEN SUKUNA

(TONGUE) TIED

@starmapz

♡ — SUMMARY; ❝ you can't possibly get home fast enough in the eyes of your husband who's been undressing you with his eyes all night. to his delight, he finds that you're just as eager as he is and feeling a little freaky, which means sukuna gets to pull out your collection of toys and ropes. ❞

Kinktober Day 4 - Brat Taming with Ryomen Sukuna

@getoslamb

♡ — SUMMARY; The air was tight in the luxurious chambers, thick with the underlying current of power and danger that came with being near Sukuna. You knew it all too well, and still, today you chose to push the boundaries. Maybe it was the way his attention had moved onto others, or maybe you just wanted to feel his power focused on you.

TASTING FEAR

@eclipseslayer

♡ — SUMMARY; The King of Curses sends out Uraume to fetch his new concubine to birth his heir, and, unfortunately, it happened to be you.

"Lust and Sin" - trueform!Sukuna

@fayesia

♡ — SUMMARY; Sukuna was a controlling ruler. He took over good to make it evil and was well aware of the mere sorcerors who kneeled before him, or death would await them.

𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚!

@carebearbussy

♡ — SUMMARY; 𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝… 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙠𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩.

MULTI CHARACTERS ¡! ← click here <3

SILKEN WEB

@chrollogy

♡ — SUMMARY; Hisoka’s ‘generosity’ allows Chrollo to fuck you in front of him after he’s seen the way the latter has looked at you. Though, the redhead cannot help but join in on the fun despite being the cuck—he has his ways, he always does.

THE BEACH ꔛ Reigen A.

@i4sgwr

♡ — SUMMARY; Using your beach trip as an opportunity to confess to your crush??? An unwise decision. alternative synopsis: Reigen confesses to you on the Spirits & Such beach trip.

More coming soon ↓

Creds: @mirru & @anitalenia

[sweet1delusi0ns]

Nicknames you call naruto boys ──☆*:・ﾟ

Characters: Naruto🦊,sasuke🗡️,kiba🐺, shikamaru🀄️,shino🪲,neji🎋,Lee🥋, choji🍥,gaara⏳, kankuro🪆

Bold is them~

Fem!reader

Naruto🦊-*

You mostly call him darling or handsome, but sometimes you call him foxy just to tease LOL. At first he was flustered by darling n stuff but soon got use to it, but he never expected the name “foxy” to appear farther along into your relationship

“Y/nnnn! How does my hair look?? I’m trying something new do you like?” “I think you look great foxy!” He stopped for a solid 10 seconds before responding “ah…. Heh… are you making fun of mee?” “No I’m callin you foxy cuz your a fox!” “Literally?” “No I’m calling you hot, foxy means attractive silly” Again he paused trying to understand what is happening. “SHE THINKS IM HOT!” He hopes he said that in his head

Sasuke🗡️-*

You call him literally any meaningful name he will either be like “whatever” or about to cry, just depends what you call him. You can call him babe/sweetie/honey or whatever and he wouldn’t react but he will break if you call him “baby boy” he has issues but you can fill that void for him.

“Sasuke, let’s go to bed” “I mustn’t y/n. I’m far too busy, I will be in bed in three hours. Promise” you grab his hand stopping him from walking out the door “baby boy please. I worry about you… let’s go to bed” you can feel his hand twitch in yours, he turns to meet your eyes. His face visibly softens almost to a sad expression. “Yes, darling. Ok…”

Kiba🐺-*

Love, baby, good boy and puppy. Puppy for obvious reasons, I’ve said it before when he gets tired he wants your attention 100%. he wants to cuddle and talk literally anything as long as he has your attention, and the cherry on top is when you call him puppy. Throughout the day you call him nicknames like “Kiba baby, can you hand me my bag” or “love your going to be latee!” but puppy is only for special moments

He was irritated over god knows what and all he wanted was to cuddle so that’s what he gets! “I’d be irritated too Kiba now come hereee” “thank god! I just need some private time with you..” instantly climbed into your lap to sprawl out “of course! We can cuddle all you need puppy” you can see the dumb smirk growing in his face as he giggles like an idiot while growing red

Shikamaru🀄️-*

You guys share the same nicknames with each other so you call him things like dear and sweetie. He’s very chill with nicknames but he does find them adorable especially when they come from you.

“Shika?….Shikamaru??? sweetie?… DEAR!!!?” “WHAAAAAAATTTT” “DONT SASS ME IM TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!” “SORRY….what?” “I love you~” “god your such a pain… love you too”

Shino🪲-*

Bug boy LOL. Yes bug boy but also sweetheart mostly! He barely reacts to things you do but every now and then you can catch a little smile on his cute face~

“Sweetheart~” “yes love bug?” “Have I ever told you how cute you are?” “Ah…uhm..no you haven’t, thank you” you giggle “I can see the smile!” he quickly tucks into his shirt once he realized he has been caught

Neji🎋-*

Let’s be honest. He’s pretty. So the name must  acknowledge his prettiness pretty boy! He always thought the name was silly “why not handsome boy?” “Because your pretty? I mean you are handsome but pretty boy is cuter!”

“Where you headin pretty boy?” “Out for a walk, care to join?…again with the silly name y/n?” “Sure I’ll join, and yes again with the silly name I’ll never stop until you love it!” He stopped responding just to talk to himself “little do you know I do…” he whispered

Lee🥋-*

He’s chooses the nicknames honestly. He’s just a ball of excitement when it come to your relationship. He’s on top of communication so nicknames were talked about at the beginning.

“Oooo can my nickname be honey bun!!! OH or maybe perfect, loving, amazing, handsome boyfriend!” “Well that’s to long for a pet name uhm.. how about just handsome, honey and love?” “AH PERFECT!” He reacts clapping his hands together

Choji🍥-*

You are very very special to him so you are the only one he lets call him big boy, because he knows that you NEVER mean it in a insulting way. In fact you mostly use it as a flirt~ along with sweetie or buds!

“God I could just eat you up big boy~” or “sweetie pie your lookin handsome today!” He is very anxious and insecure sometimes so you gotta make him feel like the hottest man in your eyes~ some times he just lays on your chest listening to all your praises and compliments

Gaara⏳-*

He doesn’t care what you call him he just appreciates you no matter what. But you decided rose would be perfect~ not just because his hair is red but you also find him as beautiful and perfect as a budding rose

“Rose can you hand me my water” “am…I rose?” You giggle “yes Gaara!” “Oh. Thank you y/n!” He flashes a smile “Aw I love you Gaara~” “I love you too..”

Kankuro🪆-*

He doesn’t care what you call him but he does find it a little hot if you call him a “bad boy” but that rarely ever happens, mostly it’s just darling, sexy or handsome (he likes compliments ok)

You can observe him applying his makeup so you can chime in “your a handsome one arent ya?” “I know right~” “ok bad boy, calm down with your cockiness-” “Mmmm call me that again~” “ok I’m leaving moment ruined.” He’s so annoying and cocky but we love him

[antichilde]

pick your battles

kakashi x gn reader, 700 words, sfw but mdni

in which kakashi makes the mistake of bringing a cute bento to training

contents: 100% fluff, cooking as a love language, initially reader is assumed to be female but a gender is never actually specified

notes: this is a test run for a forced proximity slowburn i’m working on. feedback is always appreciated 🥰

Kakashi should’ve known better than to bring the dumplings with him to training. Usually he can get away with having lunch, picking moments when his students are distracted to eat his meal. Not today, though. This time three pairs of eyes are glued to him the moment he takes the lid off his bento.

Naruto leans over his shoulder, staring openly. “Whatcha got there, sensei?”

“Dumplings, of course,” Sakura says, rolling her eyes. “I know you’re a ramen freak but there are other kinds of food in the world.”

She picks up her chopsticks, pretending to be interested in her own meal, but he can see how curious she is. Kakashi frowns as he eyes the lunch she’s packed for herself; it isn’t nearly enough food to get her through training.

“I know what dumplings are!” Naruto snaps back at Sakura. “I wanted to know what kind they are.”

Seeing an opportunity, Kakashi turns away to uncover his face while they bicker. He’s got just enough time to shove two dumplings into his mouth before he has to pull his mask back up.

“They’re homemade,” Sasuke notes. He’s been quiet up to now, content to eat his own lunch and watch the other two fight it out.

“They are,” Kakashi confirms through a mouthful of food, nodding. “And Naruto I doubt you would like them. They’re vegetable.”

“Lame.” Naruto flops down onto the grass, his attention shifting to the fluffy white clouds overhead. “You didn’t even make any meat ones?”

“There’s no way Kakashi-sensei made them,” Sakura says, suspicious.

He knows he shouldn’t respond, but Kakashi can’t help himself. After all, he did make some of them, and he’s quite proud of that.

“Oh?” he asks, his tone as mild as always. “And what makes you say that, Sakura?”

“They’re way too cute. Look at the little ruffles along the edges.”

“I can make cute things. Maybe I felt like changing things up for once.”

“There’s a note on the lid of the bento,” Sasuke says, not even looking up.

Kakashi’s heart nearly stops in his chest. You’d left him a note? No, he would’ve seen one right? Sasuke must be bluffing. From his position on the ground, Naruto leans over to swipe the lid off of the stone step where Kakashi had placed it. He does his best not to react, even as Naruto flips the lid over to check the underside.

“What are you talking about, Sasuke? There’s nothing here.”

Sasuke takes a bite of rice. “No, of course there isn’t. But look at Kakashi-sensei.”

For the second time that afternoon, three pairs of curious eyes turn towards Kakashi. He tries to school his expression, a feat which is usually easy enough with a mask on, but he can feel the treacherous flush creeping up his cheeks.

Sitting up and crossing his legs, Naruto places the lid back on the step. “Sensei, why’s your face getting all red?”

“Oh look! He’s blushing!” Sakura squeals, bringing her hands up to her cheeks. “Sensei must have a girlfriend.”

Sasuke wipes his mouth on his sleeve, aloof as ever. “Took you long enough.”

Immediately Naruto and Sakura launch into a barrage of questions.

“Is she pretty?”

“Do we know her?”

“How long have you guys been dating?”

“Wait, is she living with you?”

“Does that mean it’s serious?”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Kakashi raises a gloved hand, cutting them off. “You’re making a lot of assumptions based on a couple of dumplings.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Naruto says, nodding, and for a single, blissful moment, Kakashi thinks he’s won. But then Naruto adds: “He could have a boyfriend.” and Kakashi decides it’s time to end this conversation.

“As glad as I am that you have an open mind, that isn’t the kind of assumption I was referring to. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

Naruto opens his mouth, but his teacher is having none of it.

“Or a boyfriend. Or any sort of partner. And even if I did, it’s none of your business.”

Sakura looks like she has more to say on the subject, but just then her stomach growls and Kakashi pushes the bento towards her.

“You three, have the rest of these. None of you packed enough to eat today. I’ll be back in a bit, I have an errand to run.”

As he makes his escape, disappearing in a puff of smoke, Kakashi wonders if he’s just adding fuel to the fire. Probably, though at least this way he knows Sakura and Sasuke will eat something. And he’s sure Naruto will too, once he figures out that Kakashi lied about the vegetables.

[roronoa-roro]

ᴘʀᴀɴᴋ #3 "ꜱᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɴᴜᴅᴇꜱ" !!!

CW: nudes¡ suggestive language¡ mentions of sex¡

Pairing: (all post timeskip) suna, atsumu, osamu, ginjima x gn!reader

Network: @tokyometronetwork

ꜱᴜɴᴀ ʀɪɴᴛᴀʀᴏ

Guaranteed returns. All favors are returned x1000.

Send him a partial nude and you will get a dick pic within 3 milliseconds. Send him a thirst trap and an audio capture of him moaning your name is sent back.

Suna prides himself on his ability to collect quality material, so it's no surprise he's so very enthusiastic about this nudes exchange business.

Has pretty lights set up around his room just for the sake of clicking aesthetic dick pics.

There's even a special folder on his desktop dedicated to you. All these frisky pics and videos are stored there. He even names it his 'personal pornhub'

Comes home with hundreds of nasty fantasies filled in his head. Trust me he's created a very nice simulation of all the things he'd love to do to you.

ᴍɪʏᴀ ᴀᴛꜱᴜᴍᴜ

You just know this motherfucker is choking on his spit every time you send a pic that's even closely revealing.

This one time you send him a suggestive (only to dirty minded people) picture of your newly done nails holding your glass just for fun and next day videos of Miya Atsumu, star athlete clumsily fumbling with his phone are trending on the internet.

I'm really really sorry for this one but he totally responds in Adam Levine style😭😭😭 he's embarrassing you know it but you love him and that shitty replying style is something you and him have to work on.

He comes home all needy and whiny after that. Needs all the love and affection— much much more than usual.

He might not admit it but every time his phone pings and it's a message from you he pulls in a deep breath to stabilize his heart and be ready.

Atsumu is too much of an innocent boy for that cocky front he puts up.

ᴍɪʏᴀ ᴏꜱᴀᴍᴜ

Now this guy is a totally different story. Unlike his brother, although equally cocky, he has the guts to back it up.

You once sent him a nude while on a double dinner date just to see his reaction and this mf looked at the picture and smirked, licking his lip. Never tell him how flustering you found it you'd just be digging your own grave.

He's an observant guy, he knows all your preferences– from the food to the positions, so it's not a huge surprise to you when he sends you detailed, nasty, toe-curling replies.

Lowkey think he could run his own pornblog and we would still follow him like dick hungry bitches.

Sometimes, he would send you unprompted random messages while you are at work. Like sirrrr, you get it. He knows you very well but it's none of his business to ensure you're melting in your chair at work thinking about him.

But that's not all. The real nastiness starts when you return home, or his hotel. This man is filthy. And he's gonna pull you down with him whether you like it or not.

ʜɪᴛᴏꜱʜɪ ɢɪɴᴊɪᴍᴀ

You were sorely mistaken if you thought he was an innocent baby boy who had to be introduced to the art of sending nudes gently💀💀💀

He is the devil. This man laughs at you and calls you weak when you send him a partial nude.

The insult digs deeper when he sends you a beautiful, Pinterest worthy image of his pants pulled down just enough to show his perfect v-line. The sunlight kissing his pretty skin doesn't help either.

This ensues a nudes war. Who can click the better nude.

You both give each other occasional runs for your money. But it's usually him powning you most of the time. This guy has some serious aesthetics.

But the funny thing is, although you both forget the original intention of sending nudes, you both develop a cute and adorable sort of bonding activity out of it.

Lost the taglist so i won't tag anybody and this isn't gonna be a regular writing phase anyways so🙏🙏🙏 also drop some holy water in the comments and reblogs plej i need it I've been thinking very nasty thoughts abt a certain white haired sensei from naruto

[iam-anordinary-human-orami]

I know spotify wasn't a thing probably for the aftg universe but like imagine it was and the trojans are holding a spotify wrapped unwrapped party or some dumb name like that, where they gather the team and what they do essentially is they write down what their top 5 songs were on a piece of paper, give it to this year's presenter and that person plays songs from each top 5 and the trojans have to figure out whose list it is.

So everyone thinks oh jean probably listens to french music, whether classical or otherwise, cause he seems to be so out of touch with pop culture. But, they forget that Jean started living with two lesbians and a gay golden retriever(I don't mean bark bark) and so his music horizons have widened.

So it's Jean's top 5, no one knows of course. Presenter is one of the trojans "and here goes our next mystery contestant starting off strong with... a band named, I assume it's a band, um plastic titties?" People are snickering, "we get it you're gay" "they're lesbians Harold!", and Jean tenses but hides it very well that it's his top 5. Song starts. It's a screamo punk indie rock combo. Ppl start making guesses, "your honour I think it's Cat, only she knows fringe bands with monthly listeners less than this team's defence line" cat yelling back "not my fault you're a slave to the trends you swiftie!" , "Look me in the eye and tell me you dont know the words to 'love story' " , "Settle down, we ain't finished yet. Any other guesses?" , "Are we sure it's not one of the coaches?" , "Which coach do YOU think would listen to, and I repeat, 'plastic titties'? And if anyone else responds with 'your mom' I'm banning u from this round" , "Play the next one so we cop a feel" , "Why u gotta make it weird bro"

"Okay next one!" And the next one is like an intense rap song "someone's covering their tracks people", "we need to figure out whether this is working out music or what they genuinely listen to", "go on to the next one cause this is a bop but it could be anyone", "couldn't be Jeremy though" Jeremy standing up for himself "hey, I listen to rap" , "says the person who's top song was probably by Natasha Bedingfield", "beat the Sugababes fan allegations and then refer to our captain"

"Riight, next one is" and the next one is a funky hip hop anti-establishment song "sounds like Laila people" laila making it clear "I do listen to them but I can guarantee you that's not in my top favourites, not because it's not a banger, but because I don't listen to this album very much" , "she's lying to the defence your honour!" , "No one's in trial Cody sit down" Jean turning to look at Jeremy "and this is supposed to be a bonding exercise?" Jeremy thoroghouly invested in the game and scribbling down "bet you it's Ananya, she's been awfully quiet" Jean rolls his eyes, his hands crossed while he looks upon the second best collegiate exy team and wondering how his life came to this

"Aight? Is there anyone that has an educated guess?" Shawn puts his hand up, presenter says "I said educated" Shawn puts his hand down.

The last two songs are like an indie creepy heartfelt song and a ballad. This throws everyone off. At the end of the round everyone is accusing everyone and their mother, Jean with a sigh and rubbing his temples "we could be doing drills" , someone yells "I bet my firstborn it's Nabil!" , "You are an embarrassment to this team, sit down!" "Nabil is an anime nerd, I didn't hear a single Naruto in that playlist!", "That's not amv music your honour" , "bring the strikers forward let them justify their crimes upon the eyes of God!" , "If it's a crime to have good taste lock��� me 👏up👏"

The presenter gets tired after a while "alright, kindly shut your traps so we can have a winning day! The mystery contestant is.. drumroll people! The mystery contestant isss....Jean" Silence. And then "I didn't know the french listen to screamo?", "But your honour, this is not coloniser music?", "Amelie is not even on there though", someone quietly "not a single song about baguettes?", "What's next? Jeremy Knox being a secret death metal fan?"

Meanwhile, Dan got the foxes to post screenshots of their top 5 songs on social media. The Internet is breaking cause why is Andrew Minyard's top song by the veronicas???

[bloomeng]

I'm a little nervous to talk about this because the internet is truly the place where nuance goes to die but fuck it I'm going to do it anyway.

So misogyny in fan spaces. There's so much that can be said here, but I want to focus on a trend I've seen in fanfiction for years. This isn't a call out to anyone in particular or a fic that I read recently, it's just something I want to talk about.

There's a range in which I see misogyny displayed in fanfiction. The most subtle version is when a fic has a large cast, but despite this, the female characters just float in the background as accessories. Writing big casts is difficult and I understand that (it's part of the reason I tend not to like big casts) but despite this all the female characters will remain less developed than their male counterparts. The other version is they will exist only to advise or prop up a male character, which isn't to say that a female character can't play that role in a story. On an individual level, it's not an issue, but when it's the only role over and over it becomes an issue. My solution to handling big casts is to break them off at times into pairs/smaller groups and allow everyone to have their moment. It doesn't need to be perfectly balanced but even small moments could go a long way.

The next step up is literally ignoring them altogether. I understand not every character is going to feature in every story. Time and place and all that jazz. But it's telling when they're so clearly written out of a story for the sake of not addressing them. If we can cram in all these male character cameos we can do the same for the women. Personally I feel writing is stronger if you only include characters for a purpose beyond them just being there (and it would be two birds with one stone bc that would automatically allows for more depth), but this is fanfic that I'm discussing, where fan service rules everything.

The third trend and arguably the most egregious I refer to as the “Sakura Effect.” The Sakura Effect is when an author will include either a pre-existing female character or an original female character for the sole person of villainizing her to extreme proportions. It’s scary to me because as much as media can be misogynistic this is so much worse in my opinion. As fans I would hope we would be better but then I see characters flattened or created simply to be awful. And yet “no one” sees the issue in that.

I’ve seen authors go far as to say apologize in the notes about mischaracterizing female characters for the sake of the conflict. Like we’re so close to recognizing the issue yet so far. Also for some reason it’s socially acceptable to add character bashing tags to fics?? I see this the most with Naruto fics, but to this day I will never understand why people feel the need to establish how much they hate a female character in a fic that doesn’t even touch on them. Or they warn people that they made her evil bc they hate her??? Like ok so we’re recognizing the problem and doubling down. Cool.

I once saw someone create a female character for a fic who was described as ugly and with a ton of acne and a bunch of people called the author out for the description and its subsequent streotypes. The author responded by basically being like I hear you but I don’t care. But I was also concerned that no one else in the comments was concerned that the character was female as well.

I see this trend with people to make these super creepy stalker female characters as conflict for their mlm ships and it’s just like…. do we not see the inherent issue in this. We complain about the treatment of women in the source material and then we (fan culture) turn around and make arguably more offensive characters.

This is a fairly ranty non-nuance, doesn’t even touch on intersectionality, look at misogyny in fanfiction but that’s all I have the capacity to discuss today.

[maoam]

While after re-reading snk manga and analyzing it more my opinions have changed somewhat, I do still stand by with the point I made about Mikasa and Sasuke. Though that point is pretty common when it comes to writing love.

The way Mikasa and Sasuke are ready to throw themselves to protect the person they love out of instinct. Kishimoto did not need to draw Sasuke suddenly throw his arm in front of Naruto like that even after he already used Susanoo to protect him, but he did. And Sasuke did that ONLY when it came to Naruto. And that's not all.

He wrote TWO moments of realizations for Sakura. Moments where Sakura realized Sasuke isn't concerned for her safety. Somehow, SS were able to cope even with these moments. Sasuke must be lying, despite there is no indication of that (once again, they don't understand how writing or story telling works, they rely on their headcanons). While Naruto is sure of Sasuke's feelings for him by now, even teasing Sasuke about the fact Sasuke cares about him, Sakura is there looking like a sad wet rag everytime she realizes Sasuke doesn't have much concern for her, yet she keeps going for him anyway. This culminates to her angrily clenching her teeth and shouting her confession. That to SS is somehow love.

This trope too. As we know, it applies to Naruto as well. 'When you have someone to protect, you can truly become strong'.

Of course, it's not just Mikasa. Love makes you conquer fear.

'I don't know how to explain it' funny how all the romantic tropes just fall on narusasu instead of Sasuke and Sakura's relationship? It's almost like Kishi was trying to tell something to us with his writing.

And the tropes just keep coming.

I need to remind people I'm not saying EM and narusasu are the same. I am aware Isayama did not write Eren's side of the relationship well. I am comparing Mikasa and her actions individually. All of the meaningful tropes and tropes about love are how Sasuke responds to Naruto, not Sakura.

[6azia]

Threesome NaruSasu x m!reader

—summary. They arrived at the hot spring they’d reserved for the night, a private spot secluded from the rest of the resort. The steam rose thick from the water, and the air smelled of fresh pine and minerals. The peaceful atmosphere seemed almost surreal to them, a far cry from the battles and missions that had filled their lives. Or Sasuke, Naruto and (Y/N) have a bachelor party at it went wrong, or right??

—content warning. threesome, cheating?, bottom sasuke, top naruto, top (Y/N), hotsprings

—word count. ~4,1k

—azia's notes. I forgot how to write smut I think lol

𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔨𝔱𝔬𝔟𝔢𝔯-𝔏𝔦𝔰𝔱

"Man, I still can’t believe it," Naruto said, hands behind his head, his usual grin plastered across his face. "You are getting married tomorrow. I figured you'd be more likely to become Hokage than settle down first!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes but didn’t bother responding. Naruto had been poking fun at him ever since they’d arrived, and he knew it wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. His best friend was never one to let things go easily, and this whole trip was just another excuse for Naruto to act like a clown. He wasn’t annoyed though—he was used to it by now.

(Y/N) walked beside them, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket, a slight smirk on his face. He was the more level-headed of the three, but he wasn’t above teasing either. “You’ve gotta admit, it’s pretty weird. You’re not exactly the romantic type, Sasuke.”

Sasuke huffed. “I’m not the type to throw away my life for the sake of stupid jokes either, but I still let you two drag me out here.”

Naruto let out a loud laugh. “C’mon, teme! You didn’t ‘let’ us drag you anywhere. You wanted this. You just won’t admit it.”

They arrived at the hot spring they’d reserved for the night, a private spot secluded from the rest of the resort. The steam rose thick from the water, and the air smelled of fresh pine and minerals. The peaceful atmosphere seemed almost surreal to them, a far cry from the battles and missions that had filled their lives.

As they stripped down and sank into the hot water, Naruto stretched out with a loud sigh, clearly enjoying the moment. “This is life. You should’ve made Sakura come too. We could’ve made it a double date or something.”

Sasuke shot him a look, half amused, half irritated. “That’s not the point of a bachelor party, idiot.”

Naruto shrugged. “Well, (Y/N)’s here. I’m here. Close enough, right?”

(Y/N) chuckled, leaning back against the edge of the spring. “Close enough? Last I checked, Naruto, we aren’t together.”

Naruto splashed some water in his direction. “Yeah, yeah. But we’ve been through enough that it almost feels like we’re married. I mean, I’ve basically had to deal with Sasuke’s brooding and your yapping years.”

Sasuke was silent, his eyes focused on the rippling water in front of him. The warmth of the springs was relaxing, but there was something on his mind; something heavier. He wasn’t usually one for this kind of thing. But here, with Naruto and (Y/N), it felt right.

(Y/N) glanced over at Sasuke, picking up on his quiet mood. "You nervous?"

Sasuke looked up, his expression unreadable. "No. Just thinking."

"About what?" Naruto asked, scooting a little closer, his curiosity piqued. "I know you’ve been all quiet lately, but you don’t usually get this weird unless something’s bothering you."

Sasuke took a breath, the steam swirling around them. "Just... about tomorrow. Everything’s going to be different after this."

Naruto grinned. "Duh! You’re getting married. Of course things are gonna be different. But that’s a good thing, isn’t it? I mean, you love Sakura, right?"

Sasuke nodded slowly with a slight frown. "It’s not about that. It’s just... life. I’ve spent so much time fighting. Revenge. Pain. And now... it’s over. I guess it feels strange to leave it all behind." He mumbled while sinking more into the water.

(Y/N) nodded in understanding. "I get that. It’s like the end of one chapter and the start of something new. We’re not the same people we were when we were kids. But that’s okay. You deserve some peace, man."

Naruto, floating on his back, splashed his arms through the water. “Yeah, exactly! Besides, you’re not leaving anything behind. We’re still here. Sakura’s always been there for you, and we will be too. We’re all moving forward together.”

Sasuke closed his eyes, leaning back into the warmth. Naruto had a point, his annoying optimism always had a way of cutting through the noise. Despite everything, he wasn’t alone. His life was about to change, but not in a way that scared him. If anything, it felt like a release, a way to move forward without losing who he was.

(Y/N), always the calmer voice, added, "And hey, it’s not like you're giving up who you were. You’ve just grown. Tomorrow isn’t the end of anything—it’s just a new step."

Naruto sat up, grinning. “Exactly! Plus, we’ll still have plenty of time to hang out. Just because you’re getting married doesn’t mean you’re turning into some boring old guy.”

Sasuke chuckled softly. “You’d know about being boring.”

Naruto gasped in mock offence. “Me? Boring? Please. I’m the life of every party.”

(Y/N) shook his head, smiling. “If you say so, Naruto.”

The three of them fell into a comfortable silence again, the steam rising around them as the night grew darker. The sky overhead was clear, the stars slowly beginning to show themselves. Sasuke glanced up at them, feeling a strange sense of calm. He wasn’t used to it. This feeling of everything being in its right place.

The night deepened as the three friends settled further into the hot spring, the cool evening air contrasting with the warmth of the water. Bottles of sake sat on a small wooden tray at the edge of the pool, beads of condensation rolling down the glass. Naruto was the first to reach for one, pouring a drink for each of them with an eager grin on his face.

"Alright," Naruto said, holding his cup high. "To Sasuke’s last night of freedom!" He laughed, the sound loud and unfiltered in the quiet night.

(Y/N) raised his cup with a smirk. "I’ll drink to that."

Sasuke shook his head, but there was a small smile on his lips. "You guys are ridiculous."

They clinked their cups together and drank, the warm sake sliding down easily. Naruto, predictably, gulped his down and quickly poured another. "You know," he began, swirling his cup lazily, "it’s crazy to think how far we’ve come. I mean, us—sitting here, like this. Feels like yesterday we were just dumb kids fighting each other."

Sasuke glanced over at Naruto, his expression softening. "We still are dumb kids, Naruto."

"Speak for yourself," (Y/N) added, grinning. "I’m the responsible one here."

Naruto snorted. "Yeah, right. You’ve caused just as much trouble as we have."

(Y/N) shrugged, not denying it. He took a sip of his drink, his eyes drifting from Naruto to Sasuke. There was a kind of tension in the air now, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Maybe it was the sake, or maybe it was just the fact that they had all been through so much together, but things felt... closer. Different.

As the night wore on, the conversation became looser, the laughter louder. Naruto leaned back against the side of the spring, his cheeks flushed from both the heat and the alcohol. "You know," he started, his voice a little softer, "I always wanted to be like you, Sasuke."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, taking another sip from his cup. "What are you talking about?"

Naruto smiled, though it wasn’t his usual loud grin. "You know, cool. Calm. You never let anything get to you. I always thought if I could get your approval, maybe I’d be... better."

Sasuke looked at him, the usual smirk fading. He wasn’t good with words, especially when it came to anything emotional. "You didn’t need my approval, Naruto."

Naruto shrugged, his eyes a little unfocused. "Maybe. But I wanted it anyway."

(Y/N) watched them, his gaze moving between the two. There was a strange intimacy to this moment, something that went beyond words. He always liked the way Naruto could say things that others wouldn’t, and how Sasuke would respond in his own way, quietly, even if he didn’t realise it.

(Y/N) took a long sip from his cup, feeling the alcohol warm him from the inside out. His gaze lingered on Sasuke for a moment, then on Naruto. They had both always fascinated him in their own ways.

Sasuke with his intensity,

Naruto with his brightness.

He had stayed with them because, in their chaos, he had found something he didn’t get anywhere else. A feeling he can’t quite describe. Or doesn’t want to describe.

The conversation drifted again, this time to old memories, their shared battles, their past mistakes. At some point, Naruto had moved closer to Sasuke, their arms brushing against each other. Sasuke didn’t pull away. If anything, he leaned in just slightly, as if drawn to Naruto’s energy, even in this quieter moment.

Isa noticed the subtle shift between them, the way Sasuke’s usually guarded expression softened just enough to be noticeable. There was something unspoken between them, something that had always been there but never acknowledged.

Naruto poured them another round of sake, but his movements were slower now, more deliberate. His hand brushed against Sasuke’s as he passed the cup, and for a brief second, neither of them moved. Their eyes met, and there was a pause

A charged moment that neither seemed ready to break.

(Y/N) watched, feeling something stir in his chest. He wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the intimacy of the night, but something about the way they were all together like this felt... different. Closer. He shifted in the water, moving just a little nearer the other side of Sasuke.

Naruto was the first to break the moment, but not in his usual loud way. Instead, he leaned forward, pressing his lips against Sasuke’s without warning. It wasn’t rough or rushed; it was almost hesitant, like Naruto was testing something he wasn’t sure of. For a second, Sasuke froze, but then, surprisingly, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he kissed back, just briefly.

When they pulled apart, Naruto looked at Sasuke, his expression a little dazed, his breath coming out in a soft laugh. "I didn’t think you’d let me do that again."

Sasuke’s eyes flickered to red, to remember every crevice of the blond’s expression and he shook his head slightly. "Neither did I."

(Y/N), watching from the side, felt his heartbeat quicken. There was something raw about this moment;

about seeing two people he cared about so much cross a line they had never even acknowledged existed. Before he could think too much about it, (Y/N) leaned in as well, pressing his lips to Naruto’s shoulder, then to his neck. Naruto shivered slightly but didn’t pull away.

(Y/N) moved closer, his hand brushing against Sasuke’s, and for a moment, the three of them were connected, the heat of the sake and the steam from the water blurring the lines between friendship and something else. Something they have been desiring longer than they thought.

Naruto let out a low chuckle, his voice softer than usual. "You too, huh, (Y/N)?"

(Y/N) didn’t answer, at least not with words. Instead, he leaned forward, kissing Naruto’s face, inches away from his mouth, then turned his head slightly and kissed Sasuke too, just briefly. It was slow, tentative, but the tension was undeniable.

Sasuke, usually so controlled, didn’t pull back. He met (Y/N)’s kiss with a quiet intensity that was new, unexpected. There was no need for words between them, no need to explain or define what this was. In the heat of the springs, under the stars, it didn’t matter.

After some time they parted, every one of the boys had a different reaction.

One had a love struck smile,

the other looked as if a weight has been off his shoulders and

the last one looked horrified by his actions and with what his soon to be wife would do to him and his friends.

Naruto stood first, stretching, his movements somewhat sluggish, the alcohol making him feel languid. "We should probably head back," he said, his voice low, almost husky. He glanced at Sasuke, then at (Y/N), a smirk tugging at his lips. "Wouldn’t want the hotel to lock us out."

Sasuke, leaning against the edge of the hot spring, watched him with half-lidded eyes. He nodded but didn’t say anything, his usual cool demeanour still intact, though something in his gaze had shifted. (Y/N) followed Naruto’s lead, pulling himself out of the water, droplets trailing down his toned chest as he grabbed a towel.

The night air was cool against their skin as they dried off, the heat from the spring still clinging to their bodies. Naruto slowly slung his Yakuta around his shoulders, letting the two other guys enjoy the view. He smirked at them and was the first to break the comfortable silence, slinging an arm lazily over Sasuke’s shoulders as they walked back towards their hotel. His touch was familiar, casual, but there was a weight to it now; a closeness that may have been there before even all this ordeal. However now the ravenette knew certainty that their past kisses weren’t enjoyed one-sidedly.

Sasuke didn’t brush him off like he might have in the past. Instead, he allowed it, his own hand briefly grazing (Y/N)’s lower back as they all walked side by side, an unspoken connection hanging between them.

The walk back to the hotel was slow, none of them in a rush to end the night. The streets were quiet, the only sounds coming from the distant rustling of trees and the soft hum of the nearby springs.

They reached the hotel, its soft lights glowing warmly in the night. As they stepped into the lobby, the atmosphere seemed to shift again, the quiet of the space amplifying the tension that had been building between them all night. None of them spoke as they made their way to their room, the silence filled with the sound of their footsteps and the distant murmur of water from the springs outside.

Once inside the room, the door clicked shut softly behind them. Sasuke moved to the window, looking out over the serene view, while Naruto flopped down onto the bed, the cushions giving way under his weight. (Y/N) leaned against the wall, watching them both with a curious expression, his eyes lingering on the way Sasuke’s body moved as he stretched, the moonlight casting shadows across his pale skin.

Naruto rolled over onto his side, propping his head up with one hand. His eyes flickered between (Y/N) and Sasuke, a slow grin spreading across his face. "So... we calling it a night, or what?"

Sasuke turned from the window, his gaze meeting Naruto’s, then lingering a bit lower. There was something unreadable in his eyes, something that spoke of all the unspoken feelings that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long. He didn’t respond with words, but the way he moved,

the way he walked slowly towards Naruto, his hand brushing against Naruto’s leg as he sat on the edge of the bed, said enough.

(Y/N) pushed off from the wall, stepping closer, his eyes never leaving the two of them. He could feel the pull between them, the way the air in the room seemed to thicken with every passing second. Without thinking, he reached out, his hand resting lightly on Sasuke’s shoulder, the warmth of his skin under his palm grounding him.

Naruto’s grin softened into something more serious as he looked up at Sasuke, their faces just inches apart. "You’re being weird tonight, Sasuke," he said softly, though there was no bite in his words. He reached out, his fingers brushing against Sasuke’s jaw, a touch so light it barely registered.

Sasuke didn’t pull away. If anything, he leaned into it, just enough to show that he didn’t mind. He glanced over at (Y/N), his expression unreadable, before shifting his attention back to Naruto. "Maybe," he muttered, his voice low, almost a whisper.

(Y/N)’s fingers tightened slightly on Sasuke’s shoulder, feeling the subtle shift in the room, the way they were all balancing on the edge of this situation completely escalating. He moved closer, standing just behind Sasuke, his chest almost brushing against his back. His breath was warm against the nape of Sasuke’s neck as he leaned in, close but not quite touching.

While his lips were ghosting Sasuke’s nap, a small groan was pulled from the Uchiha.

Naruto’s eyes flickered between them, something stirring in his chest as he felt the weight of (Y/N)’s presence just behind Sasuke. Without thinking, he tugged Sasuke‘s Yukuta down with him.

The silky material fell off the slim raveonettes body, teasingly slow, revealing his pale body to two hungry pairs of eyes. One of (Y/N) calloused hands creeped down his back, which let Sasuke lean down more, meeting Naruto’s warm mouth with his chest. The blond let a moan out at the contact and flicked his tongue against the pink bud. Naruto let Sasuke hover over his clothed lap as (Y/N) loosed his Yukuta and leaned down to cage the two friends on their shared bed.

“Guys, hurry up” Sasuke whined embarrassed and letting a small moan out as Naruto hummed on his chest. These vibrations send electric jolts down his proud standing dick, ready for attention from his two ‘friends’.

(Y|N) looked down at the two and frowned slightly at the blond. Naruto only looked confused at him as a response, with his big innocent eyes even while doing such taboo thing. However the raveonette seems to understand the train of thought of the boy behind him and he leaned back to loosen the blonds orange Yakuta.

Sasuke's cold hand wrapped around the blonds neck and their lips met in a slow dance of passion. The other one sat down beside the blond and admired the two halves. (Y|N)’s hand found itself between the two. He traced some veins of the two dicks with his index finger getting quiet moans as a response for his good actions. Sasuke broke the kiss with the blond and sat down fully on his lap. He hid his face in Naruto’s neck and took the (h|c) hand and wrapped it around his dick. He guided (Y|N)’s hand while avoiding eye contact with the two, embarrassed of his own actions.

Naruto and (Y|N) looked startled at their friends' bold behaviour.

While the two whispered soft praises at the raveonette, the latter trembled between them in their hold. “Aww is the strong Sasuke ashamed, that he likes his friends more than his fiancée” (Y|N) taunted. He felt Sasuke's hand tighten around him and all motions stopped.

After a moment of starring in each others eyes, Sasuke got off Naruto’s lap and pinned the (h|c) on the bed. Just before (Y|N) could protest, he got silenced by a rough kiss from Sasuke.

Naruto laughed at the raveonettes' attempt to be more dominant. He got up from the bed and got some oil to prepare the bottom of the group. (Y|N) threw his head back while Sasuke's and his dick were held in their hands together. “Fuck- Sasu…~” a loud groan came from the back of the lying man. Meanwhile Naruto positioned himself behind Sasuke and shared a look at (Y|N) as a silent agreement for the rest of the night.

(Y|N) pried Sasuke's legs open. “What do you think you are doing!” Sasuke snared and looked into these (e|c) where he always got mixed feelings. But now he felt humiliated by the mocking look he got.

“Why fight it, Teme? We know you are a bottom” Naruto mocked. Simultaneously the slightly cold oil is being poured on Sasuke's back. The sudden change in sensation let the Uchiha squeal out, but promptly relaxed and arched his back to the blond, accepting his fate.

The oil travelled up the raveonettes spine and up his nap. His friend who is still under him slid back to the headboard and leaned his back on it. At the change in position the Uchiha looked at the man in front of him with big eyes; anticipating his next move. What he didn’t expect was that he would get ignored, in favour of the blond. The two tops just talked over his head like he wasn’t there. Naruto prepared him as if it was an everyday task. It annoyed Sasuke to no end.

Sasuke couldn’t even believe his own actions, however their dismissive behaviour hurts more than he likes to admit. Even Naruto’s long and slim fingers couldn’t distract him from his own mind.

He puffed his red cheeks slightly and started to nuzzle against (Y|N)’s dick. The former didn’t even give him a glance. At that Sasuke got bolder; with some kisses here and there, kitten licks around the veiny length; he was so focused to get the other’s attention to him that he didn’t even noticed how the (h|c) jaw started to tighten, his thighs flexing or his hand twitching.

“Sasu- open your mouth more” (Y|N) groaned out. That starlet Sasuke and he looked up with eyes holding more love to the two than he ever looked at the pinkette. An unoccupied hand found its way into the black locks. It draws soothing circles on the scalp of the Uchiha. He relaxed into the hand and opened his pink lips more up, taking the pulsing heat of (Y|N).

The hand tightens around his hair and guides him at a slow pace. (Y|N) rolled his hips to meet Sasuke's mouth. The latter moaned and his throat tightened slightly, getting (Y|N) to his climax.

“Sorry-“ (Y|N) breathed out looking sheepishly at the disbelieved man under him. Sasuke only coughed a little and crawled up to sit on (Y|N)’s lap, trapping their two dicks between each other's abs.

While the two shared some more heated kisses with lots of moans from being able to taste each other, the raveonette forgot the blond was still behind him. (Y|N)’s now warm hands found themselves on Sasuke's hips. Their grip hardened around Sasuke; nearly bruising him as he tried to grind his hard dick on the softened one of his one friend. ”Too soon.” (Y|N) said.

He got a little cute pout which turned quickly to a slightly surprised frown with a drawn out moan in return. “Teme, don’t tell me you forgot me ‘bayo ahhh-!” Naruto breathed out besides Sasuke's while breaking the tight ring of muscle and getting engulfed in a blissful warm sensation he doesn’t wanna lose. Every one of them stayed still; one getting used to the tightness, the other one getting used to the forner intrusion and the last basking in the aftermath of his first given orgasm.

After getting used to the feeling Naruto started to trust experimentally. He quickly set a nice pace, drawing a pleasured reaction from the two under him. He leaned down to the now sweaty back of Sasuke, sandwiching the older boy between himself and the exhausted one.

“Shiiittt. I’m close, I’m close I’m closeI’m closeI’mclose fu-“ Sasuke wined out and gripping (Y|N) pecks for support, forming harsh red lines on the skin and arching his back so the blond behind him hits his bundle of nerves heads on making the poor bottom see stars as the two others kissed and praised him just like before.

Naruto delivered a particularly harsh trust, caging the two under him completely and pulled out fast, painting the now slightly red ass with his pearly white sin. “Oh, what I would give to have the sharingan right now. You look breathtaking” Naruto breathed out lightly. Sasuke hid his face in the crook of the neck of (Y|N) and the two felt a sticky mess pooling between.

“Guys I’m gonna miss this” Sasuke mumbled before passing out. The other awake friends only shared a smile and looked down at the peaceful looking Uchiha.

(Y|N) wanted to stand up to get his clothes though the Uchiha was relentless in his hold; he even added chakra in his hold unconsciously. (Y|N) gave up and just closed his eyes. Seconds before drifting away he felt Naruto’s strong hold between him and Sasuke, cuddling up against him, in their hot and sticky mess.

[atlasthegreatest]

A New Tide / Sakura Haruno x Hoshigaki! Female Reader

(Y/N) Hoshigaki, the daughter of Kisame, arrives in Konoha as part of an exchange program during the time skip. She’s assigned to Sakura’s team, but the partnership starts on rocky ground. Sakura resents (Y/N) at first, seeing her as an unwelcome replacement for the missing Sasuke, and tensions run high between them.

Word count: 5029

Warning: soft angst. Fluff.

A/n: This was requested by an anon. Enjoy it!

The breeze through Konoha was crisp, the scent of autumn leaves mixing with distant wood smoke. Sakura Haruno stood with her arms crossed, emerald eyes narrowed as she sized up the new addition to her team—a shark-like grin plastered on the face of Hoshigaki (Y/N), Kisame’s daughter.

Sakura hated this.

Kakashi-sensei had framed it as an exchange program to foster peace between villages after the chaos of the Akatsuki, but all Sakura saw was a replacement—another teammate coming in to fill the void left by Naruto’s training trip with Jiraiya and Sasuke’s defection. And worse, it wasn’t just anyone—it was the daughter of that man, the one allied with Itachi, Sasuke’s captor.

Sakura tugged her gloves tighter over her hands. “Let’s get one thing straight,” she muttered, low enough for only (Y/N) to hear. “I don’t care what kind of arrangement Konoha made. I don’t trust you. So stay out of my way, and we won’t have a problem.”

(Y/N) blinked, unfazed, then shrugged with an easy, toothy grin. “Got it, princess.”

The nickname made Sakura’s eye twitch, but before she could respond, Kakashi waved them over.

Their first few missions together were… rocky, to say the least.

(Y/N) was everything Sakura wasn’t used to—playful, unpredictable, and reckless. Where Sakura preferred precision and structure, (Y/N) dove headfirst into danger with a grin, her chakra-heavy water attacks leaving destruction in their wake. She was strong, yes, but infuriatingly so, as if her entire life had been spent testing the limits of her strength just for fun.

“Could you not drench everything we’re trying to save?” Sakura snapped after one mission where (Y/N)’s water jutsu flooded an entire merchant cart they were supposed to protect.

(Y/N) gave a nonchalant shrug, slinging her massive sword—one that looked suspiciously like a smaller version of Samehada—over her shoulder. “No one got hurt, did they? I call that a win.”

Sakura groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “How can you be so careless?”

But beneath her annoyance, something else started to take root—a grudging respect. (Y/N) might have been wild, but she was dependable in her chaotic way. During a particularly nasty ambush, Sakura had been caught off guard, and cornered by two rogue shinobi. In an instant, (Y/N) was there, her movements fluid and efficient. A burst of water surged from her palms, sweeping the enemies away as if they were nothing more than leaves in a stream.

“See? Told you I had your back,” (Y/N) said with a wink, her sharp grin softening just a little.

And just like that, the walls Sakura had built began to crack.

Days turned to weeks, and soon Sakura found herself anticipating (Y/N)’s antics more than dreading them. There was a strange comfort in their arguments—a rhythm to the push and pull between them. (Y/N) teased constantly, but there was never any malice in her words, only a playful warmth that made Sakura’s heart feel lighter.

The real change came one quiet evening after training. The sky was painted in deep purples and gold as they sat side by side under a tree, the cool breeze brushing through their hair. (Y/N) leaned back, hands resting behind her head as she looked up at the darkening sky.

“Do you ever wonder what it would be like to live somewhere else?” she asked softly.

Sakura tilted her head, surprised by the question. “What do you mean?”

(Y/N) gave a half-smile, a rare flicker of vulnerability flashing across her face. “I mean… to belong somewhere. My whole life, it’s just been about following orders—doing what’s expected of me. I don’t know what it’s like to stay somewhere because I want to.”

Sakura felt a strange ache in her chest at those words. She understood that longing more than she cared to admit—the feeling of being adrift, trying to find meaning in a world that kept shifting beneath her feet.

“You belong here,” Sakura said before she could stop herself.

(Y/N) turned to look at her, her silver-blue eyes catching the fading light. “Do I?”

Sakura’s breath caught the words tangling in her throat. There was something in (Y/N)’s gaze—something tender and unsure as if she was searching for permission to hope.

Without thinking, Sakura reached out, her hand brushing against (Y/N)’s. The contact was brief, but it sent a spark through both of them, a silent promise that neither of them fully understood yet.

“Yes,” Sakura whispered. “You do.”

———————

After that night, everything between them shifted.

Their banter became less sharp, their glances lingering just a little longer. In the quiet moments between missions, Sakura found herself drawn closer to (Y/N), her heart aching in ways she hadn’t expected. It wasn’t just admiration or companionship—it was something deeper, something that made her feel breathless and alive all at once.

(Y/N) seemed to feel it too. Her teasing softened, and when they were alone, the mask of bravado she wore slipped away, revealing a gentleness that Sakura hadn’t seen before.

One rainy afternoon, as they sat huddled beneath the awning of a tea shop, (Y/N) leaned in closer, her voice low and intimate. “You know… if you asked me to stay, I would.”

Sakura’s heart stuttered in her chest. “What?”

(Y/N) gave her a small, almost shy smile. “I think… I finally found a reason to stop running.”

For a moment, Sakura couldn’t breathe. The world around them faded, leaving only the sound of the rain and the steady beat of her heart.

Then, with a surge of courage she didn’t know she had, Sakura closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to (Y/N)’s in a kiss that tasted like rain and promises.

When they finally pulled away, (Y/N) rested her forehead against Sakura’s, her breath warm against her skin.

“So, is that a yes?” she whispered.

Sakura smiled, her heart full for the first time in a long time. “Yes,” she whispered back. “Stay with me.”

And for the first time in her life, (Y/N) felt like she had finally come home.

After that kiss, everything between Sakura and (Y/N) seemed to shift effortlessly, as if a knot had finally come undone. The awkwardness Sakura feared never appeared; instead, their connection grew deeper, an unspoken understanding flowing between them like a river finding its course.

But, of course, the world around them didn’t stop. Missions continued, routines remained, and the shinobi life offered little space for romance. Yet, even in stolen moments—whether it was brushing hands during training or a quiet night walk along the village walls—Sakura found solace in (Y/N)’s presence. It was a strange, unexpected comfort that made her world feel more bearable.

And it made her realize just how terrified she was of losing it.

——————-

One morning, the sky above Konoha was overcast, with thick clouds promising rain. Team Kakashi had just completed a simple patrol mission, and as they regrouped at the gate, Kakashi lingered back, flipping through one of his infamous books.

“Good work today,” Kakashi said lazily, his eye crinkling in a way that hinted he knew more than he let on. “(Y/N), I’ll need to see you later at the Hokage’s office for a report.”

(Y/N)’s casual smirk faltered ever so slightly, but she gave a mock salute. “Got it, Sensei.”

Sakura watched the exchange with a growing knot in her stomach. It was rare for Tsunade to request personal reports unless there was something specific going on—something official.

“What’s that about?” Sakura asked the moment Kakashi was out of earshot.

(Y/N) scratched the back of her neck, looking uncharacteristically serious. “Probably nothing. Might just be a check-in with my village.”

Sakura’s stomach churned. “So… they’re calling you back?”

(Y/N) shrugged, trying to play it off, but Sakura could see the uncertainty in her eyes. “Could be. It was part of the deal, right? Temporary exchange and all that.”

Sakura’s heart dropped. She knew this moment might come—the agreement between their villages had always been temporary. But now that it was looming over them, the thought of (Y/N) leaving felt like a weight pressing against her chest.

“What if they don’t give you a choice?” Sakura asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

For the first time, (Y/N) didn’t have an easy answer. She hesitated, her silver-blue eyes clouded with something unreadable. “Then… I guess I’ll have to decide what matters most.”

Later that evening, Sakura found herself standing in front of the Hokage’s Tower, nerves twisting in her gut. She knew it wasn’t her place to interfere, but the thought of (Y/N) leaving gnawed at her. She couldn’t just sit back and let it happen—not without a fight.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Sakura marched up the steps and into Tsunade’s office.

Inside, (Y/N) was already there, standing stiffly in front of Tsunade’s desk, her usual grin nowhere to be found. The tension in the room was palpable, and when both Tsunade and (Y/N) turned to look at her, Sakura swallowed hard.

“Sakura?” Tsunade raised an eyebrow, looking mildly annoyed. “Is there a reason you’re barging in on a private meeting?”

Sakura clenched her fists at her sides. “I need to say something. Please.”

Tsunade sighed but gestured for her to speak.

Sakura turned to (Y/N), her heart pounding in her chest. “I know this wasn’t supposed to be permanent. I know you were only sent here for a mission. But… I can’t let you leave without telling you how much you mean to me.”

(Y/N)’s eyes widened slightly, and for once, the usually cocky kunoichi was rendered speechless.

“I’ve spent my whole life feeling like I wasn’t enough,” Sakura continued, her voice cracking slightly. “I lost Sasuke, and for so long, I thought that was the only thing that mattered. But then you came into my life, and everything changed. You made me see that there’s more to life than chasing ghosts. You made me feel… whole.”

Tsunade’s expression softened ever so slightly, but Sakura barely noticed—her entire world had narrowed down to (Y/N), standing just a few feet away with an unreadable look on her face.

“Stay,” Sakura whispered. “Please.”

For a moment, everything was silent. Then, slowly, (Y/N) stepped forward, closing the distance between them. She reached out and gently cupped Sakura’s face, her thumb brushing away a tear Sakura hadn’t realized she’d shed.

“Hey,” (Y/N) murmured, her voice low and tender. “You don’t have to convince me. I already made my choice.”

Sakura blinked, breath hitching as (Y/N) leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.

“I’m staying,” (Y/N) whispered against her skin. “No matter what.”

By the time they left the Hokage’s office, the rain had started, a gentle drizzle that painted the streets in a soft shimmer.

They walked together in comfortable silence, the weight of the earlier conversation lifted, leaving only a quiet contentment between them. Sakura’s heart felt lighter than it had in years, and for the first time in a long time, the future didn’t seem so daunting.

As they reached the edge of the training grounds, (Y/N) suddenly grabbed Sakura’s hand, lacing their fingers together.

“You know,” (Y/N) said with a grin, “if I’m going to be stuck here, you’re going to have to keep up with me, princess.”

Sakura rolled her eyes, but there was no heat behind it—only warmth. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it.”

Sakura smiled, squeezing (Y/N)’s hand as they continued walking through the rain.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “I really do.”

And for once, everything felt exactly as it should be.

———————-

The days following (Y/N)’s decision to stay in Konoha felt surreal—like a dream Sakura didn’t want to wake from. The two of them slipped into a rhythm, a delicate balance between their duties as shinobi and the quiet moments they shared when no one was watching. But beneath the surface of their growing relationship, Sakura couldn’t shake the nagging worry that things couldn’t stay this perfect forever.

After all, shinobi weren’t meant to have peaceful lives.

One evening, the two of them sat on a grassy hill overlooking Konoha, the village lights flickering like stars below. Sakura rested her head against (Y/N)’s shoulder, the warmth of her body keeping the chill of the autumn night at bay. They hadn’t spoken for a while—no words were needed—but Sakura knew (Y/N) was lost in thought. She could feel it in the way her fingers drummed rhythmically against the hilt of her sword, like she was working through something in her mind.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Sakura asked, her voice soft.

(Y/N) huffed a quiet laugh. “I was just thinking… about my father.”

Sakura stiffened slightly, but she didn’t pull away. She knew this was a subject (Y/N) rarely touched—Kisame Hoshigaki, the infamous Monster of the Hidden Mist, wasn’t exactly an easy topic.

“I’ve spent my whole life being told who I’m supposed to be because of him,” (Y/N) continued, her voice quiet but steady. “It’s like… no one ever thought to ask me what I wanted. I think… that’s why I always kept moving. So no one could pin me down. So I wouldn’t have to face the question.”

Sakura lifted her head, her hand slipping into (Y/N)’s. “And what do you want now?”

(Y/N) looked down at their joined hands, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I want this,” she whispered. “You. Here. Us.”

Sakura’s heart ached in the best way possible. She knew that for someone like (Y/N), admitting that she wanted to stay—choosing to stay—was no small thing. It was a leap of faith, just like their relationship.

“And what if someone from your past comes looking for you?” Sakura asked quietly, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at her since (Y/N) decided to stay.

(Y/N) gave her a lopsided grin, her shark-like teeth glinting in the moonlight. “Then they’ll have to go through you first, right?”

Sakura snorted, but the warmth in her chest didn’t fade. “Damn right.”

The next morning, Sakura found herself at the training grounds, stretching beneath the rising sun. She knew (Y/N) would meet her soon, but for now, she enjoyed the quiet moments alone.

Just as she finished tying her gloves, she felt a familiar presence approaching—a rush of cool air and the distinct scent of saltwater.

“You’re late,” Sakura called without turning around.

(Y/N) laughed as she stepped into view, her silver-blue eyes gleaming with mischief. “You’re just early, princess.”

Sakura rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. She had gotten used to the teasing, even found it endearing in a way she never thought possible.

They spent the morning sparring, chakra flowing through their fists and water, each movement sharp and deliberate. They danced around each other like they had done this a thousand times—dodging, blocking, countering. But this time, it was different. It wasn’t just a fight—it was a conversation without words, a way to connect.

“Getting slow, Sakura!” (Y/N) taunted, narrowly dodging a powerful punch.

Sakura smirked. “Just waiting for you to slip up.”

And when (Y/N) did—just a brief misstep—Sakura surged forward, catching her off-guard. She tackled (Y/N) to the ground, pinning her beneath her with a grin.

“Gotcha,” Sakura whispered, her breath coming in short bursts.

(Y/N) stared up at her, wide-eyed and stunned for only a moment—before her grin returned, softer this time. “If this is how you’re gonna fight, I think I’ll start losing more often.”

Sakura rolled her eyes, but she didn’t move. There was something about this moment—the closeness of their bodies, the way (Y/N) looked at her with such openness—that made her heart skip a beat.

(Y/N) lifted her hand and tucked a stray strand of Sakura’s hair behind her ear, her fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

Sakura felt her cheeks flush, but she didn’t pull away. “You’re such an idiot,” she murmured, but there was no heat in her words—only affection.

(Y/N) leaned up slightly, her gaze flickering to Sakura’s lips. “Yeah, but I’m your idiot.”

And before Sakura could respond, (Y/N) closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a kiss that was slow and deliberate—like she was savoring every second of it.

Sakura melted into the kiss, her hands gripping the front of (Y/N)’s shirt to keep herself grounded. It was everything she hadn’t realized she needed—gentle but intense, playful but sincere.

When they finally pulled away, Sakura rested her forehead against (Y/N)’s, both of them catching their breath.

“You’re staying with me forever, right?” Sakura whispered, her voice barely audible.

(Y/N) smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. “Forever, princess. No matter what.”

But forever wasn’t something the shinobi world promised easily.

———————

A few days later, while on a routine mission to escort a merchant caravan, (Y/N) and Sakura found themselves ambushed by rogue shinobi—remnants of old alliances that should’ve died with the Akatsuki.

The fight was brutal. (Y/N) moved like a force of nature, her water jutsu slicing through enemies with terrifying precision. But no matter how skilled they were, they were outnumbered.

Sakura fought by her side, her fists glowing with chakra, but a creeping fear lodged itself in her chest—a fear that they wouldn’t make it out of this one.

At one point, (Y/N) caught Sakura’s wrist, her silver-blue eyes serious. “If it comes down to it, you run. Got it?”

Sakura’s heart clenched. “I’m not leaving you.”

(Y/N) gave her a small, sad smile. “I know. But I need you to promise me anyway.”

Sakura shook her head. “We’re both getting out of this. Together.”

And with that, they charged back into the fray—side by side, as they always had been.

No matter what.

The rogue shinobi were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. The forest echoed with the clash of steel, the rush of water jutsu, and the sharp crack of Sakura’s chakra-infused punches. (Y/N) fought like she belonged to the sea—fluid, unpredictable, and merciless. She carved through the enemy ranks with deadly precision, her water blades shimmering under the flickering light of fire jutsu and moonlight filtering through the treetops.

But even a storm can falter against overwhelming odds.

Sakura’s breath came in ragged gasps, and exhaustion began to creep into her limbs. She knew (Y/N) was feeling it too—their movements becoming just a fraction slower, their reactions dulled. It wasn’t enough to get them killed yet, but it was a dangerous edge to teeter on.

Sakura threw a chakra-enhanced punch into the earth, causing a shockwave that sent several shinobi flying. But just as she turned to warn (Y/N) of another ambush, she saw it—the subtle flick of a kunai coated in poison, sailing toward (Y/N)’s blind spot.

“(Y/N)!” Sakura screamed, pushing off the ground without thinking.

She threw herself into (Y/N), knocking her off balance and taking the blade to her shoulder. Pain exploded through her, but Sakura gritted her teeth and shoved (Y/N) behind cover.

“Damn it, Sakura!” (Y/N) shouted, catching her as they stumbled behind a fallen tree. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Sakura hissed through clenched teeth as the poison burned through her veins, black tendrils of chakra creeping outward from the wound. “I told you,” she whispered, gripping (Y/N)’s arm, “we leave together. No matter what.”

(Y/N) stared at her, emotions flickering across her face—panic, anger, fear, and something deeper. “Stupid… beautiful idiot,” (Y/N) muttered under her breath as she knelt beside Sakura, tearing the sleeve of her shirt to inspect the wound.

“I’ve got you,” (Y/N) whispered, her voice steady even as her hands trembled slightly. She formed a series of hand seals, summoning a surge of water that glowed faintly as it surrounded Sakura’s shoulder, cleansing the poison.

Sakura winced but managed a weak smile. “You’ve been practicing.”

(Y/N) huffed out a laugh, her expression softening despite the chaos around them. “Had to keep up with you, didn’t I?”

The rogue shinobi regrouped for another attack, and Sakura knew they wouldn’t last much longer—not without backup. She could feel her strength waning, the poison only partially neutralized. But as (Y/N) helped her to her feet, something shifted inside her.

This wasn’t how their story would end. Not here. Not like this.

“We’re making a run for it,” (Y/N) said firmly, tightening her grip on Sakura’s hand. “I don’t care what it takes—we’re getting out of this together.”

Sakura nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. “Together.”

With a shared glance, they launched into motion—dodging, weaving, and fighting their way through the remaining shinobi. (Y/N)’s water jutsu cut a path through the enemy lines, and Sakura followed close behind, her fists a blur of chakra-powered strikes.

Just as they broke through the last line of attackers, a burst of chakra exploded behind them—a fire jutsu aimed directly at Sakura’s back.

(Y/N) reacted without thinking. She threw herself between Sakura and the flames, summoning a towering wall of water just in time to absorb the impact. But the force of the blast knocked them both to the ground, skidding across the forest floor.

When the dust settled, they were lying side by side, panting and bruised but alive. The rogue shinobi had fallen back, retreating into the shadows of the forest, leaving them in silence.

Sakura turned her head toward (Y/N), who lay sprawled beside her, her chest rising and falling with labored breaths. “We made it,” Sakura whispered, a disbelieving smile spreading across her face.

(Y/N) let out a weak laugh, her eyes gleaming with exhaustion and relief. “Told you, princess. No matter what.”

Sakura shifted closer, ignoring the ache in her body, and rested her head against (Y/N)’s shoulder. “You’re impossible,” she murmured, but there was no mistaking the affection in her voice.

(Y/N) wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. “And you love me for it.”

Sakura smiled against her shoulder, feeling safe for the first time in what felt like forever. “Yeah,” she whispered, “I do.”

By the time they limped back to Konoha, the sun was rising, casting a warm glow over the village gates. They were met by a team of medics, but Sakura waved them off—her only focus was on making sure (Y/N) got the help she needed.

As they sat in the hospital room, (Y/N) resting beside her with bandages wrapped around her ribs, Sakura reached for her hand. She held it tightly, her thumb brushing over (Y/N)’s scarred knuckles.

“I almost lost you out there,” Sakura said quietly, her voice thick with emotion.

(Y/N) gave her a lopsided grin, even as her eyes drooped with exhaustion. “But you didn’t.”

Sakura leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to (Y/N)’s forehead. “And I never will.”

(Y/N) smiled, her hand tightening around Sakura’s. “Forever, right?”

Sakura kissed her again, this time on the lips—slow and tender, a promise wrapped in warmth. “Forever.”

As they lay together, tangled in each other’s warmth and the soft glow of the morning light, Sakura knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them side by side.

Because they were each other’s safe harbor.

Bonus Chapter:

Ino – “Wait, What?!” (Early Stage)

Ino leaned on the counter of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, idly picking petals from a chrysanthemum. The sun filtered through the windows, and she was just starting to get bored when the bell above the door jingled.

To her delight, Sakura strolled in, looking… different. It wasn’t her usual “I’m here to buy apology flowers for my team” look. Sakura’s eyes had a distinct softness, and her lips were curved in a way that made Ino narrow her eyes in suspicion.

“So,” Ino began slyly, setting the flowers aside, “who is it?”

Sakura froze in place, her face turning a suspicious shade of pink. “What are you talking about?” she muttered, grabbing a random bouquet from the shelf to avoid Ino’s knowing gaze.

“Oh, come on.” Ino leaned closer, her grin widening. “I know that look. You’ve got it bad for someone. Spill!”

Sakura hesitated for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip. “It’s… (Y/N).”

Ino blinked, tilting her head. “Wait. (Y/N) Hoshigaki?” she asked, as if the name hadn’t fully registered.

Sakura gave a small, nervous nod.

It took a second for the pieces to click, but when they did, Ino practically gasped. “Kisame’s daughter?! Shark Girl?!” She grabbed Sakura’s shoulders, shaking her lightly. “You’re dating her?”

Sakura swatted Ino’s hands away, her blush deepening. “Keep your voice down, will you?”

Ino couldn’t help herself—she burst into laughter. “Sakura, I swear you have the weirdest taste in people. First Sasuke, now a rogue shinobi’s kid? But—” she grinned, nudging Sakura with her elbow, “—I gotta admit, she is kinda cool.”

Sakura rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her annoyance.

Kakashi – “I Didn’t See This Coming” (Mid-Stage)

Kakashi stood on the bridge, watching as Sakura and (Y/N) walked toward him, side by side. They weren’t holding hands, but there was an ease between them—a quiet kind of closeness Kakashi had come to recognize in couples.

He knew something was different the moment (Y/N) had joined their team through the exchange program. At first, Sakura had been stiff and resentful, but now… there was an unmistakable shift in their dynamic.

“You’re late,” Kakashi called lazily as they approached.

“Blame her,” (Y/N) said with a smirk, jerking her thumb toward Sakura. “She insisted on stopping for dango.”

Sakura glared at her, but there was no real heat in it. “You wanted the dango too!”

Kakashi’s visible eye crinkled with amusement. “I’m just surprised. It’s rare to see you two not at each other’s throats.”

(Y/N) grinned, baring her shark-like teeth. “What can I say? She’s grown on me.”

Sakura shot her a look, her cheeks pink, but (Y/N) just chuckled. Kakashi noted the way Sakura’s expression softened when she looked at (Y/N)—a softness Kakashi hadn’t seen since she was a child.

He tucked his hands into his pockets, feeling a rare sense of contentment. “Well, this is new,” he thought. But he didn’t say it aloud. He’d seen enough of life to know that relationships were complicated—and that sometimes, the unexpected ones were the most meaningful.

Naruto – “You’re WHAT?!” (Late Stage)

Naruto almost choked on his ramen. “You’re moving in together?!”

Sakura glared at him from across the table, her arms crossed. “Do you have to be so loud about it?”

Naruto wiped his mouth with his sleeve, still looking as if she’d just told him she was moving to another dimension. “But—But Sakura-chan!” he sputtered. “Are you really sure about this? I mean, she’s—she’s a Hoshigaki! And she has shark teeth!”

“Thanks for noticing, Naruto,” (Y/N) said dryly, appearing beside Sakura with two bottles of soda in hand. She plopped down next to her, draping an arm lazily over the back of Sakura’s chair. “They’re my best feature.”

Naruto blinked between them, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “I just… I mean… when did this even happen?!”

Sakura sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Naruto, it’s been months.”

Naruto still looked dumbfounded, but there was no mistaking the hint of protectiveness in his voice. “You better not hurt her, Hoshigaki. I mean it.”

(Y/N) raised a brow, then gave Naruto a slow, playful grin. “Relax, Uzumaki. I’m not going anywhere. She’s stuck with me.”

Sakura smirked, nudging (Y/N) lightly. “Who says I’m stuck with you?”

Naruto groaned, slumping forward over his bowl. “Great. Now you’re both ganging up on me.”

Tsunade – “So You’re Staying, Huh?” (Final Stage)

Tsunade sat behind her desk, arms folded, as she eyed (Y/N) from across the room. Sakura stood beside her, looking more composed than usual—as she had already made peace with whatever decision (Y/N) had come to.

“So,” Tsunade said slowly, “you’ve decided to stay in Konoha permanently?”

(Y/N) met the Hokage’s gaze without flinching. “Yeah. I have.”

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “And you’re sure you won’t regret leaving everything behind? Your old life?”

(Y/N) gave a small, almost imperceptible shrug. “I wasn’t really living before, just… existing.” She glanced at Sakura, her expression softening. “I found something here worth staying for.”

Sakura smiled quietly, a rare, genuine smile that Tsunade didn’t often see.

Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples. “I guess I should’ve seen this coming.”

(Y/N) grinned, her shark teeth flashing. “I tend to surprise people.”

Tsunade huffed a laugh, though it was mostly exasperation. “Well, just don’t cause me any trouble, got it? The last thing I need is another Hoshigaki making my life harder.”

“No promises,” (Y/N) said with a wink.

Sakura groaned. “Why did I fall for such a pain?”

“Because you like challenges,” (Y/N) shot back smoothly, bumping Sakura’s shoulder.

Tsunade rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “Get out of my office, both of you, before I change my mind about all this.”

Sakura and (Y/N) exchanged a glance, then laughed as they left the room hand in hand, their footsteps echoing down the hall.

Tsunade shook her head, a wry smile on her face. “Well, I’ll be damned,” she muttered. “Didn’t think I’d see the day.”

And somehow, she felt that maybe—just maybe—Konoha was better off with the two of them in it.

[smilingangel582]

The chase

Hi guys, I am madly in love with this character. And guess what, this is Naruto and Sasuke'a VA! In Japanese. I seriously wrote this tk fic as they speak in Japanese. Omg! I love them even more. Ps. We need more lee!kinich... I summon it!

Summary: Paimon is convinced Kinich is scary, but Aether thinks otherwise. It was a quiet day in Natalan until Aether started a bet with Paimon to prove her wrong. New discoveries were made, and unsurprisingly, a certain dragon lord commits betrayal.

Warning: Spoilers for the nataln archon quest and Kinich's quest, tickling, cuteness overload, Aether and Kinich are very close, but mind you, it's a platonic relationship (can't ship them yet)

"So you Paimon is supposed to believe that Kinich is actually... uh... a sweetheart?" Paimon crossed her arms in confusion. Floating around as Aether walked through the city of mountains, the scion of the canopy.

Aether shrugs, giving her a confident smirk "Well... he may appear blank but he's very nice and he doesn't hide it... not like a certain wanderer ..."

Paimon guessed Hat guy from Sumeru might have sneezed by that mention.

"But he's so cold and Paimon can't really see the guy smile..." Paimon huffs now, as if its the biggest worries for her, "its frightening how blank Kinich is..."

"What's frightening about me Paimon?"

A soft voice made Paimon shrill in surprise making her gasp and wheeze. Aether mildly turns back with a less-reactive surprised expression at seeing the saurian hunter.

"Hi Kinich,"

Kinich greets them politely, "Traveler, Paimon how do u do?"

Paimon recovering from her shock, groans, "Jeez Paimon almost got a heart attack! Stop sneaking up on us like that... your quiet anyway unlike your pixel-poop-mouth!"

Ajaw snarls, "Who are you calling poop-mouth, tiny ant?"

"Oh and Paimon's bigger than you!"

They continue bickering making Aether sheepishly give Kinich an apologetic look, "Sorry about that..."

"I should be the one to apologise..." kinich replies solemnly, making Aether like this guy more for his awkward informal side.

"Ajaw, do you want another time out?"

Ajaw turns to kinich, his mouth dropping in anguish. "Grrr! Fine, fine! I won't torment the anaemic ant!"

"Hehe" Paimon smirks. "Know your place little dragon lord!"

Aether rolls his eyes, "Paimon... behave"

Paimon pouts, looking sideways, "awww alright im sorry Kinich... and maybe Ajaw"

"Maybe??"

Ignoring Ajaw's short snap, Kinich shakes his head, a hand to his chest. "Don't be Paimon. You're actually a kind companion to the traveller..." he adds deliberately after casting a look at Ajaw, "It makes me jealous"

"Huh? I'm more powerful ya know! Oi! Kinich!"

Aether hears Paimon floating towards Kinich, "Kinich, you don't smile much, do you?"

Kinich slightly astonished responds, "I beg your pardon? I do..."

"When?" Partly challenging and partly curious.

"Like... right now?"

They all stared. Even Kinich seemed uncertain about what he just said. Paimon huffs, mildly irritated, "OK so... laughing? Ever dont that before..."

Ajaw floats around Kinich, his pixel hands patting his shoulder, "Haa hahaa would love to see that embarassing sight."

Kinich shrugs him off, the bandana making him seem like he's angry but he's just frustrated with Ajaw.

"All the more reason why I should not"

Ajaw being slightly pushed away but regains balance in air comes swirling back to him with a cunning sneer, "Uh oh someone's a little defensive... afraid I'll exploit a weakness?"

Aether sense tension, usually he would've stepped in to stop Kinich's discomfort with Ajaw but knowing the topic he was curious where this was going.

Paimon is no better now - contrast to Ajaw's scheming malice - she steps in to prompt Ajaw's hint, "Oooh does this mean he does laugh?"

Kinich folds his arms, somewhat wary where this was going. Yet he failed to notice where Ajaw just disappeared.

"I do, but not all the time -"

"Yeah, just poke him like this, and he'll go gyaaahaahaa!" Ajaw swiftly pokes Kinich around the waist close to the small of his back, making him spasm in shock, gasping, "Oi!"

Silence. Paimon's eyes widened, and so did Aether's. They all exchanged glances. Now Ajaw proudly danced and shook his tail, as if he got the best victory after 500 years.

"Kinich?" Aether smirks, now barely hiding his excitement, "Are you ticklish?"

The saurian hunter now stared, knowing there's no other way to dodge the question. He swiftly seized Ajaw's tail, now activating his grappling hook. He swings off till he disappeared through the clouds.

His flight instincts kicked in. Paimon stared in bewilderment, but she was the only one until Aether began to take the one-sided challenge.

Somewhere by the top of the mountains in Scion of the canopy, Kinich cautiously looked by the trees, hoping he had escaped. He knew now or never... and his experience in running away has been helpful.

"Baa! You coward..." Ajaw scoffed, now teasing, "Were you that scared?"

"It was not fright... I just don't like the thought of showing the traveller such an absurd state" he sternly added "and you're officially in time out"

Ajaw grumbled now, waving his small pixel arms "Grr... whatever, but you know Kinich"

"What?"

"Running away doesn't always help ya... when there's a good seeker"

He frowns, looking somewhat confused by this indirect analogy. "What do you-?"

"Gotcha!" Aether swings by instantly now tackling (not on purpose) Kinich as they both tumbled to the ground.

"J-jeez traveller be careful" Kinich groan, now sounding concerned. "Don't use that hook, so lightly"

Aether chuckles straddling him. "Thanks your a nice guy... now ever heard of the saying "you can run but you can't hide" Kinich?"

Before he could struggle he already felt nimble fingers attacking his sides.

"O-ohokay w-wahait tihihihime ohohout!"

His giggles are soft and yet very childish. Aether stares in wonder... he had heard many sweet voices but hearing Kinich like this is like a dream in Nahida's world.

"Wow.. you're sensitive, Ajaw wasn't lying"

Ajaw smirks "Hehe that was one of the weaknesses that I'm proud of exploiting in him"

"You mean the only one?" Paimon scoffs.

"Ah! Took you long enough useless ant"

"You! You pixel weirdo!" Paimon stomps her foot on the air angrily and begins bickering with Ajaw.

Kinich and Aether... well they have other better matters to attend to.

"So tell me, is this spot worse than this?" His fingers creeping towards his hips making him buck in surprise, grabbing Aether's wrists which didn't help, "Ah! Aether!"

"You said my name! Nice!" He gets his hips and then back to his waist... slipping the jacket down a little bit to access the skin.

"Ahaharchons juhuhuhust stohohohop a mihihinute plehehehehease!" Kinich curls to the side, suddenly his laughter getting louder when Aether targets his ribs with swift unpredictable speed.

"Uh oh ribs? That's not good... especially since your swinging around..." Aether smirks, now tapping and prodding his ribs as Kinich jerks to his back to protect his sides. His long lashes damp with tears.

"And you won't be able to swing comfortable knowing how vulnerable here..." he pinches the highest set ribs with indication "Oh and perhaps under here?" Slipping his fingers right under his arms making Kinich let an (honest to archon) a squeak.

"You're a sweetheart"

"Ihihihi ahahahahappreciahahahate the cohohohompliment buhuhuhut y-yohohohour kihihilling mehehe!" He giggles now. Trying to cover his worst spots as much as he could.

Aether laughed, now pausing a little, instead keeping his wrists pinned on either side of Kinich's head to keep him in anticipation.

"OK ok! Sorry, I always had to break the serious guys in this world."

Kinich groans, slightly huffs of laughter now calming down at the small break.

"Ajaw said Kinich has a weak neck!"

Paimon's sudden outburst on that fact made Kinich shiver. Aether turns to her first then back at him, a very mischievous smile that made Kinich shake his head a little, somewhat pitiful.

"Tch! The mighty dragon lord knows what a whimp he is but he still refuses to die.. bahahawahaha" Ajaw cackles in a sinister tone "Oh laugh to death Kinich!"

Aether rolls his eyes, "we are not killing him, just playing around... like friends"

Kinich's eyes that used to be blank slightly glistened with brightness, "Friends?"

"Yup and friends... make friends happy!" Aether wiggles his fingers right over his collarbone and throat lightly. Kinich knees kicked up in reflex, but they didn't stop Aether's fiery determination to tickle him.

"Ahaha Aetheheheher hehehee cuhuhuhut ihihit out! Hahaha ok ok y-yohohohou won! You won! Ok! Just mehehehercy! Mercy!

After that implore, Aether stopped tearfully laughing as well, falling next to Kinich, eyes bright golden and with bliss, "ohoho man that was so funny... im glad I saw this side of you..."

Kinich's breath was somewhat heavier as he managed to grab his composure swiftly as an amazing athlete "I-I uh... thank you traveler... I guess it wasn't that bad"

Ajaw growls, "Awwww, come on! I bet if you got his armpits more seriously next, he might not say that! Come on, traveler, I'm begging ya! Tickle this guy to death -g-gaaaaaaah curseeeee youuuu!"

Once more he just got confined into a space suddenly gone. Kinich sighs as he puts Ajaw away easily, resting an arm over his hip as he gets up now tired but somewhat... relaxed?

"Hey Kinich..."

He jolts when Aether poked his armpit that was exposed, making him stare in surprise "That's round two the next time we meet? And don't listen to Ajaw... tickling isn't something bad... its what friends do to have fun"

Kinich silently debated this answer... smiling genuinely. Perhaps Mualani was right... friends are amazing.

"Well come by traveler... its much livelier here with you around" Kinich offers, now giving an awkward smile.

"Aww miss me already?" Aether grins, then nudged him, "or the tickles"

"Just... you" he grunts, but looking sideways, with a timid look that seemed to have never appeared until today.

Aether will cherish that moment forever and also his laugh.