#it doesn't seem like sakura OR sasuke to leave her in the dark about it. seems like dodgy writing to me

[x-emeraldsky-x]

Sarada: Mama?

Sakura: Yeah, Sarada?

Sarada: ... Can I ask a few questions about dad?

Sakura: Of course you can, sweetheart. *pats a spot on the couch next to her* Ask anything you want

Sarada: *sits next to Sakura* ... What's he like?

Sakura: Well... he's a lot like Lord 7th. Very determined to achieve his goals, passionate about the things he loves, and he's very kind and pure hearted

Sarada: Is he strong? Does he have cool jutsu like Lord 7th too?

Sakura: He's very strong, and he has a lot of jutsu. He uses lightning release, and as an Uchiha, he has special eyes called the Sharingan, the Sharingan helps him see enemy movements better

Sarada: Do you think... I can learn that? Will I have a Sharingan?

Sakura: You can learn anything you put your mind to, Sarada, but I'm not sure about the Sharingan

Sarada: What do you mean?

Sakura: Not every Uchiha gets it, and it can only be awakened, not taught. It's different to Auntie Hinata's Byakugan in that regard

Sarada: Oh... I see... can I ask you another question?

Sakura: Of course

Sarada: What were the late Uchiha like? What were my grandparents like?

Sakura: Hmm... that questions hard for me to answer. I never met them. Maybe when your dad comes home next, he can tell you all about them, and he can tell you about his past too

Sarada: Why can't you, Mama? I want to know now...

Sakura: *kisses her forehead* It's not my story to tell, Cherry. Your father will tell it to you, just like he told me. I know you're curious, but it can be hard for him to talk about. He'll get there

Sarada: Mm... alright Mama... can we send him another letter? I have some photos of the cherry blossom tree at school that I want to show him

Sakura: Of course. I'll go get some paper, go get your pictures and pens

Sarada: Thanks, Mama!

[dayseternal-blog]

"This is Halloween, this is Halloween, Halloween Halloween" 🎶

October is there (or almost here, in your case) 🎃

It is time for an October-themed fanfic rec list!

Okay :D

Here's a list with something for everyone, I think! Creepy, fluffy, smutty, funny, angsty... 🍁👻

October: Fall & Halloween NaruHina Fics

Chapter 28 from "Between the Trees" by @utsus - Rated G, Canon-Compatible, One-shot. NaruHina Prompt: Autumn [NaruHina Fanzine Submission]

"A Little Fluff for the Fall" by @nightowl27-writer - Rated T, College AU, Multi-chapter, Complete. Hinata Hyuga is an Art Major with an eye for photography, and a certain basketball player: Naruto Uzumaki. When she offers to take pictures of Konoha University's final game for the student website, she ends up with a lot more than just a few snapshots of the blond guard to drool over later.

Chapter 4 from "People Like Her" by @happyocelot - Rated G, Canon-Compliant, One-shot. For the prompt "I know you're afraid but we can't hide in this closet forever" + Naruto's obvious fear of ghosts.

"Stay" by NightOwl27 - Rated E, Supernatural/Mystery AU, Multi-chapter, Complete. Hinata is a young reporter looking for her first big break. A mysterious fire at the infamous and abandoned Farmhouse has the potential to be a big story. Thanks to the help of a hot firefighter named Naruto, Hinata finds out much more than she ever wanted to know.

“October - Horror” from “Still Falling for You” by @chloelapomme - Rated E, High School AU, Multi-chapter, Complete. When despair turns into a feeling of love so intense that obsession is the only thing that can help you protect the one you love.

"Spooky Season" by @secrettastemakerland - Not Rated, Canon-Compatible AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. One thing about Uzumaki family is that when they dress up, they dress up. Halloween, the national holiday of dressing up, is no different. or 5 times the sunshine family/siblings dressed up for halloween and the 1 time they couldn't didn't.

"Consume" by @wickermayne - Rated E, Vampire AU, One-shot. It was like a fire burnt through his veins as Hinata fed on him, consuming him, demanding him to give everything to her.

Chapter 1 from "naruhina oneshots" by @powerful-niya - Rated T, Vampire AU, One-shot. She was taught to hate vampires all of her life, leaving her to loathe their existence. But one dark night, she is faced with the one thing she hates.. and also, fears. But what happens when the very same creature she hates so much saves her, taking her into his warm home. He doesn't seem to have any intention of hurting her which confuses her. Should she run, or stay? 

"Let the Moon Help With Your Love Problems" by @lostinaseaofstars - Rated T, College AU, One-shot. After a failed confession, Hinata's been avoiding Naruto. And in the process avoiding her childhood friends in the process. Sakura's had enough, managing to convince Hinata to dress up for their last Halloween together as college students. Hopefully Hinata's costume carries with it the message of love!

"Getting Laid at a Halloween Party" by Nicole the Dragon Rider - Rated E, Canon-Divergent AU, One-shot. Hinata is going to a Halloween party with her friends at Sasuke's house. She was forced into a French maid costume but finds Naruto there. They talk and drink punch unaware that it's been spiked. Will this lead to a confession? Will Naruto accept it? Will the punch lead to something between the two friends?

"Bunny and a Fox" by The Four Crosses - Rated T, College AU, One-shot. Hinata couldn't believe she was here doing this. Here, at her friend's house, for a party, in a bunny outfit!

"Torch Song" by @mmmbuttery - Rated T, Historical AU, Multi-chapter, Complete.  "You're my girl, Hinata. Promise you'll write." "I-I promise, Naruto." How could she say no to a man going off to war?

"Killer in the house" by DarkHime213 - Rated T, Modern AU, One-shot. "It started with the old Uzumaki house up near the cliff."

"Ravenous" from "NaruHina Month December 2022" by @sessakag - Rated E, Modern AU, One-shot. “Hinataaaa,” Naruto pouted, leaning inside the open bathroom door, “you ready yet? I’m starving!”

"If I Were Real" from "NaruHina Month December 2022" by Sessakag - Rated E, Canon-Divergent AU, One-shot / Incomplete. This story is based on the greek mythology Pygmalion and Galatea. Long story short, Pygmalion was a sculptor that created a statue, fell in love with it, it was brought to life by Aphrodite and the two lived happily ever after and had a son.

"a home is a dream" by bluebeardsbrides - Rated M, Modern AU, One-shot. Naruto Uzumaki returns home with all the force maelstrom, three days after her husband’s disappearance and six years since she went and stumbled on Neji’s body floating in the creek downtown.

"It's Halloween Naruto Uzumaki!" by PeacefulWarrior82 - Rated T, Canon-Divergent AU, One-shot. In the spirit of Halloween, I whipped up this little one shot, It's about Naruto, Hinata and a little thing called compromise.

"The Anger that Wanted to Bite" by @teavious - Rated T, Vampire/Werewolf AU, Short One-shot. AU in which fantastical creatures are a part of the society + if you don’t think Hinata is scary and deadly when protecting those close to her, then you’re probably wrong.

"Birthday Cake" from "Sunbeams" by mangospoons - Rated G, Canon-Divergent AU, One-shot. Prompt: Happy. Of course he would be.

Untitled by @jadeandonyx - Rated T, Demon AU, One-shot. Prompt: selling soul to a demon

"AU Prompt 1: Phone Booth" from "Tales of Two Ninjas" by @magmawrites - Rated T, Modern AU, One-shot. Prompt: "It's the middle of the night and I'm walking home alone in the dark and there's this guy following me and he's starting to gain on me and I found this phone booth with a lock on the door and I tried to call my best friend but my hands were shaking so badly I accidentally dialed the wrong number and I don't even know you but help me"

"Best Halloween Ever" by Wandering Wonderer - Rated M, Canon-Divergent AU, One-shot. Naruto attends a Halloween party thrown by Hinata and Neji. For the boy who hates Halloween so much, he sure does enjoy this night.

"happy" from "Secret Lovers" by @quirrrky - Rated G, Canon-Compliant, One-shot. Prompt: Hinata celebrated Naruto's birthday while in the hospital

"Birthday" by ReadingBennie - Rated M, Canon-Divergent AU, Multi-chapter, Complete. A collection of various birthdays for Naruto. Some were bad, some were good, and then they were the absolute best.

"Down the Rabbit Hole" by @vegebulsoup - Rated E, Modern AU, One-shot. Despite his protests, Jiraiya takes Naruto out to a hostess club for his birthday and it’s not quite what he expected.

Dark!NaruHina fanfic recommendations list

There are other Halloween fluff fics that I remember, but I can't find them. If anyone knows more, feel free to add!

[tamelee]

Hiiii 🥰 If yin HAD to choose some couples for the Next Gen which one would you choose? Personally I think Shikatema was a okay, but I don’t have any ideas for the others

Hi!~💕 Oh uhm-

No one really, I'd be happy to eradicate it all.

Obviously Naruto and Sasuke should've figured their shit out. Both internally and externally and then say; take it or leave it' to the entire village and system. You either going to get two gay-men leading the village and a new system because their bond was the entire answer against war or nothing at all and then just... die ig while Naruto sleeps his years away and Sasuke is stuck in a damn tree 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Otherwise.... (aka, 'Boruto' meetings be like;) Shitpost (don't take me seriously);

Naruto and Gaara although it probably won't last long. Naruto'd probably settle for some black-haired girl and make her cut her hair so it reminds him of Sasuke if he squints really hard and doesn't think about it and covers his ears, oh wait-

Charasuke and Dark Naruto, fem version. Menma and Zetsu. Since non of it is Canon anyway, Sasuke and his pet lizard from the filler story. They seemed to have an 'okay' connection, yeah? Well, ShikaTema is fine, it's understandable and predicted. I don't even know who Kiba, Shino, Lee or Choji are with lmao. I can look it up, but... I really don't even remember :') I think one of them is with the Kumo girl, right? Sai and Kumo girl would've been better though. They can argue about loyalty and stuff. Wouldn't she kinda think it was hot how he stopped her fist from plunging into Naruto's 'refusing to talk about Sasuke's face?' That's the extend of their development, but it's 'Boruto', the bar is low here. Or.. if we ignore the homophobia for a second, Sai and Gaara. I mean whatever. Size matters obviously to Sai and Gaara had huge bde before his questionable haircut (no I don't think him becoming Kazekage made him weak) and I also don't think Gaara's lack of expressive emotion currently would be too overwhelming for someone that doesn't understand them much. Not a lot of energy in that relationship though but Gaara is very beautiful to draw let's be honest but the lack of eyebrow does make it challenging. Or Sai and Deidara. A bit difficult because one isn't there, but still, just throwing it out there. Or even Kankuro would be good. Gosh, Sai has so many options... and then he ended up with someone he thought was ugly ;-; (Ino is very beautiful though so he's wrong, but still.) Idk, I think Kiba should've married a cat-girl or the blonde one from Kumo. Lee should be with someone that appreciates effort especially now that his effort is proven absolutely worthless -.- and is seen as a loser again which destroyed the poor guy. Well, I wouldn't have minded Tenten, but... GaaLee 👌👀? Aren't they both single fathers? Or? Idk. Maybe Sai Gaara and Lee together, why not. Throw the Shi guy from Kumo in there also, he kinda looks like blonde Sai. Even Naruto thought he was handsome as he used him for inspiration for his sexy reversed harem Jutsu.  Actually, Tenten and Kotetsu would've been a good surprise. It makes no sense Canon-wise and I don't think it even works age-wise, but I approve otherwise and they're both weaponized. I rhyme and reason. Ino and Suigetsu. Okay, hear me out. He can water all her plants. That's all, that's it. Sakura and Kankuro? I mean, by 'Boruto's low standards, they could've made it work and they'd even have history. And fine, even Sasori could've been interesting a little. Or that girl from the Sound from the beginning. Or the guy. Or Kimimaro. Or Kabuto. We're not too difficult here, pick one, but I guess some are dead though. Everyone but Sasuke ffs. Obviously Neji should've lived. Well I'm okay with Tenten or even Lee, but it doesn't make too much sense to me. Actually, let's ship him with Haku for no other reason than them looking good together. Or Neji and Juugo, maybe Juugo'd be able to set the bird free iykwim. I'd say Hinata and her beloved 'Oro-chan'. (Yes she called him that in some novel.) Both creepy as hell. Except one of them is somewhat likable and it ain't Hinata. But age-wise that doesn't work. Or, maybe someone can make her a Mecha Naruto, that's a bit more appropriate. Not much, but still. I'm sure she has the money and I don't think she really minds because she knows Naruto as much as she'd know a robot version of him. I see no difference there. OR, Kankuro's puppet. That way she can always walk next to the one she 'loves' as it follows her anyway with some basic puppet training and have the sentimental wood around for comfort when she reminisces about the time she thought Naruto wasn't gay. No need to be shy either as it doesn't say much. Then Naruto can visit tree-Sasuke in peace without a creepy face glancing up at him from behind it only to be ignored anyway. 

Or maybe a lousy Daimyo because we can't have any less than a Hero or royalty for the princess, of course. CHOJI ACTUALLY should've married the daughter from the ramen stand. Idk her age though.. Or the owner of the BBQ restaurant? If he didn't already. Or, it would've been good if there was a younger version of Tsunade, I think they'd get along. Akamaru and one of Kakashi's dogs- sorry, Ninken. I think Pakkun is too old maybe. Idk what he's into. Maybe Punpun? Am I missing anyone? Oh lmao, Shino ;-; He would've been good with Fu, Jinchuriki of the 7-tails, the flying bug thing. Guess that's not possible either, but we can't have them single and focussing on the world either so... we gotta create imaginary filler babies somehow. Karin with that other guy who emphasized with her during her confession-thing. I mean, what other reason do you need. That's true love right there.  Kakashi and Shizune? Kakashi and Iruka? Kakashi and Gai? Kakashi and Genma? Kakashi and Obit- oh no. Kakashi and secret-ANBU waifu? Kakashi and actress of the movie adaptation of his ero-novel? Kakashi living his best aro life?

I mean, we could always create a card game if you will and match whatever comes up first. There'd be no difference really.

[greatideas-badwriter]

SasuSaku: Sacrificed To The Banished Prince Synopsis/Author's Notes

Baron Haruno receives an order to send one of his daughters to marry the second Uchiha prince, who's said to have murdered multiple of his previous fiancés. Sakura, being the least favorite of his four children, is chosen to die for her family. When she shows up at Price Uchiha's manor, though, her life is spared. Are the rumors false, or is it something else entirely?

Uchiha Sasuke is the second heir to the coveted throne of Konoha. Though no one knows what he looks like or has seen him on the royal estate, there are plenty of rumors spreading throughout the kingdom. None of them are positive. Some people say he's stuck up and deems himself above the common rabble, which is why he refuses to interact with the public. Others say he's horribly ugly and bitter that he'll never surpass his elder brother. Everyone agrees on one thing, though, and that's that they do not want to ever meet him. Why? Because the last two women connected to the man are missing and assumed to be dead.

Haruno Sakura is the illegitimate eldest daughter of Baron Haruno. Her mother, who worked as a dancer, died when she was very young.

Since her family views her as expendable, they have no qualms about sending her to die in her little sisters' places. As someone who has been mistreated for more than a decade, Sakura doesn't argue and does as she's instructed with a closed mouth and lowered gaze. In her eyes, at least she won't have to deal with her terrible family anymore.

After arriving at the prince's manor, Sakura expects to either be killed immediately or to be abused until he no longer finds her body useful. Neither of those things happen.

No, the dark and mysterious man doesn't even greet her. She doesn't get to see him but is given a fancy room all to herself. She's even assigned a personal maid!

Sakura struggles to sleep, even after a few days, because there's an odd feeling that awakes her at midnight every night that makes her body yearn to leave the bedroom. It wants her to go up to the third floor, where the prince resides, even though she is strictly forbidden.

Not only that, but when she is able to get some sleep, she's plagued with dreams that seem more like a memory than anything else, but why can't she remember much when she wakes up? All she can recall is a crying young boy with messy dark hair being led away.

[primnroses]

I've seen recently in the sasukarin tag that karin speaks her mind in front of sasuke that she " boss " that never let's sasuke talk her down. That sakura is a doormat and is easily emotionally destroyed by sasuke. That karin doesn't give a damn what sasuke thinks of her and only sakura obsessively seeks his approval. From what you've read in the manga, are those statements true?

I would not say that Karin is like a "boss" and doesn't let Sasuke's condescending attitude affect her. In fact, Karin is easily driven by Sasuke's words all the time, she only chooses to pretend to be indifferent and tends to use some vocabulary to mask her crush in front of Suigetsu because he wouldn't leave her alone.

It's actually not that "Karin speaks her mind in front of Sasuke", it's just that she tends to be impulsive and blurt out things that are opposite to what she's truly thinking and Sasuke simply doesn't care about it. It's common to see her using "cool", "handsome" or "sexy" to describe him but then straight-out yelling "pathetic" because she is exactly trying to keep her indifferent attitude.

Karin is a liar when it comes to Sasuke, it's as clear as day, and she does adopt different stances depending on the people around and if they involve him.

They keep using the words "obsession" and "seeking his approval" with Sakura but that's not what happens with her, it's actually what happens with Karin. She doesn't care if Sasuke keeps her away all the time because she is adamant in trying again and again despite his constant rejection. And it doesn't happen just once.

But two... (she seems pretty affected by his words)

...and three times.

Karin does have an obsessive attitude. Kishimoto wrote expressions like "obsessed with Sasuke" and "dangerous love for Sasuke" to describe Karin's attitude with him in the third databook (page 67) using these images as examples:

But with Sakura, Kishimoto uses "unrequited love", "loving with every fiber of her being" and describes her as "someone that loves Sasuke", "she wants to rescue Sasuke" and "holds her hands out to him" in every single one of her databook entries, but never obsession. That is a word that they tend to use to turn the tables, but it describes sasukarin perfectly.

Kishimoto goes as far as describing Sakura as "the only person that filled his lonely existence was Sakura" in Sasuke's profile from the second databook. Akatsuki Hiden also describes Sakura as a person that dedicated her love for Sasuke and is "his sunshine in the spring" according to Shin Towada, the writer.

But with Karin, you just have to read her story to see her personality and how it fluctuates. I will not deny that Karin wanted to see the same smile in Sasuke's face that he displayed when she met him for the first time, especially after she witnessed and sensed how low he had fallen; but behind those feelings she still harbored an insane love. Every time she wants to get close to him she wants them both to be alone.

But Sakura never wanted Sasuke for herself, she wanted to save him and she went through grueling training just to rescue him from the dark path. Her feelings changed from a crush to loving him despite his dark past and broken life because she just wanted to save him.

Sakura is not "a doormat easily emotionally destroyed by Sasuke", she is suffering because her attempts to redirect Sasuke in the right direction and her words aren't reaching his heart. She's frustrated because she is unsuccessful despite her efforts and because she loves him so much it hurts her.

The author puts so much dedication in Sasuke and Sakura's moments that it's hard to miss.

The problem with sasukarin is that Sasuke doesn't see Karin as something more than a teammate and he has never demonstrated anything that would come close to romantic feelings. But with Sakura, he displays all kinds of emotions, his body language is different and the chemistry is so evident that even Naruto caught it. Antis just like to turn the tables and reject reality by calling sasusaku names that fit their pairing instead but making it beyond nonsensical.

So no anon, neither of those statements are true.

[captnjacksparrow]

Hiii!! I really wanted to ask you this ever since I started reading the manga.

What do you think Sasuke was going to say after "Naruto, I..."?? It really bothers me that Kishi left it unsaid.

Sasuke doesn't express himself much but whenever he is near Naruto, all of his emotions seem to pour out. Even if he couldn't complete what he started saying...his eyes tried to convey it to him, before leaving him.

I'd love to hear your thought :))

Aaaahhh!!!! That we will never know, @seraphina-herondale 😍😍😍😍

Both of the panels you've attached here, just made me go, "Woah!!!! Wait a sec, what's going on??!!!!" for the first time in the series!!!! And Kishimoto intentionally left it ambiguous to convey the readers that the bond between them is not usual!!!

There are endless possibilities of what Sasuke might’ve wanted to say. But we can just speculate what Sasuke wanted to tell him based on the shared experiences and feelings.

The word Sasuke said in that scene was,

ナルト... オレは...

Naruto ... Ore wa...

Naruto ... I...

Sasuke could easily say, ‘I am Sorry’ here... Because he fought and hurt Naruto Physically and Mentally. And I’ve never seen Sasuke apologizing to any one in Part 1. Probably, with no one around, he could definitely ask an emotional ‘Sorry’ here, atleast to Naruto. 

But

The word ‘Sorry’ never starts with ‘Ore Wa’ in Japanese. Most used terms for Sorry is ‘Gomen’, ‘Sumanagata’ (This is the word Sasuke used as an apology towards Sakura and Karin)... Sometimes people use ‘Warui’ or ‘Yuruse’ (The word Itachi used towards Sasuke).

Added to that, even in Chapter 698 & 699, Sasuke never apologized to Naruto, Well, he never needed to nor Naruto would expect him to because his tears are enough... No need for words. 

Logically, that’s not a super secret word to interrupt halfway. If Sasuke said ‘Thank You’ to Sakura before knocking her out, then he could’ve easily said ‘Sorry’  to Naruto as well.

So, The word ‘Naruto ... I am Sorry’ can be easily eliminated. 

Next possibility is, ‘Naruto... I am an Avenger.’ and add something along with it. Because, We have seen Sasuke uttered this line to Sakura alone, twice in this series. Even in one of the Filler Episode, Sasuke completed that line with “Ore wa fukushuusha da” standing before Naruto. Meaning, “I’m an Avenger”. So, we can totally take this line as something Sasuke wanted to say to Naruto. In a sense, “Naruto... I am Avenger. I cannot obtain power here...”

But

Sasuke has already said, “Does staying with my comrades made me any stronger? I am going to Orochimaru”.... “If that’s the case, I will break that Bond”. Compared to these words, “I am an Avenger” feels silly, childish and too funny. This is the line Sasuke could've easily told Naruto at any point of the time during the Battle. He really didn't have to wait till the end.

And with the way Sasuke paused in the middle panel, It feels like he was going to say something very personal.

So, The line ‘Naruto... I am an Avenger’ can also be eliminated.

Another possibility I could think of is, ‘Naruto... I could never kill you’... This is another way to admit his true feelings he had about Naruto throughout the battle. Because, Sasuke’s real motivations were unknown until that point. Everyone would have thought Sasuke truly wanted to kill Naruto by treading towards that dark path. And this was the same in the Orochimaru Lair, Under the Bridge promise where Sasuke said “Fine then, I’ll Kill you First” and the second VoTE battle.

Even though Sasuke could gather some strong mental resolve to kill Naruto, his body and heart will never let him do that. And earlier in the VoTE1 battle, Naruto felt utterly betrayed when he realized that Sasuke was truly trying to kill him. 

‘Naruto... I could never kill you’... can be taken as a way of making up for that betrayal. Or like a small-confession which explains his POV. Imagine if only Sasuke said this line at that time, we all would’ve assumed that, ‘Sasuke was acting like a Tsundere to make Naruto hate him.’... Also, that line would’ve reduced the suspense and emotional impact we got from Chapter 698. Because only after Chapter 698, we get the perspective that Sasuke could never able to kill Naruto because of that dramatic Confession.

And that’s why Kishi might have made that abrupt pause at ‘Naruto... I’. And much later Kishi made Sasuke to say to himself, ‘I will not abide by your words... I will obtain power in my own way’... By making Sasuke say this, Kishi made the readers believe that Sasuke didn’t kill Naruto because he didn’t want to follow Itachi’s footsteps. If only he completed that line, we would have found out that Not following Itachi’s footsteps is an after thought and a mere excuse when in reality he could never able to. 

So, The line ‘Naruto... I could never kill you’ is a good possibility.

Next one I could think of is, ‘Naruto... I don’t want to leave you alone’. The word 'Loneliness' is something that brought both Naruto and Sasuke to notice each other. Even in Chapter 698, Naruto said, ‘I can’t just leave you alone’. Which was exactly how Sasuke felt about Naruto all along during his Genin Days. 

He went out of his way to look for Naruto during Tree Climbing Training and stayed with him. Because Sasuke doesn’t want to leave him alone. When Sasuke heard that Itachi came to the village and was looking for Naruto, he desperately searched for Naruto everywhere to make sure Itachi doesn’t catch him first.

And when Sasuke left Naruto alone in the VoTE1, we could definitely see Sasuke was under so much pain. Which means 'Departing from Naruto’ was the last thing he ever wanted to do but still he did it. He is doing something he never wanted to do and probably Sasuke wanted to confess that before leaving Naruto. 

So, There is a great chance that Sasuke wanted to say ‘Naruto... I don’t want to leave you alone’.

Next, my Favourite one is, ‘Naruto... I always wanted to be with you’. This is something both Naruto and Sasuke wanted from their childhood ever since they noticed and acknowledged each other's existence.

Naruto stopped himself from approaching Sasuke because he felt Inferior. Sasuke stopped because he thought it was a weakness. But both, truly, deep down... they liked each other’s presence. Which was very evident from how Sasuke can make different ‘funny faces’ when he was with Naruto during his Genin Days.

When life is going terribly haunting and then someone makes you feel relieved... Then you like to be around that person. It’s very natural. And Sasuke always felt the presence of his Family when he was with Naruto. 

And this line 'I always wated to be with you' is something very child-like and filled with innocence but conveys certain ‘attraction’ and love which can’t be defined with proper words. And with the way Sasuke’s face hovering over Naruto’s face with a painful expression, it may also be considered a symbolic representation of ‘I want to be with you....for one final time’.

And that’s why I feel Sasuke saying ‘Naruto... I always wanted to be with you’ is my favourite and has a high possibility.

And the final possibility is the very obvious one, that is, ‘Naruto... I love you’.... For this, there’s no need for any explanation. This is a common Interrupted confession trope which I have seen in many movies and TV series. Normally, this trope is employed whenever a character was about to confess their love and due to some external factor, it usually gets interrupted.

Just like how Robin wanted to confess her love for Barney in 'How I met your Mother' in Season 7 Episode 1.

LOL.... A phone ring interrupted her confession here...

I've seen this very similar scene in another popular movie... Spiderman : Far from home.

ROFL... Peter totally wanted to say "M.J... I Love You" but was interrupted by Mary Jane herself.

[[Note : Please don't misinterpret that I am sexualizing 13 year old kids. Sakura also confessed to Sasuke 'I Love You' just before this battle]]

And especially after seeing Chapter 698 confession, we knew that Sasuke always liked Naruto and that’s why he did many surprising things for him in Part 1 even though they hadn’t become friends. 

Why would a person like Sasuke, who prioritizes his goals, must abandon them for a person who has not even become acquainted with??? When Sasuke gave his life for Naruto, they both were just some unknown entities. We just saw them getting to know each other when they were doing the Tree Climbing Training. And that’s all. 

Or if we go before that,

They weren’t even friends and yet Sasuke just offered his lunch knowing the consequences of losing his Ninja Career. Why take risk for an unknown teammate???

Because there’s something he liked about Naruto back when they were 8 and felt relieved. And after that when they were put together in the same team, Sasuke just couldn’t act like he hates Naruto. So, he started to open up by initiating with Friendly Gestures like this!!! 

And all these ‘risk-taking’ moments with no valid foundation of Friendship (apart from that time they smiled at each other when they were 8), screams ‘certain’ attraction which Sasuke himself didn’t know what it was in the beginning of Part 1. 

But probably after this moment,

Sasuke might have realized he has certain feelings for Naruto. 

And whatever he thought about Naruto in this above panel before his 'supposed' death, he might have wanted to put into a single line and say, ‘Naruto...I Like/Love you' in VoTE1... Just like how Sasuke couldn’t confess Chapter 698 confession out loud to Naruto, he could never say 'I Love you' out loud looking at Naruto’s face. Ever. At least while Naruto was knocked out, Sasuke could be totally honest with himself & Naruto and say those words before leaving him.

Oh, By the Way.... Sasuke already said something opposite to how he really felt before.

“I used to hate you, you know”

And probably this time, Sasuke wanted to say the truth before leaving Naruto by saying, “Naruto, I.... like/love you”.

So, Sasuke saying ‘Naruto... I Love You’ is very possible as a way of being honest with himself for one final time. And with the way Sasuke looked at Naruto, he probably could’ve completed with this specific sentence off-screen. Because it’s not something that can be said out loud.

So, Yeah!!! These are the only possibilities I could imagine. Because Anything other than these lines, could’ve been easily completed or said directly. Since, the nature of their feelings are unusual, Kishi intentionally let it interrupted by Rain and left it incomplete.

Hence, we can eliminate ‘I am Sorry’ and ‘I am an Avenger’ from the possibilities.

But ‘Naruto... I could never kill you’ and ‘Naruto... I don’t want to leave you alone’ has a very good possibilities which somehow mirrors Sasuke’s inner feelings blatantly.

However, my clear favourite from the above is, “Naruto... I always wanted to be with you” because this sentence is very innocent and haunting at the same time. And my next favourite is the obvious one, that is, “Naruto... I Love You”. Because Why not??? Sasuke really loved Naruto unconditionally.

[hnnyoongs]

Rishi's Time Travel Fic Recs

im bored and my meta type thinking only ever comes right when im about to fall asleep so instead I'm going to recommend some of the best time travel fics out there for series I like because I'm a sucker for fix-its

I'm only gonna confine myself to 6 fics per fandom at most (3 completed & 3 ongoing) no time loops because I personally dont see that as time travel each fic has to be over 10k words and im not going to put doormat fics that haven't been updated in the past year on this list either

anyways buckle up it's gonna be a long ride boys

Naruto -

Complete

Sasuke's No Good Very Bad Teammates by GwendolynStacy

Info : gen, 74k words, author's tumblr @xxgwenstacyxx

Summary :

Naruto and Sakura have gone insane.

Or : Just after becoming Team 7 Naruto and Sakura go through a massive shift in personality, leaving Sasuke out of the loop and wondering what in the name of sanity could have happened to them. His only consolation is that Kakashi is just as weirded out as he is.

Thoughts : I'm usually not a fan of outsider POV time travel fics but this one is so good we as readers have a pretty good idea what's going on and it's extremely hilarious to see Sasuke be like wtf is going on just an overall very well written fic that will definitely give you giggles

Stumble by writer168

Info : gen, 285k words, rape/non-con warning

Summary :

Sakura wanted to die.

Sasori was fine with staying dead.

But it seemed fate had other plans for them, because when they both wake up younger with blood pulsing through their veins, they had to remember how to live again.

Thoughts: While not the darkest Time Travel fic I've read from Naruto, it's definitely up there and it's a rare sasori and sakura team up that doesn't end with romance for anyone who has a lot of time on their hands and doesnt mind reading graphic rape this fic is a must read

Mangekyou Sharingan by Wingwyrm

Info : gen, 60k words, rape/non-con warning

Summary :

Sasuke wanted to be able to use Tsukuyomi. He didn't realise how bad pretending to get the Mangekyō would affect the members of his family.

Thoughts : while it has another fic called Team Tensai tied to it, it's not needed to understand and enjoy this masterpiece even though it was written before canon ended causing certain things to get jossed the underlying darkness of this fic is something I have yet to see anyone replicate

Ongoing

Life as a Nukenin by JKblue

info : gen, 35k words

summary :

Kakashi wakes up in an alternate dimension .....shenanigans ensue

Thoughts : a lighthearted kakashi centric time travel fic where he's as confused as we are, it's amazing to see the author's growth in writing as time goes on and kakashi just going fuck it time to adopt every single child I find no idea why I'm a nukenin tho lmao

Time Waits for No Man by LaughingWombat

Info : gen, 87k words

Summary :

Rokudaime Kakashi finds himself back in time, and he is trying desperately not to change anything. After all, they finally achieved that elusive peace, and Kakashi won't give that up for some ghosts and old wounds. Yet things keep changing around him, and he doesn't know what to do.

Thoughts : while the fic is nearly done TECHNICALLY it's still ongoing so cut me some slack Kakashi having to choose between what is morally right and what would keep his future safe is amazing and team Minato cares so much about Kakashi here it's too cute

Trials of Change by Espoiretreves

Info : gen, 407k words, author's tumblr @espoir-et-reves

Summary :

Haruno Sakura made a promise. Looking in the eyes of her Shisou and the reanimated Hokage, she took on the most important mission of her life.

Go back in time and try to prevent the 4th Shinobi War.

Now, Sakura is back to her 5-year-old body, with all the knowledge and haunting memories of the future. She vows to keep her precious people safe and stop certain events from happening, without altering the timeline too much. The trials her emotions and logic puts her through have her questioning her very existance, but for the sake of peace she has to push forward. No matter what.

Thoughts: I hang onto this fic every week like a vulture, Sakura isn't out of character, she doesn't seem like a self insert and she's got such a strong bond with so many characters the story is multilayered and you genuinely feel like sakura's doing justice I hope to write a time travel fic like this some day

BNHA -

Complete

A Letter to Me by kiapet

Info : gen, 15k words

Summary :

Fourteen-year-old Bakugou Katsuki knows he’s destined to be a great hero someday. Midoriya Izuku dreams of the same, but struggles to get through each day in a world determined to push him down. But when the pair of middle schoolers are kidnapped by a villain with a time travel quirk, they are forced to confront a future neither of them could predict- and versions of themselves they never expected to become.

-Or-

Pro!Midoriya to Kid!Midoriya: You matter so much, and everything is going to be okay! Pro!Bakugou to Kid!Bakugou: Now listen here you little shit-

Thoughts : What can be said other than phew I love me some platonic!bkdk Not a soul sending back in time fic but a forward moving one where everyone is in separate bodies, meaning Katsuki can tell his younger self to go fuck himself just a good sweet read yk?

Ongoing

In Every Life by lucelafonde

Info : erasermight, 37k words

Summary :

After a freak accident, Aizawa suddenly finds himself many years in the past. Dealing with a young All Might who has no idea who he is, he has to find a way back to the present while going through the worst period of his life again: high school.

“Woah there!”

He heard a muffled voice behind him just as he keeled over backwards, still shaking from the shock that had hit him. Warm hands touched against his shoulders, steadying him before he could gracelessly flop to the ground. He couldn’t turn around to look, couldn’t see anything beyond what very clearly, very obviously wasn’t there.

In front of him in the distance, where the teacher’s dorms used to be, was nothing. Nothing but grass and trees. Nothing but part of the woods Shota remembered from his own time at U.A.

Thoughts : I recently stumbled onto this gem of an erasermight fic and OH LORD IM IN LOVE teenage Toshinori is an adorable bean and Shouta's inner commentary about how he's gonna strangle all might once he gets back to his own time is cracks me up

A Spanner in the Clockworks by All_five_pieces_of_Exodia

Info : gen, 132k words

Summary :

When Izuku wakes up in the forest not far from his home, he isn't prepared for what's about to come next. Izuku's never dealt with time travel, after all, but that seems to be the least of his worries. He's not in his own timeline, for one, and he may or may not have been missing for the past few months.

With the threat of a future only Izuku knows about, a strange missing persons case, everyone around him getting suspicious, and a quirk he shouldn't have, Izuku has his work cut out for him.

Thoughts : A must read for everyone Izuku's confusion of what the hell is going on and how do I hold myself together really leaks through to the reader and his inner voice is uncanny people like to act he's real dark or all sunshine and rainbows but this fic doesn't fuck him up like others tend to do

Where your love has always been enough (for me) by classicequinox

Info : enjirei, 65k words

Summary :

It's a dark coil of anger deep in the pit of his stomach, reminding him that he was the root, the catalyst, the trigger for their family's downward spiral. It did happen - he reminds himself harshly. He can't forget that, even if time has actually reset itself.

Todoroki Enji gets a second chance. It's up to him to see what he can do with it.

Thoughts : While the updates aren't weekly it's still consistently updated I love family healing stories most of all when it's the todoroki family the first chapter of enji's last action and then his actions to be better in the past are just ugh I love me some character development

DCMK -

Complete

Rank Yourself Last by viridiansky

Info : akam, 42k words

Summary :

Shuichi is certain that if he ever gave Bourbon the opportunity, he would be dead in minutes - if not seconds. Especially now that he's not just the man who killed Bourbon's best friend, but an Organization traitor as well.

Which is why he's rather confused when he finds Bourbon calmly sitting in Shuichi's hotel room, reading a book.

Thoughts : Shuichi's perspective on this whole ordeal is just confusion why is Bourbon doing this why why why but he's Shuichi so somehow you don't feel the pity you would with most characters anyways a very good akam fic AND AKEMI IS ALIVE OK ALL I NEED

Ongoing

Case File: Pandora & the Universe by OtAkU200LiOn

Info : gen, 13k words

Summary :

The former Kudo Shinichi, now Edogawa Conan, wished for only one thing. To stop that day from happening and to successfully take down the Black Org. But at what cost? his identity apparently.

Thoughts : while it hasn't been updated in a couple months it's the only ongoing one I've read and I had to offer something or it wouldn't feel right anyways it features a LOT of cute conan and I love to see pandora be used for weird supernatural shit like time travel yk?

HP -

Complete

Harry Potter and the Trip to the Past by Priya Ashok

Info : gen, 198k words

Summary :

19 years after the war with Voldemort Harry Potter is thrown 25 years into the past, arriving just before the start of his first year at Hogwarts.

Thoughts : one of the very first fanfics I ever read in my life and one I still hold dear to this day I loved seeing Harry and Severus work together especially when Harry isn't the one to approach him first about it a classic that everyone should take their time to read

To Recollect The Future by oliver.snape

Info : gen, 74k words

Summary :

Hindsight is 20/20, but when Harry's last steps into the forest set him back further than he'd ever thought, he never realised how grateful he'd be to have Snape there to help too.

Thoughts: I don't understand how this author can be so big brained they didn't prolong things they didn't do unnecessary drama the characters got everything quickly done time travel is always full of cliches but this .. this is so original utterly timeless

What is Right: Year One by Emma Lipardi

Info : gen, 87k words

Summary :

Harry finds himself making a decision to give it all up just to change what has happened. What he doesn't realize is that he gets a second chance to set it right.

Thoughts : while the sequel is unfinished to this day the first installment of the what is right series is brilliantly written showcasing a Ravenclaw!harry that we rarely see in fics his trauma directly shines through here but it's not overboard it's genuine

Ongoing

When Pigs Fly by BooksR4ever

Info : jeverus, 32k words

Summary :

Severus had always believed that romance wasn’t for him. Everyone else believed him to be filthy death eater scum, and he agreed, never fathoming the concept of someone liking him enough to actually pursue a relationship with him.

Until one fine day in sixth year, when he finds himself with a small, adorable child clinging to his right leg, calling him Papa.

Thoughts : I never really cared for Jeverus until very very recently and this was one of the first fics I decided to read it's very cute and I'm utterly in love with Harry plus Lily is such a good friend even if she isn't completely perfect the updates are slow though just so yk

FMAB -

Complete

Something about Nothing by RealityXIllusion

Info : gen, 12k words

Summary :

Tucker paid no price and transmuted his daughter. He paid the price and transmuted his mother. The difference was, Edward was a kid the first time around, he didn’t know just what he was doing. He knew it was taboo but that didn’t mean he knew the full extent to what performing human transmutation entailed. Or Edward gets a second chance and plans to do whatever it takes to make things right. He wasn't losing anyone this time around.

Thoughts : ok we all hate Shou Tucker I've only met like 3 bastards who think he's alright and they're all pieces of shit so I love seeing Edward go back and just be yk scheming and all jaded and ugh that's my boy right there Nina u poor bby

Ongoing

The Boy(s) Alchemist by SideBlog

Info : royai, 29k words

Summary :

In a desperate attempt to save Mustang's stupid life, Ed finds himself back at the stupid portal. What does it plan to take from him this time?

Or, Roy and Ed get stuck in the past and need to find their way back before things go very, very wrong.

Thoughts : The updates are pretty steady and the scary thing is that mustang is slowly losing his memory and we're here panicking with Ed about how fast they can go back it's also just nice to see Roy's childhood and his friendship? with Ed

I'm going to make another list later on because I realized oh shit I haven't read any time travel fics from AOT and there's probably a bunch from smaller fandoms that haven't crossed my mind yet

[rose-colored-amy]

So, this is a continuation to my extremely short one-shot Last Moments, Last Regrets, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Regardless, I'll leave the link of that one in here:

Also, thanks to @coeurhh for suggesting I write a second part. You're a sweetheart 🥰

She made a lovely fanart/gif, which I'm also sharing, of course:

Prompt: AU. Sakura's death goes unnoticed to everyone but the squad she protected with her life and Tsunade. Team Kakashi doesn't find out until the very end, when Naruto and Sasuke have already had their fight, and there's nothing to do about it but mourn the absence.

Warning: Mild Sasusaku and lots of angst. Team 7 sort-of-fluff (?)

—Blue Bird, Let Go—

"Hey, bastard... I know they really let us down, the village, I mean."

"Aa... "

"But I really think it's not all that bad. When we were I team, I knew you understood. It felt like having a brother, believe it."

They were watching their lives go by, shadows of unknown faces passing by them, not noticing their pain, or not caring whatsoever. Their backs were touching, but it was all cold and bleak; a bad memory. A clan slaughtered, a demon sealed. Two lonely boys wallowing in their own sadness.

"Well, even if I don't make it, I'm glad it was you, bastard—"

"Shut up, idiot." His voice sounded strained, even for his standards, but Sasuke was so tired he couldn't even bring himself to care.

"We're really dying, ah? Wanna say something? I do have things to say, 'cause there's no way I'm dying—"

"In silence?" Sasuke interrupted, but Naruto payed him no mind.

"Without telling you how much of an asshole you've been! I couldn't even keep my promise to Sakura-chan! She's gonna be so damn mad when she finds out, I'm sure she'll drag me back to life just to cave my face in—" He was rambling at that point, but it was just so comforting and normal to Sasuke that he didn't even acknowledge it anymore.

"Hn. Sakura... She..."

"She still loves you, asshole. I don't have any idea how it can be possible but—"

"I'm sorry..." It sounded rushed, but Naruto heard it perfectly, and in the darkness of their shared consciousness, Sasuke heard a resigned sigh.

"Well, it's not that bad. I cannot imagine dying beside anyone but you, bastard."

"Idiot..." He made a pause. "Me neither."

"You're both a pair of idiots!"

Suddenly, the unreadable mass of unrecognizable faces around them cleared, and one figure stood in front of them, pink eyebrows frowned in annoyance. Though this version of Sakura looked familiar, it was one none of the boys had seen in a long time. Genin, long-haired, Sakura was glaring at them, arms crossed.

"Sakura-chan! What are you doing in here?!"

Her eyes softened. "What, so I'm supposed to let you two die, after everything? No way in hell!"

"Sakura..."

"You!" She pointed at Sasuke, who flinched slightly at her rudeness. "I don't know what the hell happened, but I don't care. Lighten up and start being your moody self. We love you just like that! Don't act so repented and shit! If you're sorry stop looking like a lost puppy and start doing something about it, you asshole!" Her voice was raising with madness and it was slightly off putting to see what used to be a stuttering lovestruck preteen talking to him like that.

Naruto snorted at that, obviously delighted for not being at the receiving end of her wrath for once. It was short-lived, however.

"And you!" She pointed at the blonde; then crossed her arms. He jumped back in fright. "What is this? How dare you even consider dying after you promised to be the best goddamned Hokage in history?! Here I am, rooting for you, while you lay around like a lazy pig with your edgy bro there. You should be ashamed of yourself!" She scoffed.

Naruto's mouth was so wide open he could have caught a fly. "Lazy pig? Are you kidding?!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, half amused, half annoyed. "Edgy?"

Suddenly, the edges of their vision began to blurr, like a genjutsu being unravelled. "Ah, someone came to help you at last." Sakura seemed relieved. Strangely so.

"Hey, Sakura-chan! You know what? You're right. I'll be the best damn Hokage ever, believe it! Just you watch!" He threw a punch to the air.

Seemingly placated and pleased with his answer, she nodded. "I know so." Then, she turned to her other teammate, who was concentrating solely on her face, mismatched eyes softened as they'll ever be. "And you'll make sure he doesn't mess up, right?"

They shared a long silence. There was something strange about Sakura aside her appearance. He could tell. "Hn. I will..."

"Hey! I don't need him watching over—"

"Sure you don't." He countered sarcastically.

"Also..." They turned to her again. "I'm sorry."

"Wha—" Naruto stuttered. "What the hell would you be sorry for, Sakura-chan?! If anything, it's the bastard here who should be apologizing to you!"

"Sakura..." Sasuke seemed to be searching for the right words, but she couldn't let them go without them listening to her. To what she needed them to know. There wasn't much time left after all.

"I'm sorry, because I wasn't what you needed..." She closed her eyes, her pretty minty orbs. Her appearance suddenly shifted, before then now standing her true self, still dressed in the standard shinobi uniform of the alliance. Her forehead protector lost to whoever knows where. "And thank you. You both made me stronger. You made me appreciate what I had. And I'll always, always love you. Our moments together like team seven... I'll treasure them for all eternity."

"Sakura-chan..."

"I know Konoha wasn't the best to you both, but don't forget the good... The wholesome moments. It's all that matters in the end... Our bonds, the bonds you managed to forge with sweat and blood... The world we live in, the world that gave me the chance to meet you. To me, that's to be cherished. Forever."

The white light started overwhelming the rest. Even Sakura's features started dissapearing.

"Live. Just live." For that, she specifically stared at Sasuke, a soft smile playing on her lips. "And thank you."

Sasuke started racing towards her, hand stretched, a forebonding understanding shaking his bones. "Sakura!"

And then, they both lost consciousness.

When they woke up, aside from feeling like shit, the first thing that crossed their minds what the finality of Sakura's words. Tsunade was beside them, patching them up, with Kakashi beside her, silently watching over them.

"About time, brats! What were you think—"

"Baa-san." Naruto interrupted her, his voice the most serious she had heard him until then.

"Where's Sakura?" Sasuke finished for him, his eyes icy and detached, trying to keep his worry at bay.

But she didn't need to answer. Her chakra flow hesitated, spiking with sorrow. Her eyes glistening with unbearable loss. Kakashi, at her side, stared, eyes widened in comprehension.

She was gone by a long shot.

And they were just finding out.

...

Everybody had different ways of dealing with loss. Naruto helped rebuild the village along with everyone else, but he skipped his usual meals, his ramen left forgotten in his kitchen counter. His movements when sparring were sloppy at best, not just because of the new prosthetic limb, but also because his mind was clearly somewhere else. Usually, Shikamaru would drag him out his makeship house, like he had done when Jiraija was gone for good. Sometimes, he would bring Ino with him, who was suspiciously skinny and messier than normal. No makeup covering the dark circles under her eyes.

Kakashi spent more than usual at the memorial stone every day, tracing the newly marked name of the girl who once remained him of Rin but that had come to claim a place for herself in his heart. Also, he took more missions than it was allowed in a month, going so far as to pick up his ANBU mask again, which caused an altercation with Tsunade, who hadn't been sober in a long time and had been hoping to hand the Hokage seat to him.

Sai avoided the color pink for a long time.

Sasuke... Well, he dealed with loss the same as everyone else... Longing for the missing person to be there, itching to have the opportunity to say what he couldn't at the time. Wanting to be alone whenever they would reach for him... And he built a tomb for her in hopes to find some closure. Not that official, because there wasn't a body to bury, and it had no name, but it was enough for him. He would bring with him camellias every day, buying them at the Yamanaka's, where Ino would always glance at him in silent understanding.

One morning, on his way to her tomb, he spotted a young shinobi leaving a white lilly for her. When he came by, the child spoke without a care, like they were acquaintances. "This is Sakura-san's, right?"

"Hn." It wasn't really an answer, but the child seemed to understand anyway.

"You know? Mama and big sister are also buried in these grounds... I always talk to them and tell them about my day and stuff I want them to know!" He turned to the Uchiha, a smirk on his cherubic face. "I'm sure she would appreciate it as well." And just like that, he left without another word.

Sasuke sat on the ground, just in front of the stone, mismatched eyes half lidded. Sensing no one in the vicinity, he exaled a shaky breath, and his dam opened up, the words longing to be said broke the silence he had been wrapping around himself since he knew of her death:

"I miss you... I've been missing you since I first left."

[kishillaa]

SSM21 Day 11: Safe and Sound

This promt is the continuation of my SSM21 Day 10 promt.

***

"He was killed?"

"Yeah."

"Who did?"

"Some Konoha girl."

Snorted, "Didn't think Sasori would be defeated by a female."

"I wouldn't look past that. She is the Fifth Hokage's apprentice. Sakura Haruno if I'm not mistaken."

"I haven't heard about her."

"Meh, she's young. Anyway, I heard Sasori's henchmen is after her. She was able to create antidote for his famous poison. They went rage and wanted to kill her."

"Of course they will be. His poison is what kept them strong all this while."

"True. But I don't think they know though. The Konoha people."

"Sasori do works in secret. No one exactly knew he has a group of his own. If you weren't one of 'em before, we wouldn't have known either."

"Sneaky one, I must say."

-

The conversation Sasuke had accidentally heard during one of his mission for Orochimaru played in his mind.

There is only one female with pink hair in the village he left behind.

Sakura.

Sasuke was panting rather heavily, as he looks over the mess before him. A few of older men laying on the forest floor, at the brink of their death after the ever so furious Sasuke Uchiha, knocked them out of their breath, killing each and everyone of them.

It's been 2 years, and knowing the pink haired ex teammate of his were in danger, that she isn't aware of, knicked him off making he went reckless and find the pursuer at the boarder of the Konoha village. He was lucky he found them first, or else he might be the one laying on the ground, waiting for death calling for him.

He was furious, more to himself than anyone else. He had severed the bond, he was sure of it. But why, just at the mention of the pink hair konoha kunoichi made him do things he doesn't want to, things he should not necessarily do. Sure, they have started exchange letters by his summon, but he still doesn't want to have anything to do with her for now, until his goal is fulfilled.

Sasuke let out a defeated sigh, before he move away from Sasori's henchmen.

As if has the mind of their own, his legs and body makes it way through the forest towards Konoha hidden village. He quickly move to the top of the building when he reached the village at midnight.

From where he is locating, he can see that Sakura's window is widely open as if inviting him in.

Without further ado, he move using the roof and hop onto an electrical post to have a better view into Sakura's room.

He can clearly saw Sakura's sleeping figure as she sleeps with only her head peaking out of the blanket while the other part of the body was covered under it.

She looks distress, rather than calm in her sleep made Sasuke couldn't help but go closer and got into her room.

As if sensing Sasuke's presence, Sakura's head tilted to his direction.

Sasuke hold his breath and wait to see her reaction. When she didn't make any move after that, Sasuke let out a relief sigh.

He moves closer, standing beside her bed looking down at her trouble looking sleeping figure. Slowly, Sasuke sit himself on her tiled floor and stare at her sleeping face.

And then, "S–Sasuke - k-kun."

It was so faint, he almost couldn't hear it but of course he knew she was saying his name.

"P-please dont go." She mumurs again.

-

Sakura blinks, and when she did it for third time, she sees Sasuke. It isn't really Sasuke she knew though. Sasuke she remembered from her dream doesn't look as matured as this, and he usually wear a dark blue shirt that he often wore during their genin days. Sakura quickly dismiss the widen eyes Sasuke, thinking that its another dream.

Sakura groans, as she stretched out a little.

"You're up."

That voice makes her stop mid stretching, as her head snap to her side. "Sasuke-kun!"

She sat up so quick that her head went buzzed with dizziness. She hold it and wince, "Oww."

"Slow down." He said, somehow amused.

At that voice, she look at him. Biting her lips as tears of happiness and longing pooled in her eyes, she lunged herself at the Uchiha, bringing him into her embrace.

She was crying, that was obvious, "I missed you so much." She said in between her sobs, tightening her hold on him, afraid that he's going to leave her too soon.

"I should go back now." Sasuke said.

"I know. Ju–just let me hug you a second." She heard him sigh before he complies and circle his own hands around her. One of his hand is lowering her head to under his chin as he sniffs her hair.

"Your hair smell different, again." He mumbles.

"No, not really. I'm still using the same shampoo, but I just got back from the hospital few hours ago so the smell must've mixed with antiseptic or something." And then she cries harder, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you're coming, if I do I would've shower and wash my hair with that shampoo you like so much, but I just went out of a 24-hour shift and I was just so god damn tired, and one of my patients just died, and I could've save him, but I couldn't." And now she is crying with a whole different reason.

When finally, finally, her cries subsided, Sasuke spoke, "I don't mind. And I don't like them so much. It was just pleasant than this one." She likes how he purposefully left the dead patient out as he runs his fingers through her unruly hair. It always soothe and calmed her when he did, and he knew that.

She whines again, saying something she thought as I could've smell way better than this. Liking the way his hand combing her hair. A wave of nostalgia hit her like a tsunami as their secret moment as genin plays in her mind, if possible, she tighten her hands around him even more. She was just so glad Sasuke isn't one to complain simple stuff like that.

When they were in their kind-of-dating relationship, Sasuke has always sniff on her hair, he once revealed that he likes her smell, it was floral green shampoo which smell minty rain forest. She unfortunately had to change her shampoo to a coconut with vanilla scented shampoo when Pakkun said he use the same one. It traumatised her to use the same shampoo as a dog.

"It's still your smell." He heard him say as he breaths in her scent again causing the heat move up to her face. She pulls away gently to look him in the eye.

Before she utters a single word, Sasuke spoke, "You were hunt by Sasori's henchmen."

Sakura's eyes widen at the news, "What? How do you know?"

Sakura watch as his shoulder moves up and down slowly, "I have my source."

"From Orochimaru?"

Sasuke shakes his head, "No. They didn't even know Sasori was dead."

She nodded, feeling relieved, if Orochimaru knew, their chances went lower to zero to put up to their idea in finding his hideout, "Good. I have to be careful, then."

"There's no need. I killed them all."

This time, Sakura's eyes widen again in surprised, "What?"

"You heard me."

"I know, but why?"

He rolls his eyes and scoff, "Because who else is going to clean the Uchiha compound if you're dead." he deadpan.

The sarcasm lacing through the sentence was so loud that Sakura has to laugh, "You're such a dork, Sasuke-kun."

"Hn." Was his smart boring response.

"Do you have any injuries? I can heal you."

"Just small cuts hear and there. I'll be fine." But Sakura insist.

"Please, let me show off my improved skills while you're away."

And show off she did.

"You're good."

Sakura beamed, with small blush covering her cheeks, "I've learnt from the best."

"That's good, then. I can't seems to regret leaving you now that you're able to heal and kill at the same time."

"Sasuke-kun, don't say that. I will always wanted you stay. It feels so lonely when I sat at the dock few weeks after your departure, that I had to stop going."

Sasuke didn't voice out anything after that as they sit in silence.

"Thank you for coming tonight,"

Sasuke shrugs, "Just want to make sure you're safe and sound."

Sakura's teeth sunk into her lower lips as a sob makes it way out of her throat, he's saying goodbye. Without very much of a warning, Sakura cup Sasuke's cheeks, angle her head and capture his lips with hers.

Her tears cascade down her cheeks at the nostalgic way Sasuke went rigid at her sudden attack before he kiss her with just the same intensity. His lips is still as soft as she remembered, he's still a little bit stiff at the beginning of their kiss, and still so furiously good as they went by.

When they pull apart, both were breathing so hard as their forehead attached, "I love you, Sasuke-kun. I still do. Always do."

"I know," He said, and then, "Thank you, Sakura." All she can feels is a soft peck on her forehead while her eyes focus on the whirling of tomoe of Sasuke's sharingan, bringing her to a deep slumber.

[kyuuzuchiha]

Sakura has never feared Naruto. Been annoyed, frustrated, angered by him? Yes. But he has never struck fear in her heart. The Kyuubi taking control over him doesn't change that. She is not afraid of him but rather for him. She can't imagine that it's an easy burden and yet here he is, carrying it still. "You don't scare me, Naruto." her voice is gentle. "I don't see you any differently."

[ WAIT ]:  realizing the receiver is about to leave the room, the sender hastily reaches out and catches their wrist, preventing them from continuing their departure.

- from @springwxrrior - (for Naruto)

@springwxrrior — Intimate Prompts

I can’t say for sure where the anger comes from. Maybe it’s left over from having a life I would’ve loved to live ripped away before I was even old enough to know what I’d be missing. Maybe it comes from the loneliness that’s festered through the life they say I was “destined” to lead. Maybe it boils down from the pain. They say pain makes you stronger, but sometimes it just hurts. Sometimes, it makes you angry and ruins you, like it ruined Sasuke.

I don’t wanna be that way. I don’t wanna feel that broken.

Still, when Sakura brings up the demon fox so casually— No, that’s not true, not fair to say. She doesn’t make it casual. It feels that way because it comes out of nowhere, it seems. In reality, she’s hesitant when she comments on it. I can tell by the way her voice changes, gets softer, by the way her eyes find it hard to hold my gaze, by the way her mannerisms become sheepish in an unfamiliar way. So, yeah, she hesitantly brings up the fox and how I’m handling it as of late, but I don’t see it as hesitant or gentle.

Anger starts to bubble from somewhere buried deep within as I think about how much fear that thing strikes in the hearts of those around me. People I’m supposed to protect as the future Hokage don’t trust me, and they never have, not even from my youth. They think I’m cursed. They don’t know the burden I carry. They don’t know strong I must be to survive and persevere.

I say a lot of things. “No one understands,” is one of those things, and it comes out loudly. As the emotion crescendoes, so does my voice when I nearly scream, “You’re all just afraid!” I reach up, furiously wipe my cheek, and I’m not surprised to find wet streaks streaming down my face.

I feel warmth all over my body, feel the familiar chakra crawl over my skin and envelop me, and I know it’s happening. He’s creeping out. It keeps happening this way. I become more like that demon I’m so determined to change, and I can understand their fear when I get this way. I don’t look like myself, don’t act like myself, so it just makes sense when I murmur, “And you have every right to fear me,” miserably.

I remember that they feared me long before I ever showed signs of the demon fox leaking out. They ostracized me, kept me in the dark, left me to my own pain. And I start to become angry again. And then I’m miserable. And then I’m angry. And the cycle feels like it’ll never end. I think it’s best that I just leave. I turn, catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and I think... no, I don’t look like myself. I look like a demon, born of pain.

"You don't scare me, Naruto." Her voice floats to my ears in a gentle murmur, but it screams louder than the fox goading me within. "I don't see you any differently."

I feel her grip tighten on my wrist, and she doens’t let go even when I try to jerk away. She stumbles forward, unafraid of get tingcloser to me. Her superior strength keeps me tethered in place as I try to thrash her off of me like a wild animal. Finally, I start to settle. When I look her in the eyes again, there’s a patient expression on her face.

“You might not see me differently, but that’s not the whole problem.” Her brow scrunches in a confused way, so I explain by saying, “You can never go back and erase my pain...” And it’s this pain that makes me so vulnerable to the demon. It’s this loneliness that makes me change. She hugs me, and it feels like a desperate embrace, so I hug back. I don’t know if that’s to make her feel better, or to make myself feel better, but I suppose it does help either way.

[youcanreadit]

AT LAST- NARUTO X READER (MODERN AU)

I hope you enjoy this UwU

"Btw Naruto did you hear? The new student will be joining our school today."

Naruto simply nodded and continued to stuff ramen into his mouth. Shikamaru shrugged and went back to finish his own meal. Of course, nothing can make him happier than his ramen.

Later that day, you accidentally bumped right into him on the way to your class. He was opening his mouth about to apologize profusely but the words died down on his lips. A surge of inexplicable emotion surged within him, rendering him speechless. You were the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, apart from his mother.

But he couldn't seem to recognize you. That's when it clicked. She is the new student that Shikamaru was talking about at lunch!

While he gazed at your face like an idiot with an obvious blush on his cheeks, you muttered a quick apology and hurried off, leaving him standing there staring at you, awed.

After the day he met you, he was more cheerful and giddy than he usually was. Ever since he lost his parents, he had felt like he lost a part of himself. It was as if you pulled him out of the darkness and brought him back to his old self.

He would always arrive at school earlier- astonishing all his friends and teachers- so that he could see you more.

He was always watching you when you were not looking. He liked that farway look in your eyes, the shyness that radiated from you, the warm smile playing on your lips.

It felt like adrenaline was injected directly into his veins when you both locked eyes. Your voice, your face, your smile were all his brain would dwell on.

At first, he repeatedly tried to deny his feelings for you.

"I am not in love with her! I like Sakura! I like Sakura!!"

And then he would see you enter the class, your cheeks tinted pink and offering him a smile as you pass by. "Man I am so in love with her.."

He finally decided to take Jiraiya's help. Which was of course a bad idea.

*after hearing the whole thing* "I understand.. It's the L word Naruto"

"W-what?"

"Lust"

Seeing him struggle with his emotions, Sasuke was the one who made him realize he was in love with you.

" Hey dobe, I think Y/n likes Kiba."

"WHATTTT!!!WHO TOLD YOU?"

"But you said you love Sakura, so why are you worried?"

"NO I DON'T!!I LOVE Y/N!!" *silence* (thanks Sasuke)

He would always notice if you didn't have the usual sparkle in your eyes. Whenever that happened, he made sure to put cute little notes in your locker and notebooks. He would hide somewhere and watch you read them, and smile like an idiot seeing your face light up at the cheesy lines he had written in his messy handwriting.

As for Valentine's day, he would spend hours in the kitchen making chocolate for you. Then along with Sasuke, he would arrive at school like an hour earlier to get rid of all the piles of gifts in your locker( he sure is competitive)

"Yeah! Mine would be the best chocolate she has ever tasted!!!" Sasuke simply face palms.

Little did he know that he had accidentally added salt instead of sugar. Yikes. Cooking ain't your thing Naruto

At first he was worried that you would go after Sasuke like all the other girls. It was a pleasant surprise when he found out you weren't a fan girl.*breathes out in relief*

Just in case, he decided to warn Sasuke. " you keep your bunch of fangirls, but remember, Y/n is OFF LIMITS" "whatever dobe"

He stopped at nothing to impress you. He pushed himself to get better at studies. Over time, his grades improved.

When he didn't understand a concept he would rush to you with his books. He was glad that you weren't impatient like the others, but explained to him in simple ways you could.

A total sweetheart he is, it was impossible to hate him. But he could be annoying at times too.

Like when he doesn't see you for too long, he would be a whining, blubbering mess.

"Sakura, I want to se-"

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NARUTO SHUT UPPPP! I HAVE BEEN READING THE SAME SENTENCE FOR LIKE 10 MINUTES!"

"BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN TWO DAYS!!

Sasuke: *changes seat*

Not to mention that he is really protective over you. If anybody tries to hurt you, well let's say that would be the end for that person. "Fight me!!"

Naruto was known to be the loud, hyperactive, sunshine of the school. But he immediately transforms into a timid puppy when you are near him.

Like Naruto would be talking and laughing with his friends and then he turns around and sees you -

*you lean closer to his face* I need to ask you ab-Naruto?

*Naruto has stopped functioning*

It wasn't hard for his friends to figure out the reason behind his strange behaviour lately.

They teased him about how oblivious you were to his feelings and if he didn't hurry up, someone would steal you from him.

But he didn't want to rush. Some people are worth waiting for. And of course he was worried if someone like you would go for a person like him. Please tell the poor guy otherwise.

Many boys came forward seeking to be your boyfriend, but you turned them down politely. That left Naruto with a bittersweet hope. It could or couldn't be him. But he won't give up on you like that. His life motto itself was- Never give up,no matter what!

In the brief occasions that you spoke to him would be the best part of his day. The whole world would blur and he could see only you, and hear your velvet like voice.

You were the only one who laughed at his stupid jokes. Oh how much he loved that smile you gave him, he would later replay it over and over in his head.

He would imagine taking you to his favourite restaurant, Ichiraku as a date. From his stories about you, Teuchi and Ayame couldn't wait to meet you.

When you touched him casually, his whole body would light up with a warmth that only you could ignite. That made him wonder how it would feel like to run his fingers through your silky hair, kiss your soft lips and then his whole face would turn as red as a tomato.

On his weekly visits to his parent's grave, he eagerly tells them about the beautiful girl that he recently met. He would tearfully tell them about finally meeting a girl as fascinating as his mother.

As the years passed his feelings never dulled. He fell for you more, your smile, your alluring eyes, your easy going personality and everything else about you.

However, he started to worry when the graduation was getting closer. He couldn't bear to lose you.

The thought caused him such pain that he lay awake for nights, and then finally deciding that it was the right time to let you know of his feelings.

After the graduation ceremony, Sasuke held a party at his house for the new graduates. As much as Naruto enjoyed spending time with his friends, his eyes kept darting across the room from time to time, in hopes of seeing you.

When he finally spotted you amidst the chaos and the tightly packed people,his heart skipped a beat. You looked so beautiful in that blue dress you wore, the coloured lights dancing across your skin adding to the effect.

With his eyes on you, he excused himself from his group of friends and all but hurried over to you, ignoring the laughter and cheers that erupted from behind him.

After saying that he needed to speak something important with you,he dragged you through the mass of people- keeping a firm grip on your wrist to prevent you from getting lost in the crowd- to the backyard.

He finally dropped your wrist when you both reached a secluded spot near a cluster of trees. The loud music and noises from the house was now a distant, faint hum to your ears.

He took a step back and stood facing you. It was hard to believe how tall he had become over the past few years. You had to tilt your head back to look at him in the eyes.

"I am sorry I had to drag you away so abruptly." He hoped that you wouldn't notice the faint quiver in his voice. He clenched and unclenched his hands.

You laughed quietly and waved off his queries " It's alright Naruto. I was planning to get away from all that noise anyway" you grinned at him, flashing your teeth. "In fact, you helped me."

Naruto tried his best to smile back hoping you wouldn't notice anything amiss. But when your smile slowly melted away from your lips,he understood that he didn't fool you.

He was looking at you warily, like he was anticipating something bad would happened. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were full of worry and hope and some intense emotion that you couldn't quite pinpoint.

"What's wrong Naruto?" You asked quietly. You raised a hand as if to touch his arm, but then let it drop. "You can tell me"

He ran his trembling fingers through his spiky blond hair-which looked almost silvery in the moonlight-and nervously glanced at you with his blue eyes.

While you stared back at him in confusion, he was having a mental argument with himself.

I can do this! She is waiting for you to say something Naruto!do it!!

"I..." He faltered. He looked at the ground and then up again, at you.

Here it goes..

" Are you dating Kiba?" There was brief pause.

You looked utterly baffled "HUH??!"

Damn what the hell is wrong with me?! He awkwardly shifted his weight from one leg to the other, looking bashful " I mean- you both hang out with each other a lot.."

You laughed " He is a good friend of mine, that's all"

"So you both-"

"Nope" You sounded amused, but not at all annoyed, despite the fact that he basically dragged you away to ask you such stupid questions.

"Okay" he said with fake cheerfulness, turning his back to you. "Thanks for the information, I better get back"

You caught his sleeve, making him go still. He turned to look at you, eyes still wide and cheeks tinted red, but they slowly melted away when he saw you gazing back at him almost sadly.

"Naruto" you said his name so softly that his stomach fluttered in response " that's not what you were meaning to say. We both know that."

He blinked.

You were right. What was he doing?!

It felt as if your voice had brought him back to his senses.

He remembered Jiraiya's advice from the morning. It felt as if the old man sensed what Naruto was planning to do. Instead of giving his usual pervy tips, he had said : "Letting her know of your feelings is the way to get to her heart. If you want to know if she returns your love, tell her."

Determination and hope flared in his eyes. He took a deep breath and stepped closer until you could feel the heat radiating from him. You swallowed and felt your cheeks getting warm.

He reached out and took both your hands gingerly in his and stared intently at you.

" Y/n I love you..I always have..."

He watched your eyes widen and lips part with surprise. He continued before you could say anything.

"I know you probably consider me to be foolish and naive, but I mean it when I say that I love you more than I could love myself. I wish I could explain to you how wonderful you are, how beautiful your eyes or how your voice gives me butterflies every single time. I love who I am with you. I.." He swallowed visibly, but his gaze on you never wavered. " I don't know how to explain love..But when I see you, I imagine the two of us cooking together, fighting together..being together. And I can't imagine anything that would make me happier. I would like to do these things with you. That is'' he smiled shyly, his cheeks turning pink " if you feel the same."

Your vision blurred as you felt tears brimming your eyes. "Naruto ..."

Naruto's smile vanished quickly. Did he upset you?! Oh crap.

He immediately let go of your hands and started to panic. He raked through his brain,thinking back over the words he had just used on you, trying desperately to find where he went wrong. He had never been in a position before where he had to comfort a crying girl. Once he had borrowed Sai's book on human behavior. If only he could remember..

"Y/n I am sorry-"

He stopped abrubtly when he felt your finger on his lips, signaling him to stop. You slowly withdrew them to place your hands on either side of his cheeks, thumb tracing the whisker like markings on his cheeks lightly. His eyes widened.

"Naruto..that was beautiful.." You said wonderingly, as if you had just woken up from a dream. "No one has ever said such lovely things to me." For a long moment you stared into his eyes,those lovely blue eyes that has always reminded you of the blue waves crashing against the shore- a feeling of peace and warmth and comfort. You could feel yourself getting lost in them. Naruto was still dazed. It was as if the roles were suddenly reversed. He was staring at you open mouthed while you smiled back at him adoringly.

"You are such an idiot Naruto" you teased, but the affection in your voice took the sting out of it "my idiot"

Your fingers were still stroking his cheeks, making it difficult for him to concentrate. He swallowed "W-what?"

A giggle escaped your lips "you cannot seriously think that I didn't notice your feelings all these years" your smile spoke of mischief now "and it was not one sided. Why did you wait for so long to come to me?"

Naruto was shell shocked. His heart was pounding so loudly that he thought that it would jump out. Is this a dream?

You finally stopped laughing and gazed at his blue orbs seriously. "Naruto" you said " I have struggled to make friends all throughout my life. When my parents decided to move to Konoha I was absolutely against it. Starting a new life.." You shook your head slowly " I didn't want that. But then you came along, my personal sun. With your bright smile and cheerful personality..who always tried to cheer me up. Who was always by my side..Slowly I felt myself taking a liking to this place.. And I felt myself falling for you.."

You heard his sharp intake of breath and smiled again "Naruto, I can't find the right words to explain how much you mean to me, but I would like to spend the rest of my life with you showing them. "

He felt tears sting the back of his eyes. He wanted to laugh, cry, curse himself for having waited for so long. He was almost mad with joy. But when he looked at you, he knew that you could see the emotion plainly written on his face. Because love required no language.

His lips curled up into a smile that lit up his whole face. You had seen him smile before, plenty of times, and yet this was different from the others. This smile was the most beautiful one you had ever seen, one that spoke of love and happiness and gratitude, a gesture that was too deep to be explained in words.

The uncertainty in his eyes were long gone, replaced with hope and love. He cupped your face in his large hands so gingerly that you shivered sightly.

"It feels like a dream" he said huskily, brushing a strand of hair from your face "being here with you like this."

"Then let me prove it tlo you that it's not"

You pulled him down by the collar of his shirt until your foreheads almost touched. Leaning in, you kissed both his cheeks, his eyelids, the tip of his nose, over and over again. Your other hand was pressed on his chest allowing you to feel his rapid heartbeat.

When your gaze finally fell on his lips, resting on them for a second, made Naruto impatient. He craved for your touch,the warmth that you provided. He had waited to do this for so long, he couldn't bear to waste any second longer.

So he leaned in closer and his lips finally met yours, moving gently against your own.

Warmth and desire exploded within him, and the world slowly disappeared from around the two of you. It was slow and soft and perfectly natural, like breathing and yet so intimate.

His calloused hands were gentle as they caressed your cheeks, his warm breath mingling with yours. His hands went to the nape of your neck and drew you even closer, thus deepening the kiss. Sparks flew within you, and you wrapped your hands around his shoulder in response , to eliminate the space between the two of you as much as possible.

He loved the way your lips fit with his like puzzle pieces, moving in perfect sync with his. His lips tasted like ramen, making you smile into the kiss.

When you both finally broke apart for air, he rested his forehead against yours, his warm breath hitting your cheeks. He was breathing hard like you, but his whole face was lit with joy, a smile so beautiful playing on his lips that you couldn't help but return it.

Your slender hands went around his waist, cheek resting against his sculpted chest, and listened to his hammering heart. Physically, he had changed a lot since the first time you met him. The childish roundness was long gone from his face. You could feel the solid hard muscle as you held him,the sharpness of his cheekbones,the callousness of his hands. And yet he was still the same. The same luminous blue eyes that sparkled even in the darkness,the same exuberant personality and that infectious smile.

For a while you both stood in each other's embrace, basked in the silvery moonlight with a wide grin plastered on both your faces.

"Thank you Naruto " and in those syllables he heard everything. He closed his eyes in content and hummed in response.

This was the love he'd waited for, hoped for. And now finally, he was home.

At last.

Mom, dad are you watching?

[owlsbride]

Icha Icha and Prejudice: The Book Club

Chapter V: A Suitable Marriage

"So…" Sakura answered, arriving at an obvious conclusion observing her cup of sake "now you have to go all way to Suna to solve Naruto's mess."

"Yes," Kakashi nodded, looking at the empty space behind her "I'm not exactly thrilled about it, but it's my job after all." He concluded finally directing his gaze to Sakura to look at her big furious green eyes. He suppressed an inner smile.

"But why? Why don't you send Naruto back again? He was the one that asked the Kazekage an extra train program to be a better Hokage" Sakura started annoyed "And Gaara accepted. What was he thinking? Besides, they both made this mess together."

It was infuriating. Gaara, the most collect man she has ever known, all so stoic, silently analyzing everything around him with his sharp mind. Separated from the world, absorbed in his thoughts with his celestial eyes always directed to the horizon, protecting his village. She couldn't understand it.

"Maa, Sa Ku Ra, calm down" Kakashi spoke with his soft tone, guessing what was going on inside her mind "Gaara may be the Kazekage, and a great one, by the way, a fine young man, but inside he's still a child. I think he's still trying to figure out what human relationships are all about, and when being too friendly or solicitous is too much. I guess he couldn't say no to a friend." There was so much tenderness in his words that Sakura sighed leaning back in her chair a little less angry.

"God, he's worst than Sai." Sakura agreed finally most to herself than to Kakashi thinking about the problems that the young man with black hair suffered and caused due to his lack of social empathy.

"Trust me Sakura, if I were to choose between them both..." Kakashi left the phrase hanging. He was not mad at the Kazekage nor Naruto, he was just tired and resigned with the last one. Naruto would never really change.

"Still..." Sakura began again "I don't know why you can not solve this problem from here. Was it that bad?

"You couldn't just start to imagine."

"But this weather..." She was less angry but pushier now.

"If I didn't know you better, I would think you don't want to let me go, Sakura" he spoke in such a suggestive way that Sakura trembled under his gaze "but I'm sure is not the case, right?"

"Of course not Hokage Sama" she was blushing, a lot "I'm just worried about the security of our leader." Sakura finally answered, wrinkling her nose. Kakashi laughed at her face.

"Relax Sakura, I'm not just an old useless politician".

"I guess you are right... you are not a politician" Sakura said, sticking out her tone.

"Careful Sa Ku Ra, the cat may eat your tongue someday" Kakashi answered her with a deep dark tone licking his own lips, or at least that's what she believed. Again the warm feeling forming in her low stomach, now she was sure, it was not her chakra.

"Yeah... anyway..." she tried to hide her excitement and shame at once adopting a much more professional stance, "I think I should go with you." She finished crossing her arms on the table.

"And that could be because...?" Kakashi leaned back on his chair taking distance from Sakura, eyeing her suspiciously, he had seen this coming. He knew that Sakura was going to ask her to go with him.

"I think it's pretty obvious Sensei." He hated the honorifics, but he just stopped fighting it a long ago with Sakura. It was just a mannerism, a way of speaking, not particularly a sign of respect or distance. It was merely their ways, and it was ok, strange and alluring at times, but ok.

"Go on..."

"I believe that the company of a nin doctor in this weird mission of yours, trying to recover Suna from the Tsunami named Naruto, could be of much help." She finished matter of factly.

"For what? a heatstroke?" Kakashi wasn't going to fall in her charms.

"Stop mocking me, Sensei" Sakura pouted. Now she was feeling hurt.

"I'm not mocking you." He smiled. She was cute sometimes. "I'm just saying that there are no risks in my short journey to Suna. It's a safe trip. Only three days and I'll be back; besides, you forget something."

"What?" Sakura asked in confusion

"You are on vacations."

"Yes, a vacation I didn't request for." It was evident that she still felt horrible about that decision.

"And yet, here we are. Having dinner in your second night of" Kakashi said raising his cup, even if he was not going to drink it with Sakura watching straight to his face.

"I guess..." Sakura did drink her sake and started again with all the Suna issue "So, you are going alone? Who is going to be encharged during these days?"

"I asked an old friend to help me here. Luckily she said yes. Having you not accepting the recess and Naruto trying to put his last training in practice is too much of a danger to leave the village alone. And no, I'm not travelling by myself" Kakashi gave her a wink.

"Hey! I'm not that bad. I'm not going to break the rules Hokage Sama". Sakura was starting to feel offended. She was not a girl anymore. He had to stop seeing her like one "I'm not a gir..."

"A girl. You are not a girl anymore." Kakashi finished for her "I'm well aware of that". Eyes darker.

"So, Who is this friend of yours and with who are you travelling with?" Sakura asked incredulously. She didn't know Kakashi had friends except for Guy Sensei and Genma, (who were definitely not suitable for cover him in these three days) less a woman. Why was she a bit jealous, and why was Kakashi noticing it? He laughed a true-hearted laugh.

"Easy Sakura, Lady Tsunade is going to take my place these days, I think she is more than capable, don't you agree? He was genuinely asking her opinion.

"Wow!" Sakura said in surprise "She must really love you like to say yes."

"Doesn't everyone love me? He was such a Drama Queen. "And about the travelling arrangements, I'm going with Shikamaru."

"Well..." Sakura pondered "Shikamaru is really capable, and he is your advisor. I think he is the most suitable for the job." Sakura concluded.

"Yes," Kakashi stated. "though, I think he has his personal agenda on this journey."

"Oh... You mean..." Sakura didn't want to talk more words than necessary. She didn't know how much information Kakashi had about Temari and Shikamaru's relationship.

"Of course Sakura," Kakashi spoke as it was the most obvious thing in the world "The princess."

"So you know..." It was not a question.

"Sakura, I'm not the Hokage for nothing, you know?" There was fun in his voice. "I've seen how they look at each other, I've listened when they talk at the phone. I've been there when they fight together side by side at the Fourth War. It was just a matter of time." He finished almost with longing.

"Like us" Sakura whispered to herself not expecting Kakashi to listen.

"Like us, what? His eyes were gleaming. Sakura felt nervous.

"Just..." she had to think quickly. "Just like the rest of us, you noted the romance coming back then too." That was closed. Kakashi shifted his mouth uncomfortably under his mask, wrinkling his nose. He wasn't buying it.

"Yes." Disappointment in his words. "Anyway... I think a wedding is coming soon and it will become most profitable for both villages. Suna and Konoha united forever. Shikamaru and princess Temari, we couldn't ask for more." Kakashi spoked low.

A cold chill ran down Sakura's spine upon hearing Kakashi's words. It was the Hokage who spoke: cold, distant, calculating. She wasn't sure if she liked this version of Kakashi. Yes, she has witnessed terrible decisions that he had to make as the village leader, she had seen the horrors of the war and what makes people do. But why this bothered her so much? Was it because she had lost sight of the fact that he was the Hokage after all and not just his partner, friend, and secret fantasy? Was she so in love that, now, only one sentence about the convenience of marriage was enough to make all the bandages fall off?

Kakashi hadn't actually said anything about fixing a marriage, but that's what it sounded like, and inside her, it seemed painful.

"What's wrong, Sakura?" Kakashi asked full of worry. He had just realized after his lazy conversation that something had bothered Sakura.

"Is that how you see us?" Sakura began without looking at him "only as exchange goods, potential political deals or war unions thanks to a good marriage and the lineage that can come out of it?"

"I'm sorry, Sakura, but I can't see the problem there" Kakashi answered in all honesty.

"Sure..." Sakura said dryly in a mocking tone "then maybe I can go for the Kazekage. What do you think? I'm sure that is highly beneficial".

Kakashi was confused, but he was not going to recoil.

"Well, Sakura, good luck with that, cause I don't think Gaara is into girls..." He started doubting "Actually, I think he is into nothing at all, but that's your choice." Why was he getting angry? "Now, if instead, you would like to set your eyes on the brother, Kankuro, that could be something entirely different."

"You can start making the arrangements then, and as Hokage, you can walk me down the aisle." Sakura suppressed a tear.

"That would be your father´s job. I may be old, but that´s not my place" Kakashi retorted angrily, but without racing his voice.

"My parents lost faith in me long ago, I don´t think they are interested in my wedding, they think I´m already too old for that" She was sad, resigned. They have stopped talking to her when she refused to marry Sasuke, another suitable arrangement.

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm not one of those characters of that stupid book of yours, Lizzie."

Sakura looked down, suddenly she was feeling a bit ashamed. She avoided his eyes at all cost, and she was safe by the waitress announcing that the restaurant was closing. Kakashi paid the bill without saying anything, and they both started walking home, strangely taking the same path.

Sakura was the first in breaking the silence.

"You are reading the book, eh?"

"Hmmm" Kakashi hummed as the only answer.

"Already bored?" She was watching at the stars.

"Actually no" Kakashi began "Even if I don't know yet what to think about it, debating my self between if it is a good manner manual or a statement of the women position in the society, I have to recognize it's quite interesting."

"You haven't read enough yet" Sakura was acting childish. How was it possible that he still didn't realize that the book was actually an ode to true love.

"I supposed." He closed the conversation.

They continue walking a few more blocks before arriving at Sakura's door. Finally, they face each other.

"Sakura, listen" Kakashi needed to clear some things before parting to Suna "What I meant earlier" he swallowed hard "I would never jeopardize the happiness of any of you for the good of the village. You are my priority. The marriage between Shikamaru and Temari is indeed a benefit to Konoha, but that does not mean that I'm directing your lives from a desk. All of you already risk enough every day out there. I would not take love out of your hands."

Sakura nodded with her mouth dry, she needed a drink, a strong one. She finally locked eyes with him and smile much more relaxed.

"Are you going to send me a text as soon as you arrived Suna?" Sakura asked in a happy tone.

"Of course" he simply answered, hands in his pocket.

"And are you going to send my regards to the Kazekage and his brother?" Now she was teasing.

"If that's what you wish..." Kakashi left the phrase got lost in the air. The storm menacing again once more the Konoha's sky.

Sakura laughed heartedly.

"Good night Kakashi Sensei, have a good trip." Sakura said, turning her back to him.

She suddenly stood frozen with her keys trembling in her hands.

Warm breath sifted through the mask ran down her neck and the lobe of her ear. Kakashi hadn't gotten to touch a single hair of her, but all of it rose on her body. Her breath stopped for an instant that seemed like hours, his words tickling as he spoke.

"Have a good night you too, Lizzie." And just like that Kakashi disappeared.

Inner Sakura was going to be happy.

Notes:

So many things to say

1- It´s getting really really late here but I wanted to post it anyway

2- A little bit of tension is not that bad

3- Next chapter we may know, or not, what Naruto has done at Suna. Also, I´m pretty sure that the virtual chat is coming back.

4-Kakashi is making his homework after all.

5- I like the idea that Gaara may be a bit of asexual, though the story shows us different.

6- You Know what to do.

7- If there is anything else you would like to know, please write to me

8- Can somebody be so lovely and helpful and explain me how to link the chapters for making it easy to read? I'm almost as stupid as Kakashi with tech

[yangssunglasses]

Ooohhh! I just saw you asking for prompts, and I got a bit excited! I love your fics! Ehrm, Sasuke's reaction when he finds out Sakura has a work husband? He's been away for so long and I've always been a sucker for jealous/doesn't-know-his-standing-in-sakura's-life Sasuke!

AN: Thank you! I hope you’ll like the fic!

Available on ffnet.

Work Husband

.

Ever since returning from his longsecret mission, Sasuke was slowly getting used to the normal rhythmof life in the village. For years he’d only known the uncertainty oftravel to faraway lands filled with unknown dangers, so adjusting thepeaceful daily routine wasn’t so daunting in comparison. Sasuke wasalready set in his ways, but he saw value in learning about thechanges in technology and society, even if he wasn’t going to use orcare much about them. Some would call him old-fashioned (Naruto cameto mind), but that was just the way that Sasuke was. His wife anddaughter didn’t have any issue with it and their opinion was the onlyone that mattered to him.

However, there was a certain noveltySasuke wasn’t prepared for.

One day at the Uchiha familybreakfast, Sakura looked up at the clock and shot up from her seat inpanic.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late towork! Ken-kun will kill me!” she cried out, frantically searchingfor her phone.

“Behind you,” Sarada pointed outhelpfully. Sakura grabbed her phone from the kitchen counter andstashed it in her purse. “And don’t be so dramatic, Ken-san adoresyou.”

“You don’t know how much thispresentation means to him! I need to be there, I promised him!”Sakura replied. “Anyway, I have to go! Bye, darling, Sarada!” sheexclaimed and rushed out.

Sarada got up too and collected thedirty dishes to wash them in the sink. “That Mama…” shegrumbled.

“Does this happen often?” Sasukeasked in amusement as he joined her in the kitchen. He took a dishragto dry the clean dishes she passed to him.

“Not really, usually mom gets upearlier so she doesn’t have to rush,” Sarada informed him.

Sasuke realized that he was the one toblame for this. Not only he had kept Sakura up late last night justtalking about everything that came to mind (and they still had somany years of catching up to do), but also he almost hadn’t let herout of the bed this morning. Waking up to next to her sleepingpeacefully facing him, with pink hair spilled over the pillowangelically reminded him how much he’d missed her warm presence inhis life, which resulted in a spontaneous make-out session when shewoke up.

Sarada turned off the faucet and movedto help him with drying.

“Leave it, I can finish this,” hetold her.

“Thanks, Papa,” Sarada said. Shetook off the apron and went to grab her things. He heard her groanand turned to see what happened.

“Papa, mom forgot her lunch. I havetraining with my team and then a mission today, so could you bring itto her?” his daughter explained. Sasuke mentally ran through hisactivities for the day. He could fit in a lunch delivery… but he’dmake Sakura pay for it in some way. He smirked to himself andpolished the plate in his hand.

“Sure.”

“Great! I can’t believe she forgotit all because of Ken-san’s presentation! It’s not like it’s soearth-shattering,” Sarada commented as she went to the entryway toput on her sandals.

“Who is this Ken?” Sasuke gaveinto the curiosity. Sakura hadn’t mentioned this name before, buttoday he inadvertently became the main topic.

“Ken-san? Oh, he’s mom’s workhusband,” Sarada said. “I’m going out, bye Papa!” The doorclosed behind her, so she didn’t get to see Sasuke’s reaction.Otherwise, she would have probably gotten a good laugh at hisexpense.

Sasuke entirely froze in place,expression blank as his mind processed the new information. It wassomething he’d never heard about and so it was hard to grasp itsmeaning, especially in the context of his wife. His brows scrunchedin confusion as he worked through this conundrum.

Work husband.

Work. Husband.

Sakura had someone called a workhusband.

This Ken, whoever the man was, wasSakura’s work husband.

Sakura, who was Sasuke’s wife.

Sasuke was her husband. The one shemarried, the one she promised to stay by his side, forever. The manshe shared a life, a home, a bed with.

But… he didn’t work alongside her.Their careers had gone separate ways a long time ago. He’d neverthought it was an issue, instead he always viewed it as a blessing.

Even during the lonely years on theroad, away from her, Sasuke was secure in the knowledge of theirmutual connection. It was unbreakable and transcending through timeand space.

Then why was another man now gettingthe title of Sakura’s ‘work husband’? What did Ken do to deserve it?Did that mean Sasuke was her husband only in the house? Why would sheeven need a ‘work husband’? Is this some new strange modern custom?

Sasuke was so out of sorts that hedropped the plate he was holding. Only thanks to his incredible ninjareflexes he managed to catch it before it landed on the ground. TheUchiha didn’t pay it any mind as he still struggled with the idea ofSakura having another 'husband.’

Sasuke had no idea what was going onbetween Sakura and this Ken and why Sarada was okay with this, but heintended to find out.

He put the dry dishes in the cabinetand took Sakura’s forgotten lunch box.

Operation Lunch Delivery would be agood start of his investigation.

.

Sasuke’s tracking skills allowed himto locate Sakura in no time. She was locked in a conference room inthe Hokage Tower with a group of important-looking people. The manpresenting before them had to be Ken. From the well-concealed spot onthe tree outside the window Sasuke assessed the so-called 'workhusband’. Ken was tall, dark-haired and definitely younger thanSakura, around twenty-five years old at most. He also worerectangular glasses, giving him a more professional, mature look. Interms of physicality he seemed to keep up with his ninja training,but in chakra capacity he was only average. Sasuke could wipe thefloor with him if it was ever necessary.

During the length of the entirepresentation, Sasuke also didn’t miss Sakura frequently sendingenthusiastic smiles to Ken and nodding in agreement whenever he madea point. He told himself that this was nothing out of ordinary, justSakura being her cheerful and supportive self. He chose to ignore thegouge in the tree bark left after he’d gripped it too hard when he’dseen one of her special sparkling smiles directed at the other man.

After the meeting, Sakura approachedKen in the hallway. They exchanged a few words and  then she leanedup. Sasuke’s eyes narrowed and jaw clenched as his wife kissed theman on the cheek in public. Fora moment, his chakra flared out of control and Sakura’s head whippedquickly towards the window, sensing him nearby.

There was noreason to hide anymore, so Sasuke transported before her with achakra flicker.

“Sasuke-kun?”she asked, no doubt wondering why he was there.

He showed thelunch box to her. “You forgot this.”

Sakura blushed alittle in embarrassment. “Ah, sorry about that. Thanks for bringingmy lunch, but you didn’t have to. I’m taking out Ken-kun here tocelebrate,” she said, gesturing at the younger man next to her.“Ken-kun, this is Sasuke-kun, my husband,” she finished theintroductions.

“Hello,Uchiha-san, it’s great to finally meet you,” Ken said and held outhis hand for a handshake.

Sasuke grunted andgave him a passing glance of acknowledgment. Ken retracted his handafter a few seconds.

Sakura stepped in,breaking up the awkward moment. “We’re going to the sushi place onthe main street for lunch. I know, how about you come with us? Youwouldn’t mind if Sasuke-kun tagged along, Ken-kun?”

“The more, themerrier,” the man said with a strained smile.

“Sasuke-kun?”

Sasuke considered.He knew that Sakura didn’t like that he’d treated her colleague withsuch disregard. She wanted him to make up for it but she wasn’t goingto push him into accepting the offer.

And it was hischance to observe them openly, ruining what suspiciously looked likea possible date.

“Very well,”Sasuke agreed, enjoying Sakura’s surprised, but pleased expression.

The lunch wasspent in a civil atmosphere. Sasuke stayed his quiet and taciturnself, giving only short answers whenever one of them tried to bringhim into the conversation. Soon, Sakura and Ken engaged in adiscussion of the meeting from which Sasuke gleaned that Ken hadpresented a new plan of expanding the research division, whichrequired a substantial budget. Basically, the man had  persuaded thevillage to give him the funds for his project.

Sasuke was contentwith just sitting next to Sakura and cataloging her every expressionand reaction, as well as the corresponding body language of Ken. Thelonger he watched them, the calmer he felt. They really behaved likeany other pair of coworkers who got along well and shared manyprofessional topics to talk about. This however still left himpuzzled over the 'work husband’ thing.

He loosened up bythe time the three of them parted ways after lunch and he even noddedin goodbye to Ken. The man was clearly no threat. It occurred toSasuke that Sarada might have pranked him. It was embarrassing thathe fell for it.

He resolved toforget about this entire matter.

But Sakura didn’t.

“I can’t believeyou acted so rude to Ken-kun!” she fumed moments after returninghome from work. “He’s a really sweet and good person, he didn’tdeserve that from you.”

Sasuke noddedwithout argument, choosing the safe option to let her rant and blowoff the steam. She gave him a detailed account of Ken’s goodnesswhich had him rolling his eyes discreetly.

.

It was late in theevening. Sasuke was waiting in the bed for Sakura to join him. Shecame straight from the bath, pink, flushed and a little damp,catching his attention in a sensual way a wife captivates herhusband. He flashed back to the happenings of the morning and whatremained unfinished between them.

Sakura slippedunder the covers on her side of the bed, then she switched off thelamp on her night stand.

Sasuke reachedover and stroked her bare arm lightly. “Sakura,” he said her namedeeply, letting her know what was on his mind.

She sighed andremoved his hand. “Sorry, Sasuke-kun, I really need to get somesleep tonight.”

“Sleep with me,”he suggested.

“Tempting offer,but I can’t. I have to be on time. I’m heading a brain surgery withKen-kun and I need to be well-rested.”

Sasuke scowled.Hearing all the day about that guy was tiresome, but this was thelast straw. He was overcome by a wave of intense resentment.

“Would youprefer if he was here instead of me?” Sasuke snapped.

“What?” Sakuraasked, staring at him in utter surprise. “What are you saying?”

Sasuke turned hisback to her. “Nothing,” he grumbled.

Sakura gentlytouched his shoulder and pulled him back. “You wouldn’t mention itif it was nothing. I know something was bothering you today. What’sgoing on, Sasuke-kun? Please tell me.” She peered into his facepleadingly, stroking his bicep.

Sasuke exhaledwith tired frustration. “Sarada said that he is your work husband.”

“Yeah, and?”Sakura pressed for him to continue.

Sasuke stared ather. How could she not get it? “I am your husband,” he reminded.

“Of course,Sasuke-kun. But what about Ken-kun? Sarada told you he’s my workhusband and?”

“I thought shepranked me.”

“Why? Saradawouldn’t lie to you like this.”

“How did hebecome your… other husband?” Sasuke finally asked, wincing at thephrasing. “Was it because I wasn’t around?”

“My other…?But he’s not… Wait.” Sakura’s eyes widened as she finallyunderstood. “You’ve got it all wrong!” she said with a chuckle.“Sasuke-kun, what do you think 'work husband’ means?”

“…I don’tknow,” he admitted gruffly.

“Well, it’s thisperson at work that I like to talk to and always brings me myfavourite coffee and remembers my birthday. 'Work husband’ or 'workwife’ is just a joking way to call someone like that,” Sakuraexplained.

“I see,”Sasuke replied with relief. Now things made more sense to him.

She gave him amischievous look. “What, were you jealous, darling?”

“Hmph. No.”

Sakura giggled,seeing through his thinly-veiled lie. “If you say so.” She leanedcloser to him. “What if I kissed him here,” she pressed her softlips to Sasuke’s cheek chastely to illustrate, “would you bejealous then?” She gave him a knowing look. She must have figuredeverything out.

“Annoying,”Sasuke grumbled at her.

“Or here,” shesaid, pecking his brow. “What then?” She fluttered her eyelashesteasingly.

“Sakura, don’ttest me…” Sasuke trailed off in a warning, but she was far fromending her fun.

“Maybe here?”Sakura kissed the tip of his nose and he had enough.

With a growl heturned her over on her back and straddled her. He was going topersonally show her all the places where only the husband wasallowed to kiss her.

Her real and onlyhusband, not some fake from work.

[captnjacksparrow]

Hey Captnjack

I remember stumbling across a naruto article that said Naruto brought back Sasuke from the darkness for Sakura. Naruto opened up Sasuke's heart with friendship so he can accept Sakura's love. It was really eye opening and got me thinking. That's what Naruto did for Gaara.

Omg i never really notice before. But Gaara team members are Gaara's real siblings. Both Temari and Kankuro were terrified of him but still care and concern about his safety. Gaara was socially withdrawn,traumatized, lonely and thought his only purpose was to kill. Kankuro and Temari knew the gov was tryna get rid of Gaara but still stood by him. Naruto was the one to open up Gaara's heart to accept the love from his siblings. After Naruto beat the shit out of him..Gaara admired Naruto and his words and start to show love to his family. And Gaara and Naruto connected friendship wise because they both are jinchurikis, similar childhoods and are village leaders. That's So sweet and I wouldn't be surprised if Gaara had a little crush on Naruto too.

But Naruto never did that for Sasuke. Sasuke didn't run off to hug Sakura the way Gaara embraced his siblings. He cried and smiled with Naruto and accepted the hitai-ate from Naruto. And accepted Naruto's love and his son as family. He stands by Naruto and protects him with his own life. And excludes everyone else. No one else exist in his world but Naruto and Gremlin. Sakura is irrelevant.

Gaara and Naruto's relationship seems like its the relationship homophobes wanted from Naruto and Sasuke.

What's your take?

I remember stumbling across a Naruto article that said Naruto brought back Sasuke from the darkness for Sakura. Naruto opened up Sasuke's heart with friendship so he can accept Sakura's love.

Sasuke's heart was opened by Naruto's Friendship and later he accepted Sakura's love..... Only for him to abandon her again for the next 12 years while sending Letters to Naruto and playing silly Rivalry Games with him all the while keeping his Headband!!!!

So, Either Naruto's 'Friendship Magic' didn't work after some time or Naruto didn't do it for Sakura or Sasuke never accepted Sakura's love.

And We all know the answer, Right???

That's what Naruto did for Gaara.

But Still, it doesn't match up with their Non-Sense.

Naruto saved Gaara... Yes.

But he didn't do it for the sake of Gaara's Siblings. He saved Gaara on his own accord ***On the Condition that he should stop doing whatever he was doing i.e, Trying to kill his Teammates, otherwise Naruto threatened to kill him, if needs be***

Naruto always saves other people because he couldn't leave someone alone who is very similar to him. His concept was like, 'I would have turned out to be just like you... If it weren't for Iruka Sensei... So, I am giving you one more chance to come back from that dark place and stop doing whatever you were doing'.

Still where did Kankuro and Temari comes into any of this???

So, No... Naruto saved Gaara, because he wanted to ***with some conditions***.

If Naruto saved Gaara, a stranger, for his own reasons, then how could he save Sasuke, his 'Friend', only for that dumb asshole????

At the end of the day, their stupid logic won't even make sense if we put all the panels together and ask the right questions. They would leave the chat and run away.

[mrm64]

hello! i know it's a bad idea to engage in any shipping discourse but for the sake of constructive criticism, i asked an sns shipper if she thinks there's atleast potential in ss if ever sakura had that capacity to stand up to sasuke and if she wasn't as much fixated on him during shipuuden and the war arc. i even brought up the wasted opportunity of sasuke vs sakura that was shown in the game. the sns shipper gave a very structured and well-versed answer and i do agree with some of her points. i'm not even anti-sns and i understand the support this ship gets. but this person really hates sakura. so her answer to my question if ss has potential is straight up NO. hate is an understatement. she explicitly said she DETESTS sakura and ss xD. granted, her hatred is valid since sakura's writing is very flawed and inconsistent. what i didn't like was when she said why am i trying to change sakura's personality (her standing up to sasuke whether physically or verbally) when "she's constantly on heat when he's around". gosh, i really wanted to retaliate here and say it's called freakin character development. i mean, that's what she's mainly hated for right? the fact that she's obsessed and a pushover when it comes to sasuke. having that change especially during the war arc doesn't mean she's out of character, it means development. but gah, sakura haters are really hard to argue with so i just stayed silent.

to briefly summarize, her main point of argumentation is that sakura was toxic to both naruto and sasuke. sasuke's relationship with naruto is more defined than whatever he had with sakura. she brought up ss's pt.1 moments and said that sasuke would do the same to naruto, if not even better. as for naruto's case, sakura was a mean bitch and was so unfair to him throughout the series. simply put, even if sns has questionable elements, they are more organic and healthy than sasusaku.

this got me thinking. between sasunarusasu and sasusaku, despite both having toxic elements, i think the reason why there are relatively more sns shippers is because there's balance. compared to sakura, sasuke has shown more consideration towards naruto and we all know naruto cares for sasuke just as much and he isn't afraid to stand up to this guy.

idk what i'm even trying to ask here. i guess i'm just ranting lol. i've always seen your comments in youtube vids defending sakura and ss and i know you have an extensive knowledge of the naruto manga in general. you could only imagine how shocked i am when i found out you're a male. it's really rare to find someone like you. :)

anyways, i just feel so disappointed and pressed lmao. ss shippers couldn't catch a break from haters. like yea, some of us know it has shit writing in the canon and explanations regarding their relationship in the series is very limited. i already accepted the fact that they are underdeveloped and was borderline toxic. but then, between kishimoto's pitiful inability to write female characters properly and SP's biased treatment towards sasusaku plus the manga's main narrative focusing on naruto and sasuke, i just feel like it's kinda unfair for antis to shit on ss shippers when in reality, most of us just hold onto it because of nostalgia. most sasusaku shippers came to be when they were very young. i even found comments saying they started shipping them when they were 6 or 7. in my case, i was 12 lol.

it's kinda unfair since sns has the upperhand bcoz the series is mainly about them. naruhina has retcons and SP and what does ss have? small pt.1 moments, headcanons, fanons and to top it off SP's biased ass shitting on it. the ss fandom isn't perfect and has its fair share of immature stans as well, but i'm still glad that didn't stop authors and artists from making content. ss has got some of the best fanfictions, fanarts and doujinshis. i just wished antis won't attack them as much.

anyways, i'm not even asking a specific question. i just ranted. i just needed to get this out of my system. sorry for that 😅

Hey! It's been a long while since I got asks like this lol! Once tumblr went all anti-nsfw a few years ago, we all kinda migrated to Twitter for our SS/Anime cravings tbh but I'm glad and flattered you decided to ask me on my thoughts! :)

I won't write long as again, tbh, I'm kinda retired from debating/arguing with antis on things of SS/Naruto/Etc (unless I'm simply too triggered to let it go lol. You've already probably seen my long Sakura video so I won't go too much into details of what I already covered with Sakura's character. But to answer you, I'll keep it to the point.

It's ok of course to say Kishi's writing is flawed, I mean he is human and we know Naruto has holes. Every manga/story does of course. When it comes to SS, I personally bring it to this: Sasuke and Naruto's relationship is NOT Sasuke and Sakura's relationship. And that's (imo) ok. Sasuke and Naruto obviously have a bond only they have. Both lonely and orphaned, rivals with each other, haters to brother, you know it all. But Sakura is different. She's simply a normal, head-strong and caring girl. Kishi wanted to write a normal girl, and he did a darn well good job, because just like normal girls (or people in general), they're imperfect. That's why she first appealed to me.

Anyway, to the point, SS is pretty easy to follow. Sakura likes Sasuke....what's the problem? Where's the toxicity, lol. Sure she fangirls over him as a 12 year old girl, but again, Sakura is normal. Most girls I knew that age did the same thing. Most BOYS I knew were super...*cough* ready to be with girls (*cough cough*, puberty, everyone, *cough*). Sasuke is cool and confident. Sakura lacked confidence, so naturally she was drawn to Sasuke. Sasuke at first found her annoying (as he did with Naruto too) but as the became a team, she bonded. SS' bond is NOT NSN's bond. SS's bond is built upon a simply caring basis. Sakura always cared for Sasuke, and Sasuke always was protective of Sakura. Forest of Death, Sand Invasion, etc...add in the angst of Shippuden (nobody can tell me one was better than the other during Shippuden, Sasuke was 'bout to axe everyone while in darkness lol), blank period bonding, and then Boruto. There it is in SIMPLE terms.

As far as "standing up" to Sasuke...not sure where this person is coming from....again, NSN is NOT SS....Sakura has stood up to Sasuke at times. In the FOD where she indirectly called him a coward, when she pleaded with him to not fight in the Prelims and threatened to tell the proctors of the curse mark, trying to stop him from leaving Konoha., etc. If she was a "doormat", she would have said "Ok Sauske, you do whatever you want, it's all ok my love!" That was chapter 3 Sakura. A LOT of haters can't move beyond that chapter tbh...moving on. The main thing is, she wasn't STRONG enough to stop him by FORCE. She wasn't written to. Sure I woulda liked some angsty moments of them fighting, TRUST ME, you already know. But Kishi wanted the fighting to mostly be between Naruto and Sasuke, as most battle Shonen go. It's Goku and Vegeta, Deku and Bakugou, you name it. She was written to LOVE him unconditionally. And despite Kishi's misses here and here, it's clear as day to many people that they do indeed, love each other. Sarada is a product of years of redemption, forgiveness, and understanding between SS (which is....literally some of the themes of Naruto....Zabuza...Haku...Gaara...Pein...Obito....list goes on...).

And of course Naruto and Sasuke's relationship got more spotlight. They're essentially the Shonen "duo" like I explained before with Goku and Vegeta. It's a common tope which can be a bit annoying imo since other characters get shafted, but they're gonna be seen more by the public. At the end of the day, Kishi modeled NSN after his relationship with his BROTHER....that was one of Naruto's main story plots. AGAIN, OF COURSE it's gonna be pushed and seem like it's more "balanced"...it's a battle Shonen, not a love story lol. The love stuff is sprinkled in. This isn't a Shojo. If it was, SS would be the main focus (or...I guess NSN if Kishi WANTED to go that route).

So to finish off, you're right with the SP thing. But it can't be helped. If people wanna say NSN has more "development", let them. At the end of the day, they're shown more to the viewers because they're the Goku and Vegeta of Naruto. They push the narrative, not a romance. They're Kishi's go-to boys. They're the essential main character and rival. It's nothing new. But you know what else? They're. NOT. A. COUPLE. SasuSaku is, and again, romance is SPRINKLED in. It's N O T a Shojo and not the main focus. Honestly...the arguments that NSN shipper used are a bit weak knowing full well that SNS represent Kishi's brother and himself.

I mean...tldr, I could just say "Kishi and his bro are Naruto and Sasuke. SO nah bro, NSN has no romantic development. I wasn't meant to lol."

Typed longer than I thought, but I hope this helped! At the end of the day, ship SS in peace. We have an amazing fandom for the most part with wonderful content and we ain't stopping anytime soon :)