Published at 16th of September 2024 12:24 am

Chapter 6: Between the Lines of Love

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It was late afternoon in Konoha, and the setting sun cast a warm, golden glow over the village. The soft hum of the bustling streets faded as Naruto Uzumaki walked toward Ichiraku Ramen, hands casually resting behind his head. He had been training all day with Kakashi and was ready to reward himself with a bowl of his favorite ramen.

But there was something else on his mind.

Lately, his thoughts had been unusually preoccupied with one person: Sakura Haruno. Ever since they were kids, Naruto had admired her, always doing his best to impress her, to get her attention. But it wasn’t just childish infatuation anymore—it had grown into something deeper. The problem was, Sakura still seemed to have eyes only for Sasuke, who remained as distant and enigmatic as ever.

As Naruto approached Ichiraku, he spotted a familiar figure sitting at the counter. Her short, pink hair and signature red dress were unmistakable. It was Sakura.

“Oi! Sakura-chan!” Naruto called out, waving enthusiastically as he hurried over to sit beside her.

Sakura glanced up from her half-eaten bowl of ramen, offering him a small smile. “Hey, Naruto. Done with training?”

Naruto plopped down on the stool next to her. “Yep! Kakashi-sensei really put us through the wringer today. I’m starving!”

Teuchi, the old man who ran Ichiraku, appeared from behind the counter, grinning as usual. “Naruto! Your usual?”

“You bet!” Naruto grinned back, eager for his meal.

As they waited, Naruto found himself sneaking glances at Sakura. She looked tired, but in the soft glow of the fading sunlight, she looked beautiful. His heart gave a small, uncharacteristic flutter. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but every time he thought about confessing, he remembered how much she still cared for Sasuke. Even though Sasuke had left the village, he still held a place in Sakura’s heart.

“So,” Sakura said, breaking the silence. “How’s the training going? You’ve been working really hard lately.”

Naruto scratched the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. “Ah, you know me. Always trying to get stronger! One day I’m gonna be Hokage, and then you’ll—”

He stopped mid-sentence when he saw someone approaching Ichiraku.

Hinata Hyuga.

Hinata was walking slowly, her pale lavender eyes downcast as usual. She looked as if she had something on her mind. When she noticed Naruto, her face immediately flushed a deep red, and she fumbled with her fingers nervously.

“H-Hello, Naruto-kun,” she said softly, her voice barely audible.

“H-Hinata!” Naruto stammered, slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected to see her here, though he always enjoyed her company. “What’s up?”

Hinata glanced at Sakura, then quickly looked away, her blush intensifying. “I-I was just walking by and saw you... I thought I’d say hello.”

Naruto smiled warmly. “Glad you did! Want to join us for some ramen?”

Hinata hesitated, her eyes darting between Naruto and Sakura. It was obvious to anyone watching that Hinata was head over heels for Naruto, though he never seemed to notice. Sakura, on the other hand, did notice and felt a pang of sympathy for the quiet Hyuga girl.

“I-I don’t want to intrude,” Hinata murmured, stepping back.

“Nonsense! There’s always room for more ramen!” Naruto said brightly, patting the stool on his other side.

Reluctantly, Hinata sat down, her heart racing. Sitting this close to Naruto made her both nervous and happy, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place with Sakura there too.

As the three sat together, the conversation flowed awkwardly. Naruto, being his usual energetic self, talked about his latest training with Kakashi and how he was determined to become stronger. Sakura, though polite, found her thoughts drifting. She glanced at Hinata, noticing how the girl would sneak glances at Naruto when he wasn’t looking, her eyes filled with quiet admiration.

A sudden realization dawned on Sakura, something she hadn’t fully acknowledged before. Hinata was in love with Naruto. The way she looked at him, the way she blushed at his every word—it was the same way Sakura had once looked at Sasuke. But unlike Sasuke, Naruto was kind, caring, and oblivious to the effect he had on Hinata.

Sakura felt a strange mix of emotions. She cared about Naruto deeply. Over the years, he had always been there for her, supporting her even when she didn’t deserve it. She had never truly considered him as anything more than a friend, but now, sitting here with Hinata, she began to wonder. What if? What if Naruto’s affections shifted elsewhere? What if she lost him, even as a friend?

The thought unsettled her.

As the meal went on, the conversation lulled, and the air grew thick with unspoken feelings. Hinata kept stealing glances at Naruto, her heart aching with every second. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but the presence of Sakura made her hesitate. What if Naruto was still in love with Sakura? Everyone knew how much he liked her.

Hinata’s hands fidgeted in her lap. Maybe it was time. Maybe she couldn’t keep waiting forever.

“N-Naruto-kun?” Hinata’s voice broke the silence.

Naruto, in the middle of slurping his ramen, looked up at her. “Yeah, Hinata?”

Hinata’s heart raced as her words stumbled out. “I... I’ve been meaning to tell you something... for a long time.”

Naruto blinked, tilting his head. “Huh? What is it?”

Sakura, sensing the weight in Hinata’s voice, tensed slightly. She glanced at Naruto, who, unsurprisingly, remained clueless to what was about to happen.

Hinata took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage she had. Her face was burning red, but she pushed forward, her voice trembling but resolute. “Naruto-kun, I... I’ve always admired you. I think you’re... amazing, and I—”

Naruto’s eyes widened as the realization hit him. “W-Wait, are you saying—”

“I-I... I like you, Naruto-kun,” Hinata finished, her words barely above a whisper.

The confession hung in the air, heavy and delicate. Naruto froze, his mind racing. He hadn’t expected this, not from Hinata. He had always liked her—she was kind and gentle, and she’d been there for him in ways no one else had. But his feelings had always been focused on Sakura.

Sakura, watching the scene unfold, felt her heart tighten. She had never considered Hinata a rival for Naruto’s affections, but now that Hinata had confessed, something stirred inside her. Was it jealousy? Uncertainty? She couldn’t tell, but the thought of Naruto choosing someone else—choosing Hinata—left her unsettled in a way she didn’t understand.

Naruto scratched his head awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. “Hinata, I... I didn’t know you felt that way.”

Hinata nodded, her face still flushed, but there was a quiet strength in her eyes. “I know. I just... I couldn’t keep it inside anymore.”

Naruto looked down at his ramen, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. He liked Hinata—she had always been so kind to him—but his heart had always been chasing after Sakura. But now, sitting between the two girls, he felt torn for the first time.

Sakura, unable to stay silent any longer, spoke up. “Naruto... I think you should listen to your heart. You’ve always been true to yourself.”

Naruto looked up at her, surprised by her words. “Sakura-chan...”

Sakura smiled gently, though her heart was heavy. She wasn’t sure what she felt anymore, but she knew one thing—Naruto deserved happiness. Whether that was with her or with Hinata, she couldn’t stand in the way.

Hinata’s eyes flickered with hope as she looked at Naruto, waiting for his answer.

Naruto took a deep breath. “Hinata, I... I don’t know what to say. You’ve always been amazing to me, and I’m really grateful for everything you’ve done.”

He paused, glancing between Hinata and Sakura. His heart was confused, torn between the girl who had always been there for him and the one he had chased for so long. For the first time in his life, Naruto didn’t have an answer.

“I... I need time,” he finally said, his voice soft. “I’m not sure what I’m feeling right now, but I promise I’ll figure it out.”

Hinata nodded, understanding but hurt all the same. “O-Okay, Naruto-kun.”

The three sat in silence, the weight of unspoken feelings lingering in the air. The sun had fully set now, casting long shadows over the village. It was clear that no one would leave this evening with a clear answer, but one thing was certain—things between them had changed.

The triangle of emotions that connected Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata was complicated, and no matter what happened next, their friendships would never be quite the same.

End

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