Published at 16th of September 2024 10:36 am

Chapter 23 The Bonds We Choose ;The Hidden Distance

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Sakura Uchiha had returned home after the unsettling encounter with Naruto's rogue Shadow Clone. The memories of the clone’s words still lingered in her mind, though she knew they weren’t entirely his own. Yet, they had stirred something within her—a confusion that grew stronger with each passing day.

Sakura sat quietly by the window, watching the fading evening light wash over the empty streets of Konoha. Sasuke was still away on another mission, as he often was, and the house felt unnaturally quiet without him or Sarada around. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the clone’s strange behavior. Why had it said those things? And why was it affecting her so deeply?

She had moved on from her childhood crush on Naruto long ago—or so she thought. She had built a family with Sasuke, had a daughter she adored, and yet, there was a part of her that had never completely closed the chapter on her bond with Naruto. They had been through so much together, fought side by side, and saved each other countless times. The intensity of that connection was undeniable.

Over the next few weeks, Sakura found herself thinking about Naruto more often than she cared to admit. Each time she saw him in the village, her heart beat just a little faster. She told herself it was just nostalgia—memories of simpler times. But the more she tried to suppress those feelings, the stronger they became.

***

One afternoon, after another long day of healing patients at the hospital, Sakura found herself walking toward the Hokage Tower. She told herself it was just a routine visit to check on the village’s affairs. Naruto had always relied on her for advice, and she was his friend. But deep down, she knew there was more to it.

When she arrived at the tower, she hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door to Naruto’s office.

“Come in,” his familiar voice called from inside.

Sakura pushed the door open and saw Naruto sitting at his desk, his trademark smile lighting up his face when he saw her. “Hey, Sakura-chan! What brings you here?”

She smiled, trying to keep things casual. “Just wanted to check in on you. You’ve been working hard, as usual.”

Naruto scratched the back of his head, laughing sheepishly. “Yeah, you know me. Paperwork’s a nightmare. I’d rather be out there doing missions, but someone’s got to keep the village running.”

As they talked, the conversation flowed naturally, just like it always had. But Sakura noticed something different in the air between them—an unspoken tension that hadn’t been there before. She could see it in Naruto’s eyes too, the way he looked at her, just a little longer than usual, with something more than friendship flickering in his gaze.

Before she knew it, hours had passed. The sun was setting, and the office was bathed in a soft orange glow. Neither of them seemed eager to end the conversation.

“Sakura-chan, I’ve missed this,” Naruto said suddenly, his voice softer than before. “We don’t get to talk like this much anymore.”

Sakura’s heart skipped a beat. She felt it too—the old connection they once shared, rekindled in this quiet moment. But it was dangerous territory. She had a family. Naruto had a family. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“I’ve missed it too, Naruto,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But...we can’t...”

Naruto’s expression grew more serious. “I know. I know we shouldn’t, but...”

There was a long pause, filled with the weight of everything left unsaid. They were both standing at the edge of something they couldn’t take back.

Sakura stood up abruptly, breaking the tension. “I should go,” she said, trying to steady her voice. “Hinata and the kids are waiting for you.”

Naruto nodded, though the disappointment was clear in his eyes. “Yeah...you’re right.”

She turned and left the office, her heart pounding in her chest. As she walked home, she couldn’t stop thinking about how close she had come to crossing a line she knew could never be uncrossed.

***

Over the next few weeks, Sakura and Naruto’s paths continued to cross—at the hospital, during village meetings, and sometimes by pure chance. Each encounter was filled with the same quiet tension, the same unspoken feelings. They both tried to push those emotions aside, but it was becoming harder and harder to ignore.

One evening, Naruto sent a message asking her to meet him outside the village, away from prying eyes. At first, Sakura hesitated, but a part of her was curious. She told herself it was just a friendly meeting, nothing more.

When she arrived at the agreed-upon spot, she found Naruto waiting for her by the edge of a small forest, the moonlight casting long shadows across the ground. He looked different—more serious than usual, as if he had been struggling with something for a long time.

“Sakura-chan,” Naruto began, his voice heavy with emotion. “I’ve been thinking about us. About everything. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I can’t stop feeling this way.”

Sakura’s breath caught in her throat. She had been trying to deny it for so long, but now, standing there with him in the quiet of the night, she couldn’t lie to herself anymore. She felt the same way.

“I...I don’t know what to say, Naruto,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “I’ve been trying to ignore it too, but it’s not that simple.”

For a moment, they stood there, caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Then, before either of them could think better of it, Naruto stepped closer and pulled her into an embrace. Sakura’s heart raced as she felt his arms around her, and despite everything she knew she should do, she didn’t pull away.

From that night on, they began meeting in secret. What started as stolen moments quickly became a dangerous routine. Neither of them could stop. The thrill of their hidden relationship grew stronger with each passing day, though both knew the consequences if anyone found out.

Months passed, and the secrecy weighed heavily on Sakura. Guilt gnawed at her every time she returned home to Sasuke and Sarada, pretending that nothing was wrong. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t bring herself to end things with Naruto.

Then, one morning, everything changed.

Sakura woke up feeling sick—nauseous in a way she hadn’t felt in years. At first, she brushed it off as exhaustion from work, but as the days went by, the sickness didn’t go away. Deep down, she began to suspect what was happening, but the truth was too terrifying to face.

When she finally confirmed it—when the test told her what she already knew—her world came crashing down.

She was pregnant.

And she knew, without a doubt, that the child wasn’t Sasuke’s.

***

Sakura sat alone in her home, staring blankly at the wall as the weight of her secret pressed down on her. She had betrayed Sasuke. She had betrayed her family. And now, there was no way to undo what had been done.

Tears filled her eyes as she thought about the future—about what would happen when the truth came out. How could she ever face Naruto? How could she tell him that she was carrying his child, a child born of their forbidden relationship? And what would happen to Sasuke, to Hinata, to their families?

Her heart ached with the impossible choices ahead, but one thing was certain: the shadow of their actions would haunt them both forever.

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