Published at 16th of September 2024 1:53 pm

Chapter 29 The Bonds We Choose ;The Unseen Ties

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As the days passed, Sarada’s feelings for Naruto only grew stronger, much to her own confusion and frustration. At first, she tried to push them away, but it became harder as she continued to live under the same roof with him, Hinata, and her mother, Sakura. The warmth of their home, the love and closeness they shared, felt so inviting—and yet, Sarada couldn’t shake the feeling that she was still on the outside looking in.

She found herself sneaking out of her room late at night, standing quietly outside the master bedroom, watching the three of them through a small crack in the door. She observed their quiet moments together—Naruto smiling warmly at Hinata and Sakura, the easy way they all intertwined as they drifted off to sleep.

In these moments, Sarada wondered if there would ever be a place for her in their lives, beyond just being Naruto’s student or the daughter of his closest friend. Would there ever be a chance for her feelings to be reciprocated? Could she really find a way into his heart, the way her mother and Hinata had?

***

Hinata had always been attuned to the emotions of those around her. It wasn’t long before she noticed Sarada’s growing attachment to Naruto, though she chose not to say anything. Sarada’s glances toward Naruto had changed—there was a lingering gaze that hadn’t been there before, and a certain nervousness in her presence around him.

Hinata understood these feelings all too well. She had been in Sarada’s shoes once, watching Naruto from a distance, admiring him, loving him silently for years. In a strange way, she found herself silently rooting for Sarada, knowing how powerful such emotions could be. The difference was, Hinata had eventually been able to express her love for Naruto—and now, they had built a life together. Would Sarada have that chance too?

A part of Hinata knew that Naruto was torn, uncertain of how to handle Sarada’s feelings. But she trusted him. She knew he would make the right choice. If Sarada’s feelings were real and lasting, Hinata wouldn’t stand in the way. In fact, deep down, she couldn’t help but wonder what might happen if Sarada did become part of their family in more than just the daughter-of-a-friend sense.

***

Naruto, on the other hand, was struggling more than anyone could see. Ever since Sarada had confessed her feelings, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. He told himself that she was still young, that her emotions were probably fleeting, but every time he saw her, he couldn’t shake the weight of her words.

He cared about Sarada deeply, but was it just as a mentor and friend? Or was there something more that he hadn’t allowed himself to acknowledge yet? Her confession had stirred something inside him, and the longer he pondered it, the more complicated his feelings became. Was it possible that, somewhere along the line, he had begun to develop feelings for her? The idea unsettled him.

Then there was the matter of Sakura. His relationship with her had deepened to a level he had never thought possible, and now they shared a daughter. They had become something more than friends, more than comrades. It wasn’t just about their past, but about the life they had now, alongside Hinata.

Yet, there was always the shadow of Sasuke. Technically, Sakura was still Sasuke’s wife. Even if Sasuke had been distant for years, wrapped up in his own mission, the bond between them still existed—at least, on paper. Did Sasuke know what had happened? Would he care if he did?

Naruto began to wonder if marrying Sakura would be the next step. But what would that mean for their already complicated lives? And what about Sasuke? Would he ever come back to reclaim his place in Sakura’s heart—or had he already given it up without a word? The questions spun in Naruto’s mind, no clear answers in sight.

***

As time passed, Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura tried to carry on with their lives as normally as possible, but the tensions beneath the surface were undeniable. Sarada’s feelings for Naruto continued to intensify, no matter how hard she tried to suppress them. She couldn’t help but feel drawn to him, even if she didn’t fully understand why.

She found herself daydreaming about being closer to him, about what it would feel like to be loved by him the way Hinata and her mother were. She couldn’t shake the idea, no matter how much she told herself it was wrong.

Meanwhile, Naruto found himself watching Sarada more closely. He couldn’t help it—every time she entered the room, he felt a pang of guilt and confusion. Could he ever return her feelings? And if he did, what would that mean for everyone else in their lives?

Hinata noticed all of this, of course. She saw the subtle changes in the way Naruto looked at Sarada, the way he seemed distracted whenever she was around. But instead of feeling threatened, Hinata found herself oddly calm about the whole situation. She had spent most of her life loving Naruto from a distance, and she had faith in his ability to handle the situation with care.

But she also couldn’t deny that she was curious. What if Sarada’s feelings didn’t fade? What if Naruto began to feel the same way about her? It was a strange thought, but one that Hinata couldn’t entirely dismiss. After all, their lives had already taken so many unexpected turns—what was one more?

***

Naruto lay awake one night, staring at the ceiling as Hinata and Sakura slept peacefully beside him. His mind was racing with questions, most of them revolving around Sarada and her confession. He thought about their future—about the family they had built, the children they were raising together.

But one question loomed larger than the rest: Should he marry Sakura?

It seemed like the next logical step. They were already raising a child together, and their bond had grown stronger than he had ever imagined. But the thought of Sasuke still haunted him. Was it really fair to move forward with Sakura, knowing that Sasuke still had some claim to her, however distant it might be? Would Sasuke care? Did Sakura even think about Sasuke anymore?

Naruto sighed, knowing there were no easy answers. And then there was Sarada. What would happen if her feelings didn’t fade? Could he really dismiss them as just a crush, or was there more to it than that? The uncertainty gnawed at him, making it hard to sleep.

But one thing was clear: the future held more questions than answers, and Naruto wasn’t sure how long he could avoid making a decision.

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