Published at 23rd of September 2024 4:03 pm

Chapter 159 In the Shadow of Loss: 2 Healing Together

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The days that followed Sasuke's defection were some of the hardest Sakura had ever endured. The guilt, sadness, and sense of failure weighed on her like a heavy cloak. The image of Sasuke turning his back on her, on all of them, haunted her every waking moment. But amid the heartbreak, there was Naruto — steady, constant, always by her side.

It had become their unspoken routine: they would meet after training, either at the ramen shop or just walking through the quieter parts of the village, talking about everything and nothing. It was the only time Sakura felt like she could breathe, like the world wasn’t falling apart around her. And Naruto, despite his own heartbreak, never showed it. He was always trying to cheer her up, always smiling for her.

One late afternoon, after a particularly grueling training session, Sakura found herself wandering near the training grounds, her thoughts a blur. She had been pushing herself harder and harder lately, desperate to feel strong enough to make a difference the next time they went after Sasuke. She hated the feeling of helplessness that had consumed her during his departure.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Naruto approaching until he was standing right next to her.

“Hey, Sakura,” Naruto said, his voice softer than usual, as if sensing her mood. “You okay?”

She blinked, startled by his sudden presence, but quickly gave him a tired smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

Naruto’s blue eyes searched hers, clearly unconvinced. “You’ve been training really hard lately. You sure you’re not overdoing it?”

Sakura sighed, sitting down on the grassy field, her hands fiddling with the hem of her shirt. She hadn’t confided in anyone about how she was feeling, not really. Everyone was dealing with the loss in their own way, and she didn’t want to burden anyone with her own frustrations. But Naruto wasn’t just anyone.

“I feel… weak,” she admitted quietly, staring at the ground. “When Sasuke left, I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t stop him. I was just… useless.”

Naruto sat down beside her, his usual energy subdued. “You’re not useless, Sakura. You’re one of the strongest people I know.”

Sakura shook her head. “I didn’t do anything when it mattered. You were the one who went after him, who fought him. I just… stood there and cried.”

Naruto’s expression softened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. “You did what you could, Sakura. None of this is your fault. Sasuke… he made his own choice. But that doesn’t mean we’re done trying.”

She looked at him, seeing the determination in his eyes, the same determination that had always been there, even when the odds were stacked against him. Naruto had always believed in Sasuke, and she admired that about him — his unshakable hope, even when things seemed hopeless.

“I know,” she said softly, “but I just wish I could do more. I don’t want to be the one standing on the sidelines anymore. I want to be able to fight, to help.”

Naruto’s hand lingered on her shoulder, warm and comforting. “You will, Sakura. I know you will.”

For a moment, they sat there in silence, the weight of everything they’d been through pressing down on them. But there was something about Naruto’s presence, something about the way he always managed to lighten her burdens, that made Sakura feel like maybe things would be okay, even if just for a little while.

“You’re always so optimistic,” Sakura said, a hint of a smile on her lips as she glanced at him. “How do you do it?”

Naruto grinned, scratching the back of his head. “I dunno. Guess it’s just who I am. I’ve always believed that things can get better, even when they seem pretty bad.”

Sakura shook her head, smiling more genuinely now. “You’re something else, Naruto.”

He laughed, and for the first time in days, Sakura felt a little bit of the heaviness lift. Naruto had that effect on people — on her. He always had.

_______________________________________________________________

That evening, as they walked back toward the village, Naruto’s stomach growled loudly, and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Man, I’m starving! Wanna grab some ramen?”

Sakura chuckled, feeling lighter than she had in days. “Sure, I could eat.”

The two of them made their way to Ichiraku, where they were greeted by the familiar scent of broth and noodles. Naruto’s mood visibly brightened as they sat down, and he immediately ordered two bowls of his favorite miso ramen.

As they waited, Sakura found herself watching him, noticing things she hadn’t paid attention to before. The way his blue eyes sparkled when he was excited, the way his face lit up when he talked about his next training session. For so long, she had seen Naruto as her teammate, her friend, but lately, something had begun to shift inside her.

She was starting to realize how much he meant to her, not just as a comrade, but as someone who had always been there for her, through everything. Naruto had a heart bigger than anyone she had ever known, and he wore it openly, without hesitation.

Sakura’s thoughts were interrupted when Naruto turned to her, a bright grin on his face. “So, what do you think? Should we do more training tomorrow? I bet we could—”

He stopped mid-sentence when he saw the look on her face, his grin fading slightly. “Sakura? You okay?”

Sakura blinked, realizing she had been staring. “Oh, sorry! I was just… thinking.”

Naruto tilted his head, clearly confused but concerned. “About what?”

Sakura hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure how to put into words what she was feeling, but she knew that Naruto deserved to hear it.

“About you,” she admitted softly. “About how much you’ve been there for me… and how much that means.”

Naruto’s face turned red, his usual bravado faltering as he scratched the back of his head nervously. “Uh, well… that’s what friends are for, right?”

Sakura smiled, but there was more she wanted to say, more she needed to say. “It’s more than that, Naruto. You’ve always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. You’ve always fought for me, for Sasuke, for everyone. And I just… I don’t think I’ve ever really appreciated it enough.”

Naruto looked at her, his expression softening. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, and the air between them felt charged with something unspoken.

“Sakura…” he began, but before he could continue, their bowls of ramen arrived, breaking the tension. The moment passed, and Naruto quickly reverted to his usual self, eagerly digging into his food.

But as they ate, Sakura couldn’t stop thinking about what had almost been said. And in her heart, she knew that whatever it was, it was only the beginning of something that had been building between them for a long time.

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