She closed the door softly behind her, the cold wind hitting her face making her nose and cheeks turn red. She was used to high temperatures but lately it was quite cold, her red coat kept her warm, the cold would not last long after all spring would soon begin.
She had been going to the psychologist these last few months, being a medic ninja in the war was the hardest thing she could have ever experienced, she saw too many people die, people she could have saved, she felt useless. It was true that she had saved many lives but, why couldn't she save everyone? Why couldn't she be in many places at the same time? She wished everyone had been saved, she wished she could have saved everyone.
She was aware that it was impossible, but that didn't stop her from feeling bad. The war had affected everyone, some were still doing quite well or coping better, she didn't make it, so she had to start going to mental health services, she was very ashamed, everyone else was fine but she just couldn't.
Luckily, there were people by her side, and everyone supported her, even so, she couldn't help but feel alone, everyone laughed and had a good time, that made her happy, because they were happy but, when would she be? When would she finally be able to feel happiness? She felt like her problems were ridiculous but, all her friends were already having partners and starting to meet new people, she felt stuck, as if she couldn't move forward, she wished she could stop time to order her thoughts, then return to the present and live her life like everyone else did.
She had been going to therapy for two months, yes, it wasn't that long but, she went twice a week. The talks with her psychologist were very helpful, she was an older woman with very pretty black hair, her office always smelled of lavender, she had a lot of appreciation for her. She helped her understand many things that she would never have been able to on her own, and one of them was realizing that she didn't like Sasuke.
She regretted quite a bit having searched for him for so many years, she didn't blame a hurt child for her decisions, that was obvious but, had it really been necessary? Sasuke didn't want her and probably never would, and that was okay, after all it was a childhood crush that she confused with something deeper. It was true that Uchiha was a beautiful man but, he wasn't for her, he might end up with some woman from some strong clan, like a Hyuuga or something like that.
The war made many people insensitive without much love to give, she was lucky not to be in her case. She liked someone else, but she was too stupid to realize it, it took her many years to even notice that person, I suppose it was because of the war that she didn't think much about those things, she had to save lives, not play at being lovers.
She talked about it with her psychologist, she helped her to get the courage to confess. She had many problems to face, confessing would help her get that weight off her shoulders, after all, the worst thing that could happen to her was that, well, he rejected her, although that didn't bother her, she had already been rejected before, there were still many men in the world to worry about silly things like that.
Right now she was heading towards the outskirts of the village, there was a very pretty lake nearby. She had taken the time to research nice places to confess, after all she wanted to have a good time with that person, just the two of them, before ruining their friendship by confessing. She wouldn't be upset if his feelings were rejected but, the idea of being reciprocated gave her hope, she knew there was a small chance of being so but, if it wasn't, her friendship would end.
The sun had already set while she was drowning in her thoughts, the stars could already be seen in the sky forming beautiful constellations, she came out of her head when she saw that she had already reached her destination and saw him, sitting on the grass near the lake, giving her one of his huge smiles, how had she not realized before what she felt for him? So many problems she had had would and so many things she lived would not have happened. She approached with a slight smile as she sat next to him.
“Hey Sakura!” Naruto greeted with joy, yes, incredibly she had fallen in love with the blond.
How did all this start? Maybe in everything they lived, they were together so much that possibly she ended up liking him, so many moments they lived, how did she not realize before? Naruto had always been there for her no matter the situation, he helped her in so many things that naming them would take her a lifetime, he was her best friend, the man she wanted by her side until death.
“It's a beautiful place! I didn't know something like that existed around the village!” He exclaims excitedly as he looks at the lake.
It was true, she had tried very hard to find it. Ino had helped her look for it, without her she wouldn't have succeeded. Yes, Ino knew she liked Naruto, telling her had been harder than she had planned.
That afternoon was hot, Sakura had gone to the Yamanaka's house to visit her friend, they used to get together to make cookies and drink tea while talking about the latest gossip in the Konoha, now that there was peace, they could find out about absolutely everything that was happening.
“Ah yes, I understand that a certain lady likes a certain fox boy.” Ino commented while biting a cookie, wait, had she noticed? Or was she just talking about another admirer?
“Huh? Who?” Sakura asked as she left her cup of tea on the table.
“Don't be an idiot! My god, it's so obvious, Hinata!” Ino laughed as she finished eating her cookie. “I feel sorry for her, she's so shy! With how beautiful she is, she could have already conquered him a long time ago, she doesn't take advantage of her attributes!”
“Oh, yes, she is beautiful.” Sakura murmured, Hinata was beautiful, she was very different from her, she was shy, she belonged to an important clan, and above all, she was one of the most beautiful women in all of Konoha, how could she compete with her? She couldn't stand it anymore, she needed to tell someone other than her psychologist. “You know Ino, I like him too.”
“What?!” She exclaimed surprised almost spitting out all her tea. “My god, are you kidding? I thought the love of your life was Sasuke.”
“Me too, I think I was too naive not to realize that he wasn't the one I loved.” She murmurs while looking at the cup of tea, had she done well in telling her?
“My god! Don't be stupid! You have to tell him, imagine if someone else takes that position from you! No, no and no, it's you who I want to see arrive at the altar when Naruto is about to get married.”
“Don't be silly, she has many to choose from, it would only ruin our friendship.” Sakura sighed, she loved the confidence that Ino had, it was something she lacked for a long time.
“Don't say stupid things! I'll help you!” Yamanaka smiled as she began to rave about how her wedding with Naruto would be.
Ino and her always had their disagreements and fights but, she was always a very good friend and helped her in everything she could. She didn't regret having told her, otherwise she surely would never have discovered this place, much less would she be sitting right now next to the boy of her dreams.
“Naruto.” she called his attention as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?” He asked as he turned to look at her.
“I like you.” She would have preferred to look him in the eyes as she told him, but she couldn’t, she just limited herself to looking at the beautiful lake in front of her.
“Uh… um Sakura, I…” He stuttered, and there went all their friendship of years. “I don’t like you playing with my feelings like that.”
Huh? He still had feelings for her?! Shit, that was surely the best day of her life. She turned to look him in the eyes, and there was that beautiful blue color of his eyes, she would have loved for him to ask her to be his girlfriend right then and there, but he was Naruto, and she was Sakura, the girl who had rejected him for years, she had to take the initiative if she wanted to show that she truly liked him.
“Do you still like me?” She muttered as she watched Uzumaki look away, she gulped. “Can we… Try to be more than just friends?”
“How do I know this isn’t another false confession?” He looked at her angrily, he was really hesitating.
“Because there’s no reason to do that, I really like you Naruto!” She exclaimed sadly, was it so hard to believe him? It was true that she had done many things wrong but, that had been so long ago!
Several minutes passed, the eye contact seemed eternal, neither of them wanted to stop looking at the other, was it real? Did they both feel the same? Or was the other just joking? Sakura took a deep breath and began to speak again.
“I've liked you for a long time, if you want to stop being my friend and believe that all this is a lie, go ahead, I'll understand.” She smiled sadly as she tried to continue eye contact.
“I... I prefer to believe you.” Sakura's gaze lit up. “We can try to be something more, but you'll have to teach me because I don't understand much about those things.”
It was the sweetest thing she had ever heard, for the first time, she felt like her life was moving forward like the others. Maybe she'll make Ino her maid of honor for her wedding, and godmother of her future children, would they have her hair color? Maybe she was planning too far ahead of time.
“Okay, I'll take the time to teach you everything.” She murmured as she slowly approached him, Naruto gulped and imitated her.
They broke the distance by joining their lips, it was a short kiss but long enough to remember, was she really kissing Naruto? Twelve-year-old Sakura would be screaming in disbelief, She guess maybe she wasn't as alone as she thought.