Sakura was confused.
She hadn't expected that, just after the Fourth Great Ninja War had ended—while she was still drowning in medical assignments handed out by Tsunade-sama—Naruto would suddenly come to her… and kiss her!
Just a kiss, and he immediately started talking as though the next step was marriage and having children.
It wasn't that Sakura couldn't understand where Naruto was coming from, but everything was happening so fast it left her head spinning.
Still, even though Sakura could be a little naïve when it came to love, she wasn't completely thoughtless. She immediately wanted to confirm the most important part.
"Naruto, what you came to ask me about this time… was it because Sasuke told you to?"
Naruto shook his head. "No. I came here on my own. You know Sasuke's personality and temper—there's no way he would come to me and ask me to talk about this kind of thing for him."
Hearing his answer, Sakura's chest sank with disappointment. She had originally thought it might be Sasuke who sent Naruto. If it truly had been Sasuke's request, then she wouldn't have hesitated for even a second. She would have agreed to marriage right now, to raising children, to everything, without any complaints.
But hearing it wasn't Sasuke who called for her… it hurt.
It only reinforced the painful truth she had always known deep down—that Sasuke still didn't harbor feelings for her, at least not the kind she wished for.
Her voice turned sharp as she glared at Naruto. "If Sasuke didn't send you… then why are you here talking to me about this?"
Naruto scratched his cheek and explained seriously: "Here's the thing. Sasuke wants to rebuild the Uchiha clan. To do that, he's been preparing to gather the remains—the corpses and blood—of fallen Uchiha. His goal is to use the Rikudō Sennin's Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to resurrect his clan members."
Sakura gasped, covering her mouth. "What?! Sasuke actually wants to resurrect the Uchiha clan?!"
Naruto nodded firmly. "Yeah. You can't really blame him. During the war, I made that part of our agreement—to help restore what he lost. He accepted it. So ever since, he's been completely focused on that path."
"I don't object to it," Naruto continued, "but personally, I think there's something even more important—reviving the clan through family. Through marriage and children. Resurrection is risky. And besides…" His voice grew heavier. "I'm not sure if the Ōtsutsuki clan might come sooner than expected, depending on how the balance shifts. That's why I think it'd be better if you and Sasuke married sooner and started a family."
He exhaled deeply after finishing. In truth, Naruto was already planning to settle things with Hinata early, once he finished helping rebuild the village.
Sakura finally understood his intentions in coming to her.
Naruto pressed on: "Sakura, since you truly love Sasuke, and I believe that one day he'll learn to truly love you back… then there's nothing wrong with marrying earlier and having children. But you know how Sasuke is—you'll have to be the one to take the initiative."
Sakura sat in silence, nodding slowly. She didn't object.
But after a pause, her eyes softened with something else entirely. "Naruto… I want to know. When did you stop liking me?"
The question caught Naruto completely off guard.
"Eh?! Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"
Sakura shrugged, keeping her eyes on him. "Curiosity. After all, the you standing here now isn't exactly the same as the you from our… other life. I don't really understand why you stopped liking me then. But at least now, I know that after the events in the Forest… you changed. You're not the same Naruto. You knew Hinata would be your wife in the future, so you confessed to her directly, didn't you?"
Naruto hesitated, then nodded.
Sakura gave a small, bittersweet smile. "Then tell me, Naruto… in that other life, when was it? When did you stop liking me?"
Naruto shifted uncomfortably. He scratched the back of his head and forced a grin. "Why do you even want to know that?"
Sakura crossed her arms and pursed her lips. "Wouldn't you be curious? If someone had always liked you, and then one day suddenly stopped… wouldn't you want to know why?"
Naruto thought about it, then nodded slowly. "You're right. Okay… I'll tell you."
He sat down on the wooden step nearby. Sakura followed, sitting beside him, her eyes locked on his face, waiting for the truth.
Naruto took a moment, then began. "Memories are like old sake… once you open the jar, the scent spreads everywhere. Sweet, intoxicating. Where should I start…? I guess from that mission. The one to the moon."
He began describing their journey to the moon, the fight against Toneri Ōtsutsuki, and finally Hinata's confession. Sakura listened quietly as Naruto's expression shifted from excitement to awe, as if he were reliving it all. He described Hinata's courage, the two of them facing death together, and finally the kiss beneath the moonlight.
Sakura could almost picture it as he spoke—Hinata's shy but determined smile, Naruto's joy, their kiss glowing under the pale lunar light.
Of course, Sakura had always known Hinata's feelings. Everyone had. The Twelve Konoha Genin, even Kurenai-sensei, had seen it. Hinata had always blushed around Naruto. If he got too close, she'd faint without fail.
But after Naruto confessed back to her—after that kiss—Hinata's nervousness had melted away. She wasn't fainting anymore. She had become stronger, more confident.
When Naruto finished his story, Sakura smiled faintly, though envy tinged her expression.
"…That's wonderful."
She took a deep breath, then sighed. "Naruto, I really envy Hinata. In the end, she waited… and the person she loved came to her. And I know you, Naruto. Once you realized her love was real, you gave her your whole heart, didn't you?"
Naruto froze at her words, then nodded with complete seriousness.
Sakura chuckled softly, then tilted her head toward the sky. Her voice lowered to a whisper. "Naruto… do you think Sasuke will ever love me?"
Naruto thought for a long moment. "…Sakura, if Sasuke doesn't love you, he wouldn't marry you."
Her chest rose and fell as she inhaled sharply. His words felt like the greatest encouragement she had ever received.
Then she smiled again, though her tone was tinged with resignation. "I see now why you stopped liking me. Hinata is more worthy of that love than I ever was. After all… she truly loved you."
Naruto nodded again. What he didn't mention, though, was what had truly changed everything for him. In his previous life, when Pain attacked Konoha, Hinata had been the first to confess. She had thrown herself into danger to protect him, standing alone against the Deva Path. She had been struck down mercilessly, nearly killed before his eyes. That was when he completely lost control, unleashing the Nine-Tails for the first time. If not for his father's seal, Kurama would have broken free.
That moment burned into his heart forever.
He looked at Sakura, his tone softer now. "Sakura… you'll have Sasuke's love too. But if you want it, you'll have to pursue him."
"Oh, that reminds me," Naruto added. "There's something else I've always wondered about."
Sakura blinked. "What is it?"
Naruto leaned forward, frowning. "You know how Sasuke's been admired since we were kids. I've always wanted to ask—what exactly is it about that guy that made so many girls, including you, fall for him back then?"
It was a question that had gnawed at Naruto since childhood.
Sakura covered her mouth and giggled. "Pfft… Naruto, are you jealous of Sasuke?"
Naruto crossed his arms and turned his head with a huff.
Suppressing her laughter, Sakura finally answered. "Well… you know Sasuke. He's handsome, quiet, always acting so cool and distant. He would sit there alone, never saying a word. And whenever a girl approached him, he'd ignore her completely."
She smirked playfully. "You know, for us girls back then, that kind of cold, untouchable aura was irresistible. Add to that the fact that he was a top student, excellent at everything… of course we admired him."
Even now, hearing her praise Sasuke so casually, Naruto grit his teeth, frustration bubbling up again.
Damn it.
Why was it always Sasuke?
Why was he always one step ahead of me?
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