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azurelyy · 2 years

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I Choose You [NaruSaku ☁️]

A/N: Hi, lovely people! This was written for @half-baked-biscuit’s canon kiss collab. Of course, the moment I saw it, I just knew I HAD to write for my favorite ship in Naruto, NaruSaku 💗🧡

P.S. I realize I am posting this later than I said I would and I am very sorry!

Warnings: None really, this is v. fluffy. Does have some elements of hurt/comfort.

Alternative Ao3 link.

The air was frigid as her heart, her best friend’s golden hair blowing in the wind as she followed behind him like a shadow. Every nerve in her body was burning up as the small group approached their destination and an endless hole carved its way into her stomach. Naruto was the best person she’d ever known - why it had taken her so damn long to acknowledge that was beyond what her teenage mind could fathom - but the fact was that he deserved better than her. Sakura knew he deserved better than her, but the thought of never trying would haunt her forever.

Don’t be a baby like always, she thought. Just pull him aside and tell him. It’s easy. The cynic in her was shouting at her inner-voice about how this was, in fact, not easy, and could result in Naruto laughing her out of the room - or worse - his life, for good. But Sakura didn’t have time to listen to the cynic. Or, rather, she didn’t want to listen to it. If she did, she might just back out. Again.

How many times had she tried to confess to him? Twice? Three times? It was hard to remember. There was the time after Tenchi Bridge, when she pulled him aside to help with his wounds while Kakashi and Yamato Sensei were sleeping. When her heart kept stuttering as his hands grazed against the burns on her arm and his electric blue eyes glassed over, resembling the most beautiful parts of the sea.

Then there was the time after one of his training sessions, when he finally allowed himself a break. She took him out to ramen at Ichiraku’s, her treat, and found herself smiling as he gobbled down the ramen like he was starved, ignoring the pang of irritation at how hungry he seemed despite the delicious energy balls she kept making for him.

There had been a couple of other times, too, when Sakura felt as though she had finally gained the courage to tell Naruto but stumbled, as she always did. Like after they lost track of Sasuke, or after the Pain fight. They were all a blur to her now, just wishes and whims that never came to fruition. Upon reflection, she felt like an idiot. At the end of the day, this was still, well, Naruto. Even if he didn’t feel the same way as he used to, he would never push her away. Sakura knew that.

But that wasn’t what she was afraid of.

What she was afraid of was the way he hadn’t even asked if her taking him to Ichiraku’s was a date, or the way he’d started to touch her less, or that when he smiled at her lately it was less electric and more cryptic. Almost somber, like looking at her made him feel… morose, or pitiful. Every touch that caused fireworks to explode within her seemed to pain him, and that was what she feared the most - the affirmation that Naruto had moved on. That she had waited too long.

“Sakura!” Naruto shouted, causing her to misstep and stumble forward, falling face first into his chest. “Whoa, I’ve got you.”

His strong arms wrapped around her and Sakura nearly blacked out as she blinked in rapid succession, trying to calm herself down by breathing in through her nose. “S-Sorry, Naruto,” she grumbled, tempted to hug him back. Instead, she patted his arm and cursed herself mentally for doing that. “What happened?”

“We’re here,” Kakashi said. “But there’s a problem.”

“A problem?” Sakura questioned, glancing at her Sensei. She observed her surroundings and saw they were outside of a small inn, the rooftop covered with soft snow. Jeez, was I that lost in thought?

Kakashi’s face turned light pink. “Yes, well, they only have two rooms left.”

“Oh,” Sakura muttered. “Oh.”

“Yes, and one is the…” Kakashi trailed off, turning away to look at nothing.

Yamato sighed and stepped forward, patting Kakashi on the shoulder. “There’s two beds and four of us. Naruto, you need the most rest and we think you should get the bigger room. However-”

“I can’t sleep in the same room as my elder’s,” Sakura finished, gulping down the tight ball of dread that had formed in the back of her throat. “And we don’t have any sleep scrolls.”

“I don’t care.” Naruto grumbled, dropping his hands from Sakura’s arms. Sakura felt heat rush to her cheeks when she realized Naruto had been holding her the whole time. How had she missed that? Naruto pointed his chin towards the jonin. “I’ll sleep on the floor in your room.”

The two Sensei’s glanced at each other quickly before focusing back to the teens. “That’s alright, Naruto,” Kakashi said. “I’m happy to sleep on the floor.”

“Nonsense!” Yamato shouted. “I’ll sleep on the floor. It stretches out my back, anyway.”

The men all continued bickering loudly, drawing the attention of the inn-keeper, who was now watching through a crack in the doorway. Sakura felt her head start pounding as Naruto walked over and started yelling about not needing rest. She hadn’t heard this much squabbling since Sasuke was on the team.

“Shut up!” Sakura yelled, silencing them. She felt her hands tremble, either from the cold or her nerves, as she grumbled, “I don’t mind sleeping with Naruto.”

“Wait!” Naruto exclaimed, pointing at Yamato. “Just make us a cabin like last time.”

“No jutsu!” An ancient voice called from the inn, sounding like it was on death’s door. Sakura turned to face one of the oldest men she had ever seen, watching them all with beady eyes. She glanced at Yamato through stands of pink hair as he visibly shivered and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

“Yup! We got it. No jutsu.” He waved awkwardly as the old man grumbled and faded back to the shadows. “Man, he’s creepy.” Yamato whispered.

“What?” Naruto asked, flabbergasted. “You won’t make us a cabin because of some old man?”

“Naruto,” Kakashi chided, placing a slender hand to his shoulder. “We have to respect his wishes. It’s rude to-”

Naruto shrugged out from under his hand and grumbled, “Yeah, yeah. Shinobi honor and whatever. I got it.”

“So,” Sakura dragged out the vowel as she watched the men slowly succumb to the inevitable fate. “I call the side furthest from the door, though. If someone breaks in, they can deal with you first.”

She gave Naruto a soft smile and watched as his face broke into a grin as he gave a sharp laugh. “It’s a deal.”

��THE HONEYMOON SUITE?” Sakura screamed, the water in the fish tank in the wall rippling from the shrill trill of her voice.

Kakashi winced as he handed the cash to the innkeeper. “I tried telling you…”

Sakura huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Whatever.”

“Don’t worry, Sakura,” Naruto assured as they walked to their rooms. “I’m sure the bed is really big! And we can put pillows between us.”

Sakura grabbed the key from Kakashi as she muttered to herself angrily, twisting it to the keyhole and opening the door. Naruto was right, the bed was massive, with bright red and pink sheets and pillows. And… rose petals. Everywhere. Sakura felt the breath escape from her lungs as Kakashi and Yamato sprinted away, shouting something about seeing them in the morning.

She walked over to sit on the edge of the bed and looked out the window as the snow continued its slow descent to the white landscape below. She sighed and collapsed to her back just as the bed dipped next to her and her head landed on Naruto's chest. They both fumbled away, muttering apologies. Blood rushed to her cheeks as Naruto’s nose brushed against her own and he tried to angle away from her, awkwardly knocking his chin against her forehead.

“Ow,” Sakura grumbled, rubbing her head. Naruto laughed.

“I’m sorry!” He exclaimed, moving her hand away and pressing his thumb to the sore spot. She winced and he pulled away with a sad smile. “I’ll just lay down on the floor.”

“No!” Sakura’s voice was irritatingly high-pitched as she crawled away from him. “It’s fine. I’ll stay over here this time, I promise.”

He laid back down against the pillow with a low, “Thanks.” Awkward silence filled the air as Sakura sighed again and shifted her legs up to cradle her knees to her chest. Each fall of snow was like sand in a timer, slowly counting down the seconds she had left to tell Naruto how she felt. As she examined the situation, fully taking in the trail of rose petals that lead to the bathroom, the small ominous black box that was surely filled with condoms, and the delectable chocolates that sat on the edge of the hot tub in the corner of the bedroom, Sakura felt every ounce of courage drain from her.

“Naruto?”

“Sakura?”

They spoke simultaneously as they locked gazes, deep blue and spring green piercing through the uncomfortable silence like a kunai aimed for the heart. Hushed laughter filled the bedroom as heat rose to Sakura’s cheeks and she relaxed.

“You go first.” He said heartily, twisting around and putting his weight to his elbow, resting his head in his hand.

Sakura froze as all the moisture drained from her lips and she muttered, “N-No, you.”

He quirked an eyebrow at her before shrugging her weirdness off. “I was gonna ask… Nevermind.” He shook his head, beautiful blonde hairs falling around his face. “It’s nothing.”

“Ask what?” She encouraged, resting her cheek on the top of her knees.

“Why do you think Sasuke won’t come home, now that Itachi’s gone?” His voice was softer than the snow outside. Sakura pondered for a minute. The Sasuke they’d encountered recently wasn’t the same Sasuke that left the Village all those years ago - he was dark and cold, hateful. He was a stranger to her.

“I think he’s lost,” she answered truthfully. Naruto’s face was unreadable as he averted his eyes to the window. “His eyes when we saw him at Orochimaru’s hideout,” she continued, “They were darker. Sinister. I’m…” She faltered as tears welled in her eyes. “I’m scared of him, Naruto.”

The air around her shifted as Naruto got closer. “Hey,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her body. “Don’t cry, Sakura. Please don’t cry.”

She fought back her tears with the force of the seven seas, trying her best to breathe normally, but Naruto’s warm arms pulled out every emotion she had been holding back and she succumbed to the waves, letting her shoulders shake as she cried into her knees. He rested his chin in her hair as he chanted reassurances - but Sakura noted that he didn’t once claim he would bring Sasuke back. Instead, he said things like “It will be alright” and “I’m gonna fix this.”

“I’m sorry, Naruto,” she sniffed, picking herself back up. “I’m such a baby.”

He chucked and shook his head. “It’s okay.”

They stayed that way for a long time before Naruto sliced through the silence. “What were you gonna say, Sakura? I kind of bummed us both out there, huh?”

He pulled away and Sakura was immediately freezing in his absence. She realized how much she yearned to be that close to him again and the dread of his rejection loomed overhead like a brewing thunderstorm. She bit the inside of her cheek and grabbed hold of his hand for support, surprising him.

“Sakura?” He asked, confused. His eyes were dark navy, glinting with a strange curiosity Sakura had never seen before.

“I have to tell you something, Naruto.” She tried to sound strong but her voice faltered and Naruto’s fingers twitched against her palm. His breathing was shallow and her nerves lit on fire. Was she really about to do this? Could she do this?

“Okay,” he held the ‘y’ for a long time before he said, “Tell me.”

“I don’t really know… where to start.” His face was completely blank as he blinked. “Okay, Naruto, just… Don’t freak out.”

“You’re being really weird, Sakura-chan,” Naruto stated, pulling his hand back. Shit. “Are you sure you’re alright sleeping in here with me? Maybe I should-”

“Naruto!” She yelled, a bit louder than she meant to and she watched as Naruto’s shoulders tensed up. Guilt laced its way to her heart. Poor guy probably thought she was about to punch him. “Sorry, just… This is hard. Just sit over there.”

He did as she said and sat cross-legged in front of her, a weary look on his face. His jaw was completely taut, his fine mouth formed into the thinnest line possible. Sakura took a deep breath.

“I’m just gonna… Say it,” his expression hadn’t changed, and she twisted her body around to face him fully, gripping to the red bed sheets with white knuckles. “I think I… No. I do. I like you, Naruto.”

Silence. Loud, unbearable silence. His blue eyes were striking her down with ferocity when she looked back up to him and her heart stopped beating. “Like me?” He finally asked.

“Yes.” She confirmed. Neither moved.

“I… like you too. We’re friends. I already knew that.”

Sakura had to bite her tongue to suppress the urge to shake him. “Naruto,” she tried to sound calm but the aggravation in her tone was obvious. “I like you.” She paused, and then added, hoping the juvenile confession would help his understanding. “I like-like you.”

“Oh,” was his only response. There was a deafening silence in his pause as his eyes moved to her knees, before he finally whispered, “Oh.”

Sakura watched his hands clench into hard fists as the air in her lungs thinned out. Her fingernails had cut into the thin fabric of the sheets and she pulled away, placing her hands into her lap awkwardly instead. Her body was itchy, hot. Uncomfortable. Naruto continued staring at her knee like it was growing flowers or something equally as interesting, his eyes growing wider with each agonizingly slow passing second.

She tried to laugh but it came out wheezy as she scratched the back of her head and abruptly stood up. Blood rushed to her head too slowly, making her dizzy. She wobbled gently, steadying herself on the edge of the bed. Naruto moved forward and gripped onto her hips to try and catch her.

“A-Are you okay?” He asked. Sakura’s heart dropped to her stomach and she wiggled her hips, allowing his hands to fall to the bed.

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine.” Her voice was almost nonexistent. “Anyway. I’m going to… get some ice.”

“Ice?”

“It’s hot in here.”

“Feels fine to me.”

She groaned and paced along the length of the room. Once. Twice. Finally, she walked to the door and just as she was about to twist the knob, Naruto called, “Did you mean it?”

She peeked at him from over her shoulder, pink hair curtaining over her face. His entire body was stiff, his mako blue eyes locked onto hers with an intensity she had only seen him have in battle. It made her feel pathetic.

She was right to be scared of telling him. He didn’t believe her at all. And could she blame him? She hadn’t exactly been honest with herself in the months leading up to this, trying to suppress her feelings deep within her soul, letting herself be torn apart as she watched Hinata be so open and honest with him. She had scarred herself by constantly pulling her feelings for him open again before stitching them back in, and had fully pushed herself out his heart because of it.

“Yes, Naruto,” her hand fell from the doorknob, hot tears welling in her eyes. “I’ve liked you for a long time. Not forever,” she laughed humorlessly, “I can admit that. But since you came back; since Tenchi Bridge… My feelings have only gotten stronger. Kind of like you.”

Naruto remained seated. Sakura awkwardly shuffled closer to him. He let out a shaky breath and averted his gaze to her mouth, then back to her eyes again. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head and tried to flash her his toothy grin, but he could only manage a smirk.

“Sakura,” his voice was even raspier than usual, “This isn’t funny, ya know? I mean, you like Sasuke-”

“No!” Naruto winced and she sat next to him on the bed, reaching for his hands. He pulled them back and she let hers fall to her lap as she sighed. “I don’t like Sasuke.”

It was the first time she’d said it out loud; the first time she let the words sting her throat. Her voice was reedy at the confession as a weight lifted from her shoulders. She didn’t like Sasuke. When she thought of him now, it was nothing like how she felt when she thought about Naruto. With Naruto, her heart sang, her hands clammed up, her lips tingled, her stomach filled with warmth that coursed into her soul. With Sasuke, she felt cold, her hands shook with dread, her heart fell to her stomach. She didn’t like Sasuke. Not anymore.

“That’s crazy, Sakura-chan,” Naruto said. He shook his head, blonde hair swaying all around his face. Sakura yearned to run her hands through it, painting them gold. “You’ve always liked Sasuke.”

“I did,” she admitted through tears that streaked down her cheeks. “But that was a long time ago, Naruto. You’re… I’m closer with you now than I ever was with Sasuke.”

He shifted next to her, letting his body inch towards hers. His fingers grazed against her own, sparks flying into the air around them. “I guess I see what you’re saying.”

“But I don’t like people who lie to themselves,” his voice was gentle, “I’m just Naruto, ya know? The same kid you’ve always been annoyed by.”

“You were annoying,” Sakura agreed, lacing her pinky finger around his index finger as time stood still around her. The air was filled with a magnetic force, drawing her closer to Naruto as his breath fanned over her face, cool against the heat of her skin. She glanced at him through her peripheral vision to find his eyes pinned on her, unblinking and focused. He was ready to listen. She turned to face him fully and she was certain her cheeks matched the hue of her rosy hair perfectly.

“As a child, I didn’t understand your pranks or cries for attention. Now that I’m older, I get it. I’m sorry for the way I acted back then.”

Naruto remained still, but his face warmed gently as a breeze, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. “I have watched you grow and change, Naruto. I’m glad I get to say I’m your friend, and that you and I got to be on Team Seven together. That won’t change, no matter what - you’ll always be my teammate.”

She wiggled her toes and averted her eyes from him, feeling overwhelmed. “I know it’s hard to understand, but I just needed to let you know. I-” The skin of her cheeks and neck were seething. She took in a shaky breath and locked her eyes with his once more, allowing the depths of his ocean eyes to drown her entirely as she swam out into their current. “I really like you, Naruto. A lot.” She smiled at him bashfully.

“If you don’t believe me, that’s fine,” she grabbed his hands, her peach green eyes singing into his soul, “But I want you to look at my eyes, really look at them. And tell me that you think I’m lying.”

Naruto’s eyes stayed locked to hers for a moment. Slowly, he trailed them down her body to her hands on his. He ran his thumb over the back of her knuckles before he intertwined his fingers with hers, chills running up the length of her spine and sinking into her shoulder muscles. She had to keep reminding herself to breathe, and was counting each heartbeat, trying to get an estimate on how madly her pulse was racing. She knew it wasn’t healthy; it felt as though she had just run several miles through thick mud. When he finally looked back at her, his eyes were filled with stars.

“Sakura…” His voice crackled like rain on pavement; so sweet, the sound. “I don’t know what to say.”

Her paper heart ripped in half. He didn’t say it back. He didn’t like her. Of course he doesn’t, she thought. You saw this coming, Haruno. Chin up.

She wanted the bed to come to life and eat her up, every last bit of her, until she was nothing more than a memory. Every fiber of her being was screaming at her to run away, to forget this ever happened. She couldn’t let him see her break. Her face was already mascara-stained and dirty. She realized she probably looked like a raccoon as she scoffed, twitching her fingers in his hand as a way to signal she wanted to move. He didn’t let go; his hand only tightened around hers. Sakura realized she was staring at the ceiling when Naruto’s other hand gripped onto her chin to guide her head back down to face him.

His thumb ran under her eyes, wiping away her mascara-tears that painted her cheeks as he smiled at her. A pity smile, great. Her lower lip twitched and she bit the inside of her cheek, trying to suppress the wail that was building within her chest. Her arms started shaking and she hung her head in defeat as Naruto shifted to hold her to his chest.

“Hey,” he said, “What’s wrong now? Did I mess up already?”

“N-No,” she wailed, sinking into him, “Sorry. I’m such an idiot. I should really go get that ice.”

“You’re freezing cold, Sakura,” he whispered, rubbing a hand over her shoulder. He planted a soft kiss to the top of her head and the entire world stopped spinning. Everything was slanted. She was upside down. Nothing made sense.

She gripped onto the front of his shirt as her tears seeped into the soft fabric, wishing she could turn her emotions on and off with the flick of a switch, or by pulling a lever. How convenient would that be? It would be so easy to handle rejection. Humans should all come equipped with their own personal-

“Can’t believe I messed up already,” Naruto’s voice cut through her internal screaming. “I wasn’t trying to make you cry. I’m the worst boyfriend ever.”

Boyfriend?

“B-Boyfriend?” Sakura pulled back, hands still gripping to his shirt for dear life, sniffling. “What do you mean?”

“Isn’t that…” Naruto’s Adam’s apple bobbled in his throat. “Isn’t that what happens now?”

Sakura’s eyes widened and she could hear fluttering in her ears like tiny wings. “Are you saying that you like me too?”

Naruto grinned down at her as he rested his forehead against hers. “Well, yeah. Didn’t you know that already, though?”

“No!” This was a rollercoaster of emotions. She didn’t know how to feel anymore. “Naruto, you have to say it back.”

“Oh,” he laughed and rubbed his nose over hers as her bones turned to goo. “Sorry. I thought I said that already… You know, when I said you had a charming forehead and all.”

“What?” Sakura’s mind was racing in a million directions. Sasuke, on the bench, right after teams were assigned. Except…

“Th-That was you?”

Naruto pulled back abruptly and Sakura watched his eyes flicker with a glint of an unreadable emotion as he sputtered out a slew of garbled sentences. It was nearly impossible to understand him, but she made out bits and pieces, including something about how he was really sorry and that her forehead really is charming and he really does want to kiss it.

He was lucky Sakura was in such a good mood or she would yell at him about impersonating Sasuke, or about how it really isn’t nice to mess with a woman’s emotions like that, or about how that was years ago now and she needed to know if he still liked her. But when his lips touched her forehead as if he were trying to prove a point that words just couldn’t convey, everything she wanted to scream at him evaporated from her mind, and all she could do was smell his sandalwood cologne and feel his warm mouth on her cool skin.

“Naruto?” She whispered, trailing her fingers down his shirt. He hummed and pulled away, his face almost entirely red. Sakura smiled at him gently. “Will you just kiss me already?”

Naruto licked his lips as he leaned forward slowly, almost painfully so. She gripped the front of his shirt tightly, like it was her anchor, as a thick and lush vine sprouted from within her stomach and reached all the way to her heart, twining round her fears and covering them in a new growth until they were as invisible as a stranger passing by a crowded room, nothing but cellophane.

Heavily and hypnotically, with her soul sparking like a faded fire that had been reignited with logs, Sakura leaned in and drank Naruto’s full, moist mouth, and his hungry lips were against hers, drinking her in return. Their eyes closed; fingers clutched at collars and hair, at the red sheets below, at the supernova of their souls colliding. And as they sank down, curtaining themselves with rose petals and the feel of their bodies pressing against each other, the horizon tipped on its side as, slowly and thickly, the hours melted away. It was Sakura’s first kiss, and it was with Naruto, and it was glorious.

The hotel room door whipped open suddenly as the teens quickly jerked back, Naruto almost toppling off the bed as he awkwardly untangled his legs from hers. Dizzyingly, Sakura blinked her eyes, trying to focus onto the room through blurred vision as her body went frigid and Naruto sputtered dramatically, his voice miles and miles away.

“Good news! Yamato and I realized that he could - just - make a… bed…” Kakashi’s speech slowed to an abrupt stop, punctuated by a giggle as his eyes locked onto Sakura’s shocked expression. She was covering herself up instinctively, despite no clothes being removed; she was ashamed and alarmed, her body completely taut. Her brain was screaming at her with ferocity to defend herself, to defend Naruto, but all she could do was make a garbled sound of consonants.

Yamato quickly appeared behind Kakashi with a blank expression. Sakura thought she saw the side of his mouth twitch upwards as he said, “What did I miss?”

“Yamato, I believe the rooms will need to be reassigned.” Kakashi stated smugly, his voice dripping with mischief. Sakura groaned and flipped over, curling herself up into a ball and hoping this nightmare would end.

“N-No,” Naruto protested. “You’ve got the wrong idea! Sakura-chan…We were… Training! Yeah, she needed help with-”

“Naruto,” Yamato chided playfully, “I think you should come sleep in our room. I’ll make you a bed, no one will have to know. Sakura can keep this room to herself.”

“But-”

“Naruto, please, just do what they say!” Sakura pleaded, burying her face into the sheets. She felt a calloused hand lazily rub her shoulder before Naruto placed a kiss - a fast, gentle kiss - to the side of her head, with a weak, “Okay.”

Sakura listened as the three of them all shuffled about the room, gathering Naruto’s things. They were agonizingly quiet and she could only imagine the speech Kakashi and Yamato had planned for Naruto when he got back into their room. She did her best to slow her beating heart by focusing on her breathing as they walked to the door. Kakashi made a quip about it being hot in this room and Sakura was thankful people couldn’t die of embarrassment or she would surely be deceased by now.

“I’ll be there in a sec,” Naruto called down the hallway, “I forgot…Something.”

Sakura rolled over and peeked through her eyelashes as Naruto leaned down to be at eye-level with her. He gave her a shy smile and tucked a few stray strands of pink hair behind her ear.

“Are you okay?” He asked gently. His hand on her arm felt like a tiny sunbeam, warm and happy.

“That was the worst moment of my life.” Sakura groaned, leaning closer to him.

Naruto averted his eyes to her lips as he softly said, “That was the happiest moment of mine.”

“Naruto, I didn’t mean-”

Much like her fist, her second kiss was so much more than a concept. It was a feeling, it was a promise, it was a song. It was a river current, a lit match, a sealed love letter. As their lips danced together, they conveyed more than words ever could. As he gripped her heart in his hand, she tattooed the words onto his palm with pink ink and he in turn branded her soul with an eternal inscription: I choose you.

Thanks for reading! <3

#narusaku #azurelyy writes #canon kiss collab #notsocanonkiss #naruto fanfiction #first kiss fic #sakura haruno #naruto uzumaki

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