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The war was over, their losses counted and the death buried. And you’d think that the difficulties stopped there, they had won. The Bijuu - except for Kurama and Gyuuki - were free to roam once more. Seen as they were finally seen as the equals to the humans that they were always supposed to be.
The villages were finally at peace, even if it had taken some time for the Daimyo to agree to the change in their ways, there was not a lot that could be done about that. There were enough reasons to call on Shinobi to do their bidding. It just wouldn’t be possible to use their hidden village in a way that pitted them against each other.
“You do know he’ll be back, right?”
Naruto startled as he looked at his pink haired teammate, a light blush appearing on his face, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Sakura giggled, “Sasuke, you’re wondering if Sasuke will be back in the village in time for Valentine’s day. I know for sure he’ll be back, ever since the war he has never been away for long, he always comes back for you.”
“He could be coming back for you just as well as he’s coming back for me, dattebayo.”
Sakura shook her head, “Sure, Naruto, because I’ve been the person who has been chasing him ever since he left. Not only that, but after finding you in the Valley of the End with both young hands burned almost to a crisp, he’s gotten softer, more relaxed.
Trust me when I tell you, he comes back to see you. Not for any of us.”
Naruto looked at her as if he didn’t believe her. And had she not known the blond since they were teens she might have dismissed this all. But she knew, better than anyone else - except maybe Kakashi-sensei - just how dense Naruto could be about certain things. His feelings for Sasuke were not a part of that anymore, as it became painfully obvious that the blond had a crush the size of the moon on the Uchiha. But it was seeing that Sasuke very much felt the same way.
“Oh Naru, he really does feel the same way”, she sighed, her eyes soft as she took in Naruto’s almost defeated demeanor.
“Who would he? He is the last Uchiha, and even before had a whole group of girls vying for his attention. At least he had known his clan, it’s logical that he would like to revive it - he can’t do that with me.”
Biting her lip to not say something tactless, she just gave her teammate a soft smile.
“It will work out, Naruto, don’t worry about it!”
Naruto sighed, even if the smile didn’t reach his eyes - it almost never did when they talked about this - for all that he had accomplished in these years, he had never seen that people did like him. He hadn’t noticed with Hinata until they had pointed it out to him and he let the girl down gently. Just as much as he didn’t notice with Sasuke, believing it to be the other way around, where Sasuke isn’t interested in him. Not like that, at least.
—
Sakura was waiting by the gates for Sasuke to make his way back into Konoha. Given that he wanted to go on a self-repentance journey after the war he did check in with them often either by letter, or by sending a snake or a hawk summon. But mostly he did come by in person, always gravitating towards Naruto much to the others’ secret joy.
“Sasuke-kun.”
The Uchiha turned towards her the moment he stepped through the gates, “Sakura, I honestly wasn’t suspecting you to be waiting for me.”
Sakura snorted, “No, you were expecting Naruto.”
While he didn’t blush, Sakura knew him well enough to know that he was indeed blushing - just not showing it outwards - for priding himself for being closed off for so long, it wasn’t hard to read Sasuke once you figured him out.
“You’re not that subtle as you try to be, Sasuke, except for Naruto because he still doesn’t think you like him back. He seems to think that you come back to Konoha so much to see someone else, someone who can help you revive the Uchiha chan.”
He blinked a few times, before Sasuke started smiling softly. The same smile he always sported when they talked about Naruto. Or when the blond stood next to him, all in all, it was the smile reserved for Naruto, and for Naruto alone.
“You should tell him, you know, how you feel. Seeing as I don’t think that he’ll confess first; not with that same mindset he still sports.”
Sasuke nodded, a ‘hn’ leaving his lips that Sakura took as a yes. She was glad this was resolved, Naruto especially deserved this joy in his life. For all that she had a crush on Sasuke before, she was well aware that they weren’t compatible. It wasn’t like she needed him anymore, she had entered into a quite loving relationship with Lee, something she never knew she would need in her life.
Watching him leave in the direction of Naruto’s apartment, she smiled as her watch turned to midnight. Perfect, Sasuke was back for Valentine’s Day, her work here was done. She could go back to her own apartment, and her own boyfriend to enjoy the day.
She was sure that Sasuke would do the right thing, after everything that had happened she knew that despite the mistrust some people held towards Sasuke. He could be trusted, totally, with Naruto’s heart.
—
Naruto was going over some books Kakashi-sensei had given him. It hadn’t been said in that many words, but he knew that he was being trained as the successor for the position of Hokage. Kakashi was only holding on to the position in honor of Obito, and to make sure that Naruto had a couple of years as jounin under his belt before he could take over.
Feeling someone outside of his door, he was well aware that it was someone friendly. Kurama hadn’t warned him about someone standing there, like he used to do when the kitsune wasn’t sure who it was. Given that it was late at night, there was only one person who it could be.
Grinning as he opened the door, he was met with the sight of Sasuke standing there.
“Back already?”
Sasuke grinned right back, “Couldn’t go too long without missing you.”
Naruto blinked, that was something new. Normally the Uchiha just came in and crashed in the bedroom. Given that his previous apartment had been destroyed by Nagato in the Pein attack, he now had a new one - which was a lot bigger than his former one was - with more than enough room in his bedroom to put down another futon when Sasuke stayed over.
The Uchiha took a step closer, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Naruto blinked again, “Happy Valentine’s Day?”
Sasuke nodded, taking a step closer, hovering close to Naruto with his eyes very obviously directed onto the blond’s lips, “Will you be mine?”
Without thinking Naruto surged forward to take Sasuke by the lapels of his cloak and pull him in closer. Their lips connected in a way the both of them had hoped would happen a long time ago, but given what had happened; they were more than happy that it happened now.
Pulling back slightly, Naruto had a soft smile on his face, “You never said anything.”
Sasuke shrugged, “Thought it would be obvious, needed Sakura to point out you are quite oblivious to things like this. This seemed a fitting way, know you don’t mind.”
Naruto shook his head, “Need to get her a case of the good sake for this, then. For making sense of all of this for us, once more. Come on, it’s getting late.”
Sasuke gave a sharp grin, “I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere tomorrow; but alright let’s go to ‘bed’.”
Naruto blushed, but pulled Sasuke with him to his bedroom. This had all been a long time coming, he was sure the others would understand if they didn’t see a whole lot of him in the morning. Sakura would make sure the others knew who had arrived last night, and knowing them they would all be happy for the two of them.