Ch 134

The night is silent, almost eerie as I wait by the window, the pale moonlight casting faint shadows across the room. 

The silence stretches, almost suffocating, but I can't bring myself to break it. My mind is a labyrinth of thoughts, tangled, sharp, and gnawing at me relentlessly. 

Naruto... 

I haven't seen him in so long, and yet, here I am, waiting. My fingers gently brush the edge of the windowsill, as if the cool wood might offer some comfort, but it doesn't. 

Nothing does. 

Not anymore. 

The last time I saw Naruto, he was full of life, laughing as he always did, brimming with that unshakeable optimism that was so... Naruto. 

It feels like another lifetime. I've changed. He's changed. Everything between us has changed. 

I can feel it in my chest, an emptiness that I try to ignore. I shouldn't feel this way. I should feel nothing. But I do. 

There are many emotions I can't ignore. Many of which I want to leave, but it doesn't work that way. 

The soft sound of footsteps breaks through my thoughts, they are on the roof. I see them jump down in front of my window, right on the balcony which I left open. I don't need to turn around to know who it is. 

"Sakura, Sai," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. 

"Don't turn around," Sakura's voice is sharp, filled with that anger she tries so hard to mask. 

I don't need to see her face to know it's there. Her bitterness is obvious, as well as her resentment. 

I remain facing the window, my fingers tightening around the wood, my knuckles white. "What are you doing here?" 

Sai's voice cuts in, calm, almost too calm. "Naruto wants to see you." 

The words hang in the air, and my heart skips a beat. The feeling in my chest is crushing, and for a brief second, I wonder if I'm ready for this. Ready for him. 

"I'm not sure if I'm the one he should be seeing," I said, barely able to keep my voice steady. 

Sakura scoffed behind me. "You think you're the only one who's hurt? Do you know what you did to him?" 

She steps closer, her voice rising with every word, raw and full of pain. "Why would you leave him? He cared about you so much, he-" 

I raised a hand, stopping her. I don't need to hear it. I already know. 

"I know." 

Sakura's silence is louder than her words. I can feel the anger, the hurt radiating off her like a storm threatening to break. But I've already weathered the storm. I've already faced it, and come out the other side with nothing but a hollow ache that never fades. 

"Why did you leave him?" Sai asked, his voice curious. I close my eyes, feeling the familiar sting of regret. 

"Because I wasn't strong enough," I whispered, though I know it won't make sense to them. How could it? To them, I'm just a coward and traitor who turned her back on someone who needed her. 

And maybe, in a way, I am. 

"Strong enough?" Sakura's voice is incredulous. "Are you serious? He loved you, and you just threw that away. Do you even realize how much it hurt him?" 

"I know," I said again, my voice strained, my throat tightening. "I know how much I hurt him. That's why I left." 

I feel disappointed in myself. I don't need to explain anything to them, only him. "I don't deserve to see him again," I admit quietly, my voice threatening to tremble. 

"I don't deserve anything. Not after... after everything I put him through." 

Sakura's sharp inhale is almost imperceptible, but I feel it. She doesn't say anything, but I know she's thinking it. She's thinking that I'm selfish. That I shouldn't have left. 

And she's right. But I don't need to hear this, these are just two kids that care for another, so they have my respect. 

"It's not just about you," Sakura finally said, her voice calm now, but still laced with that bitterness. "It's about him. He's been... he's been destroyed by what you did. And we can't just let you walk away from that."

I swallow hard, a lump forming in my throat. "I know. I never meant to hurt him. But... I don't know how to fix it. I still don't." 

Sakura's footsteps come closer, and I feel her presence behind me, just a breath away. "You think you can fix it? After everything? After how much you hurt him?" 

I don't answer. Because I don't know if I can. I don't know if I deserve the chance to fix it. 

"But he wants to see you," Sai interrupted, his voice flat, emotionless. "He's been waiting. He's been asking for you." 

I turned slowly, facing them now, my heart hammering in my chest. They've come to deliver a message, and I can tell they won't leave until they have. 

"He's listening," Sakura said, her voice low, almost a warning. "We'll leave you alone with him. But know this—if you hurt him again..." 

He's here!

My breath was caught in my throat. My heart is racing, every beat a painful reminder of everything I've lost, everything I've broken. 

And yet, I nod. 

Because I don't know what else to do. I glanced once more at the window, the moonlight casting a soft glow on the floor. 

For a moment, I think I see his face in the reflection—a boy who was once my everything. But it's gone, just as quickly as it appeared. 

Sakura and Sai step back, moving toward the door. I can hear the faint sound of their footsteps retreating, but my mind is already elsewhere. 

I take one last breath, steadying myself. I don't know if I can fix what's been broken, but I have to try. 

For him. 

And for me. 

As the door closed behind them, I stepped forward, heart pounding, and prepared to face the boy who's waited for me.

"Naruto..."

A/n Next Chapter will be EPIC!!! Also, thank you guys so much for 500,000 views. I can't even believe I made it this far, it's all because of you. I am so so happy and will continue to give you many great chapters in the future. To all those who are having a bad time, I hope you will get through it and good karma will come. Enjoy~