The days following that conversation were a blur for Naruto. The weight of his indecision seemed to press harder with each passing moment. He had never felt so uncertain, so lost, in his entire life. The pressure to make a choice was overwhelming, but the deeper he delved into his thoughts, the more difficult the decision seemed to become.
Hinata and Sakura had given him their space, not forcing him to confront the inevitable right away, but each passing day felt like an eternity. He had been spending most of his time alone, replaying every interaction with both of them, trying to decipher his own heart.
Hinata's words echoed in his mind: "Just be honest with yourself." And Sakura's: "You can't keep dragging us along." Each one was a challenge, urging him to take control of his future. He couldn't keep running from it. He had to decide who he wanted to be with, not just for them, but for himself as well.
Naruto had always been a man of action, quick to charge into battle without thinking twice. But this was different. This wasn't something he could fight his way out of. There was no enemy to defeat, no strategy to outwit. It was just him, standing at the crossroads of his life, with no clear path forward.
He sat by the window, watching the sky fade from blue to orange as the sun began to set. The city below him was bustling with life, but in his apartment, there was only silence—thick, suffocating silence.
The doorbell rang, breaking his reverie. Naruto felt his heart skip a beat. He wasn't sure what to expect this time. He had been expecting them to show up again—Sakura, Hinata, maybe even Suzuka—but he wasn't prepared for what came next.
He opened the door to find Hinata standing there, her eyes gentle but filled with an unspoken question. She didn't say anything at first; instead, she simply stepped inside, her presence warm and familiar. It was almost as if she had known, deep down, that this moment would come.
Naruto didn't know what to say, so he remained silent, allowing her to take the lead. The air between them felt charged, filled with a mix of tension and anticipation.
Hinata's soft voice broke the silence. "Naruto, I need to know. Are you going to choose? Or are you going to keep running from it?"
Naruto took a deep breath, looking down at his hands. He didn't have an answer. The truth was, he had no idea how to make a choice that would satisfy everyone, including himself. But the more he thought about it, the clearer it became that he couldn't continue like this. He couldn't keep dragging this out.
He looked up at her, and for the first time in what felt like forever, his heart felt a little lighter. Hinata had always been there for him, offering her quiet support, her unwavering belief in him. But what about his own beliefs? What did he believe in?
"I'm sorry, Hinata," he said quietly, his voice filled with regret. "I don't have all the answers. But I know I can't keep you waiting. I owe it to you to be honest."
Hinata nodded, her eyes soft with understanding. "I know you're struggling, Naruto. But you can't keep making this about everyone else. You have to choose what makes you happy. Not just what's easiest."
Her words hit him harder than he expected. He had been so consumed by the fear of making the wrong choice that he had forgotten the most important thing—what would make him happy.
"Do you... do you think I could be happy with you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hinata's gaze softened, and she stepped closer to him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "I think you could be happy with anyone, Naruto. But I want to be the one who makes you happy. I want to be the one who's there for you, through everything."
Her words were simple, yet they carried a depth of emotion that Naruto couldn't ignore. Hinata had always been selfless, always willing to put others before herself. But now, she was asking for something in return—something he wasn't sure he could give.
The silence between them grew heavy again, but it was different this time. It wasn't just silence. It was a moment of realization, a moment where Naruto understood something deep within himself. He had always been afraid of making decisions, of facing the consequences of his choices. But this was his life, his future, and it was time to stop running.
"I don't want to hurt you, Hinata," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
"I know," she replied softly. "But you won't hurt me by being honest. You'll only hurt us both by not choosing at all."
Naruto nodded, his chest tightening. He had to choose. He couldn't keep putting it off any longer.
Just as he was about to speak, the doorbell rang again, interrupting the moment. This time, Naruto knew who it was. It was Sakura.
Hinata stepped back, giving him space. "You should talk to her, Naruto. You have to do what's right for you."
Naruto looked at her, his heart heavy with the weight of what he was about to do. "I'll be honest with you, Hinata. I just don't know if I'm ready yet."
Hinata's eyes were filled with understanding, but there was also a sadness there. "I'll wait for you, Naruto. But you have to make a choice soon."
With that, she turned and walked to the door, leaving Naruto standing alone, once again with his thoughts.
Sakura entered the room, her presence commanding yet gentle. She was quiet for a moment, her eyes searching Naruto's face. "Hinata's right, you know," she said softly.
Naruto nodded. "I know. But it's not that easy."
Sakura crossed the room and stood beside him, her hand resting on his shoulder. "Nothing worth having ever is," she replied, her voice steady. "But you can't keep pretending you don't know what you want. You can't keep pretending that you don't feel something for one of us."
Naruto turned to look at her, his emotions swirling. "I don't know what I feel anymore, Sakura. I just don't know."
Sakura sighed, her gaze softening. "You don't have to know everything. You just need to stop running. Stop hiding from your own heart."
Naruto's heart ached as he looked at her. Sakura had always been strong, always been the one to push him to be better. But in this moment, she was giving him space, letting him breathe, letting him find his own way. It was a side of her he hadn't fully understood until now.
"I can't keep doing this," Naruto said quietly. "I can't keep living in this limbo."
Sakura's hand remained on his shoulder, her touch steadying him. "Then choose, Naruto. Choose who you want to be with, and be honest about it."
The room was silent for a long time. Naruto's heart beat loudly in his chest as he realized the truth: he couldn't keep pretending. The time had come.