NaruSasu Yaoi

The Man Who Couldn’t Say ‘I Love You’

“WHAT?!”

20-year-old Naruto can’t believe what he’s hearing. His sky-blue eyes are wide and his heart is pounding (and not just because he almost died choking on his tea). 21-year-old Sasuke coolly blows on then takes a sip of his tea while he waits for the blond young man to calm down. The two are currently in the Hokage mansion, where they usually meet to spend the little free time they now have together.

“I love you, Lord Hokage,” the raven-haired Jonin repeats after finishing his beverage. Naruto shakes his head in disbelief when Sasuke stands up with his cup.

“Are you messing with me again? ‘Cuz it’s not funny!”

“Usuratonkachi!” Sasuke snaps after putting the cup in a sink and sitting back down. His dark, serious eyes stare deep into Naruto’s, making the blond flinch.

“Does it look like I’m messing around?” the raven-haired boy asks, a little heartbroken that Naruto said that.

“Well…N-No…But why me? You have girls who swoon over you every day. A-And besides, I’m getting married soon,” Naruto looks down, trembling slightly from the shocking confession.

“Please don’t remind me…” Sasuke begs, “When I knew that Sakura was taking you away from me, I was hurt.”

The blond isn’t sure what to say. He leans back in his chair, trying to take in what he just heard. His pink-haired Jonin fiancée is currently on her way home from accomplishing a mission, leaving him and Sasuke alone for now.

“S-So…How long have you…felt this way…?” Naruto stammers.

“A long time, and I refuse to lose you, Lord Hokage. Please, reconsider the wedding…”

“I…I can’t. Sakura would murder me if I did that…”

“…Do you even love her?”

“…”

“NARUTO!! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE NOW!!!”

The voice of an cranky 21-year-old Sakura rings in Naruto’s ears, making the young man sigh heavily.

“Sakura’s home…” Naruto chuckles weakly, standing up, “…Maybe you should go. I’ll…see you later…”

After Naruto leaves the kitchen, Sasuke slumps in his chair, deep in thought and feeling worse than before.

~What should I do…? That idiot’s too afraid of Sakura to say anything…~ thinks the raven-haired Jonin before he stands.

Later…

Sakura’s assigned another mission by Naruto, but this time, she’s going to be gone for a few weeks. The Hokage and Sasuke are spending more time together in the mansion. It’s dark out, and they are sitting at the same table as before. Naruto’s eating some ramen, and Sasuke’s eating a dish made from tomatoes, his favorite food. It’s quiet until the Jonin breaks the silence.

“Naruto…what I said the other day…I really was serious.”

“…I know.”

“Are you happy with your fiancée?”

Naruto’s eyes widen, but he quickly hides it and looks away.

“Sure I am…” the blond whispers. Sasuke reaches across the table and makes his friend face him. The warmth of the Jonin’s hand on his cheek makes Naruto blush slightly.

“Look at me when you answer the question. Are you happy?” Sasuke asks slowly.

“I…”

The young man pauses, and Sasuke eventually gives up. The raven-haired man stands with his empty plate and walks towards the sink.

“Sasuke…What made you fall in love with me?”

Sasuke freezes and stares down at his plate, looking at his reflection. He’s smiling a little, thinking back to his and Naruto’s childhood.

“I dunno…You were different…” the man turns his head to grin warmly at his friend, “I pretty much liked you since the day we met.”

“Really…? I thought you hated me…You were just hiding your feelings, huh?”

“Yup.”

After rinsing his dishes in the sink, Sasuke walks towards Naruto and takes his bowl after he realized he finished.

“Well, I’m glad that you’re finally able to open up to me, Sasuke. You were always…to yourself, but you’re brave enough to even confess how you feel. I appreciate that,” Naruto says, flattered. Sasuke, blushing, takes the bowl to the sink while being watched from behind by a certain blond.

“I wish I had the courage to do the same when we were younger…”

The last comment shocks the raven-haired Jonin, making him drop the bowl right before he reaches the sink; the dish breaks into several pieces. Naruto rushes to the surprised Sasuke while he bends down and attempts to pick up the pieces.

“Sasuke, careful!” Naruto warns before the Jonin cuts his hand. The blond sighs, kneels in front of Sasuke, and takes out a bandage from Sasuke’s weapons pouch.

“Sorry, Lord Hokage…I’ll get another one for you.”

“Idiot! I don’t care about the bowl…Jeez, what kind of Jonin are you?” the blond mumbles while wrapping a bandage around Sasuke’s palm.

“…You…loved me…?” the Jonin whispers, making Naruto pause for a second.

“…Maybe…”

“What happened? Why did you stop?”

“Because it’s wrong…” Naruto answers plainly, tightening the bandage on Sasuke’s hand, “When I found out that I liked another boy, I freaked out. So…I found a pretty girl and decided to marry her someday in hopes of…forgetting.”

“…Did it work?”

Naruto doesn’t answer. He stares at Sasuke, his heart pounding and his hands shaking. He, without thinking, puts his hand on the Jonin’s cheek and gives him a peck on the lips. Sasuke turns bright pink and looks away.

“No…” Naruto says before kissing Sasuke again. After finding an opening, he pushes his tongue in the Jonin’s mouth, making him weak. When the two pull away, Naruto lifts the other man and holds him bridal style, surprising him.

“Lord Hokage, what’s gotten into you…?” Sasuke wonders, blushing heavily.

“You honestly think that I would sleep with Sakura?” Naruto points out, then whispers in Sasuke’s ear, “I’m horny…”

***

For about fourteen days, Sakura’s going to be in another village, and during those fourteen days, Sasuke’s going to live with Naruto in the mansion. They’re so much in love, but there’s something that the raven-haired Jonin finds annoying about Naruto.

“You know…” Sasuke says while the two are taking a stroll together in the Hidden Leaf Village, “Ever since…that night…you’ve never said that you loved me…”

“…But you know I do…”

“I want you to say it, though…”

“…um…Sasuke, I’ve never even said that to Sakura. Besides, you’re my childhood crush. I can’t say those words unless I really, truly mean it. We may not feel this way about each other someday…”

“…”

Not only this, but it seems that one day when they went on a date, Naruto rushed to a jewelry store to buy something for Sakura, leaving Sasuke outside. Sasuke wonders everyday if the blonde’s even worth the trouble.

Time passes…

It’s the night before the wedding. Naruto and Sasuke, much to their chagrin, are pretending that nothing’s going on between them. The soon-to-be married couple is having a party in the Hokage mansion before the big day, inviting everyone in the village. Every room except Naruto’s office is filled with ecstatic villagers and total chaos. Naruto and Sakura are in separate rooms. Sasuke reluctantly joins the event, but runs into Sakura instead of Naruto. Sakura and Sasuke are in the office, taking some time away from the party.

“…Sasuke…believe me, I’m really sorry. I had no idea…” Sakura states sadly after Sasuke tells her the truth.

…Well, more like the partial truth. He only said that he had feelings for the Hokage, not the other way around.

“It’s fine, I guess…but…could you please cancel the wedding? I’m begging you as a friend…”

After a few seconds, the pink-haired Jonin sighs heavily and smiles weakly.

“Look…I can’t, alright? Naruto proposed to me, and  people from all over are expecting the Hokage to get married tomorrow…You know how weddings work, right? During the ceremony, everyone’s asked whether or not they feel the bride and groom should be together. You should speak up…Just a suggestion.”

“…”

***

The day finally comes…

Naruto, wearing his Hokage hat and cloak, waits as Sakura’s father takes the blonde’s white wedding dress-wearing bride to him. Many people from the Leaf and several other villages are in the audience, and Sasuke is the Hokage’s best man. Everyone watches in awe when Sakura stands next to Naruto. They mumble comments such as ‘They make such a good couple’ and ‘She sure is lucky’ that make Sasuke want to barf.

Hours later…

Kakashi, who’s playing rabbi, finally shows up in a puff of smoke behind the bride and groom, reading his ‘Make-Out Violence’ book.

“YOU’RE LATE!!!” the entire audience, bride’s maids, best men, Naruto, and Sakura shout, making the silver-haired teacher flinch.

“…Sorry, I was helping an old woman with her groceries…”

Sakura gives Kakashi a death glare, and Naruto covers his face with his hands, sighing.

“…Anyway…ahem…We are gathered here today to…shockingly…join Lord Hokage and this Jonin…” Kakashi begins, still reading his book.

During the ceremony, the raven-haired young man keeps his head down and his mouth shut. Naruto feels more and more nervous as each minute passes, but not because of the wedding…

“If anyone feels that these two should not get married, speak now or keep quiet.”

“Come on, Sasuke…” Sakura says under her breath. Sasuke grimaces, but still doesn’t utter a word. He feels that he’ll only make things complicated for Naruto if he stops the wedding. When a few seconds pass, Kakashi, a little surprised, continues.

“Alrighty…Sakura Haruno, do you take Naruto Uzumaki as your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I…I-I do…” Sakura stutters, afraid that people would ask questions if she said no.

“And Naruto Uzumaki, do you take Sakura Haruno as your lawfully wedded wife?”

“...I…”

The audience leans in, eager to hear their leader’s answer.

“…I can’t.”

Everyone gasps, and Sasuke smiles but quickly hides it. The Hokage takes the other man’s right hand and puts something on his finger. The raven-haired Jonin stares at his hand, stunned to see a golden ring. The audience whispers to each other and Sakura stares blankly at the couple as the blond embraces Sasuke tightly. She thought that Naruto wouldn’t be brave enough to do such a thing.

~I guess that’s love…~ thinks the pink-haired woman.

“…N…Naru…to…” Sasuke whispers, hugging back.

“Sasuke…You’re the one I want to marry…I need you…I…”

Sasuke tries to fight back his tears as he tightens his grip on his future husband.

“Please…Please, say it…” the Jonin begs.

“…I love you,” Naruto states for the first time.


The end