At first, their friendship might be a bit rocky. Sasuke is often aloof and focused on his own goals. But as time passes, Sakura's unwavering support starts to break through Sasuke's walls. For example, when Sasuke is going through a tough time after a battle, Sakura is there to heal his wounds and offer emotional support. This makes Sasuke start to see her as a true friend, and their friendship gradually becomes more equal and trusting.
Their friendship develops as they face challenges together. When Sasuke leaves the village, Naruto and Sakura are both deeply affected. This event makes them realize how important Sasuke is to them. They then work towards bringing him back. During this process, they grow closer as they share their feelings about Sasuke. And when Sasuke finally returns, they have a new level of understanding and their friendship is stronger than ever, having endured such a big test.
In the beginning, their friendship is based on their shared experiences as Jinchuriki. But as time goes on, they discover more about each other's personalities. They start to care for each other not just because of their similar situations, but because they truly like each other as friends. They might exchange gifts or visit each other's villages more often, which shows the growth of their friendship.
One possible fanfiction could be about their training days. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are constantly pushed to their limits. Naruto's determination to be as strong as Sasuke and Sasuke's own drive for power, along with Sakura's growing medical skills and combat abilities. They start as rivals in a sense, but as they face more and more challenges together, they realize their friendship is what makes them stronger. For example, when they have to fight a powerful enemy that requires all their combined skills. Naruto uses his shadow clones for distraction, Sasuke his lightning jutsu for offense, and Sakura heals them when they get injured. Their bond deepens through shared experiences like these.
The relationship often becomes more strained. Sasuke's punishment can make Sakura feel resentful at first. But over time, it can also lead to her becoming more independent as she tries to prove herself to him.
Their relationship could become stronger. With a son, they have a new bond that ties them together even more. They might communicate more often and share their parenting experiences. They could also rely on each other more in terms of protecting their family.
Often, it develops through shared hardships. For example, they might be captured by a powerful enemy and have to escape together. During this time, they learn to trust each other more deeply.
Well, a fanfiction could start with a flashback of their early days at the ninja academy. Naruto was the outcast, Sasuke the prodigy, and Sakura the girl with a crush on Sasuke. But as they were grouped together for a team assignment, they slowly started to understand each other. Their friendship could be shown through how they cover for each other's mistakes. For instance, when Naruto accidentally blows up part of the training ground, Sasuke and Sakura help him clean up before Iruka - sensei finds out.
The relationship might become more equal. Since Sakura is stronger, Sasuke can't look down on her as he might have in the original story. They could become more like true partners, respecting each other's abilities.
In many such fanfictions, Sakura might start by focusing on her own self - growth. She could throw herself into her medical ninjutsu training, realizing that her life doesn't have to revolve around Sasuke. For example, she might start taking on more challenging medical cases in the village, which not only helps her grow as a healer but also gives her a new sense of purpose. This could lead to her making new friends and connections within the medical community, slowly distancing herself from her old obsession with Sasuke.
For their friends, it can be a huge shock. Naruto, for example, who has always been in the middle, trying to keep their relationship strong, might feel a sense of failure. Their other friends from the ninja teams might be divided in loyalty, some siding with Sasuke, some with Sakura. In the village, it could cause a scandal. The villagers might gossip and it could also affect the image of the Uchiha clan again, as Sasuke is part of it.