Chapter 285: I miss you...

*

Tired Sakura came home from work shortly before Naruto's visit. The first thing she looked in the fridge, but...

"God, as always…" She sighed heavily, finding no food there.

The usual situation. Gotta cook...

What an exhausting job! No time for family...

Anything would be fine, but...

— Uh-eh... Well, what kind of mother am I?

Sad to admit, she was hoping to find something Sarada had prepared there. In recent years, due to work, Sakura did not often linger in the kitchen, and even if she cooked, it did not turn out well for her. The skills of the daughter, who often supported her mother after a hard day, became a great joy and support.

It was only with the beginning of the academy that Sarada had her own worries. What parent would expect their own child to take care of him, and even at such and such an age? Sakura understood all this, but...

"Today is her graduation… Oh! - she suddenly remembered this important detail and became agitated, rushing around the kitchen. Graduation is very important - as a mother, she should at least cook something and congratulate Sarada on her success! Sakura had no doubts about the diligent daughter's skills, she would surely pass all the exams!

"She will be the best!" - with a proud smile, the kunoichi began to wash the vegetables, when suddenly a pleasant melodic sound spread throughout the house.

- HM?

Someone rang the doorbell.

— Sarada? Sakura frowned, quickly dismissing the possibility. Why would she call her own house?

"Maybe Shizune...?" Wiping her hands with a towel, the girl raised her voice:

- I'm coming! Now...

She did not expect guests and, sadly, she did not even have a thought about Him. For so many years, it turned into such an unrealizable dream that nothing even trembled in my chest, albeit on such a pleasant evening.

It's just not possible...

As soon as Sakura stepped out into the hallway, she stopped abruptly, frowning.

"Who is it?" She clearly saw the high shadow of a silhouette outside. Definitely not a woman...

Anyway...

Sakura went to the door and parted the shoji with a light movement.

- BUT?! Her reaction seemed exaggerated. She screamed in shock, unable to control her voice:

"Naruto?!"

However, she was understandable, after all, after everything that had happened between the two of them in the last weeks, such a sudden meeting...

What does all of this mean?

Sakura was shaking...

"Hi," Naruto greeted peacefully, bowing slightly. It was not at all like that heartless and arrogant leader from the time of the council. He seemed to be holding back all his strength and acting like he used to. That might have made Sakura calm down and hope for the best, but she still remembered every word he said! There was nothing more offensive! Anyone could insult her - anyone but him...! Any of his words, no matter what happens there, for Sakura was no less important than the words of her parents, and it is likely that even more important! He broke her heart, but she could not answer ... How can you not be angry ?! Therefore, it is not surprising that her tone immediately turned cold.

- What are you doing here?!

His peaceful behavior looked like a mockery!

Naruto was not at all surprised by her anger, regret and pain flashed in her eyes, and most importantly, huge resentment.

But, this time...

"Sakura, I'm not here to fight.

"Then why…" the mere sight of him evoked a sharp sense of pain. Her heart seemed to be pierced... She couldn't understand why this fool had become like this! And why exactly because of him it was so bad ... Even giving all the best at work all the time, nothing left - she could not forget any of his terrible words. When he called everyone to the council, she could say that she did not want to go, but in fact ... She wanted to see him, but even there he spat in her soul!

She just wanted to break it on the spot! He also dared to act so kindly, as if nothing had happened!

Just how shameless a bastard could he be?!

Before, Sakura would have acted like this, without thinking, she would have flared up and ... But, now, overwhelmed with regrets and sadness, although she hated him, she hated herself most of all ... Perhaps, to some extent, she felt what deserved it? Or maybe she still genuinely wanted to make peace with him, even after everything that had happened...

There was no doubt, Naruto really went too far, but suddenly, she closed her eyes to this, stepped aside and proudly lifted her chin. Suppressing the tremor in her voice, Sakura allowed him to enter.

- Okay. But... I only warn you once, if you again...

"Don't worry," he waved his hand, took a confident step and stopped in front of the kunoichi.

- Listen...

- Mm?

Naruto smiled softly.

"I miss you, Sakura...

As soon as her gaze shone with disbelief, he averted his eyes with a grin and walked on, clearly ignoring this moment:

"You know, I was in Sarada's exam, she did great.

Sakura was still looking at him in disbelief...

"Lacks? Me?" Her lips trembled, and then, she sharply clenched her fists and slammed the door with force!

"Naruto Uzumaki, you idiot!"

Before, she would have denied it, after all, they saw each other so rarely, but now when he said something like that, it caused an uncontrollable thrill, brought such a wave of tenderness that it just... Made her explode!

But it's warm...

As soon as he turned around and showed the same coldness in his eyes, Sakura abruptly stepped back and looked away, literally feeling in her heart how the whole fuse went out as quickly as a candle would go out in an ice storm ...

"S-sorry… I didn't mean to… I don't think so at all!" Naruto, believe me, I would never…" she began to justify herself excitedly:

"P-please don't think I'm like this…"

"Hey, Sakura…" he suddenly smiled and a voice like a spring breeze made her relax and rejoice:

"It's all right, I told you, no fights today.

"R-really?" she asked, unexpectedly even to herself, with a kind of hidden hope. With all her heart, now, she really didn't want to fight. If possible, she wanted everything to work out, even despite all the grievances, for some reason, the loss of this friendship and his anger, all these strange changes - caused her a terrible dreary pain, from which she gradually sank into depression.

Naruto waved his hand to let Sakura know everything was fine and then walked into the kitchen.

He seemed to be worried about something ... Was he really embarrassed?

She did not understand at all what he was thinking, but her gaze and thoughts could not give the right answer ...