Haruno Sakura: Hands

Jenga Piece.10

'What-? What is she doing here!?'

Hinata had been on her way to Naruto's apartment, to apologize and make up with him. She wanted to sit down with him, go over her concerns, and have dinner together to have some normalcy. One where Sakura was absent, but no; she was back.

She didn't per se hate Sakura, but rather her effect on their relationship. 

When they were growing up, Sakura was a sensitive and timid kid, much like herself. It made the white-eyed girl feel less alone and the possibility of forming a friendship seemed highly likely in their youth.

Unfourtetaly, that reality was immediately shattered when the Yamanaka heiress adopted the pinkette. The once bullied and crying girl that hid behind a heavy fringe became the sole object of adoration for the blonde girl, and she became confident.

Confident enough to approach Uzumaki Naruto.

In the beginning, Hinata tried not to be envious; the boy needed a positive aspect in his life, and if the girl brought that to him, then there was no issue.

She was actually a bit thankful because it also encouraged Naruto to be vulnerable towards others and put aside his paranoia to form friendships.

So for years, she left him alone and watched them grow, waiting to build her own confidence to become part of his life and it gradually occurred; from offering him healing ointment, training together, and surviving against all odds in battle, they became close. Then, her dreams became a reality when they became a couple at the tender age of fifteen.

She'll admit to losing herself in the romance and gentle words of her blue-eyed hero, but who could blame her?

Probably Sakura.

It wasn't until a year in the relationship that she realized how much she was involved. She was always by Naruto's side, and although Hinata knew Sakura was often dragged there because of him, she couldn't help but feel insecure.

She had recurring dreams of seeing Naruto hold Sakura in his warm arms as he gently kissed the seal on her forehead. She learned the gesture was a platonic thing from their childhood, but it quickly turned less innocent as he traveled to her neck and began biting and kissing, leaving red marks on her pale skin. Hinata, unable to move in her dreams, was forced to watch their betrayal as they went on to explore each other's bodies.

All while Sakura looked down at the white-eyed girl, her long pink eyelashes almost hiding her sickly malachite eyes with a thin mocking smile.

Yet, despite Naruto's constant displays of adoration, including their intimate time; Hinata couldn't put it behind her.

Trying to be understanding didn't work, looking at reality didn't work, knowing that Sakura would never do anything to harm anybody else didn't work.

'Sakura-san is just a friend.'

'Sakura-san is just a friend.'

'Sakura-san is just a friend.'

So after looking at all perspectives and Sakura's reputation record, she came up with the first step to uncovering the strange dynamic of their relationship.

'Stop looking at reality, stop viewing everything as a worried girlfriend, and act like the ninja you worked so hard to become.'

The first thing she had to recognize was Naruto's strange hold on Sakura. His behavior around her and the way he tried to separate her from the world.

It made Hinata be a bit sympathetic, knowing what it was like to be isolated from everyone.

But it didn't stop her from wishing she was gone.