Death Goddess

Choices

There was something darkly amusing, Naruto decided. Maybe the world was playing a cosmetic joke on him? Most of his life had after all been a series of hurt after hurt. From being constantly rejected by the village, to finding out his own parents had condemned him to a life filled with pain, and finally to his own brother in all but blood marrying the girl Naruto was in love with.

"N-Naruto-kun?"

Naruto glanced at his date for the wedding, absently noting he would have to break up with the Hyuga soon before she started to think he was developing feelings for her. It would be cruel of him to do that.

Yes, she loved him.

But guess what? Sometimes loving someone wasn't enough. Otherwise he'd be the one marrying Sakura instead.

Besides, no one really had the right to call him an asshole for not loving Hinata the way she wanted him to. Sure, Hinata had been in love with him since forever. But, so what?

The girl had never once approached him during their academy years. She had never even spoken to him until they became shinobi. And maybe, if Hinata had actually been there for him when he was in the academy, when he desperately craved any form of affection, then maybe he would have fallen for her. But she didn't. She watched him from afar and while it was flattering, it didn't really mean much to Naruto.

"A-are you okay?" Hinata asked in concern.

"No, not really," Naruto honestly answered.

Before Hinata could say anything else, everyone quietened down.

Naruto knew it would hurt him to attend the wedding, despite how he had passed the duty as the best man on to Kakashi. In fact, if it wasn't for Sasuke and Sakura tag teaming him and basically threatening him to attend, he'd be at his apartment drinking away his sorrows.

(Ero-sennin would be so disappointed in him.)

"Sakura...chan..?" Naruto uttered out, eyes wide as he stared at Sakura while she walked down the aisle.

She looked so damn beautiful that it physically hurt him.

Because the smile of pure joy on her face wasn't directed at him.

It broke his heart all over again.

It wasn't fair that Sakura could make him feel like he wasn't enough. It wasn't fair that he was the one by Sakura's side, yet she still chose Sasuke. A cynical part of Naruto wondered if it would have been better for him to accept Sakura's fake love confession, at least then he'd have her.

"I FUCKING OBJECT!" An outraged voice broke Naruto from his dark thoughts.

He turned to look Karin, who despite being obviously angered and hurt, stood proud at the entrance of the building. She was wearing casual clothes, as if she hadn't even been planning to attend the wedding.

"Sakura Haruno," Karin hissed at a wide-eyed Sakura. "You only fell for Sasuke because of his looks. Congratulations on getting him somehow, because I really don't see what he sees in you. Trust me, I tried. Heck, I don't even know what Naruto sees in you. He gave you everything and you threw him aside like he was beneath you while you're the one whose beneath him. Frankly, he could do way better."

Naruto ignored the surprised looks he was receiving.

Hearing Karin say that somehow comforted him a little.

"And you, Sasuke Uchiha," Karin's voice grew soft.

Naruto would have gone over to the girl if Hinata wasn't holding on to his arm.