We're Friends

Temari, in a state of collapse, covered her ears. Gaara lowered his head, not daring to look at anyone, his face still red and his breathing still erratic. Kankuro's expression was indescribably complex—he wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, wanting to say something but unable to utter a single word.

Uzumaki Naruto was looking at Gaara, as if he finally understood something, yet also as if he understood nothing at all. Uchiha Satsuki stood beside Naruto, his mind processing the situation before him.

Naruko remained sitting quietly by the bed, her eyes closed, motionless. She showed no reaction to anything happening around her, like a real, lifeless puppet.

This is the current situation in the room.

Chaotic, complicated, and with no end in sight.

Satsuki never expected that this guy had never even touched Naruko.

Not even once. I slept in his arms every day, listened to his voice every day, and felt that warmth every day—yet I did nothing.

Satsuki couldn't quite imagine that feeling.

She simply can't do it.

You see, she couldn't wait to give herself away on Naruto's birthday, firmly grasping what she wanted. She understood that feeling, that longing, that urge to "get it immediately" better than anyone else.

It's no exaggeration to say that if he hadn't succeeded that night, if he hadn't turned Naruto into his own— Satsuki felt that even if it had been just one day later, he would have knocked Naruto unconscious in the street and carried him straight home.

This is her.

Uchiha Satsuki was never a patient person.

Especially when it came to Naruto, Satsuki didn't know what to say.

Naruto... was still looking at Gaara, as if he had finally understood something.

What Gaara just said—those things about Naruko, about him, about that feeling—if someone else had said them, if they had said them in a different way, Naruto would definitely have felt that it was the kind of feeling he wanted to avoid at all costs.

That feeling that makes you want to run away.

That kind of emotion that leaves you unsure how to face it.

If that's really the case, Naruto thinks he needs to have a serious talk with Gaara. After all, he has absolutely no interest in that kind of thing.

But now, he seems to understand a little.

Gaara's feelings for him weren't the kind of black-and-white thing.

It doesn't necessarily mean possession, possession, or becoming a "lover" or "partner."

I can be anywhere I want.

As long as I can get close to Naruto, that's fine.

Friends, relatives, comrades-in-arms, benefactors—even, if Naruto is willing, that kind of relationship is fine too.

Anything is fine as long as it's with Naruto, which is why Gaara was able to maintain that platonic relationship with Naruko.

Because the real Naruto didn't mean that.

Therefore, he wouldn't use Naruko to replace that kind of thing, nor would he use her to satisfy the desires that Naruto wouldn't give him.

It won't tarnish this relationship.

He just wanted to get closer to Naruto, even closer, even if it was just to see his face, hear his voice, and feel his presence—that would be enough.

Thinking of this, Naruto's heart suddenly softened.

However, a thought was growing uncontrollably in Gaara's heart.

He gazed at Satsuki standing beside Naruto, at the woman who could rightfully stand beside him, at the woman who could possess his entire life—

An overwhelming sense of envy welled up inside me.

It's simply because of the different genders.

Simply because she is a woman and he is a man.

Therefore, she could stand in that position, while he could not.

Therefore, she could possess his entire life, while he could only watch from afar.

Therefore, she could become his wife, while he could only remain his friend.

Gaara knew he shouldn't think that way, knew it was childish, ridiculous, and pathetic.

But he couldn't help it.

I wish Naruto were a girl.

This thought resurfaced once again from the depths of my heart.

After figuring it out, Naruto's strange feeling finally disappeared.

In that brief moment, when he first realized Gaara's feelings for him, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up inside him. It was a panicked feeling of not knowing what to do. After all, this was something he had never encountered before.

But now, he understands.

He looked at Gaara, at the way Gaara kept his head down, avoiding eye contact, at his tightly clenched fists—a posture only someone afraid of losing what's most important to them would adopt.

Naruto's eyes softened again.

Gaara.

His voice remained gentle, just as it had been when he first stood before this red-haired boy.

Gaara's body suddenly shuddered.

He slowly turned around to face Naruto, but dared not look at Naruto's face.

His eyes darted around, avoiding his gaze, unsure where to settle. He was afraid to see the disgust in Naruto's eyes, afraid to see the distance, afraid to see that look that said, "So this is the kind of person you are."

"It seems I need to apologize to you."

Naruto's first words made Gaara abruptly raise his head, his face filled with disbelief and shock.

This was completely different from what he had imagined—no, utterly different!

Naruto didn't look at him with disgust, there was no aloofness, no rejection, nothing that frightened him.

Naruto looked at him with the same warm gaze as always, but there was an added layer of apology on top of that warmth and gentleness.

"Regarding your feelings..." Naruto began, his voice filled with genuine understanding. "It's not that I can't understand them either."

"To be honest, I never thought about it that way before. I always thought we were just best friends, like Choji and Shikamaru."

Naruto gave an embarrassed smile. "Looking back now, I was really too oblivious. The feelings you had for me were much deeper than I imagined."

"But... I'm sorry, I can't reciprocate those feelings."

"Because I already have a wife. People must take responsibility for their choices, and I must do that."

Naruto said, glancing at Satsuki beside him. "Therefore, Satsuki is the most important person to me. That will never change."

Satsuki didn't speak, but lowered her eyes slightly, a faint upturn at the corner of her lips.

"But—" Naruto turned his head and looked at Gaara again. "I won't distance myself from you because of this."

"It's all my fault that you've become like this."

These words brought tears to Gaara's eyes.

"Since I sowed the seeds, I must bear the consequences." Naruto stepped forward, closing the distance between Gaara.

"So, that puppet—" His gaze fell on Naruko beside him, "You can use it however you like. Don't worry about me."

We'll always be friends.

Naruto looked at him, and in those deep blue eyes was the same light that Gaara remembered, a light that made people want to get closer.

"No matter what happens, no matter what you're thinking, no matter what your feelings for me are—this will never change."

So, don't be afraid. Don't hide from me. Don't feel ashamed.

"Come see me whenever you want."

"Tell me when you want me to come."

"Just like before."

"OK?"

(I really didn't write "g", you have to believe me!)