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Uzumaki's residence

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"Dont worry, [Name], We will all be home soon."

Naruto Uzumaki was in love with [Name] Hyuga-Uchiha. Always. From the very first day he laid eyes on her, the day she defended his name and honor, to her lowest points, and even when it became obvious that her attention may have shifted to Sasuke Uchiha of all people. His everlasting love was there to stay, all for her. 

Despite the years that had passed and the obstacles that had come between them, Naruto never wavered. He had always been the one standing by her, whether it was during the darkest times when they were fighting battles they didn't even understand or in the moments where he couldn't quite find the right words but still managed to make her laugh. He had seen her struggle, seen her falter in ways only she could understand. Yet, even then, there was a strength in her that no one could deny. Sasuke may have been her love, may have been her first of many,  but Naruto knew one thing for certain—his love for [Name] was a constant, unwavering force, and he would never give up on her even if she sought for that happiness within others.

The world was in turmoil, and just when they he had believed it was the end, Sasuke's hatred had unleashed, and it was his everlasting promises to bring them all home. As one. So he fought and fought. The Uchiha's and Uzumaki's clashes, the destruction, the pain. All of it came to a shattering blow as they lay in the middle of the final valley, battered and beaten. And despite all, Naruto's biggest fear was the thought of never seeing her again. It haunted him, but he had made her a promise, a promise that kept him going in the darkest moments.

That promise echoed again in his mind: We will all be home soon.

...

Naruto's words echoed through [Name]'s mind like a promise whispered on the wind. She had carried those words with her for so long, even when the days felt endless and filled with nothing but chaos. His promise, unwavering as it had always been, was the light in her darkest moments. And now, here they were. It had been nearly two years since the war passed, and though the world had started to heal, the wounds within [Name]'s heart still lingered, and that's when she truly began to understand his words.  

She thought about Sasuke. Her heart still held a part of him—her love for him had been real, and it had run deep. But the more time passed, the more she realized that Sasuke had always been a part of a past she had to let go of. His darkness, his isolation, the path he chose for himself—it was something she couldn't follow anymore. His love had been a fire that burned brightly for a time, but it was one that couldn't last. And in that realization, her love for Naruto started to bloom, quiet and steady, but undeniable. [Name] sat by the window of her home, gazing out at the peaceful landscape of Konoha. The world was beginning to heal, but it had taken time. And as she sat there, a soft breeze ruffling her hair, she thought of the future. Her future. Their future.

The sound of her front door opening broke her out of her thoughts, and she turned to see Naruto standing in the doorway, a warm smile on his face as he looked at her. "Hey! You okay?" he asked, his voice low, filled with concern. She nodded slowly, [Name] smiled faintly as she met Naruto's concerned gaze. His presence always brought a steady hand to hold when the world felt overwhelming. She had spent so much time thinking, so much time lost in the maze of her emotions, trying to understand where she stood within recent years. But in that moment, with Naruto standing in the doorway, all of that seemed to fall away. He had always been there for her, and it was time she acknowledged that.

"I've just been thinking," she admitted softly, her voice almost a whisper. "About everything." Naruto walked toward her, his usual grin softening as he saw the thoughtful expression on her face. He sat down next to her, his eyes never leaving hers, a silent question hanging between them. He had always been patient with her, even when she didn't know what she needed. "About what, exactly?" he asked, his voice gentle. She took a deep breath, trying to collect her thoughts. The weight of her feelings had been building for a long time. "About..."

"I'm sorry it took me so long to see it," [Name] said softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But I'm here now. I'm ready for us, Naruto." She hesitated for a moment, her thoughts tangled in with that of Naruto's obliviousness that was provoking as she saw the confused look in his eye.. "Like us, Naruto. You and me... together," [Name] finally said, her voice soft but steady. The words felt like a revelation to her, as if they had been hiding in the corners of her heart, waiting to be spoken. She turned to look at him, her eyes meeting his blue ones, and at that moment, everything became clear. She had spent so much time trying to make sense of her feelings, of her past with Sasuke, but at this moment, Naruto was the only person who had always been there. The one who had never given up on her.

Naruto blinked, surprised by her words, but then a slow, knowing smile spread across his face. His heart leapt in his chest as the realization hit him, and everything fell into place. "So... you mean..., You're saying—" His voice trailed off, but the joy in his eyes was undeniable. [Name] nodded, her heart beating faster now, the tension in her chest easing. "Yeah, ...I've known for a while now. It's always been you, Naruto. I was just too...gone to realize it..I'm..sorry.." 

"You don't have to be sorry.., I've always been here, and I always will be. I've loved you since forever, [Name]. I just... I didn't know if you felt the same..."He leaned in and gently cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had gathered. The warmth of Naruto's presence was a reassuring force that made everything around [Name] feel like it was finally falling into place. The kiss they shared was long overdue, a soft affirmation of everything they had both kept hidden for so long. In that kiss, she could feel the weight of their shared history, the struggles, the victories, and the quiet moments in between.

When they finally pulled away, their foreheads still pressed together, there was an unspoken understanding between them. There was no need for more words right now, no need for explanations. Everything was clear now. It had always been him. It had always been Naruto. "I don't know how long I've wanted this," Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible, as he looked into her eyes, those [E/C] eyes that had been a constant in his life, never wavering even when the world around them seemed to. "But I'm here now. And I don't want to waste any more time." [Name] smiled softly as the Uzumaki brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "We've got all the time in the world now," 

"I'll make sure you're never alone again, [Name]. Not ever." [Name] felt a sense of peace wash over her, something she hadn't felt in so long. It wasn't just the promise he made—it was the certainty behind it, the trust that had been built between them through years of trials and heartache. She didn't need anything more. She had him. That was all she'd ever wanted. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "I'm ready, Naruto. For whatever comes next, we'll face it together."

"We always have, ya know?"