fuck. this wasn’t easy. suddenly it felt like the entire war they had been through was NOTHING compared to this. he was not good at expressing his emotions, and frankly, neither was she, unless that emotion was lust or anger or just plain indifference. that’s why they worked so well together. hell, that’s why he fell in love with her. he blinks twice, rapidly, at his own thoughts, as if they had come from an outside source. did he really just say that he loved her? most of the time he’d have to consciously think about why he loved her, but now, it came so naturally to him. god damn it, nara. you really stepped in it this time. ❝ tema– ❞ admittedly, he was running short on ‘cute nicknames’ to call her. the only thing he ever called her other than her name was ‘babe’ or ‘baby’, and that was only when they were alone. she’s turned now to face him, and suddenly he feels his heart rate spike. she was beautiful. she had always been beautiful, even since they were just little genin, on opposite sides of a bigger war that they had no idea they were fighting. but with age, things mature, and she only seemed to grow more and more ravishing with each passing minute. suddenly, the words feel all too heavy on his throat, and he has to find some way to relieve the BURDEN. the only way he can think of? ❝ i.. love you. ❞ just outright telling her.