A/N - Hey guys... guess what?! We've made it to 500 THOUSAND READS! This is a HUGE MILESTONE! Thank you SO MUCH for everyone who made this possible! To celebrate, I got a couple fanarts to show you.

What do you think of them? This was made by LenaCringe at deviantart/Instagram

Also, to celebrate, I have made two NaruNia videos at end of chapter. Make sure to let me know what you think of them.

As for this chapter... WARNING: this is VERY emotional. You might have to grab some tissues cause I barely kept myself from crying while reading this.

Guys, please show this chapter some love. It's over 4 THOUSAND words long and it took me all day and night to write. It would be hella sad if no one said anything nor voted or anything. It'll probably discourage me from writing longer chapters again 😭😭😭 it just takes too much effort and time when it's not being appreciated.

Anyway, this takes place BEFORE Naruto and Nia get tg so don't freak out. Just read all the way through.

Please remember to leave some comments, vote, and enjoy ❤️

🌹🌹🌹

BONUS CHAPTER #44: Nia LEAVES Naruto 💔

Naruto and Nia laid in a room together at night. As they grew closer, this became a daily thing for them. Nia blushed as Naruto held her close to his chest while he slept, snoring away.

I can't believe my luck! Naruto... he's really made it a thing for him to hold me every night.

The girl smiled as she snuggled closer to him. Her grin wouldn't go away. It meant everything for her to have him hold her the way he was.

"Mngh... S-Sakura..." A faint groan caught her attention. It was coming from Naruto in his sleep. "Y-you're just my type, ya know. So perfect. So in shape, pretty, smart, just drop dead gorgeous. I want you so bad. Please... give me a chance. I'd... do anything, ya know..."

"!" Nia's heart fell to her stomach.

Naruto continued to mutter on and on about his crush, breaking Nia into tiny little pieces. Her eyes quickly filled with tears and she felt like her throat tightened. She stared at him with confusion and with a deep hurt in her eyes.

H-He still likes her... even after how extremely close we've gotten... even after we hold onto eachother like we never wanna let go and smile and gaze in the other's eyes like there's no one else in this world but us... He still loves her... even after everything I've done to stand by him, be there for him... love him.

"Oh Sakura... just come here..." Naruto hugged himself and puckered his lips. "Give me a kiss, pretty..."

That was all she needed to hear in order for a waterfall of tears to come pouring down her face. Immediately, she ripped the blanket off, stood up, and ran into a bathroom, locking the door and pressing her back against it. There, she felt a powerful ache radiate her being and at once, she cupped her hands over her face and started to sob.

She's pretty this! Pretty that! She's fit, beautiful green eyes, perfect skin, wonderful smile and silky, pink hair that he just so badly wants to run his fingers through!

Nia coughed as she couldn't control her crying. All that ran through her mind was the times that her and the blond spent together. The times where he'd tell her that she was worth it and that she mattered. When he'd listen to her vent and embrace her until she'd quit crying. The moments they laughed with another and the times they had deep talks late at night.

"Sakura's such a beauty..." Naruto's words echoed through her mind.

"I like girls who're totally in shape, ya know!"

"Silky hair for sure is my main go to."

"Sakura has such flawless skin and a award winning smile!"

"Her laugh is the cutest thing."

"I fell in love with Sakura before I knew it."

Everything he told Nia pierced her like a sharp sword.

"I-I'm n-nothing like her... keh... keh... I'm not the pretty girl with the great body, flawless skin, silky hair, beautiful smile, cute laugh, and lovely eyes. I'll never... keh... be that... girl... keh... I-I'm... keh... the complete... keh... o-opposite."

Nia continued to wail... her back sliding down the door until she sat on her bottom, knees tucked in. She grabbed at her head and lowered it into her knees.

"Who'd ever like you?"

"You're UGLY!"

"So fat! Lose some weight!"

"You think HE could ever like you?! Don't make me laugh!"

"Worthless!"

"You're sorry."

"Why'd you ever think you'd have a chance with anyone?"

"No one likes you! We hate you! Go away!"

"You look like a monster!"

Every hateful word that Nia heard from others throughout her life plagued her. Their laughter, insults, and taunting played over and over inside her head.

"Leave me... leave me ALONE!" She covered her ears, her face covered in streaks from her crying.

All her life she felt worthless. All her life she felt she didn't matter. All her life she never believed anyone could ever love her. Ever... accept her.

However, when she encountered Naruto, everything changed for her. His kindness, the way he treated others, his empathy, the similar trauma they shared from their childhoods, the way he'd make her feel like she wasn't invisible. The way how he tried to be her friend even though she was so hesitant toward him and the way he did his best to lift her out of her depressive, ever so negative state of mind.

He was warm, filled with light, pure...

Nia began to feel a safe space in her heart for him. She was inspired by how he'd carry himself... his confidence... the way he wouldn't let others get him down... his mental strength. Nia admired all of it. She thought she found someone just like her... someone who was bullied, made the butt of a joke, a complete underdog... someone others despised with a passion. That made her feel close to him... a connection.

But... it all didn't matter. At least... not to Naruto she believed. Why would it? He was in a league far away from her own... looks and especially personality wise. Nia was ugly. Fat. Depressing. Negative. Emotional... and did she mention... A HIDEOUS MONSTER?!

Nia stayed in the bathroom, her eyes puffy and bloodshot. Suddenly, she heard creaking outside the door and she covered her mouth, holding back her awful pain, desperately trying to keep quiet. The steps were heavy. She figured it must've been Jiraiya.

"Huh? Weird... I could've sworn I heard crying. Hm... maybe it was my imagination? I did have one too many saki," She heard him mumble.

A few moments later, he'd walk away, a door eventually shutting.

Nia sniffled, her red nose running. She grabbed some tissue and blew into it.

God, I should've known... She thought, placing her elbow on her knee and her cheek in her palm, face as wet as ever. You're so STUPID, Nia! How could you have EVER thought someone like Naruto could possibly like you?! You act like you don't see yourself in the mirror! You're literally UGLY! No one can ever love you! It's just like everyone has always told you. You're WORTHLESS!

Nia coughed again... her heart was truly broken. She really loved that knucklehead.

"What am I... keh... gonna do? Keh..." She croaked. "I can't take this... keh... pain... i-it's too... too much... keh. How can I... keh... continue to be... keh... b-by his side when he... keh... literally thinks I'm too u-ugly and f-fat...? Keh..."

There was a pounding in her head. She was getting a massive headache from all her crying, frustration, and stress. She wouldn't be surprised if her hair fell out at any second.

She wanted to bury herself in the ground. Nothing made her feel any better.

That's when a pleasant voice suddenly popped in her head.

"You're beautiful..."

"Come to my village with me..."

"I'll make you queen..."

"I'll love you all the days of my life..."

"You saved me, Miss Nia. I'm forever indebted to you..."

"A-Akihiko..." A tear slid down her widening eyes as she remembered his face.

"Be with me..."

"I'll wait for you..."

Nia's lips wobbled. She remembered Akihiko as his kind words and actions made her feel a type of way.

T-That's right... A-Akihiko... h-he... he's always loved me... always acknowledged me... even though... I look the way I do. He's never judged me nor has he  ever made me feel like I had to compete with another woman. I've always been his one and only.

Nia's mind flickered back to Naruto, but all she felt was a intense ache in her heart.

I... love... Naruto... with all my heart, but he's made it clear... that I can NEVER be enough for him. That I can never be his type nor the girl he wants to be with.

With sunken eyes and a disastrous face filled with emotion, Nia wrote a note for Naruto, telling him that she's decided to officially part ways with him and that she's going to be with Akihiko and that she hopes it all works out for him with Sakura and to not follow her once he reads her note but that she's thankful for all the memories she had with him and is grateful she met him, despite the heartbreaking ending of their journey.

With that... Nia weakly made it back into the room and slipped the paper into Naruto's hand. She next rubbed his head, swallowing a lump in her throat as her tears dripped down onto his softened face.

"I t-tried my hardest... keh... to s-stay... even though you n-never loved me... keh... I tried to keep by your s-side so that you could be happy," Her breathing trickled. "I tr-tried the best... keh... I could, b-but... I just... keh... can't do this n-no more... keh... I have t-to leave... keh... in order to heal from my absolute broken, shattered, m-mangled heart."

Nia sniffled, running her finger down his cheeks.

"I-I'm so sorry, N-Naruto... keh... f-forgive m-me... keh.."

With that, Nia slowly lowered herself onto the blond until, she pressed her lips against his in a tender kiss. She stayed there for a few moments before rising up.

"I... keh... I love you... keh..."

With that, she gazed longingly at his sleeping expression before she stood up, ready to move on with her life.

"G-Goodbye... my h-hero."

And then... she was gone.

Morning soon came along as Naruto turned over, reaching his arm out, as to pull Nia close to him. However, when he felt no one there, he groggily woke up.

"Curly Brow?" He yawned.

He then felt something on his face. He touched his skin.

"What the heck? Why is my face wet? Was... I sweating?"

His eyes noticed as a slit of paper fell from his right hand. He picked it up and curiously, opened it. He scanned line from line, word for word. His expression fell the more he took in the note.

"No... no... no, no, no, no, no, NO!"  He made a face and ripped the covers right off him, scrambling to his feet. "PERVY SAGE! PERVY SAGE! CURLY BROW! WHERE'S CURLY BROW?!"

"Huh?" Jiraiya looked over at Naruto tiredly.

"WHERE THE HELL IS CURLY BROW?!" Naruto yelled, gripping Jiraiya's room's doorframes tightly. "DID YOU SEE HER?!"

"Why are you freaking out? Did something happen?"

"DAMMIT! NO! THIS IS TERRIBLE!" Naruto sprinted out of the hall and eventually out of the inn.

He crossed his fingers together as he jumped into the sky.

"MULTI SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!"

Immediately, a thousand clones appeared, all hopping in different directions.

"QUICK! I DON'T CARE HOW! FIND CURLY BROW RIGHT NOW!"

All the clones shouted in unison and went their own ways. Jiraiya came running out the inn to see just how much of Naruto there was.

"Holy cow! This many clones just to find one girl?!" He gasped.

"CURLY BROW! CURLY BROOOOW" Their screams were heard miles out.

They would search for over an hour but nothing came to notice. The real Naruto was on a tree branch... his fingers digging through the bark of the tree, his teeth gritted hard and his eyes swelled up with tears.

"Where... the hell are you?" He growled in utter frustration.

"Naruto!" Jiraiya landed next to him. "Any luc-"

"DAMMIT!" Naruto slammed his fist against the tree multiple times. "DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIIIIIT!"

"!"

"It's been over an hour and I still can't find her! I've looked EVERYWHERE, YA KNOW!"

"Did... someone take her?"

"..."

"Naruto!"

"S-She left me... t-to be with that p-perverted trash... Akihiko!"

"What?! And how the hell did that happen?! Did you two get into a big fight?!"

"I don't know... what the hell happened... but Curly Brow is crazy... if she really thinks I'm gonna let her leave me like this!"

Naruto trembled greatly with anger and worry. His emotions began to take over him. Suddenly, his nails sharpened into claws and his teeth slowly turned into canine. Lips painted black and his hair fuzzed up. Bubbles of red chakra rippled out of him.

"No..." Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Naruto, don't you dare. Calm down, kid."

"She... doesn't belong to him... He can't... have her..." Naruto growled, looking forward, pupils slit and eyes red as tears flowed down his cheeks.

"Naru- ARGH!" Wind pushed back at Jiraiya when the blond pounced forward.

Naruto dashed with a extraordinary speed. He slashed through trees and cracked the ground itself.

"CURLY BROOOOOOW!" He roared, scaring off the animals around.

Not too far, Nia was behind a tree, sitting down with her face in her tucked knees.

Naruto loves Sakura... He doesn't love me. He can never love me. It doesn't matter how much I care for him. All that mattered in the end was my looks... as always.

"CUUUUURLY BROOOOOW!" Nia heard a loud shout nearby.

She gasped and turned.

"N-NARUTO!"

I-Is he... looking... for me?

Deep down, her heart did a leap, but the moment she remembered his words as he slept, she wanted to cry her eyes out again.

Meanwhile, Naruto desperately looked in every corner and direction he was near. Jiraiya popped up in front of him as the blond was on all fours, already in a two tail state.

"Naruto, I need you to breathe. You transforming isn't gonna do your nor especially Nia any good."

"Be quiet! I want Curly Brow and I want her NOW! Who knows what she's going through?! Did you ever think maybe she got attacked during this whole time?! Curly Brow's extremely vulnerable. I promised to protect her!"

"I know, but we're gonna find her. If she left last night then she couldn't have gotten that far. Besides, even if she did, we know her destination is to the Hidden Steam."

"You don't get it, Pervy Sage! She LEFT me... for another MAN!" Naruto hissed, clawing the ground deeply. "For someone... who's gonna take complete advantage of her, ya know..."

"Listen, I don't know what happened between you two but I'm sure we can convince Nia to be by your side once again. We just need to stay calm, Naruto."

"No... I LOVE CURLY BROW! I WANT HER BACK NOW! GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

With that, Naruto jumped over his master. Immediately, Jiraiya lengthened his hair and wrapped it around the blond, slamming him to the ground.

"The woman you love left you... yes, I get how painful that is, but freaking out about it isn't gonna do you any favors. Did you ever think why she could've possibly left you?"

"I... don't... know! Just let me go!"

Jiraiya struggled greatly to hold the blond in place. He dug into his clothing and got out a squared paper with a sealing formula on it.

"Knowing Nia, she'd only leave you because of the involvement of another woman. You must've somehow killed her hopes of you loving her by mentioning Sakura or some other woman somehow maybe. That's the only thing I can think of that gets her upset enough to actually wanna leave you!"

Naruto was crushing his teeth together so hard, they could've broke off. He'd never felt so angry and heartbroken in his life. The closest he felt to this much pain was when he last seen Orochimaru at the bridge.

"My protector is the coolest!"

"I wanna be in your arms, Naruto."

"I like blondes, too! Especially ones... with blue eyes."

"I've always felt alone... but somehow you make me feel better."

"I think you're such an amazing person."

"I hate that you always talk about Sakura!"

"I don't wanna leave you, Uzumaki..."

"I love you, Naruto..."

Nia's words made Naruto's heart heavy. She was always so kind to him. She always stuck by his side despite their many arguments. She always forgave him for his most ridiculous actions and words. She always accepted him... just as he was.

Naruto had to admit that her presence was special to him... yet here he was having to deal with the fact that he somehow must've hurt her to the point where she really left him. He felt something horrible deep in the pit of his stomach. The thought of Nia not being with him anymore... the thought of never seeing her again... the thought of never seeing her smile or laugh with him again nor the thought of him no longer embracing her and for sure the thought of another man winning over her heart... after everything the two had been through already.

Naruto's chest tightened. His heart rate skyrocketed as memories of Nia flooded him. His mind raced all around the fact that she could've been hurt right now, that another man was going to take advantage of her, that she was going to give her body to someone else, and that her heart wouldn't remain with the genin himself.

Naruto coughed harshly as he broke down into a shattering sob. He wept so hard, he could barely keep himself up on the ground. Immediately, his chakra dissipated and his features returned to normal. All he could do was cry and cry.

Jiraiya's lips fell flat as he watched and heard his pupil wail. His cries were heavy and he could tell that the blond was experiencing his first ever real heartbreak. He knew he cared for Nia... but he never thought it'd be as deep as this.

"Dam... keh... Dammit..." Naruto croaked.

He pounded the ground in complete frustration. He didn't understand why he couldn't find Nia. He was just with her before they went to bed so how on earth did she get so far? It didn't make sense! Maybe... someone came and got her! Maybe... she- oh it didn't matter how she left. She was gone in general and that was enough to make Naruto's breathing shallow and rapid.

His shoulders heaved uncontrollably as he attempted to breathe. However, each breath felt like pins and needles in his throat. Naruto was so emotional that he couldn't control his breathing. His vision was blurred from all his crying and his nose was stuffed like never before. If Nia were to see his face right now, it'd be completely red, blotchy, and completely pathetic in his opinion.

How could this have happened?! Naruto thought. How could Curly Brow leave me?! She told me she'd stay... She told me she loved me!

Jiraiya noticed as Naruto clenched at his heart. This raised his eyebrow in concern.

"Naruto?" He approached him.

I loved her... I loved Curly Brow with every fiber of my being and yet... s-she...

Naruto coughed viciously... all of a sudden his breathing kept stopping. His chest was hurting and the next thing he knew, he fell to the ground... squeezing his heart and panting desperately to catch his breath.

"NARUTO!" Jiraiya panicked and came to his student's aid.

Oh no... he's having a horrible panic attack! He's hyperventilating bad!

Jiraiya immediately carried Naruto and sat him against a tree. Naruto was dizzy and felt as weak as ever.

"Naruto... listen to me. It's gonna be okay... I need you to take deep breaths for me, okay?"

This didn't seem to help the genin. He only kept crying and breathing like he was dying.

"Oh no! NARUTO!" A tearful scream came from the distance as Jiraiya turned to see that Nia came out from behind a tree and raced toward the two.

"Nia! There you are! You were nearby after all!"

"Naruto!" She only hugged the blond as she wept loudly. "I'm here! I'm here! Please... please calm down, Uzumaki!"

For a little while, she was close enough to see what happened to the genin. Her heart was crushed as she witnessed just how deeply Naruto reacted to her disappearance. It was so heartwarming but it tore her apart when he transformed then broke down before hyperventilating.

Though Nia was right in front of him, it did little to reverse the damage she believed she caused.

"I love you, Naruto! I LOVE YOU!" She wailed. "I... keh... I don't... keh... truly wanna leave y-you... keh..."

With that, she kissed him all over his face before she cupped it and laid her lips on his in a passionate kiss. She knew she probably shouldn't have as he was already struggling to breathe but her feelings of love and deep worry made her do it anyways. Surprisingly, this seemed to do the trick as Naruto began to take take slower, deep breaths.

"C-Curly Brow..." He reddened, eyes watering as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

Their eyes were both bloodshot and puffy and streaks were left on both of their faces.

Ba-dum... Ba-dum... Ba-dum...

Nia could hear as Naruto's heart seemed to have been skipping beats. It was still a bit fast but she could tell that he was beginning to slowly calm down. Naruto immediately wrapped his arms around her, crying into her shoulder as he squeezed her to him. This in turn was all Nia needed for her dam of tears to come crashing.

The two desperately clung onto one another, balling their eyes out. No one wanted to let go of the other. Naruto was so relieved to have had Nia in his arms again. He was absolutely over the moon.

When they finally lightened their hold, Naruto kept Nia to his chest, rubbing the back of her head before pecking the top of it.

"Why?" He whispered.

"?"

"Why'd you do it? Why'd you leave me?" Naruto asked, his throat scratchy.

"I... I was heartbroken..." Nia answered in a mumble.

"?"

"I was hopelessly upset because when you were sleeping... you started talking... saying how much you love Sakura."

"!"

"I... was absolutely devastated," Nia revealed.

"Curly Brow..."

"My p-protector doesn't... keh... doesn't love me... keh..."

"Don't say that..."

"But it's true b-because... keh... I'm not pr-pretty nor f-fit enough..." Nia trembled.

"Curly Brow... you know I care for you..."

"B-But only as a f-frieeend."

"I don't think that's the level of love he feels for you, Nia..." Jiraiya interjected, watching the two. "Did you see what just happened? Naruto... he transformed and even had a panic attack and hyperventilated because of the simple fact that he thought you were gone forever."

Nia sniffled.

"Curly Brow... I get it... I'm so ridiculously idiotic. I never truly took in the fact that what I say about Sakura hurts you so deeply. I was so insensitive over the way I'd express my feelings for her that I didn't see how much it was affecting our bond with one another," Naruto spoke gently. "I'm so sorry for all the pain I've caused you because of how I view Sakura."

"..."

"Curly Brow... I know you feel like you're not good enough... because of the way you look. I know you feel as though no one, nor especially I can ever like you or want to hold you close, but the truth is..."

"!"

Naruto cupped Nia's face, leaning downward until he pressed his lips against her's.

Immediately, tears slipped down Nia's face as the blond kissed her.

N-Naruto...

Without wasting time, she closed her eyes and deepened the kiss. Jiraiya stood behind them, watching as they finally locked lips.

It's about damn time...

When they pulled away to breathe, Naruto smiled at Nia lovingly, his face as rosy as ever. This made Nia's face reflected a red shade as she grinned before looking downward, smiling to herself.

"I love you..." Naruto breathed.

Nia's heart raced. Hearts floated out of her head and she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.

"I.. I love you, too... Naruto," she shyly said.

Naruto's smile widened and he slid a little down the tree, his check in his palm, gazing at her, appearing completely lovestruck.

Later on, the two walked back to the inn, hand in hand. Nia's heart rattled in her chest as Naruto was treating her the best he ever had. He was being so kind to her. Making sure her needs were met. He also tried to make sure he listened to whatever she was saying, paying his full attention on her.

Even though Nia didn't know if they were friends or something more... being in the blond's presence was enough to make her happy again. She couldn't fathom not ever being able to see him again.

"So... now that you two kissed, what happens now?" Jiraiya questioned.

Immediately, Naruto and Nia froze as their minds reflected back on what happened a couple hours ago. At once, their faces turned bright red and out of complete embarrassment they yell, "W-We didn't kiss!"

Both became angry and glared at the other.

"What do you mean we didn't kiss?!" They barked in unison.

Steam poofed out of their faces. They turned away from one another timidly, Naruto rubbing the back of his head and Nia fidgeting with her fingers. However, despite this, the two locked eyes and gave a small smile as hearts danced over their heads.

Jiraiya sighed.

And here we go starting from square one again...

———

A/N - That's the end of the bonus chapter! WHEW! That sure was emotional!

As celebration for 500k, I made two videos. One a NaruNia edit and another reading answers from fans on why they personally like NaruNia.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Please let me know what you think of all this

As always. please leave some comments on this bonus chapter. vote, and have a great day ❤️

QOTD:

1. Fave Part?

2. Fave Line?

3. Most emotional part?