A/N - Hey guys!!! So I wrote this chapter last week but I've decided to post it now. This is a continuation of what went down last bonus chapter.

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

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BONUS CHAPTER #45: Nia LEAVES Naruto 💔 Part Two

Naruto held Nia tightly as the two swayed in their inn room. Naruto was still trying to recover from just having had a panic attack and hyperventilating while Nia tried to also calm herself down over what happened while Naruto was asleep.

"Don't ever try to do that again," Naruto squeezed the girl closer and kissed the top of her head. "I damn near died not having you with me, ya know. I was destroyed."

Nia blushed at how much he cared for her.

"Oh Naruto... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you so bad," Her head was on his chest.

"You know I'm lost without you, Curly Brow..."

"I can't stand being without my protector either."

"I think... we need to talk," Naruto kissed Nia's forehead before he brought her to a bed and they both sat at the end of it.

He was holding her hand in his. Nia wouldn't look at him as guilt filled her.

"I'm terrible..." She mumbled. "I hurt you so bad you transformed, had a panic attack, then hyperventilated."

"I was... so scared you'd leave me forever... I was so worried you could've gotten attacked while you wandered off without me. I was terrified that you'd give yourself to another man... have him... take complete advantage of you," Naruto shared.

Nia bit her bottom lip.

"I feel horrible about the way I made you feel. I'm an awful person."

"Don't say that," Naruto whispered. "You only reacted that way... because of the way I talked about Sakura, right?"

Remembering that moment, tears filled Nia's eyes again and she nodded. Naruto gave a sad look.

"I... I didn't... mean to... make you cry so much. To make you feel the way you did, ya know?" He croaked.

"Naruto, I just..."

"?"

"I just... really care about you, but it's like no matter what I say or do... you heart lies with Sakura."

"!"

"Like, I just... I know the reason you don't look my way... is because of how I look. I understand I'm not the pretty girl with bright, light eyes, flawless skin, a beautiful smile, and silky hair. I understand that I'm not the girl who's in good shape and can keep up with all the cool, athletic things you do, but even though I know that you don't like or notice me because of my appearance, I still..." Nia looked at Naruto sorrowfully, tears running down her face.

Naruto's eyes widened. Nia's eyes... he never seen anyone look at him the way she always did. Soft, gentle, kind, lovingly... He could see just how much he meant to her. All his life, he was used to the cold, hard, judgmental stares of the villagers in Konoha. They never would see passed the fact that he was a jinchuuriki. However, here was Nia. Not once did she care that he had a beast inside him. Not once did she judge him whenever he'd transform. She saw him at his worst and yet still cared for him. She always accepted him and was there for him through any and everything.

Seeing her distraught face made Naruto's heart ache. She was crying... and it was all his fault. He knew she struggled deeply with her appearance and somehow, he's made it seem as though he didn't accept or like her as she was. All she wanted was for him to accept her... to love her... just as she did with him.

Naruto cupped Nia's face in his hand; wiping away her tears with his thumb. His heart drummed in his chest as they gazed one another in the eyes deeply.

"I-It... doesn't matter," He muttered.

"?"

"The way you look... it... doesn't bother me."

Nia looked at him confused.

"Curly Brow... you, yourself mean more to me than your appearance ever could," Naruto clarified. "Yes... I admit that I wasn't flattered by how you looked when we first met, but that was before I got to know you, ya know..."

Nia sniffled.

"Curly Brow... I know... it's really hard for you, or maybe anyone to believe, but... ever since I started hanging around you, I've seen you for everything... you are," The blond told her. "I seen what makes you happy, what makes you laugh, what makes you mad... and even what makes you sad. You've also seen every side of me there is to know, too. You know my every flaw and yet... you still treat me like the most amazing man in the world. You accept me for literally everything I am... and I'm not even joking about that."

Nia continued to listen.

Naruto squeezed her hand.

"You're like... this person... I just can't stop thinking of. Everytime something is bothering you, I just have to swoop in and comfort you. I don't be kind and caring towards you just because of the way I love you... it's literally because I seriously care about helping you feel better. You see, I don't care who someone is... whenever anyone is trapped in the darkness or a prisoner to their own mind and emotions, I just... something makes me wanna help them."

"I hear you..." Nia sniffled again.

"You're no different... because of how you look. It doesn't matter what someone looks like. Everyone's heart matters. I will jump in to comfort you at any time. I care about you, Curly Brow. Seriously... I do."

"I know... but I just feel like... I don't matter and that... I'm not good enough for you, Naruto," Nia coughed, crying. "Like... it really hurts me... to think... you can never... keh... look... keh... my way. Like... i-if I'm not... keh... enough f-for you... keh...  then... keh... just s-say that. L-Let me leave and f-find... keh... a guy who'll give m-me a chance and... keh... love a-and accept me... keh... f-for all I am."

Nia tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

"It's just because... keh... I put in s-so much blood, s-sweat, and tears into... keh... getting to know you a-and... keh... staying by y-your side. I just... keh... truly love you... N-Naruto. It's not... keh... a lie."

BA-DUM!

Naruto's heart squeezed in his chest. His face reddened and a squirmy smile appeared on his face.

"C-Curly Brow..." He gushed, hearts floating out of his head.

However, he knew he had to remain serious. Quickly, he rubbed his face and got himself together.

"Little Curly Brow..." He brushed his thumb across her fingers.

Nia tried to catch her breath as she sobbed and looked at him.

"I... I want this whole thing to stop. This whole you feeling like I'm just this shallow, "the only thing I care about is looks", type of guy," Naruto said. "I'm not saying that looks don't matter at all, but I mean like I know that there's more to a woman than just her appearance. Does a pretty face and great body catch my eye? Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, but I mean come on, Curly Brow... there's more to being attracted to someone other than their looks."

"B-But Naruto, in order to be with someone you HAVE to be physically attracted to them in order for you to date them. Ev-Everyone knows that. T-That's why no one likes me. Because I'm u-ugl-"

"Stop that, Curly Brow!" Naruto raised his voice. "Stop insulting yourself like that! You're pissing me off!"

Nia only continued to cry as she trembled. When he seen her shaking, Naruto attempted to calm himself, giving her hand another squeeze.

"Listen, who says you HAVE to be physically attracted to someone when you FIRST lay eyes on them in order to date them? Don't you know that sometimes, that's not the case? You can GROW to be attracted to someone after you get to know them even though they didn't catch your eye at first..." Naruto continued. "Seriously, I know because... it happened with me... to you..."

"!" Nia eyed him.

Naruto failed at trying to cover his blush.

"U-Um... what I'm trying to say is... after getting to know you, I... I uh... think... y-you're... you're um..." The blond trailed, scratching his cheek with his free hand.

"?"

"I think... you're beautiful..." The blond then breathed, a dreamy smile on his face still. "I think you're really beautiful, Curly Brow..."

"!"

Nia appeared astonished. Her face became bloody red and she held her breath.

Beautiful... Naruto just called me... BEAUTIFUL!

Nia thought she must've looked like an idiot, gawking at her crush the way she was. She was... completely speechless. She... had no idea what to say. In fact, she rubbed her ears to make sure she heard him right. Her vision was blurry and before she knew it... everything became black.

"GAAAH!" Naruto stood off the bed when Nia collapsed to the floor and freaked out. "C-CURLY BROW!"

Oh crap! This is terrible! C-Curly Brow... she just collapsed! Did I say something wrong?! Did I make her die?!

Naruto stayed with Nia, sitting her against the bed, lightly patting her cheeks for a few minutes. Eventually, she could hear his voice as he desperately called her name. Nia's face was extremely hot to the touch and when she opened her eyes, it was rather blurry and her eyelids struggled to open thanks to her previous tears sticking itself together. Eventually, she was able to see Naruto's ever so angelic face in front of her clearly.

"N-Naruto..." She blushed at how close he was to her.

"Sweet Curly Brow... thank goodness. Are... you okay?" He was concerned.

"What... happened?"

"You... collapsed. After I called you beautiful."

"Kya!" Steam pushed out of Nia's face.

T-That's right! M-My protector called me beautiful!

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

Nia's heart rattled itself in her chest and shyly looked down from her crush, smiling stupidly to herself. Seeing the way she smiled, Naruto felt like an arrow pierced through his heart.

So cute... He thought, blushing. She's so cute when she blushes and smiles to herself like that over me... Haaah... Curly Brow...

"You mean everything to me, Curly Brow..." Naruto breathed longingly.

"Oh Naruto..." Nia covered her face in her hands and turned away.

She'd be extremely embarrassed if he was to see just how flustered she was over him and his words.

"Curly Brow... I'm very serious about the way I love and accept you," Naruto said. "You might not feel you matter or that you're not good enough but none of that is true. You are good enough. You do matter. Don't let your mind or anyone else make you think otherwise. I mean... I seriously do... love-"

"Oh Naruto!" Nia crashed into his chest, gripping his jacket as she cried against him. "I... I love you, too! I really love you with all my heart! I honest to god, I do!"

Although caught off guard with her action, Naruto grinned warmly as he wrapped his arm around her, using the other hand to press her face more into him.

"You really are the world to me, ya know..." He pecked the top of her head.

Nia only snuggled into him.

"Curly Brow?" The blond called.

"Hm?"

"We should... go do something..."

"Do what?"

"I don't know... maybe you should come grab a bite to eat with me and then we can go see a movie together? I heard this small village has a theater."

Nia blushed.

"You want... to do that with me?" She looked up at Naruto with puppy dog eyes.

Naruto's face was rosy and he nodded.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for everything so you can just relax with me. I want us to use that time to take our mind off what happened earlier today. Hell, I'll even hold you close to me as we watch the movie."

"Oh Naruto... but I thought you wanted to use your money on Sakura? You've always been talking about how you wanted to save it in order to go on a nice date with her once we get to your village."

"Well, I change my mind. I wanna spend time with you, Curly Brow..."

"Really? With me?"

Naruto's lips curved upwards.

"Yes," He said. "Do you... want to go with me?"

"Y-Yes! Of course I do! I wanna spend time with my protector!" Nia grinned.

She then kissed the blond on the cheek.

"I love you, Naruto..."

Naruto's blush deepened.

"I... I love you, too..." He told her lovingly, kissing her forehead before nuzzling his head atop of her's.

There, they embraced one another. Grinning hopelessly at the other's affections.

———

A/N - End of chapter! Please remember to leave some comments, vote, and have a great rest of your day ❤️

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