Damn this is so sad. And also real, hits like a sledgehammer.

Trust is paramount, infidelity destroys it even if no one else is aware. The beautiful relationship that Naroto thinks he has with Sakura, or Ino with Sakura, or even Naruto with Shikamaru, it is actually rotten inside.

When read from Sakura's perspective, their forbidden bond seems indeed inevitable and also the only way they can let go.

In most stories I would call bullsh*t faster, if one can't fight that passion but they do love their spouse, they just have to create whatever reason to physically separate, move to another town, and focus their mind on other things.

Here it might seems impossible since th are the pillars on which Konoha stands.

Nevertheless. She could leave Konoha for some extended hospital overseeing elsewhere. Better yet, if it's going for 15 years, while Shikamaru's oldest son is still a kid who needs jutsu explained.
Then. They. Could. Have. Stopped. Before. Having. Kids.

Maybe Shikamaru wouldn't have, since in this fic he's a cheater regardless and does that a lot.

But Sakura totally couldn have decided to NOT have kids with Naruto while doing this behind his back.

Still, a good story - a great job in showing how cheaters themselves might justify things to make them seem inevitable and even helping in life.

Thank you, Enodia.

Fifteen years in the shadows? (Tears) It's so sad.

I really couldn't stop reading. It was very good.

This is one of the best stories l have ever read. It's sad in a way, but i cann see your logic.

Oh my goodness, this is so beautifully sad. I love it so much! Thank you for writing and sharing!

I wish there was more of this, although I'm not upset with how it ended. I loved the idea of this and it was just amazing.

Completely agree with Malapropian's comments. Even though the theme is so problematic, the response is not so much unalloyed disgust as is a resisting acceptance of the confounding grey areas. A nice snapshot of the rich ambivalence of the human heart. More revealing insights into their complicated relationship would have been nice.

Awww

I've been trying to find new Shika/Saku that I haven't read. It's so damn hard to find these fics! So, thanks for uploading this. I hate infedality! But, dammit I see why Sakura can't divorce Naruto and Shikamaru can't divorce Ino. Because everyone is so tied together, honestly what drama you create! It's crazy. But, good job with the emotion. It really gets you

People like that are never really happy life, morals is everything to good people. And whoa, what a conniving evil slut Sakura is. Whoa, what a sadistic evil bastard Shikamaru is...*rubs chin in thought* they belong to together, just like Wendy's and their mascot Wendy women.

...THE INNOCENT RULE!

I felt like I was watching a soap opera. (If you know what I mean.) Like, the way everyone is kinda tied to each other and the pain they both feel at the end. It kinda reminded me of Desperate Housewives, but in a good way. In an anime way. I really loved this.

great story :)

Forbidden love really are not easy. But history is captivating. Only I know how much I like the way you write! I, God, and now you. I love the depth of feelings, makes me put myself in the characters and take a ride on your feelings. And I love it. It's almost obscene how much I like. Thank you for writing.

A kind of twisted, sad yet lustful tale. And yet somehow, I like it. XD

So sad :(