bacchusnovels End of Chapter 367
End of Chapter 367
"Looks like... I guessed right?"
Uchiha Satsuki, observing Sasuke's subtle yet undeniable stiffness and Naruto's instantly unnatural expression, stated in a calm tone.
Realizing that the test had succeeded and that his hastily fabricated lie that "Naruto is a woman" had been exposed on the spot, Sasuke Uchiha's breathing became almost imperceptibly disordered for a moment.
"How...did you figure that out?"
"There are too many..."
Satsuki gently shook her head. "If 'Naruko' really exists, and is my future partner in that world... then you wouldn't have made that face when you heard about the 'arranged marriage' agreement, would you?"
Boruto Uzumaki, standing to the side, felt a chill run down his spine. Although there was no anger, coldness, or murderous intent in Satsuki's eyes, his somewhat empty gaze sent shivers down Boruto's spine.
The eyes of the Uchiha clan can express the deepest emotions, but at this moment, the listless, dull state in Zuo Yue's eyes was more unsettling than any emotion. What did this represent?
"and……"
Satsuki turned her gaze to Boruto, "I can't feel any 'blood connection' between this child and me at all."
In this world, there is indeed a certain connection and resonance between bloodline limit families, especially between direct relatives or those of the same bloodline.
Boruto and Naruto look strikingly alike, and Sasuke can clearly sense the close connection between them. However, she feels no sense of kinship or shared origin between Boruto and Sasuke, or even between Boruto and herself.
"Look at his eyes... they're so full of emotion." Satsuki looked at Sasuke, her tone knowing. "He almost... fooled me."
Sasuke was speechless for a moment. His lie had been completely exposed, and any further attempts to defend himself would only make him look ridiculous.
"...I can answer that question later." Satsuki didn't seem to intend to delve into the potentially unbearable answer immediately. Instead, she changed the subject and posed another equally pointed question.
"In your world... what exactly is the relationship between you and your 'Naruto'?"
If Sasuke Uchiha from that world heard this question, how would he answer it?
It would probably be something like, "He's a total idiot who always leaves people helpless."
But at this moment, when facing "oneself" in this world, this answer may trigger more unnecessary associations and questions, and even implicate innocent people.
After a moment of silence, Sasuke chose the position that held the most weight in his heart, the most real position, but one that was always somewhat difficult to talk about.
"...He is my...most important friend."
"...I see." Upon hearing this, Satsuki lowered her eyes slightly. "Same gender... well, there's nothing we can do about that..."
She seemed to accept this explanation, or perhaps she was using the reason of "another world" to forcefully persuade herself and soothe some kind of emotion that was almost out of control.
"I have no more problems." She raised her head, her expression returning to its usual indifference.
"Huh?" Naruto Uzumaki was stunned. He was still on tenterhooks, afraid that Satsuki would keep pressing him about "who Naruto's wife was in that world," a potentially explosive question. He never expected her to... just give up on asking?
What Naruto didn't know was that the moment Satsuki came to the conclusion that "Naruto and Sasuke in the other world are best friends," she was engaged in a fierce, silent internal struggle and self-soothing.
If it had been a day earlier, or even just a few hours earlier, before witnessing Naruto unconscious and on the verge of death... given her state of mind at the time, she probably wouldn't have been able to accept this answer so "calmly." Extreme possessiveness might have instantly overwhelmed her reason.
However, the fear of impending loss can sometimes shatter the obsession with "absolute possession." When the shadow of possible permanent departure looms over the mind, the essence of that extreme possessiveness—"fear of loss"—is laid bare.
Compared to that, the obsession with "exclusivity" has temporarily taken a backseat. As long as he is safe... everything else can be put aside for the time being, even if it requires constantly numbing oneself with the reason that "it is another world".
What happened to Satsuki was a classic case of the "demolition effect".
"...Don't you care anymore?" Sasuke noticed that something was wrong with Satsuki's state; it wasn't true relief. He asked tentatively.
"No." Satsuki slowly shook her head, refocused her gaze on Naruto, and spoke in a deep and clear voice.
"I'm afraid... if I keep asking questions, or if I find out more... I might lose control and do something irreversible."
She candidly revealed the dark emotions and self-warnings that were still churning within her.
Sasuke's heart skipped a beat; he immediately understood the seriousness of the situation. He nodded decisively. "I understand. With you by Naruto's side, there shouldn't be any problems."
Without further hesitation, Sasuke took out the tortoise-shell-shaped spacetime device "Li" from his pocket and prepared to activate it.
Seeing Sasuke's actions, Naruto snapped out of his reverie. He realized that Sasuke and the others were about to return to a future where the crisis might not have been completely resolved, and this time, thanks to Sasuke's help, they had successfully overcome Urashiki's crisis.
Before parting, he wanted to do something for Sasuke.
"Sasuke," Naruto stepped forward, "this time, we owe Urashiki a great deal of help. Before you leave, let me do something for you. Don't resist, it's alright."
Sasuke was a little confused, but he didn't refuse Naruto's approach.
Naruto raised his hand and gently placed it on Sasuke's empty sleeve and the shoulder of his severed arm. The next moment, a warm, powerful, and life-giving energy slowly flowed into Sasuke's severed arm.
Sasuke felt a comforting warmth spreading along the severed limb.
"Hmm? That's strange..." Naruto frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with the result. "No change? Is it because we're in different worlds, so we can't directly 'restore' it?"
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to try a different approach. "Well... let's try another one."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sasuke felt the nature of the energy injected into his body suddenly change!
The previous warmth and comfort vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, intense pain as if my flesh and blood were being forcibly torn, reassembled, and woven together!
If it were anyone else, Sasuke would probably immediately react by blocking or dodging, but the target was Naruto.
Sasuke endured the tearing pain, his body stiff but he did not retreat or resist in the slightest.
The pain lasted for about ten seconds, then receded quickly like a tide.
Immediately afterwards, a feeling that was both strange and incredibly familiar, as if a long-lost part had finally returned to its place, came clearly from the severed arm!
"Sasuke... Mr. Sasuke! Your hand!!" Boruto's exclamation, filled with astonishment and joy, brought Sasuke back to his senses.
Sasuke suddenly looked down at his previously bare shoulder.
There, a brand new arm, with healthy skin, smooth muscle lines, and full of power, was perfectly connected to his body!
"...Is this...also your power?" Uchiha Sasuke looked at his newly grown, freely movable arm, his tone not filled with joy, but rather with a helpless somberness.
"You actually... didn't need to do this for me."
Sasuke looked at Naruto and calmly stated the facts. Although Sasuke's strength was indeed reduced after losing his arm and it took him a long time to adapt... after so many years, Sasuke had long since gotten used to being one-armed.
He was not ungrateful, nor was he the kind of lunatic who would be so obsessed with clinging to some kind of "atonement" or "symbol" that he wanted to cut off his arm again.
The return of this arm will undoubtedly make his future battles and life more convenient.
Naruto found Sasuke's helpless expression—"I'm grateful, but it's a bit of a hassle"—something amusing.
"You also saved the world, and in my opinion, there's absolutely nothing that would make you 'atone' with 'imperfection'. Perhaps you have your own considerations and principles, and that's your business."
"And I want to thank you for your help this time, and for wanting to do something for my friend to make things easier for him... This is just my way of showing my appreciation. These are two separate things, and they don't conflict with each other."
Sasuke listened in silence, ultimately offering no further words of refusal. He understood Naruto's meaning—the sins and punishments of the past, the path and choices of the future, were lessons for Uchiha Sasuke himself.
This gift, given purely out of friendship and gratitude, is from Naruto Uzumaki. Even though he was the one who took that arm from him in the first place…
"Then... goodbye." Naruto looked at Sasuke, his tone becoming lighter. He had wanted to say something, like, "I hope this isn't the last time we say goodbye," but the words caught in his throat.
In the end, the farewell was reduced to just two words.
"Take care of yourself."
Sasuke met Naruto's gaze, nodded slightly, and responded with equally concise words.
"Um... goodbye."
A night breeze swept through the forest, and Sasuke Uchiha activated the "Plow" in his hand, its light enveloping him and Boruto. Their figures gradually became hazy and transparent within the light.