Angry?
Hearing Naruto comfort her with such a soft, gentle, and clearly apologetic voice, Satsuki's frustration, born from her setback, instantly melted away, leaving only a soft warmth.
What's more, she wasn't angry at Naruto at all, not even a tiny bit. All her negative emotions were directed at her own disappointing performance, Kakashi's utterly unreliable guidance, and that nonsensical book, 'make-out tactics'. No matter who she was angry at, she would absolutely, positively never direct even a shred of her anger towards Naruto.
Satsuki also clearly understood that ever since that day... that night, her heart had completely committed to Naruto. But, upon careful reflection, it seemed that it had always been Naruto who meticulously cared for her, protected her, and guided her.
Satsuki could clearly feel that her deep affection for Naruto grew uncontrollably with almost every time she saw him. And everything Naruto did, every action... wait?
Satsuki's thoughts suddenly paused, and a long-ignored, obvious fact abruptly broke into her mind.
Cooking... giving pet names... praising... these... aren't these the things Naruto has always been doing for me?!
This realization made her eyes widen instantly.
Cooking—the first time they officially met, Naruto had proactively shared his incredibly delicious-looking bento with her, and later he often invited her to his home, personally cooking various delicious meals for her. His culinary skills had, unknowingly, 'conquered' her stomach long ago.
Praising—whenever her Ninjutsu made a little progress, or her shuriken throws were particularly accurate, Naruto would always generously and sincerely praise her with "So amazing!" "As expected of the Uchiha genius!" His recognition and encouragement had always been one of her important motivations for becoming stronger.
Possessive pet names—from what Satsuki knew, Naruto seemed to... only give nicknames to her, right!
That unique, teasing "Nizhu Zi"! Although she initially thought it was a bit silly, she had long since unknowingly accepted it with pleasure, even secretly rejoicing.
So... Naruto had long ago, in his most natural and subtle way, achieved what Kakashi's shoddy book had painstakingly written down! And he did it so perfectly, so deeply, making her fall into it without even realizing!
Satsuki was completely lost in her own thoughts, not noticing Naruto beside her looking at her with a mix of worry and strangeness.
Naruto watched her, at times frowning, at times enlightened, at times with crimson cheeks, his heart in turmoil, completely unable to understand what was wrong with Satsuki.
Meanwhile, Satsuki was engaged in a fierce deduction and argumentation in her inner world.
So... the methods written in that 'make-out tactics' book might not have been the problem itself? The problem was with the way I used them?
This realization instantly gave Satsuki one last glimmer of hope. The last method Kakashi mentioned—one she had given up on completely after repeated failures because she found it too embarrassing—now clearly resurfaced in her mind, imbued with new hope.
"The power of language is infinite!"
In her memory, Kakashi was flipping through that tattered book, explaining his so-called "ultimate move." "If ordinary praise and care don't work... then bring out the ultimate weapon—unique, soulful praise!"
Kakashi pointed to a line in the book, "Look here! If you think your relationship with the other person is good enough, intimate enough, you can try using some beautiful metaphors, or... even a poetic form to express it! This will have unexpected effects!"
Kakashi's words faded in her mind. Unique praise? Metaphors and poetry?
Had Naruto used this method?
Satsuki immediately began searching through her memories... and indeed, he had.
It required almost no effort to recall; those words, like a brand, instantly surfaced from the deepest, most precious part of her memory—words Naruto had said to her, words she would never forget in this life.
"The tide... it never needs to choose whether to follow the moon—it simply, naturally, follows the rhythm of the ocean itself from deep within."
"And I, not only made a choice at that time. I will always, always follow this 'rhythm' within my heart."
As these words echoed in her mind, Satsuki felt a powerful, sweet torrent of emotion suddenly crash into her heart, her legs went weak, almost unable to support her body.
That's right! This ultimate method... Naruto had also used it long ago! And he used it so naturally, so profoundly movingly.
This last method... she absolutely! Absolutely could not mess it up again!
The tiny bit of rationality and shame that had just returned due to her epiphany was now completely and unhesitatingly discarded by Satsuki. A determination to burn her bridges and fight to the death burned in her eyes.
She took a deep breath, then turned her head, her gaze burning as she looked at Naruto beside her, who was growing increasingly anxious due to her long silence.
Naruto's heart pounded as Satsuki's gaze suddenly became incredibly focused, even subtly burning with a determined flame, and he suddenly had a bad premonition.
"Naruto..."
Satsuki spoke, her voice no longer excited or stiff, but in an extremely gentle tone, slowly calling out his name.
"...Yes!!"
Naruto flinched at her affectionate tone, almost reflexively straightening his back as he responded, his ominous premonition instantly soaring to its peak!
Satsuki's gaze was unfocused, and she spoke, word by word, in a reciting tone.
"Naruto..."
"Your golden hair, like... like the most brilliant, warmest sunlight in autumn, capable of dispelling all the gloom and cold in the world, making one unable to resist wanting to draw near and absorb that light..."
Kakashi: Metaphor! Use metaphors!
"Your blue eyes, like... like the deepest, purest lake in the world, reflecting the vastness and freedom of the entire sky."
Kakashi: Poetic! Be beautiful!
"Your vibrant figure when you run, agile and... and light, just like... just like the most nimble, most agile antelope in the mountain stream..."
Satsuki paused here, a note from Kakashi's book, "Emphasize cuteness," flashing through her mind, so she quickly amended and added: "...cub!"
Kakashi: Be unique! Be memorable!
After reciting, Satsuki took a slight breath, her cheeks astonishingly red from this extremely embarrassing performance, but she still tried to maintain that "deeply affectionate" expression, looking expectantly at Naruto, waiting for the "soul-striking" effect.