After Sakura's question, a moment of eerie silence descended upon the training ground, followed by some subtle changes.
First was Naruto. His expression, which had been somewhat blank due to various confusions and entanglements, slowly, little by little, began to clear.
So that's how it is… At this moment, all the questions in Naruto's mind connected, and everything suddenly became clear. He understood why Sakura had given such extremely cruel advice. Why she kept emphasizing "drawing a clear line" and "completely rejecting" someone. Why she seemed so agitated.
Cross-server chat.
This was the most accurate summary of the entire conversation between Naruto and Sakura! He had been talking about "how to make his beloved normal," while Sakura had automatically interpreted it as "a clingy love rival has appeared!" They were not on the same wavelength at all!
Sakura, on the other hand, looked around with some confusion. For some reason, the pervasive, bone-chilling cold sensation that had been dogging her, almost freezing her marrow, had instantly vanished without a trace after she spoke those words. The suffocating pressure in the air also dissipated.
Behind them, that "tree"—Uchiha Satsuki—finally understood everything.
Sakura hadn't wanted Naruto to distance himself from her, nor had she maliciously intended for Naruto to say those excessively hurtful words to her… Everything she did, all those intense remarks, were actually because she mistakenly thought a "love rival" had appeared, and she was trying to… protect her? Trying to help her "clear obstacles"?
Although being described as "disgusting," "annoying," and an "idiot who doesn't know what's good for them" by Sakura still made Satsuki a bit angry, it was Sakura's final, almost shouted words, rather than those hurtful terms, that truly struck her heart and produced a completely different effect—
"Are you going to let Satsuki down?!"
Sakura… Is that really what she thought? In her eyes… Naruto and I… are we meant to be together as a matter of course?
Although the method of "protection" was incredibly stupid… Satsuki thought to herself, was her affection so obvious in others' eyes? So obvious that Sakura would unhesitatingly believe that if Naruto accepted someone else, it would be "letting her down"?
And the word "let down" sounded as if there was some unspoken agreement between Satsuki and Naruto.
All resentment and murderous intent vanished in an instant, replaced by a pounding, almost overflowing sense of happiness.
At the same time… Sakura's intense words, entirely based on a misunderstanding, also sharply cut through Naruto's in some ways exceptionally dull nerves.
Let down… Satsuki's feelings?
This word heavily struck Naruto's heart, making him involuntarily begin to carefully recall everything that had happened today.
Thinking carefully… Although what Satsuki did today was indeed a bit… catastrophic… She cooked for him—although the salt content of that bento was enough to kill an ox, she made it herself, and even carefully wrapped it in cloth to bring it over.
She gave him a pet name—although the nickname "Little Sun" made him so embarrassed at the time that his toes curled, it seemed she had gathered all her courage to say it.
She praised him exaggeratedly—although those hymns of praise made him uncomfortable and even gave him goosebumps, every word seemed to be filled with… admiration and liking?
She even used poetic metaphors—although "antelope cub" petrified him on the spot, that was probably the most "artistic" way she could think of to praise him, wasn't it?
Wait a minute… These things, although the process and results were full of baffling troubles, their starting point… seemed to be entirely to please him? To make him happy? To… bring them closer?
A possibility he had never dared to delve into before, like a tender sprout breaking through the soil, suddenly burst into Naruto's mind.
Could it be… Satsuki… wants our relationship… to go a step further?!
This thought sounded a bit narcissistic at first, but after ruling out all other possibilities, this seemed to be the only reasonable explanation!
And what about himself? He hadn't even considered this, and had called her "weird," and even… dragged her directly to the hospital?!
The thought that he had given such a terrible, hurtful response to Satsuki's feelings made a strong wave of shame and heartache well up in Naruto's heart, and his cheeks began to burn.
So… after finding Satsuki, Naruto already completely understood what he should say. He had to apologize for his foolish behavior today, and… respond to her properly.
— — — — — —
"Are you really sure, Naruto?" Sakura looked at Naruto's finally resolute expression, still somewhat uneasily confirming.
Naruto nodded heavily, "Yes! Thanks to your words, Sakura, I know what to do! Thank you very much!"
After repeatedly assuring her that he would handle the matter properly, Naruto finally succeeded in persuading the still somewhat skeptical Sakura to leave.
Alright… Next, it's time to find Satsuki.
After Sakura's figure disappeared, Naruto's mind stirred slightly. A peculiar phantom—Gold Experience—emitting a soft golden glow, quietly appeared behind him. It bent down, placed its hand on the ground, and invisible life energy perception spread rapidly outwards like ripples.
Hope Satsuki hasn't gone too far… She should still be nearby, right? After all, she looked so angry before… Naruto's thoughts paused.
Because the moment Gold Experience's perception feedback returned, an incredibly familiar life energy signal, whose emotional fluctuations were exceptionally intense at this moment, clearly appeared within his perception range—
And… it was incredibly close! Almost right beside him.
Naruto's gaze slowly turned towards the edge of the training ground… to the extremely ordinary-looking tree not far away.
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