"My relationship with Sasuke…"
At Aoi's question, Naruto's gaze slowly drifted away into a daze.
He seemed lost in memories, a soft, lovesick‑looking smile appearing on his face from time to time.
Seeing this, Aoi — who knew the story well — couldn't help but grin.
If I'm right, he's reliving those happy days back when they were both in Team Seven…
"What I mean is — have you spent much time with him lately?"
Aoi asked, unable to watch him drift off any longer. If he let him keep reminiscing, it would be nightfall before they got anywhere.
"Uh…"
Naruto froze. Once upon a time, yes — we were together every single day.
But ever since Sasuke deserted the village, they had exchanged barely more than ten words in total…
Almost every encounter followed the same pattern:
"NARUTO!!"
"SASUKE!!"
They would roar each other's names, leap high into the air, and clash Rasengan against Chidori in a blinding flash of light — after which Sasuke would simply turn and leave.
Later, Naruto would collapse onto the ground, feeling miserable and used, like a geisha left unpaid after a night's work, and whisper tearfully to himself: "Sasuke…"
"We share a bond of the heart!"
If he really had to describe it, for nearly ten years now their relationship had been one of silent understanding: You know me, and I know you know me — yet neither ever says it aloud… a vague, ambiguous connection existing only in their minds.
Watching Naruto struggle to find words, Aoi rolled his eyes inwardly.
Just as I thought — he can't explain it. It's been almost a decade since they properly spoke.
But outwardly, Aoi kept his expression bright and innocent.
"So, Brother Naruto — is Brother Sasuke strong? And what kind of jutsu does he use now?"
"Of course he's strong!"
Naruto's voice softened with nostalgia.
"He is my lifelong rival. One day, I will bring him back home. As for what techniques he uses now…"
He thought hard for a long time, yet nothing new came to mind.
If pressed, all he could name were moves like the Chidori — something everyone already knew.
A bond of the heart was one thing, but when you hadn't spoken more than three sentences in ten years, claiming to know someone inside out was nothing but self‑deception.
It didn't take long for Omoi to notice this gap. He raised an eyebrow, looking oddly amused. "You're going this far — all for a rogue ninja you barely know?"
"Me and Sasuke —!" Naruto tried to protest, but the words died in his throat before he could finish.
Only now did it truly dawn on him: All this time, I never really understood Sasuke at all — not his true strength, nor what was going through his mind.
He knew nothing.
Otherwise, how could he still not understand why Sasuke left Konoha?
Why he sought out Orochimaru? Why he joined Akatsuki and attacked Killer Bee?
When it came down to it — the current Sasuke was little more than a stranger to him.
And yet…
"I promised Sakura I would bring him back," Naruto said, forcing out his usual bright, determined grin.
"A promise is a promise — that is my ninja way!"
"..."
Truly, no one else could be Naruto.
Even in a moment like this, he fell back on his ultimate argument: My Ninja Way.
This line had won over countless people before — Gaara, Jiraiya, even Nagato, the man who had just destroyed Konoha.
It had always worked like magic.
"But…"
Aoi scratched his head, looking confused.
"Omoi and Karui are determined to avenge their sensei and will not give up. Isn't that also their ninja way?"
Why is it called "unwavering resolve" and praised as a noble "ninja way" when you do it — but when they stand firm, it becomes "an endless cycle of hatred" and they are told to let go and find peace?
It's like saying what's good for the monk is forbidden for everyone else. Where is the fairness in that?
At these words, Naruto went completely still.
Aoi could almost hear the sound of his entire worldview shattering.
So… Sasuke and I are nothing more than strangers who used to know each other well.
And my "ninja way" is nothing more than my own stubborn wish, with no real foundation.
__________________
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