Chapter 342: Hidden Words
"Older sister? Uchiha Itachi?"
"Yes, older sister."
"No, you must be lying to me."
"But everything I've said is the truth."
Sasuke and Naruto's conversation continued calmly like this, yet Sasuke's heart filled with confusion—how many times was this now? To what extent would they torment him? If the so-called hardship was difficult battle, he could completely accept it.
But why did it have to be these repeated mental shocks, almost grinding him to death?
Himself becoming female in this world? Fine, he reluctantly accepted it. Though happy his parents were still alive, learning they'd arranged a childhood betrothal with Naruto's parents? He could grit his teeth and accept it. Discovering this world's "self" truly liked Naruto? Alright, accepted that too.
But now even Uchiha Itachi had become a sister? So he wasn't the only victim?
Sasuke struggled imagining what a female version of Uchiha Itachi would look like. This absurd thought made him feel a trace of relief—at least this news could dispel his impulse to secretly glimpse this era's Uchiha Itachi.
After experiencing this series of shocks, Sasuke instead fell into peculiar contemplation.
Was it possible the problem actually lay with himself?
Because his inner pride couldn't accept another gender version of himself, he felt such shame and embarrassment? Thinking back, that Naruto from his own world in childhood often proactively transformed into his female appearance, inventing that Sexy Jutsu—had that dead-last never felt embarrassed?
So this should be his own problem. Ultimately, to this world's people, he was the strange existence. After all, this world's "self" and Itachi had been female from the start.
Just different genders—was such a big reaction necessary? Right, perhaps he was overreacting.
Sasuke began convincing himself thus. Perhaps psychological defense mechanisms were kicking in. He constantly repeated these reasons internally, attempting to accept reality.
This self-persuasion even carried some self-deception, but it indeed gradually calmed his heart. Ultimately, he chose submission—since unable to change it, just accept it.
"Mas... Master?"
Seeing Sasuke suddenly fall silent, standing frozen like a scarecrow, Boruto worriedly called out softly.
Sasuke finally reacted. He slowly took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. The wrinkles constantly knitting his brow gradually smoothed. His originally calm, lightless eyes became much gentler.
"I'm fine," his voice recovered its usual composure. "Right, Boruto, I'm actually a bit curious—why didn't you show much surprise seeing this world's me?"
"Eh?!" Boruto hadn't expected Sasuke would so bluntly state the fact of "this world's me," momentarily panicked and stammering in reply.
"Because... current literary creation has developed very quickly. Taking a character and recreating them as another gender has already become a very common category..."
Hearing this answer, Sasuke nodded thoughtfully. So that's how it was—looked like he was a bit behind the times. This recognition made his mood even more peaceful. Since the current young generation could easily accept such settings, why should he be so conflicted?
His older sister? Another self? What was this guy even talking about?
Satsuki's brow furrowed tightly. Why had these people's words suddenly become so difficult to understand? Uchiha Itachi was this man's older sister? But this person before her looked about the same age as her parents!
Just as Satsuki fell into confusion, Sasuke proactively stepped forward half a pace, tone impossibly calm as he began explaining. "I remember now—it was my oversight. You sensed the ocular power and found this place, right?"
Naruto stood aside, completely unable to understand Sasuke's current state. This attitude of calmly accepting reality—completely different from the Sasuke who'd nearly collapsed moments ago. Sasuke's originally tense shoulders had already relaxed. Even his breathing had become steady and even.
Satsuki's eyes refocused on Sasuke. "That's right! What's going on with your eyes? Who exactly are you? Why is your ocular power so similar to mine!"
"Because our eyes are identical—eyes from the exact same source." He raised his sole remaining hand, pointing at his eye socket. "This similarity—even between blood siblings couldn't reach such closeness. As for Itachi's aura... when I was on the verge of blindness, I transplanted Itachi's eyes."
"???"
Satsuki opened her mouth but couldn't produce any sound. Though she understood each word individually, their combined meaning left her completely unable to comprehend. What did this even mean? Transplanting eyes? On the verge of blindness?
"Because I am you," Sasuke continued explaining. "You from another parallel universe, also your future self. However, unlike me, I hadn't expected this world's self to actually be female."
"...Huh?!"
Satsuki was completely dumbfounded. This explanation was too bizarre, exceeding all her cognitive range. Naruto beside her also widened his eyes. Sasuke was actually calmly accepting reality and planning to directly reveal the truth? If so...
Naruto suddenly thought of something, violently turning to look at Boruto. If he let Satsuki know Boruto's true identity...
Not knowing why, an image of Satsuki crouching on a utility pole at night suddenly surfaced in Naruto's mind.
"Right! Sasuke!" Naruto hastily stepped forward, hand instinctively raising as though to stop something.
"Hmm? What is it?" Sasuke puzzledly turned toward Naruto, not understanding why he was suddenly so agitated.
"You know Satsuki-chan has currently awakened three-tomoe Sharingan, right?" Naruto said rapidly.
Sasuke naturally knew—this was ordinary Sharingan's peak. The vast majority of Uchiha clan members could only reach this realm in their entire lives. He lightly nodded, awaiting Naruto's next words.
"She's actually much stronger than you," Naruto said in a seemingly relaxed tone while giving Sasuke a meaningful look. "I remember your first awakening was only one tomoe, right?"
These words sounded somewhat impolite, even carrying a stepping-on-one-to-praise-another meaning.
But Sasuke understood Naruto, knowing he wouldn't say such things without reason, immediately realizing deeper meaning lay within.
"Satsuki-chan is amazing," Naruto continued, gaze turning toward Satsuki, voice becoming somewhat gentler. "On that night, under the belief her parents had died, her clan was exterminated, and her sister had betrayed her, Satsuki-chan still didn't awaken her Sharingan."
Satsuki looked at Naruto confusedly, not understanding why he'd suddenly bring this up. That night's memories remained her heart's deepest pain.
"Then well..." Naruto's tone became subtle, gaze wandering between Satsuki and Sasuke. "Itachi seemed to have hurt me, and Satsuki-chan directly awakened these eyes."
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