Chapter 343: Counterattack
Those words that sounded like belittling himself—Sasuke instantly heard the underlying meaning. His brain rapidly analyzed the information hidden in Naruto's words.
The reason the Uchiha clan was called the "Clan of Love" was precisely because this clan's power core was completely built upon emotion, sensitivity forever overriding rationality. More critically, once an Uchiha clan member identified someone, the emotional investment poured in would reach a terrifying degree.
"..."
Sasuke sighed helplessly internally. Looked like this world's "self" had long ago identified Naruto as the most important person. If she learned something belonging to "herself" had been touched by another, it would probably trigger unpredictable consequences.
This feeling Sasuke knew all too well—hadn't he back then, for similar reasons, made the extreme decision to destroy Konoha?
...During deeper contemplation, Sasuke suddenly realized an extremely embarrassing discovery. This world's "self" had identified Naruto, but what about himself? Aside from different genders, his relationship with Naruto...
Sasuke violently shook his head, attempting to shake off these excessive thoughts from his mind. Looked like Naruto's meaning was—since the other "self" liked Naruto, if she learned Boruto was a child born between Naruto and another woman, something truly terrible would probably happen.
Then, how exactly should he explain all this?
Not knowing why, after calmly accepting the current situation—or possibly because he was truly at wit's end—those previously intense feelings of shame had actually dissipated. Even in the process of constructing an explanation, Sasuke's mouth corners unconsciously curved into a slight smile, that smile even revealing a trace of rare openness.
"Boruto," Sasuke turned toward Boruto. "I'm going to explain some things next—don't interrupt first."
"Ah? I understand." Though somewhat confused, Boruto still obediently nodded. This was his first time hearing Sasuke make such a request. Though not understanding the reason, he believed Sasuke-san doing this must have his reasons.
"Naruto, why did you say such things to that guy?" On the other side, Satsuki was asking Naruto, obviously puzzled by the just-now conversation.
"Nothing much," Naruto scratched his cheek. "Just wanted to show off a bit. Satsuki-chan directly awakening three-tomoe Sharingan is really amazing."
"...I don't want to mention that matter anymore." Satsuki's gaze darkened. "You know what the price was, right? If you'd truly died that day..."
Her tone carried heart-palpitating dangerous implications. Naruto hastily smoothed things over. "Sorry! It's my fault! Absolutely won't happen again!" He then pointed toward Sasuke's direction. "Um... listen to his explanation first. After he finishes, you'll know why I showed off to him."
Satsuki locked her gaze back on Sasuke. This was originally the question she'd been getting to the bottom of from the start. At this moment, she awaited that long-delayed explanation.
"...Do you like dinosaurs?"
"What?" Satsuki was startled by this sudden, completely unrelated question, utterly failing to process this statement's meaning.
"During childhood," Sasuke continued in steady voice, "if discussing favorite toy types, you should be the kind who most liked dinosaur toys, right?"
"You... why do you know this..." Satsuki's voice unconsciously lowered. Though not understanding why this was being mentioned now, a chill quietly crept up her spine. This minute childhood preference almost forgotten—even her parents might not know it.
"If you have spare time, do you observe various birds? Like... hawks." Sasuke paused momentarily, noticing Satsuki's suddenly contracting pupils. "Looks like I'm right. Because I'm the same way."
"This is something only 'we' would know."
"You..." Satsuki involuntarily retreated half a step. She felt both shocked and a strange panic—the opponent had obviously hit the mark. Standing aside, Naruto also listened intently. So Satsuki had these unknown little hobbies? He secretly noted these details.
To make Satsuki believe the even more bizarre truths coming next, Sasuke first mentioned some secret private matters only "himself" would know. Watching Satsuki's expression gradually become dazed during listening, Sasuke knew the time was ripe. He began thoroughly explaining he was "her" from another parallel universe, why he'd crossed over here, what their purpose was, and who exactly that mysterious person who suddenly attacked Naruto that day was.
---
After lengthy explanation, Sasuke finally displayed to Satsuki his powerful Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. When Satsuki truly sensed that ocular power sharing her source yet far exceeding hers, though her heart still found it incredible, mountains of evidence forced her to accept this absurd reality.
"Naruto... is what he said all true?" Satsuki turned toward Naruto, voice carrying final verification-seeking trembling.
"Yes..." Naruto lightly nodded. "Very incredible, right? But... it's truly true."
Herself actually being male in another world? This recognition left Satsuki momentarily not knowing how to react, an indescribable subtle emotion surging within. But more than this, what concerned her more was—someone actually wouldn't hesitate to cross space-time to harm Naruto?!
Sasuke watched the fierce killing intent in Satsuki's eyes, naturally understanding what she was thinking. "Regarding Urashiki's attack," he timely spoke, "you needn't worry. I'll protect Naruto here."
"However, compared to the future 'me,' the current you is still too weak. The next battle—absolutely don't get involved." Perceiving the loss flashing through Satsuki's eyes, Sasuke supplemented: "But you also needn't be too hasty. Because I am you—in your future, you'll possess the same power as me."
"...Wait a moment." Satsuki first uncontrollably felt a trace of loss, but she immediately thought other questions awaited answers. Like—did she successfully take revenge? Did she kill Uchiha Itachi?
But a more urgent thought violently struck her—if "I" am male... then what about Naruto?!
Wait a moment... this person... could he be!
Satsuki violently turned her gaze toward Boruto who'd been quietly standing aside all along. Those coincidences she hadn't previously noticed began crazily overlapping in her mind. Similar feeling, similar appearance, plus closely following "future self"! This person... could he be!
Naruto unconsciously swallowed, feeling his throat dry, heartbeat involuntarily accelerating. He nervously prayed internally—Sasuke should have understood my hint just now, right?
"That's right," Sasuke's voice calmly rang out, breaking the taut silence. "Just as you think. Boruto is future Naruto's son."
"What?!"
Satsuki and Naruto nearly simultaneously cried out. Satsuki was shocked her terrible guess had actually come true, while Naruto was surprised Sasuke had actually directly revealed the truth?!
"Naruto's son..." Satsuki murmured repeating this phrase, slowly shifting her gaze back to Sasuke's face, awaiting his next explanation. But her eyes had changed—the light in her eyes completely vanished. Not cold fury but bottomless deathly stillness, so calm it was spine-chilling.
Sasuke silently apologized internally to his family, deciding he absolutely must properly compensate them after returning. But right now, this was also a helpless measure—when ninja executed infiltration missions, lying was a necessary skill.
"...In my world," Sasuke continued weaving lies without changing expression, voice steady without a trace of ripple.
"Uzumaki Naruto is female, the name also appropriately changed to Uzumaki Naruko. If you want to see, I can describe her appearance in detail."
Sasuke turned toward Naruto. "After describing, Naruto can use Transformation Jutsu to become that world's 'Naruko's' appearance."