The Truth in My Heart

["Even someone like me, who had nothing, gained bonds through Team 7—with you and Sakura."]

["I wanted to be strong like you, cool like you..."]

Sasuke stared at the screen, his expression frozen. Naruto's words hit him like a punch, shaking something deep inside.

What was this feeling? This warmth, this sense of ease? It wasn't something he'd experienced since his family's loss.

Was this what it felt like… to be admired?

["I've been chasing after you this whole time..."]

In the Hokage's office, Naruko blushed furiously, her toes curling inside her sandals. She couldn't stand it—this level of embarrassment was unbearable.

"T-This stupid sky screen! Can it stop already? Now the whole Ninja World knows!" she thought, practically fuming with humiliation.

[On Screen]

[Naruto's face brightened into a brilliant smile, one so warm and radiant it resembled the sun itself. "Meeting you in this lifetime has been the best thing that ever happened to me."]

Naruto's words fell like a soft breeze, carrying an unspoken weight.

Sasuke's heart stirred.

The Ninja World held its breath.

The silence stretched, then broke into a flood of chatter:

"I can't believe it. I'm actually jealous of Sasuke right now. And I'm a guy!"

"That was… intense. Even I'm moved. Is Naruto secretly Konoha's heartthrob?"

In a small flower shop, Ino clutched her chest, her cheeks flushed.

"Naruto… looks so cool," she whispered, her heart racing.

She had never thought of him like this before. He always seemed loud and clumsy, but in this moment, he radiated a calm strength she couldn't ignore. And without his headband… Was he… handsome?

It wasn't just her. Across the villages, countless girls were captivated. Naruto's steady demeanor, his heartfelt words—he was making an impact they couldn't have anticipated.

"Naruto-kun… is so dependable," Hinata murmured, her face crimson. She swayed slightly, looking ready to faint. Beside her, Hanabi watched the screen skeptically.

"Naruto… likes Sasuke, doesn't he?" Hanabi muttered, her expression unreadable.

[On Screen]

[Despite Naruto's heartfelt confession, Sasuke's face remained as cold as stone, his eyes sharp and unyielding.]

["No matter what you say, Naruto, I won't change."]

["Everyone in the village… I will destroy them all. I won't leave anyone alive."]

[Naruto's bright smile faded into something more bittersweet. He sighed, his tone somber.]

["Is this really the only path left for you, Sasuke?"]

["Yes," Sasuke replied, his voice cold as ice. "You only have two options: kill me and become Konoha's hero, or die by my hand and be remembered as a failure."]

Naruto's narrowed eyes opened fully, revealing a look of unshakable resolve.

["Sasuke, I don't believe that."]

["I won't become a failure, and I won't become a hero by killing you. I choose neither."]

The glowing space began to blur and fade.

[Outside the vision]

The battle resumed. Rasengan and Chidori collided once more, creating a deafening explosion that sent both combatants flying.

["Naruto!"]

Kakashi broke free of his restraints and dashed forward, catching Naruto before he hit the ground.

Meanwhile, as Sasuke hurtled toward a rock wall, white tendrils of Zetsu's flesh extended from his body, cushioning the impact.

Naruto looked at Sasuke as he stood again, his voice calm but firm.

["I understand now," he said simply.]

Across the Ninja World, murmurs rippled:

"Why does Sasuke stay so calm when Naruto talks to him like this?"

"That's love for you!"

"I swear, if Naruto had confessed to me like that, I would've melted on the spot."

"Naruto x Sasuke forever! I'll chip in five hundred for the wedding."

In Suna, Gaara narrowed his eyes slightly at the screen.

[In the Hokage's office]

Naruko turned toward Sasuke, her eyes searching.

"Sasuke… do you still want to leave?" she asked hesitantly.

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Sasuke, waiting for his response.

Sasuke's face remained unreadable. He appeared to be deep in thought, his gaze flickering between calm and cold as he processed everything.

[On Screen]

[A swirling vortex appeared beside Sasuke. Emerging from it was the masked man wearing a black cloak with red clouds—Tobi.]

["It's time to go, Sasuke," Tobi said calmly.]

In the Hokage's office, everyone stiffened at the sight of Tobi.

Even Itachi's calm demeanor faltered as his gaze hardened.

"Itachi," Hiruzen asked, his tone serious. "Do you know anything about this masked man?"

Itachi nodded slowly.

"He has a strange ability to make his body intangible. And…" Itachi hesitated before continuing, his voice lower. "He's the one who controlled the Nine-Tails twelve years ago to attack Konoha."

The revelation hit the room like a thunderclap.

"This man… he's not ordinary," Kakashi muttered, his tone grim.

[On Screen]

[Tobi glanced briefly at Naruto. "So, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. It seems the two of you couldn't resist fighting."]

["But don't worry. I've prepared a much larger stage for you, Sasuke. Let's leave this place."]

As Tobi spoke, Naruto began walking toward Sasuke. His steps were steady, his expression calm.

["Naruto?"]

["Relax, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said over his shoulder. "I just have something to say to him."]

Naruto stopped in the middle of the lake, locking eyes with Sasuke once again.

["Sasuke, do you remember what you said to me back in the Valley of the End?"]

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as a memory surfaced.

[A flashback played.]

["If you're a true ninja, you'd understand just by fighting. But you're too naive, Naruto."]

["Tell me," Sasuke had said back then, his voice sharp. "Can you see into my heart? Can you see my true thoughts?"]