"We Are Friends. We Die Together. That’s What It Means to Be First-Class Ninjas."

[On Screen]

[Naruto and Sasuke stood face-to-face, their gazes locked. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken emotion.]

["By fighting head-on like this, we've come to understand each other better. This proves we've both become first-class ninjas."]

["Whether it's you or me..."]

["Sasuke, can you see it now? My true feelings—the ones deep inside my heart?"]

[Naruto pointed to his chest, his tone solemn.]

Sasuke didn't respond immediately, his expression unreadable.

["You must have realized it too, Sasuke. If we keep fighting like this..."]

["We'll both die."]

Outside the Sky Screen

In Konoha, the Twelve Young Ninjas stared at the screen, their expressions ranging from shock to disbelief.

Was this really Naruto?

The once-clumsy, loud-mouthed "dead last" was now standing tall, exuding an aura of calm strength and reliability.

"That's Naruto?" Ino and Sakura whispered simultaneously, their eyes wide.

"Naruto-kun... so dependable... so cool," Hinata muttered softly, her cheeks flushed red.

[On Screen]

["If you attack Konoha, Sasuke, I'll have no choice but to fight you. But save all your hatred for me, and when the time comes, unleash it all."]

["I'll carry that burden with you. I'll take your hatred and die with you."]

The Ninja World fell silent, stunned by Naruto's words.

Could such a person truly exist in a world shaped by violence and pain?

Naruto wasn't just willing to fight Sasuke—he was ready to die with him, to shoulder all his hatred and pain, and to carry the weight of Konoha's sins.

In the Hokage's Office

The room was deathly quiet.

Itachi's lips curled into a faint smile. "Naruto-kun, thank you... for being my brother's friend."

Naruko scratched her head awkwardly, her cheeks flushing. "Hehe... well, that's just the kind of person I am, right?"

Her small, embarrassed laugh resembled a fox's chuckle—mischievous, but undeniably endearing.

Sasuke turned away with a small huff, his expression unreadable.

[On Screen]

After a long pause, Sasuke's voice broke the silence.

["What's wrong with you, Naruto?"]

His tone was low at first, but it quickly rose in intensity.

["Why are you so obsessed with me?!"]

Naruto's answer was simple: ["Because we're friends."]

Sasuke froze.

The Ninja World froze.

"He's calling him a friend even though Sasuke's trying to kill him? I'm gonna cry!"

"Naruto's too kind for this world. Is he really a ninja? Or is he just a saint?"

"This has to be love. There's no other explanation!"

"Naruto x Sasuke shippers, we're eating good today!"

Back in Konoha, the villagers watched the screen in silence.

Many of them shifted uncomfortably, guilt pooling in their hearts.

This boy, this child they had ostracized and called a monster, was now standing tall and willing to protect the very village that had wronged him.

Some villagers even began to reconsider their hatred.

In the flower shop, Ino clasped her hands over her burning cheeks.

"Naruto is so... so handsome!" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Hinata, meanwhile, stared at the screen with wide, starry eyes.

"Naruto-kun... so kind... so strong..." she murmured, her voice quivering with emotion.

In the Hokage's Office

Sasuke stared at the screen, his hand clutching his chest. He didn't know why, but he felt something stirring deep inside—an odd sense of relief, even peace.

[On Screen]

["From the moment we met, Sasuke, I knew we could never understand each other through words alone."]

["That's why... I believe in using fists to speak."]

Naruto extended his fist toward Sasuke, smiling warmly.

["We're both first-class ninjas now. Let's settle this like first-class ninjas."]