Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 114 Choice

The next moment, a very slight "snap" sound rang out.

Naruto extended his finger and gently flicked Satsuki's forehead. The force was just right; it wouldn't really hurt her, but it was enough to bring her back to her senses from her panic.

"Well……"

Satsuki subconsciously loosened her grip on Naruto's sleeve and covered her forehead where she had been flicked, but her large, tearful eyes, filled with unease, remained fixed on Naruto.

Looking at the girl in front of him, who had lost all her sharp edges and was left with only a soft core, Naruto felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and he deliberately spoke in a slightly teasing tone.

"Satsuki... It seems that while the Uchiha clan's genius is outstanding in terms of talent as a ninja, in some aspects... he really is an absolute idiot."

He was referring, of course, to her anxiety and fear of losing connection.

However, this statement would normally have immediately drawn a furious rebuttal from Satsuki, but at this moment it was like a stone sinking into the sea.

Zuo Yue didn't immediately explode as she had expected, nor did she blush and loudly retort, "Who are you calling an idiot?!" She simply continued to look at him with those wet, vulnerable, and dependent, pitiful eyes.

Even if I'm an idiot... don't abandon me...

Naruto, "..."

The "arrogance" in that once vividly defined "tsundere" attribute has been completely washed away by the overnight upheaval and fear. What remains is only undisguised "tsundere" and a deep-seated unease.

"Satsuki, do you know?" Naruto's voice softened.

"The tides... they never need to choose whether to follow the moon—they simply follow the natural rhythm of the ocean itself deep within their hearts."

He leaned forward slightly, bringing his gaze level with hers, which was filled with unease. "And I didn't just make that choice at that moment. I will always, always follow the 'rhythm' of my heart."

"So don't be afraid. Embrace this happiness that you've regained. I'll always be here watching over you, I won't leave you for a moment."

Tides...moon...

This metaphor stunned Satsuki, who stared unblinkingly at Naruto with her big eyes, while Fugaku, who was watching quietly from the side, seemed to see the figure of an old friend in a daze.

"Really...really?" Zuo Yue's voice still trembled slightly. She needed the most certain confirmation and the most concrete proof.

Naruto didn't reply with words. He simply took Satsuki's still somewhat cold little hand and pressed it firmly against his chest.

"Yeah!" Naruto nodded emphatically, a bright smile spreading across his face. "You felt it, right? It's hot, isn't it? Your heart is beating fast, isn't it? It's all real! Not because I just went through a battle, but because... I'm making the most important promise with you, so I'm both nervous and incredibly happy!"

The real, unmistakable, burning, and rapid heartbeat beneath the palm of your hand is more powerful than any flowery language.

Then, Naruto gently removed Satsuki's hand from his chest, and with his other hand, he playfully pinched Satsuki's soft cheek... Hmm, it felt quite nice.

"You can feel it, right? It hurts a little, doesn't it?" he asked with a smile. "So you see, this isn't a dream! I'm really standing here, and I'm not going anywhere!"

Seeing that the frozen expression of panic on Sasuke's face finally began to loosen and cracks appeared, Naruto decided to press his advantage. He changed his tone and his voice became somewhat weak and dejected.

"Actually... I might be a little more scared than you are right now."

"...Huh?" This completely unexpected turn of events left Satsuki stunned. "Why...?"

Naruto lowered his head slightly. "I'm scared... scared that once Satsuki has her parents back, she won't need me anymore. So..."

He raised his head again, looking at her with a pleading gaze, "Please don't leave me, okay? Let's just... stay together, and not leave each other behind, okay?"

This "retreat as an advance" tactic instantly struck the softest spot in Zuo Yue's heart.

"No! How could I!" she retorted almost immediately, grabbing Naruto's sleeve again with her small hand. "How could I abandon Naruto? I absolutely won't! I will never leave you!"

Upon hearing this urgent and firm response, Naruto's face immediately lit up with a triumphant smile, but more so with genuine joy, and he immediately accepted the reply.

"Yes! I heard you! I'll accept your words with all my heart! This is our promise! Now that Uncle and Aunt are back, if you still need me..."

"So...it's really...so good that you need me! Please keep needing me like this from now on!"

Finally, the last barrier in her heart was completely breached, and the cracks widened rapidly. The proud and coy "tsundere" disappeared completely, turning into a "crybaby" who could only nod and shed tears.

Satsuki nodded vigorously, letting her tears flow like a bursting dam, but at the same time she felt that crying like this was a bit embarrassing, so she subconsciously tried to lower her head and hide her disheveled appearance.

Seeing this, Naruto reached out again and stroked her head. "It's okay, cry. Sometimes tears aren't a sign of weakness."

He gently comforted them, "They were so happy they couldn't contain themselves, so they couldn't help but come out, right?"

"...Mmm." Satsuki buried her face deeply in Naruto's shoulder and responded with a muffled sound. Warm tears quickly soaked the clothes on his shoulder.

Naruto felt the dampness on his shoulder and the slight trembling in his arms, and continued in a steady, firm voice, "Yes, your future won't require you to make choices. There you will be, there will be me, there will be your uncle and aunt, and perhaps other friends..."

"But you've been in my world from the very beginning, you're in it now, and you'll always be in it. That will never change, no matter what."

These last words made Zuo Yue's crying louder once again, no longer a silent sob, but a loud wail mixed with immense relief, gratitude and happiness.

Accompanying her sobs were her intermittent, almost inaudible, repeated "Thank you... thank you so much..."

Naruto didn't say anything more to comfort her, but simply nodded gently, one hand still rhythmically patting her back, completely accepting all her emotions. Finally, he softly made a suggestion.

"Okay, let's go to the ninja academy together after breakfast."

Behind the two, Fugaku watched as his youngest daughter clung to that blond-haired boy without reservation, and he cried his heart out...

As a father, watching his beloved daughter develop such a deep dependence and affection for another boy...

He raised his hand with mixed feelings, as if he wanted to say something, perhaps out of a father's instinct, or perhaps because he felt something was inappropriate.

But her other hand gently stopped him. Mikoto shook her head slightly at her husband, her face showing no worry or dissatisfaction, just a gentle, tolerant smile as she gazed softly at the two children embracing.

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(There will be one more update today. The next chapter will be a transitional one, jumping back in time to graduation from the Ninja Academy.)