Chapter 102: Naruko's Monologue
Within the Kamui dimension, all was silent emptiness.
The three girls looked at each other, momentarily at a loss.
Finally, Yukie spoke first. She looked at Naruko, her tone still carrying lingering shock and curiosity. "That person just now... is he your friend? His timing was truly fortunate."
Naruko opened her mouth, ultimately nodding gently. "...Mm, his name is Uchiha Yu."
Sasuko stood quietly to the side, gaze sweeping past Naruko's slightly reddening ear tips before indifferently moving away.
Yukie keenly captured this momentary subtlety and couldn't help smiling. "It seems... the relationship isn't simple?"
Naruko's cheeks immediately flushed completely red. Sasuko huffed lightly and turned her face away.
The atmosphere in the space momentarily became somewhat complex.
Watching their contrasting reactions, Yukie understood—the unreachably distant "sun" Naruko had spoken of was undoubtedly this youth.
Over these years mixing in the film world, she'd seen countless handsome men, yet none had been as unforgettable as him.
Not only that stunningly outstanding appearance, but a kind of innate cool temperament—calm yet naturally carrying an edge.
Moreover... the strength he displayed was unfathomably deep. Even that man who styled himself a deity didn't dare act presumptuously before him.
No wonder even Naruko and that black-haired girl—such outstanding young women—would fall for him.
Yukie turned to strike up conversation with the silent Sasuko beside her, smile remaining bright. "Hello, I'm Fujikaze Yukie. May I ask how to address you?"
Sasuko raised her eyes to glance at this regular on screen, tone distant and concise. "Uchiha Sasuko." She then turned her head aside, clearly unwilling to speak further.
Yukie rarely encountered such a soft rebuff and smiled somewhat awkwardly. "Miss Sasuko truly has... a unique personality."
Naruko watched silently from the side, heart involuntarily stirring with emotion.
As a child, she'd always thought Sasuko was just exceptionally dependent on her brother, which was why she clung to Yu so much—what others commonly called a "brother complex."
But as they grew up together and trained together, she gradually sensed something different.
Sasuko almost never spoke much with others. Aside from necessary polite conversation, she maintained distance from everyone.
She was relatively courteous to girls, at least willing to briefly respond. If boys dared approach to chat, the first time they might escape unscathed, but the second time they'd likely be carried to the infirmary.
And this situation, rather than easing as they aged, became increasingly obvious.
Over all these years, Naruko had never once heard Sasuko call Yu "brother"—not even once.
Initially, she'd thought Sasuko was simply spoiled by Yu and didn't understand etiquette, being so disrespectful.
But later, she gradually understood the gaze with which Sasuko watched Yu—the emotions churning within had long ceased being simple adoptive sibling affection.
Perhaps from long ago, Yu in Sasuko's eyes was no longer just an older brother. Though they had no blood bond, that persistence and possessiveness was far too direct and obvious.
Then what about herself? Between them, what role did she play?
Was she Sasuko's friend or a potential rival? Was she Yu's familiar junior or forever a little girl needing his protection?
Perhaps from the very beginning... she never had a chance.
The slight attention she received was merely because she'd fortunately obtained a trace of sympathy Yu had casually cast.
Yes, the gaze Yu directed at her was certainly gentle, yet completely different from when watching Sasuko.
Most of the time, Yu appeared indifferent to everything around him, uncontentious with the world. Only matters involving Sasuko could make him suddenly change, just like moments ago.
Having been a shinobi these years, Naruko had already vaguely learned things she hadn't understood before: Yu was strong—strong enough to make all of Konoha bow its head, strong enough to intimidate the entire shinobi world with one person's power, making surrounding nations afraid to harbor ill intentions toward Konoha for years. His every move affected the higher-ups' nerves.
The various preferential treatments she'd received over these years were probably also thanks to him.
Yet someone who hadn't truly made a move in years had today drawn his sword again for Sasuko, displaying his edge once more.
A strange emotion suddenly surged in Naruko's heart.
Fatherless and motherless, alone since childhood, she'd nevertheless remained bright and warm like a little sun. Even the deepest darkness had never truly eroded her heart—otherwise how could she have suppressed that violent Nine-Tails inside her body for years?
Yet at this moment, something cold and twisted quietly burrowed into her heart.
Its name was jealousy.
Yu erasing her Flying Thunder God mark... was probably also because of Sasuko, right?
Perhaps just Sasuko lightly saying "I'm unhappy" was enough for Yu to yield without hesitation.
Already possessing all his love, already being gazed at so preciously... why wouldn't even a tiny bit of tenderness leaking through fingers be shared with her?
Really... just a tiny bit would be enough.
Even just simple notice, a casually concerned sentence—that would be enough to illuminate all her humbleness and waiting.
Why was even such a small hope... not allowed?
She knew she shouldn't think this way.
Sasuko was her first real friend, and Yu... was even more the existence that had once illuminated her entire world.
Yet that thorn in her heart called jealousy uncontrollably dug deeper and deeper.
Why specifically Sasuko? Why couldn't it be her?
She was reluctant to resent Sasuko, even more reluctant to blame Yu.
She just couldn't help fantasizing, couldn't help hoping—if one day Yu could also frown once for her, get angry once, could also look at her this way...
Her thoughts uncontrollably slid toward a dark abyss.
What if... what if Sasuko wasn't there?
Then could I replace her and be with Yu...
The moment this thought emerged, she hurriedly suppressed it, heart in a panic.
How could she... harbor such a base thought?
Even Little Kurama dwelling within her sensed this unfamiliar emotional fluctuation clearly for the first time.
All along, Naruko's chakra had been warm and bright like sunshine, yet now... a trace of cold, gloomy darkness had seeped in.
Like dripping a drop of thick ink into a clear glass of water, that wisp of darkness rapidly spread—an aura completely different from before that made even Little Kurama restless and uneasy.
Little Kurama's worried voice suddenly rang in her consciousness. "Naruko, what's wrong with you..."
This inquiry timely interrupted Naruko's increasingly deep thoughts, and those dark delusions scattered with it.
She already possessed so much now—she shouldn't covet more...
Yet that obsession deep in her heart still couldn't be easily released.
In the sea of consciousness, Naruko forced a smile at Little Kurama:
"Nothing..."
***
20+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces