Chapter 367: Ending
"It seems... I guessed correctly?"
Uchiha Satsuki observed Sasuke's subtle yet undeniable stiffness, along with Naruto's expression that instantly became unnatural. Her tone remained flat as she stated the fact.
Realizing the probing had succeeded and his hastily fabricated lie about "Naruto being female" had been exposed on the spot, Uchiha Sasuke's breathing fell into barely perceptible disarray for a moment.
"You... how did you see through it?"
"There were too many signs..."
Satsuki gently shook her head. "If 'Naruko' truly existed and was my future partner in that world... then when you heard about the 'arranged marriage' agreement earlier, you wouldn't have shown that kind of expression."
Standing to the side, Uzumaki Boruto felt an inexplicable chill. Satsuki's gaze held no anger, no coldness, no killing intent—yet that somewhat hollow stare made his heart turn cold.
The Uchiha clan's eyes could convey the deepest emotions, but the vacant, lightless emptiness currently within Satsuki's eyes proved far more unsettling than any emotion. What exactly did this represent?
"Moreover..."
Satsuki turned her gaze toward Boruto. "I can't sense even a trace of 'bloodline resonance' between this child and myself."
In this world, among Kekkei Genkai families—especially between direct relatives or those sharing the same bloodline—a certain connection and resonance truly existed.
Boruto and Naruto resembled each other to a shocking degree. Satsuki could clearly perceive that close connection between them. However, between Boruto and Sasuke, or even between Boruto and herself, she felt not the slightest trace of that same-source intimacy.
"The way you look at him... your emotions are far too rich." Satsuki looked toward Sasuke, her tone carrying understanding. "You almost... managed to deceive me."
Sasuke found himself momentarily speechless. With the lie completely exposed, forcing further explanations would only appear laughable.
"...Regarding that question, I can answer you later." Satsuki apparently had no intention of immediately pursuing that answer which might prove unbearable for her. She changed direction, throwing out another equally sharp question.
"In your world... what exactly is the relationship between you and your 'Naruto'?"
If the Uchiha Sasuke from that world heard this question, how would he answer?
Probably—"He's an insufferable... complete idiot."
But at this moment, facing this world's "himself," that answer might trigger more unnecessary associations and inquiries, potentially even implicating innocent people.
After a moment of silence, Sasuke chose the position that held the greatest weight in his heart, the most genuine one, yet somehow remained difficult to voice.
"...He is my... most important friend."
"...I see." Upon hearing this, Satsuki slightly lowered her eyelids. "Same gender... then there's no helping it..."
She seemed to accept this explanation, or perhaps was using the reason of "another world" to forcibly convince and comfort a certain emotion within her heart that was nearly spiraling out of control.
"I have no more questions." She raised her head, her expression recovering its usual coldness.
"Eh?" Uzumaki Naruto froze. He'd been on edge, fearing Satsuki would relentlessly pursue the question of "who exactly is that world's Naruto's wife"—a potentially explosive issue. He never expected she would... just give up questioning like this?
What Naruto didn't know was that the instant Satsuki reached the conclusion "the other world's Naruto and Sasuke are close friends," her heart was undergoing an intense, silent internal struggle and self-comfort.
If it had been even one day earlier, or even just a few hours earlier—before she witnessed Naruto unconscious and hanging by a thread with her own eyes—given her state at that time, she probably couldn't have accepted this answer so "calmly." Her extreme possessiveness might have instantly devoured her rationality.
However, the terror of impending loss could sometimes shatter the obsession with "absolute possession." When the shadow of possible permanent separation loomed over one's heart, the essence of that extreme possessiveness—"fear of loss"—became nakedly exposed.
In comparison, the fixation on "exclusive ownership" temporarily took a back seat. As long as he could be safe... everything else seemed like it could be temporarily set aside, even if she needed to continuously numb herself with the reasoning of "that's another world."
What happened to Satsuki was a typical door-in-the-face effect.
"...You don't care anymore?" Sasuke perceived something wrong with Satsuki's state. This wasn't true acceptance. He probed cautiously.
"No." Satsuki slowly shook her head, her gaze refocusing on Naruto, her voice low yet clear.
"I'm afraid... if I continue questioning, or learn more... I won't be able to control myself and will do something irreversible."
She honestly revealed the dark emotions still churning within her heart and her self-warning.
Sasuke's heart jumped in alarm. He immediately understood the severity of the situation. He decisively nodded. "I understand. Since you're by Naruto's side, there shouldn't be any problems."
Without further hesitation, Sasuke retrieved the turtle shell-shaped spacetime device "Plow" from inside his clothing, preparing to activate it.
Watching Sasuke's movements, Naruto also snapped out of his complex emotions. He thought about how Sasuke and the others were about to return to that future where the crisis might not yet be completely resolved, and how this time, thanks to Sasuke's assistance, they'd successfully overcome Urashiki's crisis.
Before parting, he wanted to do something for Sasuke.
"Sasuke," Naruto stepped forward. "This time with Urashiki, we made it through thanks to your help. Before you leave, let me do something for you. Don't resist—it'll be fine."
Sasuke felt somewhat puzzled but didn't refuse Naruto's approach.
Naruto raised his hand, gently placing it on Sasuke's empty sleeve and the shoulder of his severed arm. The next moment, a warm, vast energy filled with life force slowly flowed into Sasuke's severed limb.
Sasuke felt a comfortable warmth spreading along his residual limb.
"Hm? That's strange..." Naruto slightly frowned, seemingly unsatisfied with the effect. "No change? Because we're in different worlds, I can't directly 'restore' it?"
He pondered for a moment, deciding to try a different approach. "Then... let me try another one."
The moment those words fell, Sasuke felt the nature of the energy flowing into his body suddenly transform!
The previous warm comfort instantly vanished, replaced by a sharp, tearing pain as flesh and blood deep within were being forcibly torn apart, reorganized, and woven together!
If it had been anyone else performing this, Sasuke probably would have immediately dodged or blocked reflexively. But the one doing this was Naruto.
Sasuke endured that tearing agony, his body rigid yet without the slightest retreat or resistance.
The pain continued for over ten seconds, then receded like a tide.
Immediately after, a sensation both strange yet incredibly familiar—a lost part finally returning to its rightful place—clearly transmitted from his severed arm!
"Sasuke... Sasuke-san! Your hand!!" Uzumaki Boruto's shout, filled with shock and joy, reminded Sasuke to look.
Sasuke abruptly looked down toward his originally empty shoulder.
There, a completely new arm—skin healthy, muscle lines smooth, radiating a sense of power—was connected perfectly to his body!
"...This... is also your power?" Uchiha Sasuke looked at his newly regenerated, freely moving arm. His tone held no joy but rather a helpless heaviness.
"You actually... didn't need to go out of your way to do this for me."
Sasuke looked toward Naruto, voice calmly stating the facts. Although when he lost this arm back then, Sasuke's strength had indeed taken a hit and he'd needed a long time to adapt... so many years had passed that he'd long since grown accustomed to his one-armed state.
He wasn't ungrateful, nor was he some neurotic person who'd insist on cutting off his arm again to maintain some "atonement" or "symbol."
This arm's return would undoubtedly make his future battles and daily life more convenient.
Naruto looked at Sasuke's expression of "though very grateful, this is indeed a bit troublesome" and found it somewhat amusing.
"You also saved the world. In my view, there's absolutely no reason you need to use 'incompleteness' for 'atonement.' Perhaps you have your own considerations and principles in your heart—that's your business."
"And I want to thank you for your assistance this time, want to do something for my friend to make things easier for him... this is my heartfelt intention. These are two separate matters that don't conflict at all."
Sasuke listened silently, ultimately saying nothing more in refusal. He understood Naruto's meaning—the sins and punishments of the past, the paths and choices of the future, were Uchiha Sasuke's own challenges to face.
And at this moment, this gift given purely out of friendship and gratitude was Uzumaki Naruto's present to him. Though originally it was also he who had taken this arm...
"Then... goodbye." Naruto looked at Sasuke, his tone becoming lighter. He originally wanted to say something like "I hope this isn't our last farewell," but the words reached his lips and were swallowed back.
In the end, the words of parting became two simple words.
"Take care."
Sasuke met Naruto's gaze, gently nodding, responding with equally concise words.
"Yeah... goodbye."
Night wind swept through the forest. Uchiha Sasuke activated the "Plow" in his hand. Light began enveloping him and Boruto. Their figures within the light gradually became hazy, transparent.