Because his own Ocular Power had already reached the pinnacle, ordinary genjutsu could not possibly have any effect on him. This definitive realization completely destroyed Sasuke's final psychological defense.
No matter how much he wished that everything before his eyes was just an absurd dream, his reason cruelly reminded him that all of this was truly happening.
The composure of an adult and the shame of a public execution clashed fiercely in his heart. He felt the blood rushing through his entire body, his cheeks burning, and it took almost all his self-control to suppress the urge to immediately flee the scene.
Although his state of mind had become much calmer over the years, the pride of the Uchiha in his bones still could not calmly accept this fact—in another world, he was actually a girl?!
"It's okay," Sasuke desperately comforted himself in his heart. Strictly speaking, this was not his own world. No matter how bizarre the things he saw in this parallel Universe, they would not affect his original world line. After forcing himself to accept reality, he could only rely on this reason to maintain his sanity.
But Sasuke was not a dull person. Already a husband himself, he naturally sensed that this "other self" seemed to harbor special feelings for Naruto.
This made him recall a long time ago, when he had just become a Ninja. At that time, he did not know that Naruto taking his first kiss was purely an accident, and he had once thought that the dead last had done it on purpose... At that time, Sasuke had indeed wondered if Naruto held some strange feelings for him.
But what about this "self" before him? If someone really had to change gender, shouldn't it be that dead last?!
"However, who exactly are you? Why are you by Naruto's side?" Satsuki raised her initial question again after finishing her self-introduction, her eyes still filled with vigilance.
"...Just passing by..." Sasuke barely maintained surface-level calm. After a moment's pause, he impulsively added, "Also, a piece of advice... focus your mind on Cultivating..."
Satsuki listened to this nonsensical advice with a bewildered expression and was about to retort when Naruto hurriedly interrupted. "Don't mind it, Satsuki, they're just people from outside the Village. Because of the special nature of this period, Jiraiya-sensei has assigned them a surveillance mission."
Naruto then said considerately to Sasuke, "Um, you look like you need some time alone. We'll wait for you up ahead." After finishing, he grabbed Satsuki's wrist and took her away, disappearing around the corner of the street.
After the figures of Naruto and Satsuki completely disappeared around the street corner, Sasuke slowly raised his hand to his forehead and sighed deeply, trying to calm the complex emotions surging within him. This sudden truth made him feel dizzy, as if the whole world was playing an absurd joke on him.
What... exactly is this ridiculous development? The "me" in this spacetime is actually a girl... and she even has feelings for that dead last...
Sasuke pondered this in his heart. Subsequently, he raised his head, turned towards the wall beside him, and spoke to a seemingly ordinary tree behind him.
"Come out. How much did you hear?"
A rustling sound of branches and leaves came from the tree. A moment later, a figure leaped lightly from the dense canopy—it was indeed the oddly expressive Boruto. It turned out that after seeing the girl who intrigued him talking with this world's father, he ultimately couldn't suppress his curiosity and had secretly hidden on the side to listen to the whole thing.
"...Pretty much all of it..." Boruto scratched his cheek and admitted somewhat embarrassedly, "Sasuke-san, are you okay?"
Boruto's heart was also filled with an indescribable, strange feeling. Now he finally understood why he was attracted to that black-haired girl. Although this fact was hard to believe, as a bystander, it was easier for him to accept than it was for the person involved.
"The Sasuke-san of this world is actually a girl," Boruto tried to use a light tone to break the awkward atmosphere, "However, although the gender is different, you guys are still quite similar... whether it's the temperament or that kind of..."
"Not at all."
Sasuke spoke up suddenly, his tone stiff, interrupting Boruto's attempt at a "high emotional intelligence" statement. Boruto was stunned for a moment, realizing that this blow seemed even more severe than he had imagined.
"Then, Sasuke-san, what should we do next?" Boruto wisely changed the subject.
"...Still follow the original plan," Sasuke forced himself to regain his composure, "Stay by Naruto's side and protect him during Urashiki's attack."
"Also, Boruto..."
"...Yes!" Being suddenly addressed in such a heavy tone, Boruto couldn't help but respond nervously.
"After we go back," Sasuke's gaze became exceptionally serious, "You are not allowed to mention anything about this world to anyone, do you understand?"
——————
In the afternoon in Konoha Village, Naruto, Satsuki, and Boruto were walking side by side on the street. Not far behind them, Uchiha Sasuke was still wrapped in that heavy attire, slowly following at a subtle distance.
Just now, to ease the awkward atmosphere, Boruto had actively suggested walking around the Village. Since it was part of the surveillance mission, Satsuki did not object, just silently walking by Naruto's side, keeping an eye on the surroundings at all times.
Boruto curiously examined this Konoha that was both familiar and strange, while Naruto, walking in front, would occasionally introduce the buildings and shops along the way to him.
Satsuki's attention, however, was focused on two things: first, why the mysterious Uchiha Sasuke behind them always kept such a great distance, and second, that Boruto seemed confused by Satsuki's vigilant attitude toward the villagers.
When the group passed by a fairly large hot spring inn, the owner behind the counter in front of the shop recognized Naruto at a glance. He immediately ran out with a beaming smile, enthusiastically blocking their path.
"Oh my? Isn't this Young Master Naruto! I really didn't expect you to grace us with your presence; it truly makes my humble shop shine!" The owner rubbed his hands, his face full of obsequiousness.
Naruto sighed helplessly: "Um... I don't have any intention of taking a bath; I'm just passing by."
"That's not important!" The owner hurriedly interjected, "Do you know, [Mouru Hot Spring] will soon be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. This is a hot spring shop that has existed since the era of the First Hokage. On that day, we will invite all our regular customers to the shop to enjoy free hot springs and Advanced cuisine. If possible, you must grace us with your presence! Please, you must accept this!"
The shop owner respectfully handed over a beautifully crafted card.
"This is an exclusive card we customized specifically for you. From now on, whether it's hot springs or other services, everything is free of charge! This card is unique in all of Konoha, issued only for you..."
Boruto stared in astonishment at this shop owner who had suddenly appeared and offered such a generous gift with extraordinary enthusiasm. He couldn't help but exclaim in his heart: Dad in this world is just too popular! Starting from that female villager who invited Naruto to dinner at her home earlier, Boruto had noticed this unusual treatment.
Although his reason told him that this Naruto was not his biological father, looking at that face which was exactly the same as his father's in childhood, Boruto still couldn't help but call him that in his heart.
However, the scene that happened next shocked Boruto even more. He saw Satsuki—that "master" who was about his age and a female version of himself—actually take the card with a look of disgust, and in the owner's astonished gaze,
with a "snap," she cleanly broke the card into two halves.
"Get lost." Satsuki's voice was as cold as frost. "Don't use this kind of hypocritical charity to seek self-comfort. When you shut people out back then, why didn't I see you being this attentive? What are you pretending to be kind for now?"
"Wait, aren't you being a bit too much?" Boruto couldn't help but blurt out. The owner, who had been prepared to sneak away, heard this and looked expectantly at the boy who had spoken up for him.
But the next second, Boruto was surprised to find that Satsuki, who had previously only kept her distance from him, now looked at him with undisguised hostility in her eyes.
"Shut up! What qualifications do you have to point fingers here when you know nothing about the past?"
"Why are you still here? Do I have to say those things for you to give up?"
Satsuki's cold words completely dispelled the hot spring inn owner's last bit of wishful thinking. He lowered his head in embarrassment and hurried away.
Boruto stood in place, completely unable to understand why Satsuki had to treat someone who had actively shown goodwill with such a sharp attitude.
"If you knew... that the villagers who were once saved by someone turned around and did those excessive things to the savior's only son, would you still think my attitude is problematic?"
Boruto opened his mouth, only to find he didn't know how to respond. He looked at Naruto and saw that he was about to speak up to dissuade them, but right at this moment, Uchiha Sasuke, who had been silently following, stepped forward quickly and grabbed Boruto's arm.
"Sorry, we are new to Konoha and don't understand the past here. I will remind my companion to watch their words and actions; please don't take it to heart."
Hearing this, Satsuki just glanced coldly at Sasuke without saying anything more. She turned and grabbed Naruto's sleeve, her tone slightly stiff. "Let's go."
Watching the two walk ahead, Boruto finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice. "Sasuke-san, what exactly is this..."
"...I think I probably understand what happened." Sasuke's gaze followed the backs of the two in front, his voice low. "Boruto, I will explain it to you slowly in a while."
Meanwhile, Satsuki, walking in front, gradually calmed down. She tilted her head slightly, her voice much softer than before. "Sorry, I couldn't help being like that again..."
"It's okay, actually I'm very happy that Satsuki always protects me like this. But you don't need to worry, I will refuse those people's goodwill."
"Mm..." Satsuki nodded gently, then as if remembering something, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. "By the way, Naruto, since we aren't Cultivating this afternoon... shall we go back early?"
"Eh? Did something happen?"
The tips of Satsuki's ears turned even redder, and her voice became much softer. "...Actually, there's nothing special. It's just that Aunt Kushina invited my mom and dad to visit today... saying they want to discuss some... things that were agreed upon previously..."
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