Confession

While Sakura Haruno was waging a massive battle that shook the land, Sasuke, led by Yoru Uo, was also slowly approaching Naruto.

"Sasuke- nii, Naruto- nii's scent is up ahead," Yoru Uo whispered, perched on Sasuke's head. "I also smell something like Sister Sakura's scent."

Sasuke stopped immediately.

He looked around. This was a tourist street in a town in the Land of Iron. The buildings in front were all self-built inns by a hotel. The street was deserted with few pedestrians.

On the roof of the middle house, he saw the target he was looking for.

"Sitting on the roof is Naruto... and Kakashi-sensei too, Yamato is there as well..."

During the year Sasuke joined the Anbu, he occasionally did missions with Yamato and knew that Yamato had a good relationship with Kakashi-sensei. He just never expected that Naruto would get involved with him.

Compared to the Naruto he knew, the Naruto in this world didn't show much change in Chakra levels, but he was slightly taller, and his features and demeanor appeared more mature.

After all, it's Naruto a year from now. Sasuke isn't surprised.

Should we go out and say hello to them?

Sasuke shook his head, dismissing the idea.

You have to understand, he's a missing-nin of Konoha in this world... Going out and revealing his identity now could cause a lot of trouble.

"Let's do as I promised Sakura, observe the intelligence first, and then figure out a way..." Sasuke thought to himself, trying to hide himself as deeply as possible. After training in the Anbu for so long, his concealment skills were quite good. At least in this position, even the perceptive Kakashi hadn't noticed his presence.

"Meow meow meow!" Yoru Uo suddenly cried out in alarm, "Oh no, Sasuke- nii! Meow smells a dog, it smells like Kiba Inuzuka's Akamaru! A group of people are coming this way!"

Sasuke was startled. Akamaru's sense of smell was far more acute than Kakashi's; hiding so close, it would most likely have detected him. Fortunately, the Yoru Uo was even more perceptive than Akamaru, sensing his presence beforehand...

To avoid being exposed, Sasuke cautiously retreated a bit further away, hiding in the woods at the end of the street, downwind.

At this distance, even with his Sharingan's vision, Sasuke could clearly see a group of ninjas approaching.

Leading the way were Kiba and Akamaru. Following behind Kiba was Lee.

Next is the cherry blossom of this world.

A white robe covered the girl's body, leaving only her head exposed.

Her pink hair was slightly shorter than the long, flowing hair he was used to from Sakura Haruno. Her features were almost identical—perhaps Sakura from his world was even more beautiful—but her expression was completely different.

This was the first time Sasuke had ever seen Sakura with such tenderness and grace.

At the very end of the group was Sai, a member of Root. Sasuke had interrogated him just a few weeks prior.

How could he be here? Sasuke put his doubts aside for the time being and continued to stare intently into the distance.

Sakura Haruno looked up, seemingly talking to Naruto about something. Sasuke subtly channeled Chakra into his cochlea, temporarily enhancing his hearing.

"Naruto... I have something to say to you..."

Sakura Haruno stood in the snow and said timidly.

It seems that Sakura and Naruto in this world also have a good relationship.

What does she want to say to Naruto in this place?

Sakura Haruno's expression was conflicted, even serious, as if she wanted to discuss something very important...

Sasuke watched with curiosity.

Naruto jumped down from the roof.

"What is it, you?"

Sakura Haruno hesitated, remaining silent for a moment.

The wind from the Land of Iron carried a slight chill as it blew through the streets, swirling withered leaves and snowflakes, which drifted down desolately between the two.

The girl lowered her head, poked several holes in the snow with her toes, hesitated for a long time, and finally her expression changed from hesitation to determination.

"Naruto..."

She said softly.

"I like you."

The girl's almost whispered words rang out like a thunderclap among the crowd!

"Huh--?"

Li and Yamato simultaneously exclaimed in disbelief.

Kiba Inuzuka's reaction was more natural, but he was still slightly taken aback and pursed his lips.

Kakashi, on the other hand, with his lifeless eyes, stared at Sakura Haruno without saying a word, completely expressionless...

As the one being confessed to, Naruto was so surprised that he could barely speak, "Sakura... what... what did you just say... I might not have heard you...?"

"It's me, Naruto..."

The girl shyly looked away, then, annoyed, emphasized, repeating, "I... I like you!"

She stepped forward and hugged Naruto tightly.

Naruto stared wide-eyed, unable to utter a single word...

However, the most surprised person among those present was not Naruto being confessed to.

It was Sasuke had just gone into hiding and heard such explosive news.

Sakura... likes Naruto...?

What was going on? Sasuke couldn't believe he would suddenly hear such news...

For a moment, his mind went blank.

In that brief moment of mental chaos, Sasuke's aura became slightly unstable, thus revealing his presence!

Woof woof woof!

Akamaru suddenly screamed!

Kiba was startled, and then Kakashi also keenly noticed it—

"It's his scent!"

Sasuke is here!

Almost simultaneously, the two turned their gazes toward Sasuke's hiding place.

In that instant.

Their gazes met the slightly surprised look in the black-haired boy's eyes.

"It really is... Sasuke?"

Kakashi stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

What's Sasuke doing here?

Kakashi was rapidly pondering what Sasuke's sudden appearance meant—whether it was a trap— Naruto beside him shouted "Sasuke!" and rushed out!

Sasuke... instinctively turned and ran.

Of course, it wasn't that he was afraid of Naruto —although Naruto's enthusiasm made him a little awkward.

Rather, it was because he saw wariness, even hostility, in the eyes of many of the ninjas present.

In their eyes, I'm Sasuke missing-nin from Konoha, right...? So if they capture me, the consequences don't seem good.

Perhaps a patient explanation could clear up the misunderstanding, but Sasuke inexplicably didn't want to waste that time, much less take that risk... Since he'd been discovered, he should leave first! He sighed silently, his emotions subtly complex, but his pace didn't slow down at all.

Lightning Release: Chidori Demon Body Form!

Sasuke unleashed his strongest form without hesitation. The combined power of Lightning Release and the Combination Transformation greatly increased his agility, instantly boosting his already impressive speed to an unmatched level!

In a few leaps and bounds, Kakashi and the others saw Sasuke disappear from their sight at an unparalleled speed, quickly leaving the pursuers far behind and vanishing into the depths of the snow like lightning.

"We can't catch up." Kakashi simply stopped and waited for his slower companions behind him.

Lee and Yamato arrived first, followed by Kiba and Naruto, and finally Sakura and Sai.

Where is Sasuke?

As soon as they stopped, Naruto hurriedly asked.

"He's gone." Kakashi raised his eyelids slightly and replied.

"Don't worry!" Kiba patted Akamaru's head, reassuring Naruto, "Akamaru keeps smelling Sasuke's scent! With him around, we won't lose Sasuke!"

Akamaru sniffed and snorted twice.

"Unless Sasuke knows long-range Space-Time Ninjutsu..." Kakashi added, "And before that, I think we should first confirm whether that person is Sasuke!"

"What's wrong...? Isn't that Sasuke?" Naruto asked in surprise.

"It doesn't seem like it. The biggest flaw is that the Konoha Forehead Protector he's wearing is intact..." Kakashi said calmly.

Sasuke, having defected, would never again wear the Konoha ninja Forehead Protector. Naruto knew this well, because Sasuke's Forehead Protector had always been kept in his possession...

"Furthermore, Akamaru only smelled the scent of a cat, not the smell of a snake," Kiba added.

Naruto fell silent.

"But I still think that person is Sasuke!" He lowered his head, clenched his fists, and said excitedly, "You all saw him!"

"Don't be like this, Naruto." Sakura came up from behind and put her arm around Naruto's shoulder, trying to calm him down.

"That might just be someone deliberately using Transformation Technique to look like Sasuke... trying to lure us somewhere," she said softly.

"That's possible..." Kakashi's dead fish eye flickered as he echoed.

Rationally, he thought Sakura's reasoning was not without merit, but emotionally and intuitively, Kakashi, like Naruto, also felt that the person was Sasuke...

In that instant when their eyes met, he recognized her gaze.

However, Kakashi couldn't voice this unfounded speculation.

"No matter who he is, we must follow him until we determine his identity and purpose...!" The white-haired youth gave his order to the young ninjas beside him.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the woods...

"That's enough, Sasuke!" Yoru Uo reminded him, "They've stopped and are resting."

Sasuke then deactivated his Chidori Demon Body Mode and slowed down.

"Meow~" Zhi, who had been holding it in for so long, poked its head out and meowed playfully, "Sasuke- nii, so Sister Sakura likes Naruto- nii!"

"Idiot!" Yoru Uo tapped Zhi's head with its fat paw and said, "That's Sakura Haruno from this world, not our Sister Sakura!"

Sasuke pressed Zhi's head into his arms and silently continued on his way, his mind replaying the scene he had just witnessed.

"Does Sakura in this world really like Naruto...?" he murmured to himself.

"Forget it, this kind of question is boring!" Sasuke shook his head and ruffled the soft hair on Yoru Uo. "Let's go, Yoru Uo. Let's go meet up with Sakura."

"If they want to follow, then let them."

[Second Update]

[I went out in the afternoon and didn't get home until 11 pm to start writing. The last few hundred words took an hour because I had absolutely no energy left to come up with ideas. I've only written 6000 words today...]