But why?
Why was he afraid to touch this part of his memories? Although the memories of his previous life were, for the most part, not pleasant ones, the cruelty of that particular memory was such that even a fleeting glimpse during the forced infusion and fusion had left him somewhat unsure whether he could accept it.
With the mental fortitude of his other self, it was utterly impossible for him to fear that memory.
Even Chiba now regarded that weakness as a dark chapter of his past. Besides, memories of his mother had always been warm, something that could support him even in despair.
Why? Why?
Why was he afraid to touch it?
At this moment, as the young man finished the last two words of "I cannot tell you anything regarding this matter," Chiba's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
He had realized something, yet he could not understand why his other self had done this.
"So, please accept that memory as soon as possible."
At that moment, the latter half of the young man's formulaic words followed.
Accept that memory as soon as possible?
This time, upon hearing those words, Chiba, whose heart had been filled with doubts, froze slightly. All his thoughts abruptly drew back and ultimately became a single question directed at himself.
The current situation was actually quite clear.
If he wanted to know what his other self intended to do to the Naruto World, what plans he had, why he had gone to such lengths—going so far as to split himself apart and make such a massive detour—and even why his other self feared the memories of his mother, choosing to ignore them as if temporarily forgetting them, why he seemed to hold such a negative attitude toward the mother who should not have been treated