"Looks like... I guessed right?"
Uchiha Satsuki calmly stated this as she observed Sasuke's subtle yet impossible-to-hide stiffness and Naruto's instantly unnatural expression.
Realizing that the probing had succeeded and that his hastily fabricated lie about "Naruto being a woman" had been exposed on the spot, Second Pillar's breathing faltered imperceptibly for a moment.
"How... did you figure it out?"
"Too many things..."
Satsuki shook her head lightly. "If 'Naruko' truly existed, and she was my future partner in that world... then when you heard about the 'childhood betrothal,' you wouldn't have made that expression, would you?"
Standing nearby, Uzumaki Boruto suddenly felt an inexplicable chill. There was no anger, coldness, or killing intent in Satsuki's eyes, yet that somewhat hollow gaze made his skin crawl.
The eyes of the Uchiha Clan could convey the deepest emotions, but the vacant state in Satsuki's eyes—devoid of life and light—was even more unsettling than any emotion. What exactly did that mean?
"And besides..."
Satsuki turned her gaze to Boruto. "I can't sense even the slightest 'bloodline resonance' between this child and me."
In this world, there truly was a certain sense of connection and resonance among Kekkei Genkai clans, especially between direct relatives or those sharing the same bloodline.
Boruto and Naruto looked astonishingly alike, and Satsuki could clearly sense the close connection between them. Yet between Boruto and Sasuke—or even herself—she could not feel even a trace of familiarity from a shared bloodline.
"The way you look at him... there's too much emotion in it." Satsuki looked at Sasuke, understanding entering her tone. "You almost... fooled me."
Sasuke was momentarily speechless. The lie had been completely exposed; trying to force an explanation now would only look ridiculous.
"...You can answer that question later." Satsuki apparently had no intention of immediately pressing