Naruto fell silent.
That love was so fierce it would burn away even herself. It was not "almost"—she had made him the sole meaning of her existence. What this "gift" carried was far more than a wisp of flame or an ability. She had handed him the final authority to alter her body, will, and even soul, without reservation.
He still wanted to refuse. In his heart, Satsuki did not need to be "altered" in the slightest—just as she was now, she was the version of her he loved and cherished most.
"You're not allowed to refuse."
Satsuki had anticipated his hesitation and cut off the words before they left his mouth.
"I know Naruto loves me the most... so this is also insurance."
"Insurance?" Naruto froze slightly.
"Mm." Satsuki nodded, her gaze drifting toward the window as she searched for a suitable analogy. "Or rather, just in case... what if something especially troublesome happened? Like... like... amnesia?"
"...That excuse is way too forced." Naruto could not help teasing her, though a gentle smile rose in his eyes.
After he pointed it out, Satsuki pursed her lips in embarrassment, the tips of her ears reddening. Indeed, with her current strength and obsession, the odds of her "losing her memory and forgetting Naruto" were probably lower than a meteor crashing into their house.
That excuse was not convincing at all.
"Well... anyway!" She raised her voice slightly, trying to hide that trace of embarrassment as she put on a serious expression again. "I will never take back a gift once I've given it! Or are you saying..."
She looked up at him, deliberately making her voice sound aggrieved. "Naruto... are you going to throw away my feelings like garbage?"
That little tactic of emotional blackmail immediately left Naruto torn. A small,