Shame and Familiarity

"... Your future self?"

Big Naruto's expression turned particularly strange the moment he heard the request. It was hard to describe; it was like he wanted to laugh but couldn't.

Little Sasuke noticed the change in his expression, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

"Is that not allowed?"

"No, it's possible."

Big Naruto shook his head. "However, as I said before, although you are essentially counterparts from different worlds, strictly speaking, you are not the same person."

He paused, considering how to express himself more clearly.

"Even if you have similar experiences—in my world, Itachi Uchiha did indeed make the choice to exterminate his clan, just like in your world—similarities don't mean the sameness. Experiencing the same things doesn't mean you'll become the same kind of person."

That's enough.

Little Sasuke interrupted him, "Please..."

His voice was still somewhat hoarse, but it held a newfound firmness. "I really... don't know what to do..."

He didn't know what to do, where to go, who to hate, who to forgive, who to remember, or who to forget.

Those problems were too heavy, so heavy that they made it hard for him to breathe.

Perhaps, seeing another version of myself in another world, seeing someone who experienced the same darkness but made it to the future—could tell him the answer.

"... Okay then."

Big Naruto remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"Actually, my Satsuki is also around here. She came with me, but she's been hiding and hasn't shown herself."

Little Sasuke was taken aback for a moment.

Satsuki? That name... the last syllable sounds a little different?

Something stirred slightly in the nearby Forest.

Little Naruto stood to the side, and his eyes lit up immediately when he heard what Big Naruto said.

What will Sasuke look like in the future?

Has he become more handsome, or more cool? Has he become stronger, or...? He couldn't imagine.

At the same time, he remembered something.

Just now, when he was thrown out by Big Naruto, he was about to fall heavily to the ground, but suddenly someone grabbed him by the back of his collar and put him down steadily.

He looked back, but saw nothing.

At that time, his mind was full of Sasuke, and he didn't have time to think about it in detail.

Now he understood—it was future Sasuke who did it.

The person had been watching them the whole time, but hadn't shown themselves.

Big Naruto raised his hand and waved gently in a certain direction of the Forest.

Then, in the next moment—the surrounding wind suddenly picked up.

The leaves rustled in the wind, countless leaves fluttered in the sunlight, and then, a figure appeared out of nowhere.

Her speed was astonishing, so fast that no one could see how she arrived; this was a level that could only be achieved by pushing the Body Flicker Technique to its limit.

Satsuki stood there, the sunlight shining on her, giving her a warm glow.

Her feelings were somewhat complicated.

Having watched from the sidelines, she now understood what had happened to "Sasuke" in this world.

Because of Itachi, he was consumed by hatred and chose the path of pursuing power, abandoning his comrades.

She had seen Sasuke from another world—that young Sasuke, composed, calm, carrying the weight of his past yet still moving forward.

She also understood that her parents in this world had been killed by Itachi Uchiha.

Although she wasn't actually related to "herself" in this world by blood, thinking of her gentle mother and her strict father, Fugaku, she felt she shouldn't be too harsh on this lonely child.

After all, what he lost, she still possessed.

So after she arrived at the spot, she quietly looked at the Little Sasuke in front of her with her cool black eyes.

As for Little Sasuke —his reaction was certainly not indifferent.

Those eyes, which had been empty, became blank a few seconds after they saw Satsuki.

He just stood there, frozen in place, as if he had been immobilized by some kind of spell.

"... Who is this?"

This was the first thing he said after snapping out of his daze.

The voice was filled with disbelief and confusion; if he had dressed up a little, he might have thought he was seeing his deceased mother.

That face, those features, that subtle charm—all bore a resemblance to Mikoto in my memory.

But they're different.

Compared to her gentle mother, this woman's eyes lacked that warmth and tolerance, instead displaying a hint of arrogance and aloofness. That arrogance wasn't deliberate; it was ingrained in her bones, something she was born with.

Moreover, she looks somewhat different from her mother.

Younger.

It's also more... beautiful, a kind of sharp beauty that's completely different from a mother's, belonging to young women.

Then, a thought flashed through Little Sasuke's mind, causing him to catch his breath.

He remembered something, something many people had said before.

The elders in the clan, those who had seen his mother, would always whisper among themselves as he passed by—this child looks just like his mother.

Like her mother, like Mikoto Uchiha.

So—this woman before him was very much like him. This realization washed over Little Sasuke, extinguishing all his confusion.

"..."

Little Sasuke finally understood.

Because she is "himself," another world's "Uchiha Sasuke" who grew up as a woman—this realization was too shocking, too absurd, and too far beyond all his life experience.

He couldn't help but take a step back, as if he were fleeing.

He was somewhat unable to accept this reality.

The color that had been lost from pain and confusion on that pale face returned in a different way—red.

He covered his face, turned slightly to the side, as if he wanted to flee immediately.

Little Naruto, standing next to him, reacted in a completely different way.

The carefree boy, who seemed to have never known the meaning of restraint, was completely stunned the moment he saw Satsuki appear.

That face, always adorned with a sunny smile, was now visibly flushed.

What a beautiful older sister... so many times prettier than Sakura.

This was his first thought, and it swirled in his mind, making his face turn even redder.

He didn't fully Byakugan.

All he knew was that this older sister looked particularly kind.

She was so beautiful that he was a little... afraid to look directly at her.

This was the second time, after Sakura, that Little Naruto had experienced such a strong emotional impact from a woman. The feeling was both strange and wonderful, leaving his mind blank and completely at a loss for words.

He was completely oblivious to Little Sasuke's desperate attempt to escape, and also completely oblivious to the process of Little Sasuke's face turning from white to red.

His entire attention was drawn to the beautiful woman in front of him.

"That..."

He spoke, his voice slightly stuttering, which was extremely rare for someone who was usually so outspoken and said whatever came to mind.

"Who are you, sister?"

He scratched his head, trying to appear normal. "By the way, did you come with my future self?"

He remembered the Big Naruto standing next to him, and the things he had just said.

Where is Sasuke in the future?

He asked, his eyes still darting around, trying to find another possible person from the future, just like this beautiful woman.

Satsuki looked at the Little Naruto in front of her.

Compared to her Naruto, this Little Naruto had a distinctly different aura, but Satsuki didn't feel any distance at all; instead, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.

Her Naruto- like demeanor was gentle, calm, and reassuring. But the Little Naruto in front of her—with his boisterous personality, undisguised expressions, and silly sincerity—was like a completely different person.

Kushina Uzumaki.

Her mother-in-law, the woman who, in Satsuki's eyes, had a warm smile just like Naruto's.

Does my own Naruto resemble his father, while the Naruto in this world resembles his mother more?

Thinking of this, Satsuki's cold expression involuntarily faded a bit.

"I come from another world."

She spoke, her voice softer than expected, "And—"

Her gaze met Little Naruto's bewildered eyes. "I am Uchiha from another world..."

She paused slightly halfway through her sentence, considering how to express herself.

"Let me make this clear first: in my understanding, I've always grown up as this gender. From childhood to adulthood, I've always lived in this world as a girl."

Her tone became somewhat subtle, implying, "This is your problem, not mine. If you feel strange or ashamed, that's your problem."

"... Huh?"