Redundant Emotions

This person is...

Finally, Little Naruto remembered. That face, that face that felt strangely familiar, he finally remembered where he had seen it before.

"This is... the Fourth Hokage?!"

Little Naruto exclaimed in surprise. He finally noticed that the face was almost identical to the fourth face on the Hokage Rock.

The face of the legendary hero, carved at the highest point of Konoha, now lay quietly before him.

Seeing this, Satsuki couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

The child had no idea that the man lying in front of him, and the red-haired woman beside him, were his long-deceased parents.

He still thought he was just a Demon Fox hated by the villagers, and that he had always been alone.

"What... what did you do...?"

Little Sasuke's voice was muffled, because this scene was too distant for him, too much to hope for, too much like a dream he could wake up from at any moment.

What if... I'm just mistaken...?

"Yes, I have resurrected your parents."

Big Naruto's voice rang out calmly, "And the Fourth Hokage and his wife."

"This isn't difficult for me. Satsuki can do it too."

Little Sasuke was stunned.

The power to overturn life and death, and that unfathomable strength... is it possible for Ninja to achieve this?

He gazed at Big Naruto's smiling face, at those calm, deep blue eyes, and it was... like a god.

"Although this is indeed not a power that Ninja should possess."

Big Naruto spoke up, understanding what Little Sasuke was thinking. "But I'm just lucky, not some god."

Little Sasuke was silent for a moment, then he asked in a low voice, "Then why... didn't they wake up...?"

His heart was overflowing with emotion; things that had been suppressed for so long, things he thought he would never have the chance to touch again, were now churning and screaming within his chest.

But Little Sasuke knew that the moment he would truly burst into tears would be the moment his mother woke up.

Not now.

"I can wake up today."

Big Naruto replied, "Because the soul has been in a state of slumber in the Pure Land, it will take a little while."

"Oh... I see..."

Little Sasuke nodded, raised his hand, and pressed it to his chest. There, his heart was pounding violently, so fast it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.

Satsuki shifted her gaze from Little Sasuke to Little Naruto beside her.

She noticed something.

Little Naruto's expression, after the initial surprise, began to become complex. First, he was shocked by the power to resurrect the dead; then he felt genuine joy at Sasuke's parents' return; and then—

A look of disappointment flashed uncontrollably across his face.

Satsuki, of course, knew where that sense of loss came from.

Little Naruto had no idea that the Fourth Hokage lying in front of him, and the red-haired woman, were his parents.

For him, the identity of "Son of Hokage" was far inferior to the identity of "Demon Fox".

One is a star in the sky, the other is mud underground; how could he possibly think in that direction?

Satsuki looked at Big Naruto, Big Naruto didn't offer any explanation.

Satsuki understood; was this meant for the Fourth Hokage to explain himself after waking up?

Little Naruto's disappointment came and went quickly. After realizing that those complicated matters had finally come to an end, he quickly turned his attention elsewhere.

His gaze involuntarily fell on Satsuki.

Then, her face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"That..."

He spoke, his voice slightly stuttering and nervous, completely unlike his usual carefree self.

"Big Satsuki... right?"

He scratched his head, trying to look normal, but his bright red ears betrayed him completely. "Um... how long are you going to stay here?"

Satsuki looked at him like this, a faint smile flashing in her eyes.

"Well, it's not certain yet."

She answered patiently, her voice much gentler than usual. "We'll leave once this is over."

"Then... how about we go and take a look at Konoha Village in this world?"

Little Naruto's eyes lit up, and he quickly pressed on, afraid of missing this opportunity. "I'll treat you to Ramen! Ichiraku Ramen is really delicious!"

"Sure."

Satsuki nodded. "If everyone is free."

Little Naruto was stunned; he hadn't expected Satsuki to agree so readily.

Generally speaking, his invitations are mostly rejected by everyone except for Iruka-sensei, who accepts with a smile.

But Satsuki agreed, and she was so gentle.

Little Naruto couldn't help but giggle, his smile so bright it was almost excessive and impossible to hide.

Little Sasuke stood to the side, looking at Little Naruto had suddenly transformed into this state, his brows furrowing slightly.

To be honest, this looked very familiar to him.

... I remember now—it seemed to be the way Ino and Sakura looked at me.

Little Sasuke suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Then... Big Satsuki."

Little Naruto was completely oblivious to Little Sasuke's changing expression. He continued speaking cautiously.

Will you come again in the future?

"Oh, right! I'm going to be Hokage someday! If you guys come again... could we... go out together...?"

"No, that won't work."

A voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Little Naruto's words.

It's Big Naruto.

He finally noticed that something was wrong with Little Naruto and quickly tried to stop him.

"Huh? Why?"

Little Naruto turned his head and asked, somewhat dejectedly.

He didn't understand why he was rejected when he simply invited Satsuki out.

Big Naruto looked at him, a hint of uncertainty flashing in his eyes. "You... kid..." He paused, considering how to ask.

"Love at first sight?"

"Wh...

Little Naruto's reaction was so strong that it startled Little Sasuke was standing next to him. Sasuke's already red face turned even redder, almost as if it were about to bleed, and he was so flustered that he couldn't even finish a sentence.

That's right, although it's embarrassing to admit, Little Naruto really did fall in love at first sight.

At the time, he was attracted to Sakura, mainly because Sakura's appearance matched his aesthetic preferences.

He couldn't quite explain the feeling himself; he just thought it looked good, he liked looking at it, and he wanted to get closer.

Now, that feeling is many times stronger than it was back then.

That level of compatibility, that kind of impact, was dozens of times greater than what Sakura had given him back then.

He even began to fear rejection, fear saying the wrong thing, and fear that pestering her would annoy her—these were emotions he had never felt before when facing Sakura.

"... Um!"

Little Naruto took a deep breath and finally admitted it.

"You could say that... but there's no rule against it..."

"Huh? Really...?"

Satsuki looked at him with some surprise. Naruto from another world—was he really that easy to win over?

She couldn't help but smile inwardly; although she found it adorable, she still had to refuse this Little Naruto.

"I'm sorry... Naruto?"

Satsuki spoke up, her tone gentle, "Yes, you're Naruto too. I'm sorry, but I can't continue this line of thought."

"Huh? Why?"

Little Naruto looked up, his face full of confusion and disappointment.

He didn't understand what he had done wrong or why he had been rejected.

Then, Satsuki's answer froze both him and Little Sasuke in place.

"Because I'm already married," Satsuki said with a happy smile.

"I'm your husband," Big Naruto immediately replied, stepping forward and taking Satsuki's hand.