Sasuke Uchiha opened his mouth to argue, only to find that something seemed to be blocking his throat.
Naruko's words were like a perfectly fitted key, unexpectedly unlocking a neglected corner deep within his memories.
That was right. Back then, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had shared a genuine friendship as children. Even with their clans at odds, they had secretly met beside the Naka River and shared their dreams.
That bond had been strong enough for them to withstand immense pressure and opposition as adults, ultimately coming together to establish Konoha. That alone was the strongest possible counterargument to the claim that ancestral feuds could never be overcome.
He could not refute that logic, grounded as it was in "official history."
Perhaps hatred really was not an unbreakable wall. At least, not for everyone.
Seeing Sasuke at a loss for words, his eyes flickering as he sank into thought, Naruko's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. But she was not done teasing him.
She changed the subject, her tone turning light and mischievous. "Besides, I think what I wrote made perfect sense!"
"Look at the young Uchiha heir in the book. Proud, awkward, powerful but sometimes a little clueless, and especially fond of Three-Color Dango..."
"Wait!" Sasuke abruptly snapped out of his thoughts as though someone had stepped on his tail. The blush on his face spread in an instant, even turning his neck pink.
"Three-Color Dango?! Why does the male lead in your book like Three-Color Dango so much? And the way he talks, that stubborn awkwardness where he'd rather suffer than lose face when dealing with things..."
The more he spoke, the more suspicious it seemed, and the hotter his face grew. Finally, he glared at Naruko almost accusingly. "You... don't tell me you..."
"Pfft!" Naruko finally lost it,