Naruto's soul hovered in the sky, and when he saw Sasuke looking like that, a mischievous thought suddenly came to him.
So he deliberately dawdled for a while before slipping back into his body.
On the bridge, Sasuke was still clutching Naruto's hand tightly and praying in a low voice.
Suddenly, he felt the pulse in Naruto's wrist become strong and powerful. His previously icy body temperature also began to rise.
"Naruto?"
After Naruto woke up, the corners of his mouth immediately split into a signature, thoroughly punchable grin.
"Waaah! Sasuke! Were you crying just now? And saying things like, 'Don't leave me alone'? Pfft, hahaha! I never knew you cared about me so much, Sasuke the Coward!"
Sasuke had just been about to sigh in relief at Naruto's awakening, but his expression instantly froze.
Then, boundless shame, fury, and anger erupted like a volcano, instantly burning away that rare moment of vulnerability.
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he violently flung Naruto's hand away, his entire face flushing bright red.
"You idiot Dead Last! What nonsense are you spouting?! Who was crying?! Who cares about you?!" Sasuke roared furiously, his voice even cracking.
"Hehe, I heard everything! 'Please, Naruto, don't die!'" Naruto continued to imitate him shamelessly, deliberately pitching his voice high, a gleeful smile spread across his face.
"You're asking for it!"
Overcome with shame and anger, Sasuke could no longer hold back. He clenched his fist and slammed it squarely into Naruto's grinning face!
Thump!
"Ow!"
A dull thud accompanied a scream of pain. The punch sent Naruto reeling backward, and his left eye rapidly swelled and darkened before his eyes, becoming a textbook black eye.
"It hurts! You bastard, Sasuke! What was that for?!" Naruto covered his eye and grimaced in pain, all