Sasuke deliberately said, "It's over between us."
Naruto clenched both fists and shouted again, "Then what am I to you? What do our feelings mean to you?!"
The words pierced Sasuke's ears. His heart clenched in pain, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.
He knew that unless he ruthlessly severed this bond now, Naruto would never accept Shikamaru and would spend years trapped in despair.
Naruto had once been a ray of light in his dark world. How could Sasuke bear to watch him sink deeper into regret, day after day, night after night?
For Naruto's sake, so the person he loved and would protect with his life could forget his existence completely.
Sasuke wiped away his tears and looked back with a mocking gaze.
To make his words seem even more convincing, Sasuke actually laughed in Naruto's face.
His laughter was full of mockery, desolation, and even helplessness and madness.
"What do our feelings mean?!"
Sasuke laughed as he repeated Naruto's words.
Then his tone abruptly turned cold, and he answered with a contemptuous look, "To me, those five years were nothing more than playing along!"
"Naruto, I've hated you from the very beginning. Did you really never notice?!"
Sasuke's gaze, his tone, and his words instantly brought tears to Naruto's eyes.
Although Naruto knew Sasuke was saying things he didn't mean to sever their bond, the pain and sorrow in his heart were impossible to suppress through sheer will.
"I don't believe you! I don't believe you never loved me!"
Watching Naruto grow hysterical, Sasuke cut him off before he could say anything more.
"Naruto, I've actually wanted a real fight with you, too. I want to know just how strong I've become!"
Having awakened Curse Mark Stage Two, Sasuke believed his current strength was enough to crush