Chapter 172: The Final Method
Angry?
Hearing Naruto comfort her with such a gentle, apologetic voice, the gloom in Satsuki's heart from her frustration instantly melted away, leaving only soft warmth.
Moreover, she wasn't angry at Naruto at all—not even a tiny bit. All her negative emotions were directed at her own disappointing performance, Kakashi's completely unreliable guidance, and that nonsensical "Make-Out Strategy" book. No matter who she might be angry at, she absolutely, absolutely could never direct even a trace of anger toward Naruto.
Satsuki clearly understood that ever since that day... that night, her heart had completely settled on Naruto. But thinking carefully about it, it seemed Naruto had always been the one taking meticulous care of her, protecting her, guiding her.
Satsuki could clearly feel that deep in her heart, her feelings for Naruto grew wildly and uncontrollably almost every time she saw him. And everything Naruto did, every action he took...
...Wait?
Satsuki's thoughts suddenly paused as an obvious fact she'd long overlooked burst into her mind.
Cooking... pet names... praise...
These... these were exactly the things Naruto had always been doing for me!
This discovery made her eyes widen instantly.
Cooking—The first time they formally met, Naruto had proactively shared his delicious-looking bento with her, and later often invited her to his home, personally cooking various delicious foods for her. His cooking had long ago unknowingly "conquered" her stomach.
Praise—Whenever her ninjutsu improved or her shuriken throwing was particularly accurate, Naruto would always generously and sincerely praise her: "Amazing!" "Truly worthy of an Uchiha genius!" His recognition and encouragement had always been one of her important motivations to grow stronger.
Exclusive pet name—From what Satsuki knew, Naruto seemed to have only given her a nickname! That unique, teasing "Sasuke"! Though she initially thought it was a bit silly, she had unknowingly come to accept it gladly, even secretly delighting in it.
So... Naruto had long ago accomplished, in his most natural and seamless way, what that broken book had wracked its brains to write about! And he did it so perfectly, so deeply touching, that she was immersed in it without realizing!
Satsuki was completely absorbed in her thoughts, not noticing Naruto beside her looking at her with a mixture of worry and confusion.
Naruto watched her frowning, then enlightened, then blushing, feeling completely at a loss about what was wrong with Satsuki.
Meanwhile, Satsuki was conducting intense reasoning and analysis in her inner world.
In other words... the methods written in "Make-Out Strategy" might not have major problems? The issue was with how I used them?
This realization instantly sparked a final glimmer of hope in Satsuki's heart. That final method Kakashi had mentioned—which she'd found too embarrassing and completely abandoned after consecutive failures—now clearly resurfaced in her mind with new hope.
"The power of words is infinite!"
In her memory, Kakashi flipped through that broken book, explaining his so-called "ultimate weapon." "If ordinary praise and care don't work... then unleash the final weapon—unique, soul-stirring praise!"
Kakashi pointed to a line in the book: "Look here! If you think your relationship is close enough and intimate enough, try using beautiful metaphors, or... even poetic forms to express yourself! This will have unexpected effects!"
Kakashi's words echoed in her mind. Unique praise? Metaphors and poetry?
Had Naruto... ever used this method?
Satsuki immediately began searching through her memories at lightning speed... and indeed found something.
Without needing to strain her memory, those words emerged instantly from her deepest, most precious memories like a brand—words Naruto had said to her that she could never forget for the rest of her life.
"The tide... never needs to choose whether to follow the moon—it simply naturally follows the rhythm of that ocean deep within itself."
"And I not only made that choice then. I will always, always follow this 'rhythm' in my heart."
The moment these words echoed in her mind, Satsuki felt a powerful, sweet emotional flood crash against her heart, her legs going weak, nearly unable to support her body.
Yes! This ultimate method... Naruto had already used it too! And used it so naturally, so profoundly moving.
This final method... she absolutely! Absolutely could not mess up again!
The bit of rationality and shame that had recovered from her epiphany was now completely and unhesitatingly abandoned by Satsuki. A determination to burn bridges and fight with her back to the wall blazed in her eyes.
She took a deep breath, then turned her head, looking intently at Naruto, who was growing increasingly anxious from her prolonged silence.
Naruto felt his skin crawl under Satsuki's suddenly intense gaze that seemed to burn with some kind of resolute flame, a bad premonition rising in his heart.
"Naruto..."
Satsuki spoke, her voice no longer excited or stilted from before, but calling his name slowly in an extremely gentle tone.
"...Yes!!"
Naruto shivered at this affectionate tone, almost reflexively straightening up in response, that ominous feeling skyrocketing to its peak!
Satsuki's gaze grew distant as she spoke in a reciting tone, word by word:
"Naruto..."
"Your golden hair is like... like the most brilliant, warmest sunlight of autumn, able to dispel all gloom and cold in the world, making people want to draw near and absorb that light..."
Kakashi: Use metaphors! Must use metaphors!
"Your blue eyes are like... like the deepest, purest lake in the world, reflecting the vastness and freedom of the entire sky."
Kakashi: Poetic feeling! Must be beautiful!
"Your energetic figure when running, strong and... and graceful, just like... like the most agile, most nimble antelope in mountain streams..."
Satsuki paused here, suddenly remembering Kakashi's marginal note about "highlighting cuteness," so she urgently modified and added: "...cub!"
Kakashi: Must be unique! Must be memorable!
Finishing her recitation, Satsuki breathed slightly, her cheeks remarkably red from this extremely embarrassing performance, but she still tried to maintain that "deeply affectionate" expression, looking expectantly at Naruto, waiting for the "soul-striking" effect.