Chapter 177: Making It Clear
"No no no! That's too cruel! Absolutely cannot say that!"
Naruto excitedly gestured a huge "X" with both arms across his chest, unhesitatingly rejecting Sakura's suggestion outright.
Say "disgusting" and "annoying pest" and other such excessive, hurtful words to Satsuki? If he really did that, he'd be the first one who couldn't forgive himself!
Seeing Naruto's such intense reaction, Sakura pouted with some displeasure. Really... Naruto's personality of being kind to everyone, if it weren't for those terrible rumors blocking him before, would attract so much trouble... Seems like what she said wasn't harsh enough, she needed to describe the consequences more severely.
Of course, Sakura didn't know that besides those rumors, the ice-cold, bone-piercing gaze and low pressure that the Uchiha second daughter beside Naruto emitted every time she looked at other girls trying to approach him had already quietly scared away quite a few potential admirers.
"Cruel?" Sakura deliberately raised her tone, putting on a "you're making too big a deal" expression. "This is already considered relatively tactful and polite, okay? If someone dared to do those... mushy and weird things you described to me..."
To make the effect more shocking, she began exaggerating as much as possible, even willing to self-deprecate, using an extremely disgusted and repulsed tone:
"I'd probably tell him directly—'Why should I accept you doing such things to me? Who do you think you are? You annoying, ungrateful idiot! Every time you come near me, it makes me feel so disgusted, so nauseous! Please stay away from me!'—Yeah, something like that!"
"Wha... what?! You would actually say such things?!"
Naruto was stunned by Sakura's shocking statement that completely contradicted his perception of "Sakura," his brain completely unable to process this. "This... this is way too hurtful!"
Is this what Sakura is really like?! Naruto's worldview suffered a small shock.
Of course, Sakura would never admit—she was completely talking nonsense here. Though her usual personality had some violent tendencies, she absolutely couldn't say such cruel, hurtful words.
Her sole purpose right now was to make Naruto realize the "seriousness" of the problem and quickly cut the Gordian knot, driving away that "clingy rival" she imagined as far as possible.
Seeing Naruto's expression of utter shock, she felt secretly pleased, thinking this should finally convince him, right?
Strange... why does it feel a bit cold?
Though Sakura felt somewhat proud and happy inside for "defending" territory for Satsuki and doing a good deed, an inexplicable chill had been quietly spreading since earlier, making her involuntarily shiver noticeably.
She looked up at the sky in confusion—the evening sunset's afterglow was still warm, and there was no wind.
She didn't know that behind her, not far away, that "ordinary" tree—actually Uchiha Satsuki using the Transformation Technique—was staring at her back with completely lightless eyes.
I thought... we were friends...
Satsuki's heart felt like it had been plunged into an ice cave. She listened to Sakura earnestly "teaching" Naruto how to "reject" her with the most vicious language, each word like a poisoned ice needle stabbing into her heart.
Haruno Sakura... how dare you... actually tell Naruto to say such things to me...? "Disgusting"? "Annoying"? "Ungrateful idiot"? And make you "nauseous"?
You know nothing at all... You have no idea how much courage I mustered... You have no idea what kind of struggle and shame I went through... You have no idea what Naruto means to me!
And you so easily... want to take away everything from me? Want to make Naruto completely hate me, stay away from me?
All because of your ridiculous, self-righteous "help"?
Unforgivable... absolutely unforgivable!
If Naruto really listens to your words... if he says even one similar thing to me... I... I absolutely won't forgive you... Haruno Sakura!
You... meddlesome, lying... traitor!
Naruto had "spoiled" Satsuki to some extent. Compared to the bitter, vengeful Sasuke from the original work, she was more like an anime female lead with a "whoever confesses first loses" mentality.
After hearing Sakura's cruel suggestions, though he completely couldn't understand why Sakura would give such hurtful answers, his top priority right now was to get Sakura to leave.
He absolutely couldn't let Sakura know that the "disgusting," "annoying," "ungrateful" target she spoke of was actually Satsuki.
Otherwise, their relationship might immediately break apart, and Team Seven would be anything but peaceful!
"Sakura," Naruto tried to make his tone sound calm. "It's getting late, you should head home. I... I have some things to handle alone."
"Eh? Why?" Sakura frowned in confusion. "Is there something you can't bring me along for? Aren't we teammates?"
"...Actually," Naruto had to partially confess, "that wasn't about my friend... it was about me. Um... sorry for lying to you, Sakura. But I absolutely won't use your method—that would be truly too much. If I said such things to that girl, I'd never forgive myself for the rest of my life."
"...Tch."
Sakura clicked her tongue in displeasure. Naruto not adopting her "ultimate solution" made her feel somewhat defeated. Moreover, knowing Naruto's personality, he'd probably only use that kind of painless, vague "gentle rejection," which absolutely wouldn't make that kind of "bold and clingy" girl give up!
She couldn't just obediently leave like this—she had to supervise to the end!
"I figured that out long ago!" Sakura said unhappily.
"Eh? You figured it out?"
"Why are you making such a weird expression? If you're going to lie, at least think about whether it's possible for any girls to do those 'mushy and weird' things you described to those so-called 'male friends' of yours! Anyone could tell that's impossible!"
"That's a bit harsh..." Naruto instinctively defended his companions, though he knew Sakura seemed to... have a point?
"That's not the point at all!"
Sakura tried to pull the derailed conversation back on track. "Listen, Naruto! That kind of half-hearted, tactful rejection absolutely won't make that girl give up! It'll only make her think there's still a chance and cling to you even more! If you want to completely draw clear boundaries with her and make her never bother you again, you must do as I said—use the most direct, most cruel words to completely shatter her fantasies!"
Hidden behind them, Satsuki's teeth ground audibly. Draw clear boundaries? Wide forehead... when I get out, I'll draw clear boundaries with you first!
However, Naruto's next words stunned both girls.
"...I... I don't want to draw clear boundaries with that girl." Naruto said in a very natural tone. He just hoped she could return to normal and stop doing those "strange behaviors" that troubled him so much—he'd never thought about completely cutting ties or hurting her.
"Wha—what?!" Sakura was completely shocked by this statement, her voice suddenly rising several octaves!
This... this meant... could it be that Naruto had been... conquered by that mysterious girl using strange methods?! He actually didn't want to draw clear boundaries with her?!
Though she didn't know why, that lingering cold feeling seemed to suddenly lessen somewhat, but Sakura had no time to consider this now.
She absolutely couldn't let Naruto be seduced away by a "wild flower"! It seemed... she had to make some things clear first! For Satsuki! And to prevent Naruto from "going astray"!
"Naruto!" Sakura took a deep breath, her expression becoming unusually serious as she stared intently into Naruto's eyes. "Listen! Compared to that girl of unknown origin with weird behavior! There's someone more important... who's been waiting for your response, right!"
Seeing Naruto's completely blank expression showing he hadn't caught on at all, Sakura shouted in frustration, her voice echoing across the empty training ground:
"If you're going to respond to someone's feelings! Isn't there someone who's been by your side all along?! Instead of that inexplicable girl, are you going to disappoint Satsuki's feelings?!"
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