Yukari Uchiha (English)

Chapter 65.

The streets of Konoha feel foreign. Naruto and I walk side by side, but instead of the usual familiarity, I feel the burning stares of the people around us. Whispering accompanies every step we take.

"She's just walking around like nothing ever happened..."
"They should keep an eye on her. Who knows if she's still working for Akatsuki?"
"Maybe this was her plan all along. She pretends to have been on a mission, but in reality, she was one of them the whole time."
"How can Tsunade trust her? She could betray us all!"

Their words stab into my heart like needles. I expected this. And yet... I grit my teeth and force myself to keep walking.

Beside me, Naruto suddenly stops.

I can feel his anger. The tension in his body is impossible to ignore. His fists are clenched so tightly that his knuckles turn white.

"Naruto..."

He turns to the people, his voice trembling with barely contained rage.

"Say that again!"

Some flinch in shock, while others just stare at him, as if they never expected him to react.

"Naruto, don't."

I place my hand on his arm and gently pull him back.

"But Yukari, they—"

"I know." I force a small smile. "Let's just go."

Reluctantly, he follows me. His breathing is heavy, and I can see his shoulders still trembling slightly.

Silence lingers between us.

But I can feel it—Naruto can't let it go.

He heard it. He understood.

What my decision had cost me...

Finally, just before we reach Ichiraku, he stops.

"How did you endure it?"

I turn to him and see the pain in his eyes.

"All these years..." His voice cracks. "They hated you. They called you a traitor, and you... you just took it?"

I take a deep breath and smile sadly.

"I didn't have a choice."

Naruto shakes his head.

"Yes, you did! You could've come back! You could've explained everything to them—that you were working for the village! That you were doing it for us... for me..."

His voice breaks again.

"I was so angry at you..." His eyes shine with emotion. "I hated you. I thought you had betrayed us all."

He bites his lip.

"But I knew nothing... I knew nothing about what you went through. That you saved Itachi... That you saved Jiraiya... That you... that you protected me all along."

He exhales sharply and shakes his head again.

"I... I was so stupid."

I step forward and place my hands gently on his shoulders.

"No, Naruto. You just followed your own path. Just like I followed mine."

He stares at me.

"But... you were all alone."

I feel my throat tighten.

"I was never alone." My voice is soft. "I always had someone to protect. As long as you were safe... as long as all of you were safe... it was all worth it."