there's something so moving about the fact that he can still recognize that vulnerability when naruto's entire public identity has changed. he doesn’t see konoha’s hero he just see’s the lonely boy that was loud and desperate to make bonds.. the real naruto in way ppl can’t see
everyone hero worships naruto, but sasuke who hasn’t seen him in three years looks at him and says his shadow clones are a way to cover up his loneliness. It’s such a nasty thing to say but also so intimate because sasuke still sees the lonely kid behind the hero persona