This is part 2 in a series where I compare Sasuke's actions with what he stated in his monologue via collages. Part one can be found here. I've already discussed made a general collage centered on the pain Naruto and Sasuke would feel over losing each other which can be found here, but I wanted to make one focused on pivotal moments where Sasuke is shown empathizing with Naruto during Part 2 of the manga [I will eventually make one for Part 2]. A more comprehensive list of Naruto being Sasuke's weakness can be found here.
In every significant scene where Naruto displayed pain and Sasuke was there to witness it, there was a crack shown in Sasuke's armor.
When Naruto called Sasuke's name, the stoic Sasuke's face visibly softened.
Across two chapters, Sasuke was shown to be in pain when he witnessed Naruto's agony over the shinobi alliance being killed (something noticed by Orochimaru, who Kishimoto frequently used to provide insight into Sasuke's feelings for Naruto). Kishimoto could have shown Sasuke displaying pain over the people who Sasuke eventually planned to lord over after the completion of his final battle with Naruto, but Naruto was specifically singled out. And consequently, Naruto was singled out as the one person who Sasuke (successfully) tried to motivate. And just like that, after a rejuvenated Naruto agreed to go with Sasuke, he was shown gently smiling. The foul mood that took over Sasuke upin seeing Naruto upset suddenly vanished.
Again, when Sasuke witnessed Naruto displaying Pain over someone else's death, in this case Obito, Sasuke was shown to feel empathy for Naruto. Even though Obito was dying, Sasuke was quick to point out that he was beyond help and told Naruto to help him take on Kaguya. However after witnessing Naruto's grief, Sasuke allowed Naruto to mourn and went ahead to take on Kaguya by himself despite his previous solo attack against Kaguya failing and his adamance that it was necessary for him and Naruto to work together.
More than once, other people were shown witnessing and reacting to Sasuke's shows of empathy. One instance, Sasuke worrying about Naruto after sensing his chakra, was noticed by Orochimaru and functioned as direct foreshadowing for the language Sasuke would use im his 698 monologue to describe the way Naruto weighed on his mind. Another instance, Sasuke frowning after watching Naruto wipe his tears, was closely watched by Hashirama. It was only after that moment that Hashirama was able to state Naruto and Sasuke would find a different conclusion than he and Hashirama did.
During Naruto's conversation Sasuke in the 5 Kage Summit Arc, Sasuke's face was strategically hidden after Naruto called Sasuke his goal and built bonds. It was through Sasuke's reflection on this moment that the reader was allowed to see Sasuke's unguarded expression.
And when everything culminated in Naruto revealing his feelings of empathy towards Sasuke, his expression was more heartrending expression than what he reserved for finding out his literal arm had been severed. There was always an emphasis on their feelings of mutual empathy for each other which is why 698 and 699 worked so well.
