Sakura stared at Sasuke in shock, unable to understand why he was suddenly reacting so strongly.
Just moments ago, he had been calmly watching the screen, but now his pupils had contracted, his face pale, and his breathing had turned sharp and uneven.
Softly, with concern in her voice, Sakura asked, "Sasuke, what's wrong?"
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Haruno Sakura detected! +500 emotion points!
Kakashi noticed Sasuke's unusual behavior and let out a faint sigh.
He kept his gaze fixed on the screen, thinking to himself, Naruto's dream… the information it contains is overwhelming.
"Calm down. It's just Naruto's dream," he said.
But Sasuke didn't respond. He didn't acknowledge Kakashi, nor did he answer Sakura's worried question. He simply stared at the screen, fists clenched tightly without even realizing it.
Why…? Why is Naruto's mother still alive in this dream?
And even more disturbing—
The scene showed his mother, Uchiha Mikoto, acting close—intimately close—with Naruto's mom?!
Impossible…
Sasuke's chest heaved violently, breath unsteady.
If I keep watching… will I really see my mother again?
The thought made his emotions boil over. His body trembled slightly.
The swirl of anticipation and excitement, laced with fear and unease, crashed over him like a wave, threatening to drown him.
His breath caught in his throat, the light in his black eyes flickering chaotically.
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Uchiha Sasuke detected! +1000 emotion points!
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Uchiha Sasuke detected! +500 emotion points!
In the shadows, Shiyu stared at the system panel, practically drooling at the flood of emotion values pouring in.
He rubbed his hands together gleefully.
"He really is Nii-chan, huh? Quiet most of the time, but when he moves—it's a damn tidal wave of emotion points!"
On the screen, the dream continued—
Uzumaki Naruto sat at his dining table, a look of puzzlement on his face.
Scratching the back of his head, he muttered, "Weird. Why would that annoying guy Sasuke invite me to a celebration banquet?"
He hadn't heard anything about an Uchiha celebration, and considering Sasuke's usual attitude toward him, it made no sense that he would extend an invitation.
Dream-Naruto felt confused, but he didn't dwell on it. Figuring it must've been something his mom arranged, he obediently got up to wash up.
Before long, Naruto returned to the table, feeling fresh and alert, and enjoyed a hearty breakfast with his parents.
"Mom's cooking is amazing!" he beamed.
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Uzumaki Naruto detected! +500 emotion points!
Kushina smiled warmly at the sight of her son devouring his food.
Minato also lifted the corners of his lips in a gentle smile.
After breakfast, Minato put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said apologetically to his wife and son, "Sorry, Kushina, Naruto. I've got some work to take care of. I won't be able to come with you right away. You two head to the Uchiha's first—I'll join you as soon as I'm done."
"Eh—?"
Naruto pouted, dragging out the sound in disappointment.
He had planned to ask his dad about tips for mastering the "second phase" of his training while he washed dishes—but now his father was already heading out.
The light dimmed a little in Naruto's eyes. He nodded, "Okay. But hurry back, Dad."
Minato ruffled his hair apologetically before standing and leaving.
As the door shut behind him, Naruto grumbled while clearing the dishes, "Tch. Dad's always got work..."
Still, even as he complained, he quietly did the dishes and headed into the kitchen.
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Uzumaki Naruto detected! +100 emotion points!
Kushina watched him with a fond smile. She stepped forward to help dry the dishes and gently said, "Naruto, don't complain. Your father's working hard for the village. We can be a little late—it's okay."
"Mm…"
Naruto nodded, a little sulky, and said nothing more.
He quickly finished up, dried his hands, and joined Kushina at the entryway, where she had already gathered everything they needed.
"Come on, Naruto! Let's go before we keep Sasuke waiting~"
"Coming!" he shouted and dashed over to put on his shoes.
Mother and son set off down the road toward the Uchiha compound.
It was still early morning. Sunlight bathed the streets of Konoha in a golden glow.
As Naruto walked beside Kushina, he noticed the villagers they passed all greeted them with warm, respectful smiles.
"Good morning, Lady Kushina!"
"Good morning, Young Master Naruto!"
So many neighbors greeted them cheerfully.
It felt strange. People who would usually glance away in cold indifference now smiled at him like spring sunlight.
At first, it felt unfamiliar to Naruto—but soon his chest swelled with warmth and contentment.
He straightened his back and returned each greeting with a beaming smile that lit up his whole face like golden sunshine.
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Uzumaki Naruto detected! +400 emotion points!
In the viewing gallery, the trio watching this scene exchanged glances, their feelings growing more complex.
Back in the dream, Kushina led Naruto through several twists and turns until they arrived at a wide, open street.
The buildings here were neat and traditional, and the air carried a subtle difference from the rest of the village.
Scarlet fan symbols were displayed everywhere—this was clearly Uchiha territory.
Naruto followed Kushina into a narrow stone-paved lane, passing by numerous formally dressed clan members heading in the same direction.
It was his first time attending a gathering in the Uchiha compound, and curiosity lit up his face.
Strangely, the environment didn't quite match what he had imagined.
Something felt off. Different.
But he couldn't put his finger on it.
Maybe it was just because he had never been here before?
He scratched his head and didn't think too much about it, simply trailing after Kushina's confident steps.
But just as they stepped into Uchiha territory—
Sasuke's eyes widened, and he suddenly shot to his feet. "No… this isn't right!"
His voice trembled with shock.
Sakura jumped in fright, staring up at him. "W-what is it?!"
Sasuke's face had gone ghostly pale, disbelief in his eyes.
He pointed at the scene on the screen, his voice rising in pitch:
"This isn't the Uchiha compound! The buildings, the roads… everything's wrong!"
"Everything about the Uchiha in Naruto's dream—it's all fake!"
His words came spilling out in a panicked torrent. His chest heaved. His expression teetered on the edge of terror.
Then what about my parents?
Are they fake too?
The thought stabbed through him like a blade. His emotions spiraled out of control.
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Uchiha Sasuke detected! +1000 emotion points!
Kakashi stood up at once, his brow furrowed tightly as he looked at Sasuke, his voice steady but firm. "Calm down, Sasuke. What you're seeing… isn't wrong."
He turned his gaze back to the screen, and something flickered in his eyes.
To the younger generation, the street layout and storefronts might seem unfamiliar—but to Kakashi, it was like a ghost from the past.
A memory long buried stirred within him.
He had been here before, years ago, accompanying his teacher.
Obito's house had been nearby...
The memory of his lost friend filled Kakashi's heart with a faint ache.
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Hatake Kakashi detected! +500 emotion points!
In a low voice, Kakashi explained, "Sasuke, what you're looking at… is the original Uchiha compound."
"The original…?"
Sasuke was stunned. He didn't immediately grasp the meaning.
Beside him, Sakura looked from one man to the other, utterly lost. "What do you mean? What original compound? I don't get it…"
Kakashi held up a hand, signaling her to be patient, and calmly continued:
"The Uchiha used to live in the central district of the village—right next to the Hokage's building. It was only later, due to… certain circumstances, that they were relocated to the village outskirts."
He paused momentarily when mentioning the "circumstances," his eyes briefly darkening, but then continued:
"So what you're seeing in Naruto's dream is the original Uchiha location. It's normal you don't recognize it, Sasuke—you were still very young then."
"The original… location…" Sasuke echoed the words, slowly calming as the shock faded.
He tried to recall fragments from his early childhood, but no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't remember ever living near the Hokage's office.
All he remembered was the distant, isolated area where the clan lived… right up until that night—the one that shattered everything.
His hands tightened into fists, his face unreadable.
Kakashi saw the tension ebb slightly and chose not to press further.
He lowered his gaze back to the screen, but in his heart, he was quietly amazed.
Even the old Uchiha compound, long gone from memory… Naruto's dream is replicating it in such vivid detail. But how? He's never been told any of this.