The screen went completely dark.
Inside the screening room, the dim light and eerie silence returned once again.
Sasuke and Sakura sat there, both slightly confused.
"…It's over?" Sakura blinked, still not quite processing what had just happened.Even though the dream had been ridiculous and silly, wasn't the ending too abrupt?
"Hmph. What a waste of time," Sasuke muttered, arms crossed as usual, his tone full of disdain.But deep in his black eyes, a flicker of doubt remained.That woman who appeared at the end—who was she?
Only one person in the room reacted differently.
Kakashi.
The moment the screen went black, Kakashi suddenly stood up from his seat like he had been struck by lightning.His body trembled ever so slightly, and his usual dead-fish eyes were now wide open, filled with shock and disbelief.
That voice just now…
And that flash of crimson hair…
No way.Absolutely no way.
It couldn't be.
Even though the image had flashed by too fast to see clearly, that long, flowing red hair—like blazing fire—And that fierce, unmistakable voice full of both scolding and love…
How could it be?
Back then, on the night Naruto was born, both his Sensei and Kushina-senpai…They had given everything to protect the Village and seal the Nine-Tails.They were long gone.
There was no way Naruto could have met his mother.No way he could've known what she looked like.Or what her voice sounded like.
So then—What on earth did we just see in that dream?
Was it an illusion?Some hyper-realistic Genjutsu pulling images from deep within Kakashi's memories?
No…
That wasn't it either.
If it had truly been reading memories, then why didn't Sasuke and Sakura react?
They had never met Kushina before.
They didn't know what Naruto's mother looked like.
Could it have been Naruto's subconscious?
Perhaps a vague image created through the bond of blood, pieced together in his dreams?
No… that didn't explain it either.
A subconscious illusion wouldn't have been so accurate.
That voice.That fiery red hair.That scolding yet loving tone.
It was all far too real.
Kakashi felt his mind spiral into chaos.
Countless questions and speculations surged like crashing waves, battering his calm.
A strange dream.A mysterious space.And finally… someone who should no longer exist.
What was really going on behind all of this?
Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Kakashi Hatake detected! Emotion value +2000!
Hidden in the shadows, Aren watched the system panel numbers shoot upward, and a wide grin spread across his face.
Just as I thought—The moment Kushina appeared, Kakashi completely lost his composure.
This was the perfect finishing touch to the dream Aren had planned.
Right when Naruto was at the height of his happiness, to suddenly insert his long-lost mother into the scene and then bring it all crashing down…It created the perfect emotional whiplash.
Especially for Kakashi, who knew the truth—This kind of moment struck right at his heart.
It hit his pain point with precision, triggering an emotional storm far more intense than any Genjutsu.
Just as Kakashi was still overwhelmed by Kushina's sudden appearance—
Buzz—
The dim screening room was abruptly bathed in a soft, glowing white light.
The radiant light surged out, engulfing the entire space in an instant.
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura were caught in it, their eyes overwhelmed.
A wave of intense dizziness washed over them…
And their consciousness faded into darkness once again.
...The very next second—Konoha Village, Hatake Residence.
Whoosh!
Kakashi suddenly shot upright in bed, gasping for breath.Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, his breathing ragged.
His gaze darted around the room.
It was his bedroom.The same familiar place.Outside the window, the night remained still, moonlight gently spilling across the wooden floor.
He was… back?
Kakashi clutched his forehead, still disoriented, as the scenes from earlier flashed vividly in his mind.
That strange, dimly lit screening room…The massive and mysterious black screen…Sasuke and Sakura, appearing in their pajamas…Naruto's dream playing like a movie…The cheers from the villagers…"Young Master Naruto"…And finally—Kushina-senpai.
Each memory was incredibly vivid, as if it had just happened seconds ago.It didn't feel like a dream at all.
"Could it be… all of that… was really just a dream?" Kakashi frowned deeply, his heart unsettled.
But if it wasn't a dream…
Then what exactly was it?
A power that could silently transport him, Sasuke, and Sakura into that kind of space…And display Naruto's inner dream so clearly…
It was a technique beyond anything he'd ever encountered.Miraculous. Mysterious. And terrifying.
But most of all…Kushina-senpai.
Naruto…How did he know?
Kakashi clutched the bedsheet tightly, his mind spiraling with confusion.
Something wasn't right.He could feel it in his gut.
This wasn't over.
...
Uchiha Clan Compound, Sasuke's Room
"...Hmph, what a boring dream."Sasuke sat up in bed, a faint scowl on his face. The interruption to his sleep annoyed him almost as much as the pathetic version of himself he'd just witnessed.
Disgusted, he shook the memory away and lay back down, brushing it off as nonsense.
Haruno Residence
"Ahhh! Naruto, you absolute idiot!!!"
Sakura jolted awake, slamming her fist into her pillow with explosive force—cotton fluff bursting into the air.
The scene in the dream where Naruto smugly "accepted" her confession still haunted her.
Face flushed with embarrassment and rage, she shouted,"I'm so mad! I swear, I'm going to beat Naruto up tomorrow!!"
Ichiraku Ramen, Storage Room Behind the Kitchen
Inside the cramped backroom, Aren stared at the system panel in front of him with a triumphant grin.
"Dream Fulfillment Target: Uzumaki Naruto""Audience: Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura Haruno, Kakashi Hatake""Total Emotional Value Earned: 6450 Points!"
"Hehehe..."He rubbed his hands together eagerly, eyes glinting with excitement.
"System! Open the store!"
With just a thought, a glowing virtual interface appeared before his eyes—only visible to him. It resembled a sleek and well-organized game shop.
The layout dazzled with options divided into categories like: [Bloodline], [Ninjutsu], [Taijutsu], [Items], [Special Abilities]...
Aren's fingers twitched, tempted to tap [Bloodline] right away and check the price tags on legendary powers like the Mangekyo Sharingan, the Rinnegan, or Wood Release.
But he paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
No, not yet. Don't rush it.
Right now, survival came first—and building a solid foundation.
I'm starting from zero. First things first: Chakra and basic combat abilities.
Not to mention whether I could even afford it—Even if I somehow managed to exchange for the Rinnegan, it would probably drain me into a dried-up mummy.
Aren took a deep breath and navigated through the interface, opening the [Ninjutsu] → [Basic] category, and then browsing the [Special Abilities] → [Physique] section.
He began scanning the options:
Chakra Cultivation TechniqueGuides the fusion of mental and physical energy to cultivate the most basic form of Chakra.Price: 500 Emotion Value
Chakra Cultivation Technique (Advanced Pack)Includes Chakra Cultivation Technique, randomly grants affinity for one Chakra nature, and increases both efficiency and quality of Chakra refinement.Price: 1500 Emotion Value
Chakra Cultivation Technique (High-Grade Pack)Includes Chakra Cultivation Technique, randomly grants affinity for three Chakra natures, greatly boosts Chakra efficiency and quality, and optimizes nature compatibility.Price: 3000 Emotion Value
Chakra Cultivation Technique (Ultimate Luxury Pack)Includes Chakra Cultivation Technique, randomly grants affinity for all Chakra natures, massively enhances Chakra refinement quality and speed, and fully optimizes all nature affinities.Price: 300,000 Emotion Value
Aren gulped.
"The Ultimate Luxury Pack is... way too ultimate. I'd have to sell my soul to afford it."
"Hiss... Even the High-Grade Pack is 3000 points? That's pretty steep… But the benefits are probably worth every point."
He clenched his teeth.
"Forget it! A weak foundation means certain failure down the line. I'm investing in my future—Buy!"
He confirmed the purchase with a tap and turned to the physical enhancement section next:
Basic Physical Enhancement (Lv1)Increases overall physical strength, speed, and stamina by 5 points.Price: 1000 Emotion Value
Basic Physical Enhancement (Lv2)Increases overall physical strength, speed, and stamina by 15 points.Price: 2500 Emotion Value
Basic Physical Enhancement (Lv3)Increases overall physical strength, speed, and stamina by 30 points.Price: 5000 Emotion Value
Aren nodded to himself.
"Physical stats are crucial too. Can't have great Chakra without a body to use it. Let's grab Level 1 for now."
Next, his eyes landed on a movement technique:
Body Flicker Technique (Lv1)Entry-level high-speed movement technique used by many Ninjas for short-distance evasion or repositioning.Price: 800 Emotion Value
"Nice. Mobility is life. This one's a must."
"Three Basic Jutsu (Lv1): Includes Substitution Jutsu, Clone Jutsu, and Transformation Jutsu. Price: 1000 Emotional Value."
"Oh? There's a bundle discount? Not bad, not bad! Although Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu aren't very useful right now, they're still basic, so there's no harm in learning them! Buy!"
"Purchase of 'Chakra Cultivation Technique (High-Grade Pack)' successful! Consumed 3000 Emotional Value! Open immediately?"
"Open!"
"Chakra Cultivation Technique (High-Grade Pack) has been opened. Congratulations to the host for acquiring Chakra Natures: Water, Lightning, Yang."
"Purchase of 'Basic Physical Enhancement (Lv1)' successful! Consumed 1000 Emotional Value!"
"Purchase of 'Three Basic Jutsu (Lv1)' successful! Consumed 1000 Emotional Value!"
"Purchase of 'Body Flicker Technique (Lv1)' successful! Consumed 800 Emotional Value!"
"Remaining Emotional Value: 650 points."
...
Instantly, a massive stream of information surged into Aren's mind.
Knowledge and experience on how to combine mental and physical energy, and how to efficiently cultivate Chakra, were absorbed and mastered by him instantly, as if he had been enlightened.
At the same time, the hand signs, Chakra flow routes, casting techniques, and countless practice experiences for Substitution Jutsu, Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Body Flicker Technique were also ingrained into his instincts.
Immediately after, a warm and powerful energy flowed through his entire body.
He could clearly feel his muscles becoming firmer and stronger, his nerve reactions faster, and his limbs filled with unprecedented vitality.
His originally slightly weak body instantly became much stronger.
"Phew..." Aren let out a long breath, feeling the tremendous changes in his body and knowledge, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
He spread out his palm, and with a focused thought, activated the Chakra Cultivation Technique he had just mastered.
A faint stream of blue energy, like a newborn river, began to trickle through his meridians, slowly flowing along its path before finally gathering in the center of his palm.
The amount was still very small, but it was real—this was Chakra he had cultivated himself.
"It worked! I can finally cultivate Chakra!"
Aren clenched his fist, suppressing the rush of joy in his chest, and eagerly resumed browsing the store.
Mangekyō Sharingan: The ultimate dōjutsu of the Uchiha Clan. An evolved form of the regular Sharingan, granting immense power at the cost of a heavy price.Price: 1,000,000 Emotion Value
Rinnegan: One of the most powerful dōjutsu in existence. Known as the "Eye that Controls Life and Death" or the "Eye of God," it symbolizes the Six Paths Sage and wields the power to create and destroy worlds.Price: 2,000,000 Emotion Value
Ōtsutsuki Bloodline: The divine bloodline of the so-called Clan of Gods. Grants near-immortality and unparalleled power. Said to be the origin of Chakra.Price: 5,000,000 Emotion Value
...
He stared at the numbers.
He couldn't afford any of it.
With only 650 Emotion Value left, these legendary powers were completely out of reach for now.
But it didn't matter.
He now had Chakra. He had physical strength. He had a way to defend himself.
And more importantly, he had a path.
As long as he kept collecting Emotion Value, there was no limit to how far he could go.His future… had just begun.