Aren raised his eyebrows slightly, but he didn't look the least bit anxious.
After all, the Dream Master System allowed up to three spectators to be pulled into the dream space at a time, as long as they were close enough to Naruto.
If Sasuke didn't join tonight, then someone else could take his place.
With that in mind, Aren had an idea. He summoned the system panel and began scrolling through the list of potential candidates.
There weren't many who met the criteria. When it came to people who had a strong emotional bond with Naruto, how many truly qualified?
He skimmed through the names quickly, his mind processing each one in a flash.
"Should I bring in Iruka-sensei?" he mused, then shook his head. Not necessary. Not this time.
"The Third Hokage?" No, it was still too early for someone of his position to be drawn into this secret.
Aren absentmindedly stroked his chin, deep in thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as they locked onto one particular name.
Perfect.
Tonight's dream was tailor-made for this viewer.
…
…
In the quiet, pitch-dark auditorium, Sakura and Kakashi sat side by side, their attention fixed on the black screen, waiting for it to light up.
Sakura suddenly turned to glance at the empty seat next to her. The air around it shimmered like rippling water, and a hazy figure slowly began to take shape.
"Someone's coming!" she exclaimed, delighted. Without thinking, she blurted out, "Sasuke, why are you so late"
Kakashi, standing nearby, heard her and looked over as well. His previously tense expression eased a little.
It looked like Sasuke had finally arrived.
But before Sakura could finish her sentence, the figure fully formed, and her voice cut off abruptly.
The person standing there wasn't Sasuke.
Instead, it was a petite girl.
Her short hair, soft and silky like satin, brushed gently against her cheeks. She wore cozy, light purple pajamas that puffed slightly around her slender frame.
Her hands were nervously clenched together, and her delicate face showed a clear mix of panic and confusion. Her pale lavender eyes, wide and full of anxiety, darted around the unfamiliar surroundings with a quiet unease.
"Wait Hinata?" Sakura's eyes widened, stunned. For a moment, she was completely speechless.
Kakashi looked equally surprised. He had clearly expected Sasuke, not the Hyuga clan's eldest daughter, Hyuga Hinata.
Hinata, too, had just noticed the two people beside her.
Hinata had been terrified just moments ago.
She had no idea how it happened. One second she was lying in bed, and the next, she had somehow "woken up" in this unfamiliar, pitch-dark space. Her heart had been pounding with fear ever since.
It wasn't until she clearly saw Kakashi and Sakura sitting nearby that the tight knot in her chest loosened a little.
She didn't know Kakashi personally, but she paid close attention to Naruto. Of course she recognized him as Naruto's team leader Kakashi-sensei.
"T-Teacher Kakashi? Sakura?" Hinata blinked and called out softly, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Seeing familiar faces helped ease her anxiety just a little.
"I-I'm so glad… it's really you…" she whispered with a breath of relief. Her cheeks flushed pink from nervousness, and her tiny hands were still clenched in front of her chest. Her heart continued to flutter, unsettled.
She tilted her head and began to take in her surroundings more clearly.
This place looked like a movie theater an empty one.
In the dim light, rows of plush red seats stretched behind them. In front was a massive black screen, looming silently. Above them, the ceiling arched high, with a faintly visible projection window cut into it.
If not for the eerie stillness and oppressive air, it could easily be mistaken for a regular cinema.
"Wh-where… are we?" Hinata asked in a tiny voice, barely louder than a whisper. "Is this… a movie theater…?"
Sakura looked at her, then turned to Kakashi. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
Sakura and Kakashi exchanged glances, both sensing the awkwardness in the air.
How were they supposed to explain all this to Hinata?
Before either of them could speak, the enormous screen in front of them suddenly flickered to life.
The darkness was swept away in an instant, like night giving way to sunrise.
A glowing image bloomed across the screen and there he was.
Naruto.
Hinata recognized the blond-haired boy in an instant. Her lips parted slightly, and she let out a soft, surprised gasp.
"H-Hey! It's Naruto-kun!"
Her clear voice echoed through the otherwise silent theater, sounding especially loud in the stillness.
Hinata stared at the screen in shock, her voice rising before she even realized it.
"N-Naruto-kun? Why… why is he on the screen? W-What's going on?!"
[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Hyuga Hinata! Emotional Value +200!]
Sakura and Kakashi both snapped out of their thoughts the moment they heard Hinata call out Naruto's name.
They turned to look at each other, both at a loss for words.
Neither of them had expected this. Instead of Sasuke, it was Hinata who showed up.
Cold sweat began to form on Kakashi's forehead.
The girl in front of him might have been a timid Genin, but she was still the daughter of the prestigious Hyuga clan. And right now, he had absolutely no idea how to explain this strange situation to her.
On top of that, Sasuke's absence was beginning to trouble him in a different way.
Could it be… that Sasuke had intentionally stayed awake just to avoid entering the dream?
[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Haruno Sakura! Emotional Value +300!][Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Hatake Kakashi! Emotional Value +200!]
Sakura bit her lip and turned to Hinata. "It's… kind of complicated. But you'll understand once you see it for yourself. To put it simply… we're watching Naruto's dream right now."
Hinata blinked in confusion. "Naruto-kun's… dream?"
Kakashi stepped in to clarify. "Yes. More precisely, we're in a special kind of space watching Naruto dream. The Naruto you see on the screen is him, inside that dream."
Hinata's entire face flushed red, the color spreading all the way to her ears.
She stared in disbelief at the enormous screen where Naruto's figure appeared. After a long pause, she whispered again, as if to confirm it with herself, "Naruto-kun's… dream?"
Her heart began to race. Her cheeks were burning.
She was in Naruto's dream space. Watching his innermost thoughts, his desires his most private world.
Just thinking about it made her panic.
If Naruto-kun finds out… will he hate me?
The more she imagined it, the more embarrassed she became. Her small hands clenched the hem of her pajama top tightly. Her face turned even redder, and she lowered her head until it nearly disappeared into her chest.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Hyuga Hinata! Emotional Value +500!]
Seeing Hinata's panic, Sakura quickly waved her hands and tried to reassure her.
"Strictly speaking, we didn't enter Naruto's dream. It's more like… we're just watching it like watching a movie. So you really don't have to feel so nervous or guilty."
"W-Watching… dreams?" Hinata echoed, still looking bewildered.
She had never heard of anything like this before. Watching someone's dream like a movie? It sounded impossible.
But since both Kakashi-sensei and Sakura were calmly explaining it, she forced herself to quiet her doubts and turned her eyes back toward the screen.
By now, the image on the massive screen had stabilized.
What appeared was a warm, neat bedroom.
Soft, pale yellow sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting hazy rays of light across the room and giving it a gentle, peaceful glow.
A young boy lay sleeping on the bed.
His blond hair was tousled, spreading softly across the pillow. His breathing was slow and relaxed.
It was Naruto already deep in his dream.
"Hmm…"
Inside the dream, Naruto's eyelids twitched slightly. He murmured something under his breath, then slowly opened his eyes.
His clear blue eyes shimmered under the morning light. He stared up at the ceiling in a daze for a couple of seconds… and then suddenly bolted upright in bed.
"That's right! I have to finish the second stage of Rasengan training today!"
Still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, the thought of his goal from the night before filled him with energy.
He jumped out of bed, threw on his clothes in a hurry, opened the bedroom door, and dashed down the stairs.
The "camera" followed him smoothly, trailing behind as he ran into the dining room.
The space was bright and roomy. A delicious breakfast had already been laid out on the table, and the air was filled with mouthwatering aromas.
Kushina sat at the table, sipping a bowl of miso soup with a content smile. She was clearly waiting for her son to join her.
"Morning, Mom!" Naruto called out casually as he plopped down into a chair. But then, noticing someone missing, he glanced around and asked, "Huh? Where's Dad? I don't see him."
Kushina looked up at her spirited son, still smiling warmly. "Good morning, Naruto. Your dad left early today. Said he had some official business to take care of."
"Ah… got it."
Naruto froze for a moment when he heard her answer, and a faint shadow passed over his face.
His smile faded slightly. He looked down and began to poke at the fried eggs in his bowl with his chopsticks, a subtle feeling of disappointment rising in his chest.
He had planned to ask his dad about the secret to mastering the second stage of the Rasengan the moment he woke up.
But now… Dad wasn't home.
Did that mean he'd have to figure it out on his own?
The disappointment in his heart was clear, even in the silence. But after a few moments, he quietly balled his fists and gave himself a silent pep talk.
So what if no one's here to guide me?
I'll still figure it out!
[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uzumaki Naruto! Emotional Value +200!]