In the audience.
In the real world, Naruto was on the verge of losing it.
He squirmed uncomfortably in his seat, fidgeting restlessly, his face locked in a depressed expression as he stared at the screen.
Every move made by the "Naruto" in Sasuke's dream made him cringe like swallowing a bug whole.
[Ding! Uzumaki Naruto's emotional fluctuation detected! Emotional value +200!]
Beside him, Sakura's expression was just as dark, her thoughts tangled in turmoil.
She snuck a glance at Naruto, only to find him staring blankly at the screen, an unreadable look in his eyes.
Sakura silently sighed and turned her gaze back to the dream version of Naruto the one who sat under the sunlight, calmly reading his book.
Is this the kind of boy Sasuke likes?
Her mind began to spiral.
Sasuke had always been cold toward girls, brushing them off without a second thought. She herself had been scolded by Sasuke more than once because of Naruto.
Now this version of Naruto gentle, capable, and kind was so unlike the real one that even Sakura, who had been crushing on Sasuke for a long time, couldn't help but feel a little drawn in.
If this dream really reflects Sasuke's subconscious… then doesn't that mean…
I don't have a chance at all?
That thought stung.
Sakura couldn't quite tell if she was upset by Sasuke's supposed preferences or simply overwhelmed by how surreal this entire situation had become.
[Ding! Haruno Sakura's emotional fluctuation detected! Emotional value +200!]
Kakashi, meanwhile, narrowed his one visible eye, focusing intently on the book Naruto had just shown on-screen.
The Legend of the Gutsy Ninja…
That was Jiraiya-sama's very first novel.
Of course Kakashi knew it.
When he was just a teen, his teacher Minato Namikaze had read that same book and admired the protagonist's unshakable will so much… that he named his unborn son "Naruto."
And now, within this dream, Naruto was reading that very book. And not just reading it it had been recommended to him by his father.
Kakashi's heart stirred.
This dream wasn't just some haphazard illusion. It wasn't a simple reflection of memory or imagination.
It felt like a world that actually existed.
A world woven so vividly that even the personal details of the Fourth Hokage and Jiraiya-sama were intricately included.
Kakashi looked up again at the Naruto on the screen.
That boy's expression was calm, confident, and gentle. His entire presence radiated something warm and strong.
And in that moment, Kakashi couldn't help but sigh to himself.
If Naruto had really grown up with Minato…
Maybe he would've turned out exactly like this.
In the dream.
On the other side, Sasuke's eyes remained fixed on Naruto.
Watching him calmly put away the book, a thought suddenly flashed through Sasuke's mind something he had overlooked until now.
Wasn't it said that Naruto graduated from the Academy with the highest scores? Even higher than mine? That was the reason I came in second.
His eyes lit up with realization.
Graduation rankings at the Ninja Academy weren't based on written exams alone. Physical performance and actual ninjutsu ability accounted for a major part too.
Does that mean… this version of Naruto is actually really strong?
No Sasuke's expression shifted slightly. A playful smile crept onto his lips.
I almost forgot. On the first day he entered the dream, that idiot actually defeated me.
In that dream, Sasuke had even admitted without hesitation that Naruto was the strongest member of Team 7.
Naruto, that dobe… actually dreamed of being that strong?
Even though he knew it was just a dream, Sasuke couldn't help but feel the embers of a competitive fire reignite in his chest as he recalled all of Naruto's strange and impressive behavior in this world.
Maybe this is the perfect chance to test him for real… to see what he's really capable of in this world.
Without realizing it, Sasuke's fists clenched.
His body filled with energy and anticipation. The urge to fight to challenge took over.
Without another thought, he marched toward Naruto.
Naruto noticed Sasuke approaching and looked up with a gentle smile. But before he could greet him, Sasuke crossed his arms and gave a confident grin.
"Let's fight, Naruto."
There was a gleam in Sasuke's obsidian eyes bright with excitement, sharp with challenge.
"Eh?" Naruto blinked, surprised for a second. Then his smile returned, and he nodded casually. "Sure. If Sasuke-kun wants to spar, I'll be your opponent."
Sakura blinked from the side, but didn't seem alarmed at all.
In fact, her expression turned excited.
"Whoa are Sasuke and Naruto about to go at it again?" she exclaimed, quickly stepping aside to give them room.
Apparently, in this dream version of reality, Naruto and Sasuke sparred often, and it had become a natural part of their bond.
Naruto smiled back at her before facing Sasuke again.
The two stood across from each other, eyes locking.
Each could feel the other's battle spirit rising like heat off a summer field.
Sasuke's lips curled into a small smirk as he slid into a ready stance.
Naruto remained relaxed, calm, almost casual like someone confident he could handle whatever came his way.
At the same time, both of them stretched out their right hands.
They met in the center and formed a solid Sign of Opposition a solemn ninja gesture exchanged before a duel.
The match had officially begun.
In the audience.
"W-what?! This guy !"
In the audience.
Real-world Naruto jumped up from his seat the moment he saw Sasuke challenge his dream self.
"That sneaky jerk! Sasuke, you bastard you're clearly looking for revenge!"
He clenched his fists and shouted with frustration.
He had watched with his own eyes how Sasuke was completely crushed by him in that earlier dream. The miserable expression on Sasuke's face back then had been so satisfying, it had made Naruto laugh out loud.
And now?
Now that guy had clearly been biding his time waiting for the perfect moment to challenge dream-Naruto and win back his pride.
"That's so low!" Naruto fumed.
[Ding! Uzumaki Naruto's emotional fluctuation detected! Emotional value +200!]
Sakura tilted her head, watching the screen where the two boys faced off.
For some reason, her heart started racing with excitement.
She stole a glance at the real Naruto beside her.
He was staring straight ahead, completely absorbed, his body slightly leaning forward. His eyes burned with nervous anticipation.
On the screen, the dream versions of Naruto and Sasuke stood locked in a silent standoff, their gazes intense. The tension between them felt electric so strong that even the air seemed to ripple with heat.
Sakura's heart thumped harder. A faint blush crept across her cheeks.
Wait… why do I suddenly feel…
She quickly shook her head, trying to clear away the strange thought forming in her mind.
Still, she couldn't hide the anticipation in her eyes.
[Ding! Haruno Sakura's emotional fluctuation detected! Emotional value +100!]
Kakashi rested his chin on one hand, watching the screen with a quiet interest. His visible eye narrowed slightly, thoughtful.
So how strong is dream-Naruto, really?
With guidance from Minato-sensei… it has to be something extraordinary.
In the dream.
Within a small forest clearing, Naruto and Sasuke stood opposite each other.
A heavy, silent pressure filled the space between them.
A breeze swept through the trees, lifting a few fallen leaves into the air. They swirled gently between the two boys, carried on the wind like tiny sparks before a storm.
Sasuke moved first.
He jumped back suddenly, widening the gap between them to gain some space.
Naruto didn't move.
He simply stood there, hands relaxed at his sides, his expression calm and unreadable.
He watched Sasuke quietly.
That single choice the stillness, the silence sent a wave of confusion through Sasuke's chest.
In the real world, Naruto would've charged in already, yelling at the top of his lungs and rushing headfirst into the fight.
But this Naruto was composed, almost serene.
The contrast was unsettling.
What's with this attitude?
Are you… looking down on me?
Or are you just trying to mess with my rhythm by refusing to make the first move?
Either way, it irritated Sasuke.
In the dream.
Sasuke snorted coldly and decided to test Naruto's strength first.
With a flick of his wrist, he suddenly drew two shuriken from his ninja pouch cold flashes of steel slicing through the air as they flew straight toward Naruto's face!
They came in from tricky angles, clearly meant to test reflexes more than cause harm.
But Naruto didn't even blink.
At the very last moment, he shifted his body ever so slightly.
Whoosh !
Both shuriken whizzed past him, missing by mere inches.
A clean, precise dodge.
Sasuke's pupils narrowed.
That movement had been crisp and fluid far sharper than he expected.
His heart gave a faint jolt.
That speed…
Is this really the same Naruto who used to be dead last in class?
[Ding! Uchiha Sasuke's emotional fluctuation detected! Emotional value +200!]
Sasuke's eyes darkened with caution.
Those two shuriken had only been a warm-up. What bothered him wasn't that Naruto dodged them it was how calm he looked doing it.
Not flustered. Not scrambling.
Just… still. Confident.
What about this, then?
Sasuke reached into his ninja pouch again.
This time, with both hands, he grabbed a full handful of large shuriken.
With a sharp breath, he leapt back and shouted then hurled seven or eight shuriken into the air in rapid succession.
The projectiles soared skyward, spinning with deadly speed. But they weren't flying randomly.
Each shuriken struck another mid-air, altering its trajectory with a clang! and creating an unpredictable arc of flight.
They came down on Naruto from every angle.
This was the Uchiha clan's signature shuriken jutsu a deadly throwing technique using mid-air collisions to redirect weapons for an almost impossible-to-avoid assault.
The storm of steel descended all at once, cutting through the wind like a net of razor blades.
But Naruto didn't flinch.
It was clear this wasn't his first time seeing a move like that.
With a steady step, he moved his foot slightly off center, formed a quick hand seal, and called out in a low voice:
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
At the same time, he flung a single shuriken into the air.
Poof!
In the blink of an eye, it multiplied into a flurry of shadow clones mid-flight, splitting into dozens then hundreds of identical shuriken.
The sky filled with whirling steel, like a storm of falling stars.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Sasuke's own shuriken were intercepted and knocked from the air by the sheer number of Naruto's projectiles.
But the assault didn't stop there.
Several of the shadow clone shuriken shot past and kept flying straight toward Sasuke!
"What?!"
Sasuke's eyes widened in alarm.
He hadn't expected a counterattack he thought Naruto would dodge in a panic.
Instead, Naruto had calmly dismantled his technique… and launched his own.
He barely had time to think.
With a sharp motion, he drew a kunai and began deflecting as fast as he could.
The air filled with rapid clang! sounds as sparks erupted around him.
He managed to block every one but only just.
When the last shuriken fell to the ground, Sasuke landed on his feet, breathing hard, a fine line of cold sweat trailing down his temple.
[Ding! Uchiha Sasuke's emotional fluctuation detected! Emotional value +400!]
Sasuke backed up a few steps, staring at Naruto across the field, chest rising and falling slightly.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique…
He hadn't expected Naruto to use such an advanced move especially not so precisely.
That technique required exceptional control, accuracy, and timing. Even most Chunin couldn't pull it off cleanly.
But this Naruto hadn't just used it he'd countered a complex Uchiha attack with it.
Sasuke was stunned.
If he hadn't reacted in time, he could've been skewered on the spot.
He gritted his teeth, swallowing both the shock and the small trace of humiliation crawling up his spine.
Damn it… I underestimated him.
I almost walked straight into that.
The vein near his temple twitched.
Now, for the first time, Sasuke looked at the boy in front of him not with arrogance… but with focus.
He wasn't just messing around anymore.
[Ding! Uchiha Sasuke's emotional fluctuation detected! Emotional value +300!]