Back in the Dream Theater audience.
"Look, Sasuke's back again!" Naruto huffed, glaring at the screen as Sasuke awkwardly avoided Itachi's attempts to be close.
"Tch! I told you, he's like that! Pretends he doesn't care, but inside he's dying for it."
[Ding! Uzumaki Naruto's emotional fluctuations are captured! Emotional value +100!]
Sakura frowned and nudged Naruto's elbow.
"Naruto, don't talk about Sasuke like that," she whispered, clearly a bit annoyed.
"Hmph! I just can't stand that smug act of his!" Naruto muttered, folding his arms. "Always acting cool when he's totally into it!"
Beside them, Kakashi sat silently with his favorite book in hand, listening to the two bicker. He gave a helpless little shake of his head.
Kids.
But then, his smile faded.
His one visible eye narrowed slightly, focusing on the screen, and his fingers slowly touched his chin in thought.
No... this might not be just some petty teenage drama.
He watched as Itachi gently offered time to Sasuke, only for Sasuke to turn away coldly. The pain behind Sasuke's silence wasn't just the kind that came from a sibling spat.
Kakashi's expression turned grim.
After all, Itachi was the one who massacred the entire Uchiha clan.
Sasuke's anger... that deep hatred it's not something anyone else here could truly understand.
Naruto and Sakura didn't know the truth. Not yet.
To them, Sasuke's reaction looked like pride or coldness. But to Kakashi, it was something else entirely.
Then there was what Shisui and Itachi had just discussed.
The white monster that can transform into others...
Kakashi's thoughts sharpened.
So far, everything seen in this dream world has reflected reality. So, this strange creature it might actually be lurking near Konoha.
And if Shisui and Itachi, two of the most elite shinobi of their time, were taking it seriously, then it wasn't something to dismiss as a simple transformation technique.
Something about this white monster isn't normal.
Kakashi's mind raced.
He leaned back, eyes fixed on the screen, lips pressed into a thin line.
Could it be an enemy from beyond the village? A failed experiment? Or even something more ancient?
Whatever it was, it had Shisui investigating and Itachi staying close to Sasuke. That alone spoke volumes.
Naruto and Sakura, meanwhile, had gone quiet, finally noticing the shift in Kakashi's mood.
They exchanged confused glances but didn't say a word.
The air around Kakashi had changed. The casual sensei they knew had slipped away, replaced by the cool, calculating ninja beneath the mask.
I need to report this to the Hokage immediately after this.
His eyes didn't leave the screen.
When did it arrive? Who sent it? And what does it want in Konoha?
Kakashi frowned.
He had stumbled upon something far more serious than he expected.
Something that might already be inside their walls.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Hatake Kakashi captured! Emotional value +400!]
On the screen.
Sasuke still refused to accept Itachi's apology.
Even if this version of Itachi hadn't committed any crimes in the dream world, Sasuke didn't feel like treating him kindly. His wounds ran too deep.
If he wanted to practice genjutsu, he could go to his father. Or his mother. Or literally any other Uchiha in the clan. Anyone but him.
Seeing Sasuke's stubborn resistance, Itachi stepped forward and lowered his stance even more, an uncharacteristic trace of desperation in his voice.
"Sasuke… I know I let you down last time. I've been blaming myself ever since."
He paused, voice tinged with regret.
"I cleared my whole day today just to make it up to you. Please… give me another chance. I'll practice with you, and you can choose anything you want."
Sasuke blinked.
This wasn't the cool, composed older brother he remembered. This was… awkward. Hesitant. Embarrassed.
Itachi's usual calm and control were nowhere to be seen. His eyes were full of guilt, his tone pleading.
Sasuke raised his face and locked eyes with him.
For a moment, he was stunned.
He'd never seen Itachi like this. The great prodigy of the Uchiha clan… looking so human.
Sasuke turned away with a scoff, but in truth, his mind was racing.
He knew how valuable Itachi's genjutsu skills were. No one in the clan came close to his brother's mastery of illusions.
And then… an idea sparked.
What if he used this?
What if he took this chance to observe Itachi's moves up close? Learn his genjutsu, memorize every single technique?
Then when they faced off for real in the future, Sasuke would know everything.
He could anticipate every illusion. Counter every trick.
Then I'll destroy him without hesitation.
Yes.
This has nothing to do with wanting to be near him.
It was just… strategic preparation.
Sasuke's tense expression finally softened.
He pursed his lips, pretending to deliberate, then spoke coldly, "Fine. I'll train with you. But "
He shot a sideways glance at Itachi, face full of forced pride. "I pick what we practice. No complaints."
Itachi's eyes lit up. Relief washed over his face, and a warm smile spread across his features.
"Of course. Whatever you want to practice, I'll follow your lead."
Sasuke grunted, turning his face away again.
But he didn't walk off.
He stayed.
And that alone spoke louder than any words.
Sasuke turned without hesitation and said, "Let's go to the clan's training ground."
Itachi nodded and quickly followed.
Soon, the two brothers arrived at a secluded training area behind the Uchiha district.
The space was wide and quiet, surrounded by a few tall trees that swayed gently in the morning breeze. Rustling leaves whispered overhead, and a few black scorch marks lingered on the ground faint traces from past Fire Style training.
Itachi scanned the field, then looked at his brother, already standing in a ready stance. A soft smile tugged at his lips.
"Sasuke, last time we sparred, I noticed your taijutsu has really improved," Itachi said gently. "But your control over Fire Style has gotten a bit rough. You're wasting chakra. Want to go over chakra control first? Or if you'd prefer I could teach you something more advanced, like Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu..."
But Sasuke cut him off, eyes sharp.
"No need for that," he said coldly. "I want to learn genjutsu. Sharingan-style genjutsu."
Itachi blinked, surprised.
"Oh? You want to learn genjutsu with the Sharingan?"
Still, he didn't pry further. A faint smile returned to his face as he nodded.
"Alright. If that's what you want, I'll teach you the illusion techniques I'm best at."
He walked over to Sasuke and gently tapped his forehead with two fingers.
"But first, you'll need to activate your Sharingan. The technique I'm about to show you depends on it."
Sasuke didn't speak.
He closed his eyes briefly, brought his hands together in a practiced seal, and calmly gathered his chakra. The energy pulsed through his body, focusing into his eyes.
In the next moment, his dark pupils rippled and a single tomoe slowly spun to life in each eye.
Scarlet light shimmered as the Magatama Sharingan awakened.
In the audience.
"Tch. See? Told you!" Naruto leaned back with his hands behind his head, smirking smugly. He shot a glance at Sakura. "I knew Sasuke wanted to train with his brother. He just had to act all stubborn first!"
[Ding! Uzumaki Naruto's emotional fluctuations are captured! Emotional value +200!]
But even as he bragged, Naruto couldn't hide the flicker of envy in his eyes as he watched the two Uchiha brothers train.
He grumbled, "It's not fair. Sasuke's learning new jutsu even in his dreams… His power's skyrocketing… And me?"
His voice lowered into a pout. "I don't even know when I'll figure out the third stage of Rasengan…"
The frustration twisted in his chest.
He couldn't deny it deep down, he wanted the same thing.
A place like that. A chance like that.
If he could dream like this...
He could ask his father to train him.
He could finally have what he always longed for.
Sakura watched the scene of the brothers on the screen, then quietly glanced to her side.
Naruto's blue eyes were fixed on the screen, full of longing.
Her heart stirred.
Both Naruto and Sasuke had entered this strange dream one after another… and each time, they gained powerful new techniques that brought them closer to their dreams.
They were growing stronger every day.
And her?
Up until now, all Sakura could do was sit in the audience just a silent observer watching her teammates grow stronger within these strange, magical dreams.
Naruto had grown by leaps and bounds.
Sasuke had reconnected with forgotten bonds and started learning elite Uchiha techniques.
And she?
She hadn't even stepped into the dream world.
"If only… I could enter a dream like that too," Sakura thought wistfully, her fingers tightening slightly in her lap.
For a moment, she let herself imagine it.
What kind of dream would she see?
What kind of strength might she awaken?
But then, she smiled bitterly and shook her head.
The Sakura in the dream… would still just be her. No bloodline. No legendary techniques.
Even if she entered that place, what could she possibly gain?
She sighed.
Of course she was happy for Naruto and Sasuke. They were her teammates, after all.
But deep down, behind the smile, a quiet unease stirred an anxious fear of being left behind.
She clenched her fists, silently steeling herself.
No… she couldn't keep letting things go like this.
Even if she couldn't rely on some miracle dream, even if she didn't have a powerful bloodline or a legendary teacher…
She would train even harder.
She'd push herself further.
She wouldn't fall behind again.
[Ding! The emotional fluctuations from Haruno Sakura are captured! Emotional value +200!]