On the other side of the village, Sasuke returned home in the evening, his body sore from the day's intense training.
But instead of resting, he headed straight for the kitchen, filled a tall glass with cold water, and drank it in one long gulp.
Then, he stood motionless in the center of the living room, eyes slightly unfocused as Kakashi's words from earlier echoed in his mind.
Slowly, a faint but genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
He had figured it out.
The knot that had haunted him for years twisting like a blade in his chest was finally unraveling.
Though rage still boiled within him and hatred for the true killer hadn't lessened one bit, Sasuke felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: clarity.
Because now, he understood.
The one who destroyed his life had never been his gentle, kind-hearted brother. It had always been that disgusting imposter.
The real Itachi, his Nissan, was likely assassinated the moment he left Kakashi's Anbu squad. That impostor had taken everything from him his family, his clan, his peace of mind.
Sasuke's fists clenched as his eyes burned.
"That damn fake…"
He gritted the words through his teeth.
Taking a deep breath, Sasuke closed his eyes and steadied himself. He could feel it his blood, his will, his vengeance all surging like fire in his veins.
"No matter who you are, no matter where you hide, I will find you. And I will make you pay."
That vow burned in his chest.
As he opened his eyes again, a crimson glow spread across his pupils. His Sharingan spun wildly then sharpened, morphed, and evolved into a double tomoe.
Sasuke froze in surprise.
His Sharingan... had awakened further.
But even this wasn't enough.
He needed to be stronger far stronger to have any hope of avenging his family.
He recalled the words spoken by his brother in last night's dream: his chakra control was poor. His fire-style jutsu wasted too much energy.
If he could fix that, even just a little, his power would skyrocket.
Without hesitation, Sasuke grabbed his gear and headed out into the night, moving swiftly through the quiet streets until he reached a steep cliff just outside the village his usual spot for solo training.
But this time, he didn't use his hands to climb.
He took a long breath, focused his chakra carefully into the soles of his feet, then stepped forward.
His foot stuck to the stone wall firmly.
With a quiet nod to himself, Sasuke began ascending the cliff step by step, chakra balanced, movement precise, every inch driven by a single goal.
To grow strong enough to face the truth.
And destroy the impostor who wore his brother's face.
In order to stabilize his chakra, Sasuke pushed himself harder dashing up and down the sheer cliffside like a gecko, maintaining balance by constantly adjusting his chakra flow.
Sweat began to bead on his forehead, his legs started to ache, but he didn't stop.
Instead, he picked up speed.
Faster. Higher. Again and again.
He chased the limit of his control, refining his chakra output with each step.
By the time the sun dipped low in the sky, Sasuke finally descended, panting heavily. His chakra reserves were nearly drained, and his legs felt like they were made of stone.
But his face showed satisfaction.
That was enough for today.
It was time to rest.
That night, Sasuke bathed and turned in early. For the first time in a long while, he felt calm.
Peaceful.
Because now, he had a plan.
Train during the day in the real world.
Train at night in his dreams.
In this way, he would gain twice the time to sharpen his skills.
How many people could claim such an advantage?
He clenched his fists beneath the covers. Determination lit up his eyes in the dark.
"Nissan…" he whispered to himself, "I'll learn from you in every dream. I'll master every jutsu you show me. Then one day… I'll defeat that imposter, completely. For you."
Fueled by conviction, Sasuke slowly closed his eyes.
...
Moments later, his eyes flew open again.
He was now seated inside a vast, dark theater.
The familiar empty rows of dream-space spread out before him.
He instinctively calmed his breathing then paused.
"???"
Why was there… nothing?
[Ding! Uchiha Sasuke's emotional fluctuations are captured! Emotional value +800! ]
...
At the same time
Inside the dream world, Naruto blinked as a sudden flash of white light filled his vision.
Then the world returned.
He found himself lying on the soft bed of his own room.
He opened his eyes slowly, dazed, confused.
Wait… didn't I just fall asleep?
Why does it feel like morning already?
The familiar-yet-different layout of the room made him hesitate. He rubbed his eyes, struggling to process what he was seeing.
Then he noticed the photo frame on the bedside table.
His heart skipped a beat.
He rushed over and picked it up.
The photo showed a small boy himself grinning as he hugged his smiling parents.
Both of them.
"Could it be…?"
Minato and Kushina.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock.
At that moment, Naruto froze for a second then pure joy surged through his entire body.
He clenched his fist and cheered, "Yes! It's my turn again! Haha, I'm back in!"
[Ding! Uzumaki Naruto's emotional fluctuations detected! Emotional value +1000!]
In the shadowed corner of the dream world, Aren watched with a faint smile.
With just a simple adjustment, he had easily harvested another surge of emotional energy.
This system... really is too efficient.
...
In the audience
"Yay! It's Sasuke today!"
Sakura brightened the moment she saw him seated again in the dream theater.
[Ding! Haruno Sakura's emotional fluctuations detected! Emotional value +200!]
Between the two, her affections were still tilted just a little more toward Sasuke.
But Sasuke, arms crossed and brows furrowed, didn't look happy at all.
What was there to be happy about?
Far from excited, he was annoyed.
Resentful, even.
That idiot Naruto gets to enjoy that peaceful world again?
After everything I figured out last night... and now I lose the chance to investigate further?
Sasuke gritted his teeth in frustration.
Still, judging from how this dream world seemed to rotate between them, maybe he'd only have to wait a few days before it was his turn again.
[Ding! Uchiha Sasuke's emotional fluctuations detected! Emotional value +500!]
Kakashi, sitting nearby in the theater, watched the scene unfolding on the screen with mixed emotions.
A soft sigh escaped him.
He was honestly happy for Naruto.
Seeing him like this… maybe Kakashi's role in the afternoon training sessions was starting to feel unnecessary.
Perhaps it would be better to let Minato-sensei guide Naruto personally.
...
In the kitchen of the cozy home, Kushina was humming as she moved around in her apron, preparing breakfast.
The smell of miso soup, rice, and grilled fish filled the air.
Naruto couldn't contain himself.
He practically flew down the stairs, orange jacket half-zipped, bursting into the kitchen with the biggest grin on his face.
"Mom!"
He ran in, voice bubbling with excitement.
When Kushina heard the familiar voice, she quickly turned around and smiled warmly at him.
"Naruto? You're up early today! What's gotten you so cheerful this morning?"
Naruto beamed as he rushed over and wrapped his arms around her, pressing his face into the front of her apron like a little kid.
"Hehe… It's because I get to see you again, Mom! Of course I'm happy!"
Kushina couldn't help but laugh at his rare burst of affection. She ruffled his unruly blond hair fondly.
"Where did my sweet-talking son come from today? You're such a good boy, Naruto."
[Ding! Uzumaki Naruto's emotional fluctuations detected! Emotional value +500!]
Naruto gave her a sheepish grin before his eyes drifted toward the kitchen counter.
There, heaps of fresh vegetables, meat, and ingredients were stacked like a little mountain.
"Whoa… Mom, what's with all the food? Are we throwing a party or something?"
He picked up a carrot and gave it an exaggerated once-over.
Kushina gently tapped his nose with her fingertip.
"Silly, don't you remember? Kakashi and the others are coming over for lunch today!"
"Oh right!" Naruto scratched his head as the memory came back to him.
"Then I'll help!"
"Sure!" Kushina laughed. "With this many dishes, I could definitely use an extra pair of hands."
And so, the mother and son began bustling around the kitchen together.
Kushina washed and sliced the vegetables with practiced ease, while Naruto bounced around handing her plates, fetching spices, and sneaking tastes of whatever he could get his fingers on.
The kitchen echoed with the rhythm of chopping, the sizzle of oil, and Naruto's delighted giggles.
Before long, a rich, savory aroma began to fill the air.
It wasn't anything grand or spectacular.
Just a mother and son preparing lunch together in a sunny kitchen.
But for Naruto, it was better than any mission reward or training breakthrough.
He wasn't bored at all. In fact, he felt happier than ever.
If only… every day could start like this.
Just cooking side by side with Mom.