As night fell, the Village Hidden in the Leaves slowly settled into a peaceful silence.
Iruka lay on his bed, drifting off into a deep sleep.
But suddenly, the world around him shifted.
The scene changed abruptly. When he opened his eyes again and saw where he was, panic instantly rose in his chest.
He looked around with alert eyes, quickly realizing that he stood in a vast, dark space.
Before him loomed a massive black screen. Surrounding him were rows of empty seats stretching far back into the shadows.
The strangeness of the space made Iruka's heart skip a beat.
But when he tried forming hand seals, he found that his chakra was flowing normally yet none of his techniques were effective.
Just as confusion was setting in, a familiar voice called out.
He turned toward the voice and saw a few figures stepping out from the dim glow.
Looking closer, he saw that it was Kakashi and with him stood Sakura and Sasuke.
That alone helped settle Iruka's nerves a little.
He quickly walked over, still wearing a baffled expression.
"Kakashi-senpai… where is this place?"
Kakashi gave a casual wave, his usual lazy tone carrying a trace of amusement.
"This time's different. There are four of us now…"
He scratched his head in confusion.
Just a moment ago, I was lying down to rest at home… and now I'm here?
This place it looked like a giant theater, with a screen and rows of seats. After hearing Kakashi's words, it seemed wasn't their first time visiting.
Could this be some kind of secret jutsu? A dream technique?
Thoughts rushed through Iruka's mind faster than he could process them.
"What exactly is going on here?"
Seeing his confusion, Sakura stepped forward with a reassuring smile.
"It's a long story, Iruka-sensei. Let me explain."
She gave him a simple rundown of the strange phenomenon they'd been experiencing for several days how, night after night, they found themselves in this dream-like theater.
And how each time, they'd watch a mysterious scene unfold on the screen in front of them.
Scenes that seemed like dreams… but were eerily close to real life.
People, places, and emotions that felt completely authentic.
It was through these dreams that they'd come to understand many hidden truths.
After listening quietly to her explanation, Iruka slowly nodded.
Let me know when you're ready for the next part.
After a few minutes, Iruka finally grasped the overall situation.
His expression turned to one of utter shock, and he let out a long, astonished sigh.
"So something this incredible really happened… No wonder Naruto suddenly asked about the Fourth Hokage. Did he see something from here?"
Sasuke nodded with a sullen look. "That's right."
Tch. Why couldn't it have been me tonight?
Iruka's heart trembled.
Just as he was about to press for more details, the massive dark screen in front of them suddenly buzzed and lit up with a gentle glow.
The sudden brightness made Iruka squint. When his eyes adjusted, he was stunned to see Naruto's figure appear on the screen.
Iruka gasped and stared wide-eyed at the image.
He wasn't the only one. Everyone present fell silent and shifted their attention to the screen.
In the image, Naruto was sitting at a dining table, happily focused on eating his breakfast. Beside him, a blond man smiled warmly and gently picked up a fried egg, placing it onto Naruto's plate.
On his other side, a red-haired woman spoke to him with a tender voice, reminding him not to gobble his food down so quickly.
Iruka's breath caught as two names flashed through his mind.
Namikaze Minato. Uzumaki Kushina.
The Fourth Hokage and his wife… were sitting right there beside Naruto, having breakfast with him?
The heartwarming scene of the three eating together like a normal family hit Iruka hard. For a moment, he genuinely wondered if he was dreaming.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Iruka Umino! Emotional value +200!]
Iruka never would have imagined that Naruto could be reunited with his deceased parents even if only in a dream.
The shock on his face slowly melted away, replaced by a soft, bittersweet smile.
To see Naruto enjoying a simple breakfast with his parents… as a teacher, Iruka couldn't help but feel a deep sense of joy and comfort for him.
Kushina scolded playfully, "Naruto, don't eat so fast. No one's going to steal it from you!"
Though her words sounded strict, the love in her eyes was unmistakable.
Naruto sheepishly stuck out his tongue at her words, slowing down just a little. He chuckled with embarrassment.
As he slurped his noodles, Naruto occasionally glanced up, sneaking peeks at his father sitting across from him.
A wave of excitement and pride bubbled in Naruto's chest warm, indescribable, and absolutely unforgettable.
The man sitting in front of him was the hero of the entire Hidden Leaf Village!
This was the Fourth Hokage the great hero who had once saved the village and that very same hero was his father!
Realizing this made Naruto's chest puff up with pride. His heart surged so strongly it felt like he could float right into the sky.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uzumaki Naruto! Emotional value +300!]
Minato Namikaze was sipping his miso soup when he suddenly noticed Naruto staring at him. He froze for a moment, then gave a nervous little chuckle.
Setting down his bowl, he scratched his nose and asked with a smile, "Naruto, what is it? Do I have something on my face?"
"Huh? N-no, nothing!"
Naruto quickly snapped out of it, realizing he'd been completely absorbed just looking at his father. He jerked his head down and pretended to focus on his noodles, his chopsticks moving frantically as he shoved food into his mouth like nothing had happened.
But in truth, the tips of his ears were burning red.
Seeing his son's flustered expression, Minato couldn't help but laugh quietly and shake his head.
Soon after, the family finished their meal.
Naruto put down his chopsticks. Noticing that both his parents had also finished eating, his heart started pounding again. There was a sentence stuck in his throat, turning over and over as if trying to burst out.
Finally, he gathered his courage and blurted out, "Um, um… Dad! Can you teach me ninjutsu today? I really want to learn the Rasengan!"
He scratched the back of his head, his face a little sheepish under that spiky mop of hair.
As expected, Minato's smile faded slightly. A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes.
He gently placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder and spoke in a soft voice, "Naruto, I'm really sorry. The joint Chunin Exams between several of the major villages are coming up. I've got a lot of duties to handle as Hokage, and I might not have time to train with you right now..."
There was a note of regret in his voice. "Please forgive me, alright? Once this busy period is over, I promise I'll make time to train with you properly."
"Ah… really?" Naruto's hopeful expression dimmed, and the brightness in his eyes faded slightly.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uzumaki Naruto! Emotional value +200!]
Minato's heart ached as he looked at his son's crestfallen face, torn between duty and love.
He truly wanted to put everything aside and just be a father but the responsibilities of Hokage weren't something he could ignore.
Kushina gently cleared her throat and stepped in with a warm smile, trying to ease the tension between father and son. "Naruto, don't blame your dad. He's doing this for the good of the village."
She reached over and stroked Naruto's hair comfortingly. "Once the exams are over, your father and I will definitely make it up to you, alright?"
Naruto pursed his lips and gave a small, reluctant nod.
Since both his parents had said it, he knew he couldn't keep insisting. He forced down the regret lingering in his chest.
Minato let out a quiet breath of relief and gave Naruto's head a gentle rub.
"I'm heading to the office now. I'll see you tonight!"
Naruto quickly got up and followed his father to the door. "Bye, Dad!"
He watched as Minato's figure disappeared beyond the courtyard gate. Though he felt reluctant to part, Naruto sensibly held himself back from chasing after him.
Turning around, he flashed a grin at his mother. "Mom, let me help you clean up!"
Kushina was momentarily taken aback, but then her face lit up with a radiant smile. "Oh! That's very sweet of you!"
Without wasting a second, Naruto rolled up his sleeves and got to work clearing the dishes from the table.
As he stacked the plates and carried them toward the kitchen, he called out cheerfully, "Mom, you go rest. I'll do the washing!"
With that, he tied on an apron, stepped up to the sink, and began scrubbing the dishes with serious focus.
Kushina stood nearby, quietly watching her son as he bustled around.
Her heart filled with joy and pride, her eyes softening at the sight.