Ino's eyes widened, her voice trembling with disbelief and excitement.
She glanced around the dimly lit auditorium, then turned her gaze to the towering black screen before them. Her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
Are we really about to see Sasuke's dream?
As a founding member of the "Sasuke-kun Fan Club," Ino's mind immediately began to run wild.
Would his secret crush appear in his dream?
Maybe she could finally figure out what kind of girl he really liked...
At the thought, Ino's cheeks grew warm. She felt both thrilled and nervous.
Naruto strolled over, catching sight of her flushed, eager expression. A grin tugged at his lips as he said, "That's right, you'll get to see Sasuke's dream soon. But don't get too excited. His dreams are totally boring."
He puffed his chest out smugly. "Not like mine..."
He hummed twice, clearly pleased with himself.
"Tsk, shut up, you idiot!"
Sakura and Ino snapped at him in unison, then exchanged quick glances.
The two girls stared at each other for a beat, before both turned away with a huff, neither willing to give ground.
But compared to before, their tension had clearly eased. After all, their curiosity about Sasuke's dream far outweighed their rivalry in this moment.
Suppressing her excitement, Ino followed Sakura's example and sat down in one of the back seats. "So what do we do now? Just wait for the dream to start?"
Kakashi emerged from the shadows, giving Ino a polite nod.
"Every night around this time, the screen lights up on its own. Then we get to see whose dream it is." His voice was calm and casual, but in the depths of his eye lingered a faint unease.
Kakashi cast a thoughtful glance toward Ino.
Over the past few days, the audience had grown from three people to four and it had never shrunk.
This meant the influence of the strange theater was spreading.
Now a fourth person had appeared.
Kakashi's heart tightened.
Could it be that the number of viewers would just keep increasing?
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
The situation was spiraling beyond his control and as the squad's leader, he hated how powerless he felt.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner no one else noticed, a faint figure lingered quietly.
Aren leaned against the back wall of the theater, a translucent panel glowing before his eyes visible only to him.
He sighed at the information displayed on his system interface. "Sasuke's current bonds are still too shallow. There are only a handful of people on the candidate list for the audience. It's impossible for Itachi to be drawn in yet. A Thousand Ways to Cook Weasels Author: Itachi is waiting for him... but he needs to level up first, so those old monsters can be pulled into the dream."
Just then, the giant black curtain at the front of the theater quivered slightly.
With a sharp hiss, a burst of white light flashed across it.
The dark curtain lit up, casting a pale glow that pushed back some of the shadows in the theater.
Sakura and Ino quickly collected their thoughts, their eyes locking on the screen.
Naruto straightened up, suspicious but curious, watching closely as the dream began to unfold.
Kakashi stood silently at the back, one hand stroking his chin.
Soon, the picture grew clear
The scene revealed an elegant, orderly Japanese-style room.
Tatami mats, sliding doors, and alcoves filled the space with simple, traditional beauty.
The morning sun streamed through the window, spilling across the polished wooden floor in the center of the room.
Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, realizing he was lying in his familiar bedroom.
He froze for a moment, then realized where he was.
Just like before, he had returned to his home within the dream.
The instant he woke, his heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
The faint aroma of breakfast and sandalwood drifted through the air the scent of home that he knew so well.
Birdsong echoed under the eaves, and in the distance, he could hear his mother exchanging greetings with the neighbors.
The warmth of this ordinary, everyday scene filled Sasuke's chest with indescribable relief and excitement.
But this time, Sasuke didn't leap out of bed in disbelief like the first time, nor did he shout in surprise.
Instead, he lay still, taking a deep breath before slowly exhaling, trying to steady himself.
After a long pause, a faint smile tugged at his lips. He whispered, "Here we go again... This time, I won't make a fool of myself like before."
The corners of his mouth curled upward, though his eyes held a trace of restraint.
Clearly, Sasuke had learned from being teased by Naruto the last time. He was determined to remain composed, no matter how happy he felt.
But in the depths of his dark pupils, excitement and satisfaction still burned.
Sasuke sat up quietly, slid out of bed, and dressed quickly.
After brushing his teeth and washing up, he stood before the mirror, adjusting his forehead protector and collar with rare care.
The boy in the reflection had a fierce determination in his gaze. He clenched his fists tightly, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.
"Today... I'll learn more secrets from the real Nissan!"
His fighting spirit and hunger for knowledge blazed.
Ever since he realized these dreams were something special, he had resolved to seize every chance they gave him.
He wanted to absorb everything he could from the real Itachi.
Only then, in the real world, would he have the strength to defeat that cruel impostor and avenge the Uchiha clan.
[Ding! Uchiha Sasuke's emotional fluctuations have been captured! Emotional value +300!]
Step by step, Sasuke descended the heavy wooden staircase.
When he reached the living room entrance, he saw his father Fugaku and his brother Itachi seated at the low wooden table.
Several porcelain bowls and dishes were set on the table, remnants of breakfast still in place.
Fugaku's face was as stern as ever, exuding an effortless authority. Dressed in a dark blue kimono, his back was straight, his eyes deep and piercing.
At that moment, he was speaking in low tones with Itachi, carrying himself with the dignity of a clan head.
Itachi wore the standard police force vest over a dark shirt. He looked composed and capable, his sharp features framed by calm, steady eyes.
He listened intently to Fugaku, nodding at times, and responded with well-organized words.
"...The police force is still stretched thin," Fugaku said, worry etched in his tone. "With the village preparing for the upcoming Joint Chunin Exams, the flow of shinobi and outsiders has increased dramatically. The strain on security is reaching its limits. Patrols have already been extended to the maximum..."
Itachi answered calmly, "Father, regarding the shortage, I've already submitted a request to the Hokage. I recommended temporarily assigning experienced shinobi from the Anbu and other divisions to assist. At the same time, I'm accelerating the training of new recruits so they can adapt quickly and handle the increasingly complex situation."
Sasuke stepped silently toward the table. The solemn atmosphere weighed heavily in the room, making him instinctively hold his breath and tread more lightly.
Then, Fugaku's sharp eyes turned on him.
A faint frown creased his brow, adding even more severity to his already imposing expression. His voice was deep and unyielding.
"Sasuke, why are you up so late? You've already graduated from the Academy. How can you still be so lazy?"
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