Dream Maker of the Hokage!

In the stands, Sakura's eyes flew wide open.

—What's going on with Sasuke? Why did he just go crazy the moment he saw that guy and start attacking like that?

—Weren't they just welcoming guests together in Naruto's dream the other day? They seemed to be getting along just fine...

Hearing this, Kakashi let out a quiet sigh.

Of course, he understood the reason behind Sasuke's emotional outburst—but for a moment, he didn't know how to explain it to Sakura.

On the other side, Naruto was staring blankly at the massive, curtain-like "screen" in front of him, his blue eyes full of dismay.

Because tonight… he hadn't entered that warm dream.

Did that mean… he wouldn't get to see his dad and mom?

Was yesterday… the last time?

Would he ever see them again?

That thought made his heart twist into knots, and his breathing grew faintly erratic.

Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uzumaki Naruto! Emotion points +800!

The projection continued playing.

In the scene, Sasuke's face was twisted with fury. His eyes locked fiercely onto the tall, familiar figure across from him. Suddenly, he roared:

—I won't let you go! All my training has been for this day!

Before the words had fully left his lips, Sasuke's arms jerked forward—and more than a dozen gleaming shuriken came whistling out with a shriek!

The spinning blades traced sharp arcs under the sunlight, streaking toward Uchiha Itachi from every direction.

Itachi's eyes narrowed. His hand instinctively slipped into his ninja tool pouch, and in the blink of an eye, his figure blurred into an afterimage.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A crisp flurry of metallic clinks rang out—Itachi's kunai knocked away the incoming shuriken one after another, none finding their mark.

Sasuke scoffed coldly. Seizing that split-second of distraction, he flew through hand seals, inhaling deep as a surge of scorching chakra surged to his throat.

—Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!

Boom!

A massive fireball erupted from his mouth with a roar, sweeping toward Itachi in a torrent of blazing heat.

The searing flames scorched a wide black crater into the training field, and the scorching heatwaves twisted the air into shimmering mirages.

Faced with his younger brother's sudden killing move, Itachi furrowed his brows and sprang backward, leaping high just before the fireball could consume him.

Seeing his fireball miss, Sasuke let out a furious yell. Using the flames as cover, he closed the distance between them, swinging a savage, spinning roundhouse kick at Itachi.

Itachi had no time to dodge—he crossed both arms in front of him and braced for impact.

Thud!

Sasuke's kick landed solidly on Itachi's guard. The force sent Itachi staggering back several steps, carving two long furrows in the dirt beneath his feet.

Lowering his gaze to glance at his wrists, a flicker of surprise crossed Itachi's eyes.

His little brother… had gotten a lot stronger.

In just a few days, Sasuke's fire jutsu, taijutsu, and shuriken techniques had all visibly improved...

The thought stirred a faint pang of guilt within Itachi.

Sasuke must have been training in secret for days in preparation for this spar—or he couldn't have progressed so much.

Meanwhile, he himself had been so busy with work at the police force lately… always rescheduling, hardly making time for his little brother.

Itachi opened his mouth, intending to explain—but before he could say anything, Sasuke launched another wave of relentless, furious attacks.

Forced back step by step, Itachi still handled them with ease, but he could sense it—Sasuke's resolve was real.

His expression sharpened. No longer merely dodging passively, Itachi began to respond in earnest, fully engaging his brother's assault.

Sasuke lashed out with a punch—Itachi raised his hand and deflected it cleanly.

Sasuke followed up with a sweeping strike—Itachi leapt lightly away, and with a swift elbow jab, forced Sasuke to retreat.

But the moment Itachi switched from defense to offense, Sasuke immediately felt the gap between them like a crashing tide.

Same taijutsu, same shuriken skills—but when he gave his all, Itachi dismantled it effortlessly.

Sasuke's heart pounded faster with each exchange, sweat beading on his forehead.

No good… The gap is too wide!

Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uchiha Sasuke! Emotion points +400!

—No… I won't give up! Sasuke roared, forcing out the last dregs of chakra from his body and forming new seals with trembling hands.

—Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!

A flurry of small but scorching fireballs shot from his mouth. At the same time, he flung several shuriken—concealed behind the flames—toward Itachi.

The blaze of fire and steel lit up the air, filling the entire field with flashing sparks.

Seeing this, Itachi's hands flew into a seal.

—Water Style: Water Formation Wall!

In an instant, a wall of water surged up around him, enveloping his figure.

Sizzle...

The fireballs crashed into the water shield, erupting into thick white steam. Mist billowed through the entire training ground, and Sasuke's Phoenix Fire was completely extinguished. The shuriken clattered to the ground.

Sasuke's heart sank. Gritting his teeth, he rushed into the swirling mist, swinging a final punch toward the blurry silhouette of his brother.

—

—

In the audience—

Naruto was stunned.

He had to admit—Sasuke was incredible!

He had leapt to his feet, fists clenched tight, eyes fixed on the projection.

Fire Style, Phoenix Fire, shuriken, taijutsu…

Sasuke's attacks came so fast they were hard to follow.

—That guy… he's using Great Fireball like it's nothing…!

Thinking of himself, Naruto's heart deflated.

Aside from the Shadow Clone Jutsu, all he had was a half-finished Rasengan.

If he'd been in Sasuke's place, Itachi would've shut him down in three moves, tops.

That thought made him clench his fists even tighter, determination burning in his heart.

—I have to finish the Rasengan. No matter what!

Sakura had long since clasped her hands beneath her chin, stars twinkling in her eyes.

—Sasuke is so cool!

The firelight danced in her watery gaze like she was watching her idol in a romantic drama.

Kakashi nodded slightly. Compared to himself, Sasuke was still green—but for a newly graduated genin...

—"Mm. By rookie standards, this is top tier. Chakra control, improvisation—nothing major to criticize."

—

—

In the footage—

Itachi, too, could feel Sasuke's determination. He decided to stop holding back.

Lowering his stance, he dodged Sasuke's straight punch with ease, and with a flick of his index finger, tapped Sasuke squarely on the forehead.

Pak!

Sasuke felt a sudden sting on his forehead—his punch stalled, his body froze, and he stumbled back two steps.

In the next instant, Itachi's hand had already curved in like a blade, poised neatly against Sasuke's neck. He let out a helpless sigh.

—"That's enough, Sasuke. Isn't it?"

Sasuke stood frozen, staring blankly at the hand at his throat. Slowly, his clenched fists relaxed in defeat.

No match… he was no match at all…

Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uchiha Sasuke! Emotion points +400!

Just as despair overwhelmed him, a gentle voice suddenly called out from the edge of the training field:

—"Sasuke, Itachi—stop sparring now. Time for lunch!"

Sasuke's whole body jolted. He turned, eyes wide with disbelief.

At the edge of the field stood a graceful, elegant woman.

Her long, glossy black hair cascaded smoothly down her back. Her kind and beautiful face beamed with a gentle smile as she looked at the two brothers in the middle of the field.

Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uchiha Sasuke! Emotion points +2000!