Dream Maker of the Hokage!

"...Mom? Mom?!"

Sasuke murmured in disbelief, his black pupils dilating sharply.

That wasn't just some image on a screen—his mother had appeared right before him, real and vivid!

"Mama!!"

In the next second, he could no longer hold back. Tears burst from his eyes as he spun around and bolted forward, crashing into Mikoto's arms and hugging her with all his might, as if he never wanted to let go again.

The familiar scent filled his lungs. Her warm embrace was tangible—undeniably real.

That long-lost warmth, the fragrance clinging to her robes—it hit him like a wave. His nose stung, and the tears flowed harder than ever.

Damn it…

Why—why does this dream feel so real?

Is it really… just a dream?

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uchiha Sasuke! +400 Emotional Points!]

Mikoto blinked, clearly startled, looking down at the son sobbing uncontrollably in her arms. She gently wiped the tears from his face.

"What's wrong, Sasuke?" she asked softly.

Even Itachi was caught off guard by his brother's outburst.

Scratching his head in awkward confusion, he glanced at his mother.

"Maybe… it's because of me."

He assumed Sasuke was acting out because he'd been too busy with work lately—always making promises and never keeping them, leaving his younger brother to stew in resentment.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," he said with guilt in his voice. "I've been swamped at the Konoha Police Force. I haven't had time to train with you—"

But before he could finish, Sasuke abruptly pulled away from Mikoto, turning sharply to shield her behind him, glaring daggers at Itachi.

"Mom! Stay away from him!" he barked. "This guy… one day he'll destroy everything!"

"Wh-What…?"

Mikoto froze at her son's sudden outburst.

Even Itachi was stunned. His expression froze, a helpless smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

He was completely lost.

Sure, he'd flaked on Sasuke a few times—but how the hell did that turn him into a villain who'd "destroy everyone"?!

Mikoto looked at one son, then the other, totally baffled by Sasuke's bizarre behavior.

In the audience seating.

Everyone watching saw a side of Sasuke they never expected: raw, vulnerable, completely shattered.

Naruto's eyes went wide, jaw slack with disbelief.

That cold, aloof Sasuke—the one who usually acted like no one mattered—was actually capable of breaking down like that?

Shocked as he was, Naruto also felt a pang of sympathy.

After his own experience in the dream world, he could understand what Sasuke was going through. That moment when something you'd lost forever suddenly reappeared… only to teeter on the edge of vanishing again.

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uzumaki Naruto! +200 Emotional Points!]

Sakura's eyes were misty with unshed tears, her heart aching.

It was the first time she'd seen Sasuke so helpless, so childlike. She turned to Kakashi and asked softly,

"Kakashi-sensei… do you know what's going on with Sasuke? Why is he acting like this?"

Kakashi's expression darkened slightly at her question, a shadow flickering in his eyes. But he didn't answer.

As a former ANBU captain and the Hokage's most trusted subordinate, Kakashi naturally knew the truth behind the Uchiha clan's tragedy.

But the events of that night were far too complex—and the children were still too young. This wasn't the time to expose them to that kind of truth.

Seeing Kakashi shake his head, his expression grim, Sakura bit her lip and fell silent, turning back toward Sasuke with deepening worry in her gaze.

Meanwhile, Kakashi's thoughts raced.

Sasuke's dream... it matched Naruto's experience almost perfectly.

That confirmed it—this wasn't a coincidence. Someone else was clearly orchestrating all of this from the shadows.

But who?

Who had the power to create a dream world so vivid, so nearly indistinguishable from reality… and then lure Naruto and Sasuke into it, one after another?

And what was their purpose?

Kakashi's jaw tightened. The possibilities that came to mind were anything but comforting.

In the shadows...

From a hidden perch, Shiyu watched Kakashi furrow his brows in the stands, and a knowing smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

So this was the famed elite Jonin of Konoha…

Not bad.

With a small chuckle, Shiyu turned his attention back to the screen.

Watching the Emotional Points skyrocket, he couldn't help but grin like a child who'd found treasure.

Ah, the "Second Pillar" really lived up to his reputation.

Just one scene—one reunion—and Sasuke had already contributed tens of thousands of Emotional Points.

Shiyu couldn't stop himself from giggling in excitement.

He'd known it all along. The "Second Pillar" was a goldmine—so full of pain, vengeance, and inner demons.

He'd actually considered making Sasuke his first test subject back when the system first activated.

Compared to someone like Naruto, who always bounced back with that sunny idiocy, Sasuke's deep-seated hatred and obsession were like gasoline just waiting for a spark.

If he ever crafted a looping "Night of the Massacre" scenario—like a twisted version of Triangle—forcing Sasuke to relive the death of his loved ones over and over again... he could probably rake in an insane amount of Emotional Points every single day.

But...

Shiyu shrugged.

He wasn't a monster. He was the Dreamweaver, after all—not some demon who fed on nightmares.

Back in the dream.

Mikoto gently patted Sasuke's back, slowly calming him down after a long stretch of sobbing.

"There, there… don't cry anymore." She wiped his face again, her voice full of warmth. "Come on, let's go home and eat."

Seeing that Sasuke was finally composed, Itachi stepped forward to help.

"Sasuke, let's—"

But the moment he got close, Sasuke slapped his hand away and glared at him again.

"Don't touch me!" he snapped. "I'm watching you! This time, you're not laying a finger on Mom!"

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uchiha Sasuke! +400 Emotional Points!]

Itachi stared at his little brother's furious face and let out a helpless chuckle.

Man… his little brother really had a temper.

Guess he'd better stop ditching their training sessions from now on.

Soon, Mikoto took Sasuke's hand, and the two of them walked home together.

Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above, dappled shadows dancing on the narrow clan paths. Here and there, Uchiha clansmen greeted them warmly, asking how Sasuke was doing.

Watching these scenes—so mundane, so peaceful—Sasuke felt another tight squeeze in his chest.

This dream life… was so warm, so real… it was getting harder and harder to tell if it was truly fake.

When they got home, Sasuke stepped into the living room to find his father already seated at the table, waiting.

Uchiha Fugaku sat in a relaxed house robe, arms folded across his chest. When his wife and son entered, he gave them a quiet "Mm" in greeting.

But when his eyes landed on Sasuke's red, puffy eyes, his brow furrowed deeply.

"What sort of behavior is this?"

Fugaku's face darkened. "Crying before dinner? You're twelve, Sasuke. Still weeping like a child—how disgraceful."

"You bring shame to the Uchiha name! That's not how a son of mine should act!"

Though his words were harsh, Sasuke felt nothing but warmth bloom in his chest.

That strict tone… that unmistakable gruffness… this was his father.

Not a ghost. Not a hallucination.

And instead of shrinking back in fear, Sasuke smiled through his tears, nodding solemnly.

"Yes, Father. I was wrong."

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Uchiha Sasuke! +400 Emotional Points!]

Fugaku raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

Normally, just one glare from him would shut Sasuke up instantly. But today, the boy was grinning as he admitted fault?

Something was definitely off.

Fugaku studied him a moment longer, then gave a gruff grunt and said no more.

Mikoto, however, gave her husband a gentle slap on the arm.

"Oh, come on. He just finished training. Don't be so harsh."

Then she pulled Sasuke into a side hug, her tone full of motherly affection.

"Go wash your face and get ready for dinner. Don't mind your dad—he's all bark, no bite."

Sasuke sniffled but shook his head.

"It's okay, Mom. I'm fine."

A smile—genuine, bright, and long absent—bloomed across his face.

He hadn't looked this alive in years.