Night fell once more.
As Naruto's consciousness blurred, he slipped back into the dream.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself again in the familiar audience hall.
The three younger mbers of Team 7 were all there.
"Huh? Sasuke, Sakura you're here too?" Naruto exclaid in surprise.
He rubbed his eyes, confirming that his companions really were seated in the audience. Confused, he muttered, "If we're all in the audience, then who's inside the dream tonight?"
"Could it be Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke frowned, arms folded as his dark eyes scanned the room. "But… he doesn't seem to be here."
Naruto's heart gave a sudden thump. He looked around quickly.
"That's right, Kakashi-sensei isn't "
He was about to agree when a cold chill swept across his back.
"Who ?!"
Naruto spun around.
A man stood silently behind them, draped in a dark cloak, his face hidden by a strange tiger-striped mask. Only one cold, black eye glared out from the opening, fixed directly on them.
"Ah! What a creepy uncle…" Sakura shivered, goosebumps rising on her skin.
Sasuke's pupils shrank. He stepped half a pace back, his body taut with vigilance.
What's happening?!
Ever since this dream space first appeared, everyone who entered had been soone they knew. No stranger had ever appeared before.
The sudden intrusion sent shock through all of them.
The three exchanged wary glances, silently agreeing that none of them recognized this uninvited guest.
Naruto drew in a breath, squared his shoulders, and stepped forward, shielding his teammates behind him.
"Hey! Who the heck are you?!"
The masked figure, of course, was Brother Tuzi, pulled in by Aren.
Originally, Aren had prepared a brand-new dream instance just for Kakashi.
But today, sothing in the "Eternal Flash" instance had caught his attention plots he found too interesting to pass up. He decided to seize the chance to experint, and he had harvested plenty of rewards already.
The screen before them flickered, then blossod with warm, gentle light.
"The scene's starting…" Sakura whispered.
A tidy living room appeared on the screen.
On the sofa sat a familiar figure.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto instantly recognized the ssy silver hair. He blurted out in shock, "Wait that's my house?!"
On the screen, Kakashi sat slouched on the couch, head lowered, a dazed look in his single visible eye.
Under the glow of the lamp, the faint outline of his face could be seen the forehead protector tilted, the mask covering his features, leaving only one tired eye exposed.
He slowly turned his gaze around the room. The faint aroma of food still lingered in the air.
Kakashi's mind clicked into place. So it's my turn this ti.
[Ding! Hatake Kakashi's emotional fluctuations detected! Emotion value 200!]
His eye widened as he stared, disbelief etched across his face. "This place ?"
The furnishings were painfully familiar.
After a few seconds, Kakashi's pupils shrank. A na surfaced in his mind like lightning.
"Minato-sensei's ho?!"
He had been watching Naruto's dreams long enough to know every corner of the boy's ho.
Shock tightened his chest.
So this ti… I've taken Naruto's place?
He instinctively raised his hands for a closer look, then lowered his gaze to check himself.
He was still wearing his standard combat uniform and green flak vest, forehead protector slanted across his brow, his figure exactly as it always was.
Kakashi let out a faint sigh of relief. Good. At least I didn't turn into Naruto. Find the newest release on novèlfire
At that mont, a gentle, cheerful female voice floated in from the kitchen.
"Kakashi, the al's ready! Co eat!"
The aroma of freshly cooked food grew stronger with her words.
Kakashi froze, his chest tightening.
That voice… That warmth… Could it be… hallucination?
"Kushina-senpai?!"
His head snapped toward the sound, eyes wide.
From the kitchen stepped a tall red-haired woman, smiling as she carried two steaming plates.
She glanced toward the living room and said softly, "You've worked hard, Kakashi. Sorry to trouble you again with protecting ."
Her curved brows frad a face glowing with heartfelt gratitude.
In the audience
Obito stared at the screen, transfixed. The familiar red hair, that face
"K-Kushina?!"
[Ding! Uchiha Obito's emotional fluctuations captured! Emotional value 500!]
Naruto, watching the masked stranger's reaction, assud he must be an acquaintance of Konoha. His smile brightened as he explained the dream space to him.
After all, no villain had ever appeared here before. Everyone who entered was sohow connected to the village.
Obito listened in silence, his lone eye flashing with emotion. He said nothing.
[Ding! Uchiha Obito's emotional fluctuations captured! Emotional value 600!]
So… sothing like this exists? Infinite Tsukuyomi?
The thought called back his old "Moon's Eye Plan." He gave a short, ambiguous snort and fixed his gaze on the screen again, watching without missing a detail.
Back on the screen, Kushina had invited Kakashi to sit at the dining table. She set down a bowl of steaming soup with her usual enthusiasm.
Kakashi, flustered, accepted the bowl with both hands and thanked her sincerely.
Kushina smiled gently at the junior she had watched grow up. "I'm always embarrassed, asking you to protect every ti."
By now Kakashi had pieced together his identity and role in this dream. His heartbeat steadied, and he settled into the part.
He shared a quiet al with Kushina, talking casually while keeping a sharp ear on movents inside and outside the house.
If Minato-sensei assigned this mission, it must an he sensed danger.
With the Chunin Exams drawing in shinobi from every village, troublemakers were bound to be among them. It wasn't impossible that soone might target Kushina.
Kakashi's vigilance sharpened. He silently swore he would keep her safe.
After dinner, night deepened.
As Kushina cleared away the dishes, a soft knock ca at the door.
Kakashi imdiately rose, striding toward the sound.
"I'll get it," he called back to Kushina, one hand already brushing the pouch at his hip.
He opened the door and found a familiar face smiling gently at him.
"Good evening, Kakashi."
Uchiha Mikoto stood there, a basket of fresh fruit cradled in her arms.
"I haven't seen Kushina in so long," she said softly. "I heard she's been staying ho lately and it's inconvenient for her to go out, so I thought I'd visit."
"…Mikoto-senpai."
Relief washed through Kakashi. A polite smile tugged beneath his mask as he stepped aside.
"Please, co in."
....
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