Shigure didn't panic.
The three viewers pulled into the dream space only needed to be close to Naruto. If Sasuke couldn't come, he'd just swap in someone else.
He summoned the list and scanned names.
Options were limited. Few people were truly close enough to Naruto.
Teuchi? No, not necessary.
The Third Hokage? Too early.
Then Shigure's eyes stopped on one name.
Perfect.
Tonight's dream would suit her just fine.
…
In the silent, dark theater, Sakura and Kakashi sat and waited.
Sakura suddenly saw the seat beside them ripple like water. A hazy figure formed.
"Someone's coming!" she said, relieved. "Sasuke, you're late—"
Kakashi also looked over, quietly unclenching.
But Sakura froze mid-sentence.
The shape that solidified wasn't Sasuke.
It was a small girl.
Silky short hair framing her face, wrapped in a fluffy light-purple pajama set. She stood with her hands twisted together, eyes wide and anxious, a pair of pale Byakugan staring around at the unfamiliar dark.
"Eh… Hinata?" Sakura blurted, stunned.
Even Kakashi blinked, caught off guard. The Hyuga clan's eldest daughter—Hinata Hyuga—had appeared instead.
Hinata noticed them too.
She'd been terrified, waking up in a strange black place with no idea how she'd gotten there. But when she recognized Sakura and Kakashi, some of the tension eased.
"Kakashi-sensei? Sakura?" she asked softly, uncertain.
Seeing familiar faces calmed her a little.
"Th-thank goodness… it's really you…" Hinata breathed, cheeks faintly pink, her heart still pounding.
She turned her head and finally took in the space.
It looked like a huge movie theater—rows of soft red seats stretching back, a massive black screen in front, and a high ceiling with a faint projection booth overhead.
If the atmosphere weren't so eerie, it would've been an ordinary cinema.
"Where… are we?" she asked timidly. "A theater…?"
Sakura and Kakashi traded an awkward glance.
How were they supposed to explain this?
Just then—the screen flared to life!
The darkness tore open in a burst of light.
Naruto appeared on the screen.
Hinata recognized him instantly.
"Ah! It's Naruto-kun!"
Her clear voice rang through the theater.
"Why is Naruto-kun on the screen? Wh-what is this place?!"
Sakura swallowed, then said bluntly, "It's complicated, but… just watch and you'll understand. We're basically watching Naruto's dream."
Hinata blinked.
"Naruto-kun's… dream?"
Kakashi added, "We're in a special space, watching him dream like it's a film. That Naruto is the Naruto inside his dream."
Hinata's face went bright red.
The idea that she was peeking into Naruto's private dreams made her entire body heat up. Her hands clenched her pajama hem.
If Naruto knew… would he hate her?
Hinata nearly folded in on herself from embarrassment.
Sakura hurried to reassure her, "We're not inside his dream. We're just… watching from the outside. Don't feel weird about it!"
Hinata still looked dazed.
But with no better choice, she forced down her panic and turned back to the screen.
The dream stabilized.
A warm, tidy bedroom appeared.
Soft morning light spilled through curtains, turning everything gentle and golden. Naruto lay asleep on the bed, breathing evenly—dream-Naruto.
"Mm…"
His eyelids fluttered. He murmured and slowly opened his eyes.
After two seconds of staring at the ceiling, he shot up.
"Right! Today I'm definitely clearing the second stage of Rasengan training!"
Energy surged through him. He jumped out of bed, got dressed in a flash, and ran downstairs.
The camera followed him into the dining room.
A wide, bright table was covered in breakfast. Kushina sat there, sipping miso soup, waiting for him.
"Morning, Mom!"
Naruto dropped into a chair and looked around, puzzled.
"Huh? Where's Dad?"
Kushina smiled at his liveliness.
"Morning, Naruto. Your dad went out early—some official work."
"Oh… okay."
Naruto's face dimmed. He poked at his egg with a chopstick, disappointed.
He'd wanted to ask Dad about the second-stage trick right away… and once again Dad wasn't home.
So he'd have to figure it out alone?
The gloom was obvious—then he straightened.
So what if no one's guiding me? I'll do it myself!
-------
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