I, Sasuke Uchiha, Am Willing to Call You the Strongest in Team 7

Year 63 of the Leaf Village, a summer night.

The insects chirped, and the moon climbed above the willow branches.

Land of Fire, Konoha Village, Hatake Clan.

Kakashi lay sprawled out like the character "big" on his unchanging single bed, looking completely unkempt. He was too lazy to even remove his signature black mask, leaving only one dead-fish eye filled with exhaustion as he stared blankly at the familiar ceiling.

His mind involuntarily replayed the survival exercise he had conducted for his three subordinates during the day—the final test for Team 7.

Stealing the bells.

What a classic and nostalgic ritual.

Kakashi tugged at the corner of his mouth, a rare trace of gratification appearing in his dead-fish eye.

Although the process had been full of twists and turns and plenty to complain about, these three little brats had finally grasped the meaning of being comrades.

"Well, they're not bad kids after all."

Kakashi muttered to himself, rolled over, and tossed Make-Out Paradise aside.

Mental exhaustion surged like a tide. He yawned, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier.

Kakashi slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness gradually sinking into darkness.

However, just as his consciousness was about to dissipate completely, at the very moment of falling asleep—

Kakashi gave a violent jolt!

Something was wrong!

He snapped his eyes open, that lazy dead-fish eye becoming as sharp as a hawk's in an instant!

Almost instinctively, he sprang up from the bed like a carp, his right hand already reaching for the ninja tool pouch at his waist—

Empty?

His pupils shrank abruptly, and only then did he see his surroundings.

This was definitely not his messy bachelor apartment!

This was an extremely eerie, massive dark chamber!

The air was cold, carrying a scent as if it had been sealed away for a long time.

The surrounding walls seemed to be made of some smooth black material that absorbed all light.

In front of him was a pitch-black screen like a movie theater curtain. At this moment, there was no image on it, only an unsettling, deathly silence.

Behind him were rows of empty seats arranged neatly, extending into the depths of the darkness, like the audience section of a long-abandoned theater.

Where is this?!

Genjutsu?!

Kakashi's thoughts raced, and he immediately tried to mobilize the chakra within his body.

Smooth.

It wasn't sealed.

Without hesitation, he quickly formed hand signs.

"Substitution Jutsu!"

No reaction.

Like a stone sinking into the ocean, the flow of chakra had no effect; he remained standing in the same spot.

Kakashi's expression changed.

"Body Flicker!"

Still no reaction!

His body felt as if it had been nailed to the spot, unable to perform any ninjutsu...

"Release!"

The hand sign to dispel genjutsu was also completely useless!

Not a genjutsu?

And not a conventional sealing technique or barrier either?

Kakashi hurriedly pulled up his forehead protector, using his Sharingan to observe with all his might, but he found no abnormalities.

What kind of place is this?

Who brought me here?

A strong sense of crisis welled up in his heart.

He was Hatake Kakashi, an elite jonin of Konoha, the Copy Ninja, a former Anbu member, a veteran of countless battles.

To think someone could abduct him from his home without him noticing, and then restrict his abilities?

Such methods... were simply unheard of!

Just as Kakashi's brain worked at high speed, warily scanning his surroundings and trying to find any clues.

"Ah! Kakashi-sensei?!"

A familiar female voice, filled with surprise and fear, suddenly rang out not far behind him.

Kakashi turned around abruptly.

He saw two figures in pajamas standing about three or four rows behind him, looking at him in shock.

Sakura Haruno, with her pink hair, was wearing a set of pink cotton pajamas printed with cute rabbit patterns. At this moment, she was widening her emerald green eyes, her small mouth slightly agape.

Beside her, Sasuke Uchiha, with his black hair and black eyes, wore a simple set of dark blue striped pajamas. Although he was trying hard to maintain a cool expression, the slightly furrowed brows and the trace of panic deep in his eyes betrayed his inner unease.

"Sakura? Sasuke?" Kakashi pulled down his forehead protector, remaining calm. "Why are you here?!"

"W-we don't know either!" Sakura looked like she was about to cry, her voice trembling. "I was sleeping at home, and the moment I closed my eyes and opened them again... I-I was here!"

She pointed to the empty seats around them and the screen in front, continuing with a sob: "Sasuke-kun and I have been here for a while. We checked carefully; there's nothing here, we can't get out, just these chairs and this big screen in front... Wuwuwu... Kakashi-sensei, what is going on? Have we been captured by some terrible enemy?"

Although Sasuke didn't speak, his face was also very ugly. He had clearly tried to leave or resist, but both had failed.

He glanced at Kakashi, seemingly wanting to get an answer from this experienced jonin teacher.

Kakashi's expression became even more solemn.

Even Sasuke and Sakura were brought here?

And it was in their sleep... what kind of technique is this?

The range is so wide, the effect so subtle, even I didn't notice...

What is the target's goal?

Gathering all of Team 7 here...

Wait, where is Naruto?

Kakashi suddenly realized the key point, and his brows furrowed even tighter.

Sakura and Sasuke were just newly graduated genin, perhaps easier to target.

But he was a genuine jonin.

To be able to transfer him from his heavily guarded home in Konoha Village to this place without a sound, and to restrict his ninjutsu...

This was definitely not something an ordinary ninja could do!

The opponent's strength was likely unfathomable!

Just then, the silent Sasuke suddenly raised his finger and pointed at the massive black screen in front, his face looking strange.

"Kakashi-sensei, look at that screen. It flashed just now. Although it went out quickly, I think I... saw that idiot Naruto's face."

He paused, adding in an even more uncertain tone: "It feels like... what's playing on this screen... is it Naruto's dream?"

"Naruto's... dream?"

Kakashi was stunned, subconsciously looking at the giant screen in front again.

At this moment!

The originally pitch-black screen lit up without warning!

An image appeared!

It was a familiar training ground in Konoha Village!

In the center of the training ground, two twelve-year-old boys were confronting each other intensely.

A golden spiky head, wearing that signature orange tracksuit—Naruto Uzumaki!

A black spiky head, with a cold expression and eyes flashing with an unyielding light—Sasuke Uchiha!

However, the two in the image seemed to be in a very strange state.

On the screen, Naruto was seen with his hands on his hips, laughing loudly at the fallen Sasuke in an extremely arrogant posture!

And around him, densely packed... at least a hundred identical Shadow Clones stood, each one looking at the Sasuke on the ground with a triumphant expression.

And the Sasuke on the ground, although looking a bit disheveled, had no anger or unwillingness on his face; instead... he was looking at Naruto with an expression full of admiration and relief?!

Kakashi: "..."

Sakura: "..."

Sasuke: "..."

All three viewers were dumbfounded.

What... what is this situation?

Immediately after, the Sasuke on the screen actually spoke, saying to Naruto with sincere conviction:

"Phew... as expected of you, Naruto Uzumaki!"

"I... I admit defeat!"

"Your strength is indeed above mine. From today on, I, Sasuke Uchiha, am willing to call you the strongest in Team 7!!"

Hearing this, Naruto laughed even more triumphantly, his nostrils almost pointing to the sky. He pointed at Sasuke and laughed wildly, ignoring everyone:

"Wahahaha! Sasuke, you guy aren't much either. I thought you were so great! In the end, weren't you easily defeated by me, Lord Naruto! Wahahaha!"

Pfft!

In the audience, the real-life Sasuke Uchiha had veins bulging on his forehead instantly.

His handsome face turned bright red from anger and shame!

"T-this idiot!!! How could I possibly lose to him? And say something like that?" Sasuke was trembling with rage. If looks could kill, the Naruto on the screen would have been hacked to pieces by him a thousand times over.

Sakura was also speechless, covering her face in disgust: "Naruto, this guy... is truly hopeless..."

Kakashi had his classic dead-fish eye, silently watching the screen, his heart calm, even feeling a bit like laughing.

The tense atmosphere was slightly eased by the commotion on the screen.

And just as the three of them were experiencing intense emotional fluctuations because of this absurd dream on the screen.

In the distant, unobservable shadows of the audience.

A black-haired boy wearing a regular ramen shop uniform revealed a satisfied smile.

It was Shigure.

In front of him, prompts only he could see were constantly popping up:

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Naruto Uzumaki captured! Emotion points +300!]

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Sasuke Uchiha captured! Emotion points +200!]

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Sakura Haruno captured! Emotion points +50!]

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Kakashi Hatake captured! Emotion points +50!]

"Hehehe..." Shigure watched the numbers on the panel rising rapidly, his mouth curling up uncontrollably.

"It worked! This 'Dream Master System' is awesome! Not only can it pull the dreamer in, but it can also pack up those close to him as audience members! And the emotion points generated by the audience can also be collected by me! Double the happiness, how sweet!"

Shigure licked his lips, his eyes flashing with excitement.

He was a transmigrator.

Three years ago, he was just an ordinary person on Earth, a psychological counselor who specialized in providing counseling for troubled teenagers.

As a result, when he woke up, he found that his soul had transmigrated into the dangerous ninja world.

Even worse, he didn't transmigrate into any Uchiha, Hyuga, or even a member of the Ino–Shika–Cho clans.

He had transmigrated into a complete war orphan with no bloodline limit, no background, and his ninja talent was practically zero.

The only luck was that he was adopted by Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, and became his younger son?

He was currently working as a helper in the ramen shop, living a fulfilling life of kneading dough, boiling noodles, and washing dishes every day.

For three years, he had tried various methods, wanting to defy fate like other transmigrator predecessors, such as secretly learning chakra refinement and attempting physical training, but the results were minimal—not even as strong as Teuchi.

In the end, he had to despairingly admit a fact.

He was a loser with no ninja talent.

Watching the days go by, Year 63 of the Leaf Village arrived, and Naruto, Sasuke, and the rest of the brats had graduated from the Ninja Academy, which meant...

The plot was about to begin!

Thinking that soon, Orochimaru would unite with the Sand Village to carry out the "Konoha Crush Plan," the Third Hokage would die in battle, and Konoha Village would suffer heavy losses...

Later on, there would be the Akatsuki capturing the Tailed Beasts, the invasion of Pain, the Fourth Shinobi World War...

Shigure felt his scalp tingle!

In his current state of having no strength to truss a chicken, he would probably be crushed into dust by the aftermath of any random battle.

Just when he was almost desperate to give up, preparing to pack his bags and run away, or just lie flat and pray he could live until the era of Boruto...

His golden finger finally activated late last night!

[Dream Master System]

[Current Dream Master Level: 1 (700/100,000)]

[Target Number: 1]

[Audience Number: 3]

[Can pull designated target characters into a specific dream space (target's exclusive dream/or the "Dream-Making Theater" built by the system)]

[Can read, weave, and even modify the content of the target's dreams]

[Emotional fluctuations generated by the target and those close to them in the dream space will be converted into "Emotion Points" and collected by the system]

[Emotion points can be exchanged in the system mall for various abilities, bloodlines, items, ninjutsu, etc., from all worlds...]

Simply put, it was to collect their joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness by "creating dreams" and "live-streaming dreams" for others, and then use these emotion points to improve himself.

And the first "dream" target he chose was, naturally—

Bearing the Nine-Tails, inheritor of the Uzumaki bloodline, Asura's reincarnation, the future Seventh Hokage, master of talk-no-jutsu, the Leaf Village's crown prince... Naruto Uzumaki!

This young prince had lacked love since childhood, craved recognition, and harbored far too many dreams and obsessions deep within his heart—things he wanted to achieve but could not.

He was practically a walking treasury of emotional points.

And pulling Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura—the three people closest to him—into this as "spectators" was an inspired move.

After all, Naruto's emotional points alone might not be enough.

Bringing in his teacher and companions to watch Naruto's dreams with him, letting them experience all kinds of "speechlessness," "anger," "disgust," "sympathy," "shock," "bewilderment," and even "joy"... there would be no shortage of it.

Shigure silently calculated in his heart, then turned his gaze toward the giant screen once more.

The dream he had painstakingly designed was far from over.

The real show was only just beginning!!