Listen to Mom, and I'm Actually First in the Whole School?

On the screen.

Led by Kushina, Naruto continued toward the Uchiha clan's gathering place.

Before they had walked far, they spotted a spacious Uchiha residence in the distance.

That was Sasuke's home.

The usually quiet residence was now decorated with lights and banners, with festive streamers hanging at the entrance. It seemed to be hosting some important banquet.

Quite a few people had already gathered outside the courtyard, coming and going in a lively bustle.

"Wow—so many people."

Naruto widened his eyes and looked ahead curiously.

He knew the Uchiha were a powerful and prosperous clan, but this was his first time seeing such a grand scene in person.

Kushina smiled and explained, "The Uchiha are the largest clan in the Leaf Village. When the clan head hosts a banquet, lots of people come to offer their congratulations."

Naruto nodded and looked toward the bustling crowd.

At the gates of the Uchiha residence stood two figures, welcoming the arriving guests.

From this distance, they appeared to be two Uchiha, one tall and one short. They were still too far away to make out clearly.

Naruto guessed that the shorter one was most likely Sasuke.

Today's celebration was probably related to him. After all, Sasuke had only recently graduated from the ninja academy.

But who was the other figure, the one taller than Sasuke?

As Naruto followed his mother closer, his mind filled with guesses.

At the same time, bits and pieces of conversation drifted over from nearby. They came from the banquet guests chatting among themselves.

"I heard Clan Head Fugaku is preparing to semi-retire. He's handing the position of head of the police force over to his eldest son."

"Really? Is he announcing it at this celebration banquet?"

"I heard his eldest son awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan some time ago. Haha, double happiness!"

"Clan Head Fugaku really is blessed. Both of his sons are so outstanding."

"Exactly! His eldest son awakened the Mangekyō at such a young age, while his younger son graduated from the ninja academy second in the entire school. At this rate, the Uchiha clan is going to rise again."

Those whispers drifted intermittently into Naruto's ears.

Walking ahead, he only caught fragments of them, but he generally understood what they meant.

The adults were not speaking loudly. He had not fully understood the first part, but the final sentence entered his ears loud and clear:

"His younger son graduated second in the whole school..."

"Hm?"

Naruto halted, his expression turning confused.

Second in the whole school?

Sasuke?

Naruto furrowed his brow and muttered to himself, Sasuke might be a bit of a show-off, but I admit he's strong.

He remembered it clearly. Among his graduating class, Sasuke had obviously graduated first in the whole school!

Where had this "second" come from?

Unable to figure it out, he looked up at his mother and asked, "Mom, Sasuke only got second place? Then who got first?"

Kushina froze when she heard that. "Huh?"

She looked down at her son in surprise.

But the next second, Kushina raised her brows, pretending to be angry as she lifted a finger and flicked Naruto hard on the forehead. "You brat, what kind of nonsense are you talking about!"

"Ow—!"

Naruto covered his stinging forehead and took half a step back indignantly. "Mom, why'd you hit me?"

He looked up at Kushina with a wronged expression, not understanding what he had said wrong.

Kushina put her hands on her hips and glared sternly at her son. "Naruto, how can you ask something like that in such a sarcastic tone? Who taught you to talk like that? Aren't you the one in first place? And you're asking who it is! Don't talk like that again. It's far too arrogant!"

"Huh?!" Naruto stared at her in disbelief. "F-first... is me?"

Pointing at his own nose in shock, he looked utterly unconvinced. "Mom, are you saying I'm actually first in the whole school? You're not joking, right?"

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

In the audience.

Seeing Naruto's stunned reaction on the screen, Sakura Haruno could not help showing a disdainful expression. "Tch—Naruto really loves having these ridiculous daydreams!"

In her eyes, dream-Naruto making himself the first-place student above Sasuke was simply far too imaginative.

It also suited Naruto's attention-seeking idiot personality.

Kakashi did not respond. The contemplative look in his eyes only deepened.

Naruto becoming first place in the dream appeared to be an expression of his subconscious wishes, but all signs indicated that this dream was far from simple.

Kakashi thoughtfully stroked his chin, feeling as though he had grasped some crucial clue.

As for Sasuke, he had no interest in such trivial matters as whether Naruto was first place.

All his attention was fixed on the two figures standing at the entrance of the Uchiha residence on the screen.

As Naruto and Kushina drew closer, the appearances of those two figures gradually became clearer.

Sasuke held his breath, his heartbeat quickening.

One of them was indeed a young Uchiha Sasuke standing properly at the entrance—the Sasuke in the dream. And the other person standing beside him to welcome guests...

Sasuke stared fixedly at that person's face, as though his soul were about to fly through the screen.

Through the blur, he saw a handsome young man with black hair tied in a low ponytail. A Leaf Village forehead protector was tied around his brow, and his expression was gentle and composed.

He wore Uchiha clan attire, with the fan crest pinned to his chest. He was clearly a member of the Uchiha clan.

Those refined brows and eyes, that tranquil aura—

It was him!

Sasuke's pupils constricted sharply, and his entire body froze as if struck by lightning.

Even after so many years, he recognized that face—the face he had longed for day and night—at a single glance.

"...?!"

Sasuke's voice was hoarse as his eyes widened in disbelief. He stared desperately at the young man standing calmly at the gate, wearing a faint smile.

That was the person he knew best, and yet knew least.

Itachi Uchiha, his older brother.

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Sasuke Uchiha! Emotion Value +2000!]

"That's impossible!"

Sasuke cried out, his voice breaking from overwhelming emotion.

His eyes were wide as he looked in disbelief at Itachi Uchiha, who had appeared in the dream. His mind was filled with roaring chaos.

The traitor who had cruelly slaughtered the entire clan, who had even killed their parents, was openly appearing in Naruto's dream? He was even welcoming guests alongside the clan at a banquet held in their home?

"No... impossible! Why is he here?!"

Sasuke's emotions completely spiraled out of control. His breathing came so fast that he could barely catch his breath.

Sakura blinked in confusion. "Who is that person?"

As an outsider, she did not recognize Itachi Uchiha.

Kakashi silently watched the screen and sighed softly.

Of course, he knew who the young man at the entrance was. He also knew exactly what that person meant to Sasuke.

Seeing Sasuke on the verge of collapse, he was about to speak and comfort him when Sasuke suddenly roared, "This is all fake!! Fake!!"

Sasuke's voice was ragged, almost choked with sobs. A faint red gleam flickered in his eyes.

He desperately tried to deny everything before him, as though doing so could drive away the monstrous waves crashing through his heart.

That figure...

[Ding! Emotional fluctuation detected from Sasuke Uchiha! Emotion Value +1000!]

In the audience.

Sasuke's chest heaved violently as sorrow, rage, grief, and countless other emotions tangled madly in his eyes.

Sakura was stunned by his appearance and did not dare ask any more questions.

Yet the dream on the screen continued...