That's It? Sasuke's Not Even as Good as Me

In the audience stands.

Naruto curled his lip at the scene, his face full of indignation.

He muttered under his breath, "Hmph, Sasuke's dad is no good at all..."

"My dad was gentle and kind. He'd never be this harsh with me! Sasuke's dad is nowhere near as good as mine!"

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

Tilting her head, Sakura stared at the stern, old-fashioned Fugaku on the screen and murmured in confusion, "Is that really Sasuke's father? He doesn't seem like it... Sasuke is so outstanding, so why is his dad still so dissatisfied with him?"

Kakashi could not help rubbing his forehead with a sigh.

Are these brats really my students?

They showed no restraint at all when casually judging their elders.

"Ahem—" Kakashi cleared his throat and reminded them seriously, "Don't casually discuss other people's fathers. It's very rude, understand?"

Naruto stuck out his tongue and muttered, "Tch, it's not like I was wrong..."

After eavesdropping from the shadows for quite a while, Shigure could not help complaining inwardly as well.

Fugaku Uchiha really did have a strong dad vibe.

On the screen.

Ever since entering the house, Sasuke had been immersed in the joy of having both his parents by his side.

He had not experienced the warmth of a family reunion in a very long time. Now, he could finally sit down and have lunch with his parents.

The dining table was covered in sumptuous dishes, all of them Mikoto's specialties.

Fragrant stews, refreshing vegetables, and piping-hot miso soup...

Looking at the familiar dishes spread across the table, Sasuke's eyes widened.

His hand trembled as he reached out with his chopsticks and cautiously picked up a piece of tomato, placing it in his mouth.

The wonderful flavor blossomed across his tongue—it was exactly the taste of his mother from his memories!

Sasuke's throat tightened, and his nose stung. He nearly burst into tears again.

After all these years, he had finally tasted his mother's cooking once more.

[ Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Sasuke Uchiha detected! Emotion points +600! ]

At the table, Itachi watched his younger brother, trying to find an opportunity to say a few words to Sasuke.

However, Sasuke kept his head down and ate from beginning to end, not even sparing him a glance.

Having lunch beside this "murderer" made Sasuke feel uncomfortable all over. If not for his mother being present, he would not have wanted to remain at the same table as Itachi for even a second.

Fortunately, this did not last long.

Before long, Itachi set down his bowl and chopsticks and said apologetically, "I have a mission this afternoon, so I need to leave first."

Fugaku also picked up the ninja forehead protector beside the table and tied it around his forehead. "The Security Department is pressing us too. Itachi and I are leaving first."

Mikoto nodded and stood up to straighten her husband's collar. "Leaving so early today... The Security Department is always especially busy around this time of year. Be careful on the way."

Fugaku nodded solemnly and patted the back of his wife's hand in farewell.

Itachi stood and went to the entryway to change his shoes.

As he passed Sasuke, he paused and said softly, "Sasuke, I'm sorry. Once this busy spell is over, I'll definitely practice with you as much as you want next time."

Sasuke turned his head away with a cold expression and did not respond.

Itachi sighed softly before leaving with his father.

The sound of the door opening and closing came from the entryway, and the living room immediately fell quiet.

Looking toward the door, Mikoto shook her head with a smile. "Honestly, the Security Department is especially busy around this time every year. They can barely even sit down for a meal... Sigh."

Sasuke said nothing, lowering his head as he shoveled food into his mouth.

Only he knew that, at this moment, all he wanted was to cherish every second he could spend with his mother. How could he have any mind left to care about his father and brother?

He sighed inwardly.

This dream is way too realistic. Even Mom's cooking has been recreated perfectly. It tastes exactly like I remember... It feels just like the real thing.

After lunch, Sasuke took the initiative to help Mikoto wash up, leaving the dining table spotless.

Afterward, he simply stayed home and remained by his mother's side all afternoon.

"Sasuke, weren't you supposed to meet Naruto and Sakura this afternoon for a mission? Aren't you going?"

Seeing her son cling to her side the whole time, Mikoto could not help asking with a smile.

"I'm not going!"

Without a second thought, Sasuke flatly refused. A happy smile rose to his lips. "What's the point of doing that boring commission? Spending more time with Mom is better than anything!"

[ Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Sasuke Uchiha detected! Emotion points +500! ]

"Oh, you child..."

Mikoto shook her head, both amused and exasperated, though her eyes were filled with affection.

For the rest of the day, Sasuke helped Mikoto clean the courtyard and tidy the house. As they worked, he chatted eagerly with his mother.

He went on and on about his training over the past few years and the amusing things his teammates had done, wishing he could make up for all the lost time between mother and son in one breath.

Mikoto listened with a beaming smile. Then, as if recalling something, she asked, "By the way, Sasuke, your class instructor is Kakashi, right? What kind of person is he?"

As he swept the floor, Sasuke replied, "Kakashi-sensei? He's a little lazy and always late, but he's really strong."

Mikoto nodded approvingly. "I see. Remember, companions should help and trust one another, understand?"

"Yeah!" Sasuke nodded firmly.

The mother and son spent a rare stretch of warm, peaceful time together.

In the audience stands.

Naruto stared at the screen and immediately bristled.

"Hey, hey, hey! Sasuke has the nerve to say I was obsessed with the dream? He's smiling even dumber than I was!"

"That's it? He's not even as good as me. At least I didn't cry!"

Kakashi could barely keep it together after hearing Naruto's jab.

Wasn't the smile overflowing across Sasuke's face exactly the same silly grin Naruto had worn?

[ Ding! Emotional fluctuation from Kakashi Hatake detected! Emotion points +100! ]

Sakura, on the other hand, was delighted, her eyes curving into crescents. "So what! I think Sasuke like this... is super cute!"

"Hey? That's totally unfair!" Naruto stamped his feet in frustration. "Sakura, you're playing favorites! I was super cute that day too—cough, I mean, super cool!"

Sakura's expression immediately changed. Crossing her arms, she shot Naruto a disdainful look. "Don't talk to me, scumbag!"

"Huh?!"

Naruto's wail echoed through the audience stands.

[ Dream Fulfillment Target: Sasuke Uchiha ]

[ Viewers: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Kakashi Hatake ]

[ Total Emotion Point Earnings: 35,300 points! ]

[ Current Emotion Point Balance: 81,250 points! ]

That night, Shigure's haul was truly abundant.

Looking at the soaring emotion point count on the system interface, he was so excited he nearly laughed aloud.

"Not bad, not bad!"

Shigure clenched his fist and could not help letting out a low cry.

Sasuke alone had provided nearly twenty thousand emotion points!

Heh, farming Sasuke was really satisfying!

But despite the surge in emotion points, Shigure was in no rush to spend them.

He swung his arms and felt strength filling every inch of his body.

His physical abilities were now more than enough for him to handle the work at Ichiraku Ramen Shop with ease. He could help Uncle Teuchi and Ayame quite a bit.

The tempting high-level exchange options in the system shop rose in his mind once again: powerful bloodline limits, supreme forbidden techniques...

Power that had once seemed impossibly distant now appeared to be drawing closer, little by little.

Shigure took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to immediately check the bloodline list. The corners of his mouth slowly lifted.

Before long, he might be able to exchange for the power he had always dreamed of.

His current strength was enough for this version for the time being. He might as well save up his emotion points and wait until the update with the all-out eye-technique brawl before exchanging for something truly badass.