There Is Such a Forbidden Jutsu?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile faded upon hearing this, replaced by a look of gravity.

He nodded slowly. "Yes, I have made some progress."

As he spoke, he set down the crystal ball in his hand, straightened up, and said, "To investigate the strange matter you mentioned, I have spent these past few days scouring the village's ancient scrolls and records. I have finally found a similar account..."

Kakashi held his breath and listened.

Hiruzen said in a deep voice, "The ancient texts record a legendary forbidden jutsu that allows the caster to invade another person's dreams. It can control the target's mind, steal information, and even achieve the terrifying effect of taking a life. However..."

He frowned deeply as he reached this point. "According to the description, the jutsu requires a massive consumption of the target's chakra as a price. Every time the target is drawn into a dream, a portion of their life force is drained away."

Even as the Copy Ninja of the Leaf, Kakashi couldn't help but gasp. "There is such a forbidden jutsu? That means if Naruto repeatedly falls into those strange dreams, his chakra will be continuously drained until his life is exhausted?"

Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Theoretically, yes. But Kakashi, don't be too nervous. After all, what I mentioned is merely an ancient legend from hundreds of years ago; it is difficult to distinguish truth from fiction. Furthermore, this forbidden jutsu has long been lost. We don't even know if what is happening to Naruto now is the same thing."

He waved his hand, signaling for Kakashi to remain calm. "That is why I must ask you: has Naruto shown any abnormal signs recently? For instance, has he shown any symptoms of physical weakness or a sudden decrease in his chakra levels?"

Kakashi recalled the situation and replied solemnly, "None. As far as I can tell, Naruto is completely normal. His movements are as usual, and his chakra is stable."

Hiruzen let out a soft breath, his expression relaxing slightly. "That is good."

Kakashi nodded, his own heart settling a little.

However, the next second, Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and asked with profound meaning, "By the way, Kakashi, I discovered... that Naruto seems to be practicing the Rasengan lately."

"This—" Kakashi's pupils constricted, and he was momentarily speechless.

Hiruzen picked up the pipe beside him, took a gentle puff, and slowly exhaled the smoke, his cloudy yet deep eyes fixed steadily on Kakashi.

"Although it is a technique developed by the Fourth Hokage, isn't it a bit too early for you to start teaching him this?"

Kakashi did not know if the Third was testing him because he had sensed something, or if he truly felt it was too early for Naruto to learn the Rasengan.

"Lord Hokage..." Kakashi opened his mouth, but he did not know how to explain it.

He certainly hadn't taught Naruto the Rasengan, but it was a fact that Naruto had mastered the technique.

If he didn't report the truth soon, he feared Hiruzen would only become more suspicious.

Thinking of this, Kakashi steeled himself and said in a low voice, "Lord Hokage, this matter involves those strange dreams."

"Oh?" A flash of light appeared in Hiruzen's eyes. "What is it?"

Kakashi took a deep breath and said sternly, "Regarding Naruto practicing the Rasengan... it was not I who taught him, but—the Fourth Hokage."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hand holding Hiruzen's pipe trembled violently, nearly causing it to fall to the floor.

He widened his eyes in disbelief. "Who did you say? The Fourth? Minato...?"

"Yes." Kakashi nodded solemnly. "It was indeed the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, my teacher. He... taught Naruto the Rasengan in a dream."

A brief, dead silence fell over the office.

Hiruzen stared blankly at his usually steady and reliable subordinate, momentarily wondering if his ears were failing him.

He frowned and said, "Kakashi, you haven't fallen under some genjutsu, have you, mistaking a dream for reality? Minato... passed away many years ago."

Kakashi gave a bitter smile. "Lord Hokage, I am quite clear-headed. It is precisely because of that that I feel the situation is serious and had to report it to you."

"Naruto is not practicing the Rasengan in reality, but in that strange dream. And the one teaching him is the Fourth Hokage."

Following this, Kakashi explained everything that had happened regarding the "dream-entering" over the past few days, including the fact that it wasn't Naruto who entered the dream last night, but Sasuke, with Naruto becoming the bystander.

Hiruzen listened quietly, the shock on his face growing more intense.

On the other side.

After Kakashi left, Naruto returned home alone, feeling rather gloomy.

As soon as he pushed the door open, a strange odor greeted him.

Several empty instant noodle containers lay on the dining table, empty milk cartons were piled haphazardly in the corner, and the bed was a mess, with the quilt balled up and tossed to the side.

"Ugh..." Naruto couldn't help but wrinkle his nose.

He realized then that he hadn't cleaned his room in a long time.

At the same time, the image of that warm, tidy home from his dream the night before involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

The floor was spotless, items were arranged in perfect order, and the sheets and bedding in the bedroom were clean and flat...

Thinking of this and looking at the chaotic reality of his home, Naruto couldn't help but pout, a strong sense of disparity rising in his heart.

"Sigh, if only it could be like it was in the dream..." Naruto shook his head and gave a self-deprecating smile.

But the smile vanished in an instant; he realized that rather than daydreaming here, he should take action to change things.

"I'll start by cleaning the room!"

Naruto slapped his cheeks firmly to encourage himself.

No sooner said than done.

Naruto rolled up his sleeves and began to tidy the room.

He first picked up all the scattered trash on the floor and threw it into the bin, then poured out the leftover noodle broth and washed the bowls and chopsticks.

Next, he grabbed a rag, wiped down the dusty table and windowsill, and then mopped the floor thoroughly.

In the small room, the boy's figure was constantly busy.

"Phew—finally clean!"

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when Naruto finally put down the broom, the room looked brand new.

The trash was cleared, the stains were scrubbed away, and the sour, musty smell in the air had dissipated.

Although it couldn't compare to the warm home in his dream where his parents were present, at least the little room now looked much fresher and more pleasing to the eye.

Naruto wiped the sweat from his forehead and suddenly had an idea; he began to move the furniture.

He pushed his small single bed with great effort to the side of the window and moved the bedside lamp to the small cabinet on the right side of the bed.

Then he stepped back a few paces and narrowed his eyes to examine the layout of the bedroom.

Hmm, with this adjustment, the room's layout was already somewhat similar to the bedroom in the dream.

After finishing all this, Naruto lay down on the bed, feeling satisfied. With his hands behind his head, he looked up at the slightly aged ceiling and couldn't help but reveal a smile. "Heh, I have to say, it really does feel much more comfortable when it's this tidy."

Naruto thought that if his mother from the dream could see him having cleaned the room so well, she would surely show a satisfied smile.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

If only his mother were truly by his side...