Sasuke: Damn, Why Is Naruto So Handsome?

In the vast, silent theater, rows of seats stretched into the distance through the dimness.

Naruto's eyes flew open. He found himself sitting in the front row of the theater.

He looked around in confusion. The theater was completely empty, and he was the only one sitting there.

"Where am I... A theater?"

Naruto froze for a moment, then slumped.

There was no familiar, cozy bedroom, no sign of his mom or dad. All he saw were cold, silent, empty seats.

He lowered his head, a deep sense of loss welling up inside him. "So... last time really was the last time..."

Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Naruto Uzumaki detected! Emotion value +300!

Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Naruto Uzumaki detected! Emotion value +300!

Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Naruto Uzumaki detected! Emotion value +300!

In the darkness at the back of the theater, a figure stood silently, watching the golden-haired boy in the front row.

"Heh... There's no way I'd let you dream again so soon, Naruto."

Shigure's lips curled into a smile. "It's great to have more than one person whose dreams I can fulfill. When Naruto was the only one dreaming, his emotional fluctuations got smaller and smaller as he grew used to what was happening in the dream. But now there's Sasuke too. They can feel the pressure and competition between them, so the emotion value has shot up.

"That's what they call the 'catfish effect.' Heh..."

Who knew how much time passed?

Suddenly, a ripple-like distortion stirred in the air.

Then two blurry figures abruptly appeared in the front row.

Hearing a sound beside him, Naruto jerked his head up. "Kakashi-sensei? Sakura?"

"Yo!" Kakashi greeted them lazily.

Sakura just snorted and muttered "womanizer" under her breath. That counted as her greeting.

"Damn it..." Seeing the two of them appear, Naruto realized it was probably Sasuke dreaming again today. He could only stew helplessly, folding his arms with a sulky scowl. "Why is it Sasuke again?!"

Seeing this, Kakashi suddenly said, "Naruto, don't get discouraged. Maybe you'll be able to see what's happening in the dream through Sasuke's eyes."

Naruto's body gave a start as his parents' faces flashed through his mind.

Right! If Sasuke was still dreaming in that world, maybe Mom and Dad would show up too.

At the thought, some of his frustration eased. He couldn't help turning his gaze toward the enormous black screen in front of him.

Just then, the dark screen at the front of the theater flickered to life with a hiss.

The scene gradually appeared, showing Sasuke.

Sasuke was standing in his family's living room.

A beautiful, gentle-looking, black-haired woman stood before him. She was his mother, Mikoto Uchiha.

Watching her son dawdle, Mikoto urged him along with an exasperated smile. "Sasuke, why haven't you left yet? Aren't you supposed to go on a mission with Naruto and the others today?"

Sasuke lowered his head and muttered, "I... I want to stay home with you a little longer, Mom."

Mikoto paused in surprise, then shook her head with an amused smile. "I don't know what to do with you... I saw you were in a bad mood yesterday, so I made a point of letting you rest at home for the day. I even sent word to Kakashi-sensei and the others. And now you're trying to stay home again today!"

She put on a stern expression, half joking and half serious. "You're already a Genin. What's the point of staying home all the time? All right, hurry and meet up with your teammates. Don't keep them waiting, understand?"

"But... I..." Sasuke was still reluctant, but when he met his mother's somewhat stern gaze, he could only nod sulkily. "All right, I understand."

Only after her son finally agreed did Mikoto break into a relieved smile. "That's more like it. Be careful on the way, and stay safe."

Sasuke gazed at his mother's gentle smile, warmth filling his heart.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something more, but in the end, all he said was, "...I'm off."

Mikoto stood by the entryway and watched Sasuke leave. She kept her eyes on him until his slight figure disappeared at the end of the alley, then finally turned and went back inside.

Sasuke walked alone down the street, a breeze brushing against his face.

He thought of his mother's gentle yet stern expression as she'd reminded him to be careful. His heart was a tangled mess.

"Mom in the dream... She really is exactly like I remember."

Only then did Sasuke suddenly realize there was a problem.

Where was the meeting place?

Where would Kakashi-sensei in the dream have them meet?

Sasuke thought it over briefly. "If we're still on the same team in the dream, then the meeting place should still be the usual one."

Once he'd made up his mind, he hurried along the familiar route toward the little bridge where Team 7 usually met.

Everywhere Sasuke looked, there were shops of all kinds displaying Uchiha Clan Crests. The streets were bustling with people, and the whole place was lively.

Compared with the deserted, dilapidated Uchiha Clan District in reality, every sight here seemed especially precious.

Many of the shopkeepers were familiar faces from the Uchiha clan. When they saw Sasuke pass by, they greeted him warmly. "Young Master Sasuke, off on another mission today? Do your best!"

Sasuke smiled and nodded to each of them in turn, but waves of emotion surged within him.

Those clan members smiling and talking to him... They were all gone in reality.

Clenching his fists, Sasuke forced down the emotions rising in his chest and passed through the crowd to the meeting place he remembered.

Just as he'd expected, Naruto and Sakura were already waiting there.

Sakura stood beside Naruto, chattering away, while Naruto leaned lazily against a tree by the bridge with his hands behind his head. A relaxed smile played on his lips, and he looked exceptionally confident and composed.

Sasuke stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing.

What was it about Naruto that seemed so strange?

His expression, his mannerisms, even his appearance and bearing—all of them seemed a little different from what Sasuke remembered.

Looking closer, he realized Naruto seemed half a head taller than before. That couldn't be right. In reality, Naruto was clearly a little shorter than him!

Was this Naruto actually taller than he was?

As Sasuke wondered about it, the blond boy ahead noticed him too.

Naruto froze for a moment, then smiled warmly and cheerfully. He walked over with Sakura at his side and raised a hand to greet Sasuke. "Good morning, Sasuke-kun!"

"We were just about to go find you so we could meet up together," Sakura added, waving sweetly at Sasuke. Her face lit up with a happy smile. "Good morning, Sasuke!"

As Naruto and Sakura ran toward him from either side, Sasuke saw the dazzling smile on Naruto's face, warm as sunshine.

He couldn't help feeling that the Naruto in front of him was a little unfamiliar.

How could that smile make him seem... kind of handsome?

Sasuke abruptly snapped out of it, annoyed with himself for getting distracted by Naruto's smile.

He quickly composed himself and put on a stern expression again.

Naruto soon came to a stop a short distance in front of Sasuke, his eyes crinkling in a friendly smile.

He looked Sasuke over with concern.

"Sasuke-kun, you're here. Aunt Mikoto said yesterday that you weren't feeling well. Are you feeling better today?"

As he spoke, Naruto carefully looked Sasuke up and down, his expression full of concern and sincerity.

Naruto's concern sounded genuine and gentle, like a spring breeze.

But it left Sasuke horrified.

What was this cheerful, gentle, polite guy supposed to be?!

Was this Naruto?

Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Sasuke Uchiha detected! Emotion value +400!