Just as Sasuke in the audience was about to combust from sheer rage, the dream on the screen took a wild turn.
Naruto Uzumaki, basking in glory, was now being oogled by a Sakura Haruno with pink heart-eyes sparkling like a shoujo manga.
Dream-Sakura, cheeks flushed, hands clasped behind her back, tiptoed up to Naruto, voice dripping with honey:
"N-Naruto-kun... I mean, Naruto-sama!"
Audience Seats:
Sakura: "?!?!?!"
Inner Sakura was losing it, rampaging in her mind with a tsunami of question marks.
On-Screen:
Dream-Sakura kept up the sugar overload: "Naruto-sama, you were so cool! Sasuke-kun didn't stand a chance! You're not just Team 7's best—you're Konoha's greatest ninja!"
Naruto, ego ballooning, scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Eh, I mean, Sasuke just got careless, ya know?"
"No way!" Dream-Sakura shook her head, eyes blazing with adoration. "You don't need to be humble! In my heart, you've always been the strongest. Actually... I've... I've liked you for a really long time, Naruto-sama!"
She stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and—boom—confessed with a gaze that could melt steel: "I love you, Naruto-sama! Let's go out!"
Naruto: "!!!!"
Struck by lightning-level shock, his brain blue-screened.
She... likes me? Sakura-chan... LOVES ME?!
Is this real?!
A tidal wave of joy crashed over him, stealing his breath. For a solid few seconds, he was a statue. Then his face turned tomato-red, heart soaring.
Happiness overload!
Trying to play it cool, he coughed, striking a wannabe-suave pose. "W-Well, Sakura-chan, since you're, uh, so sincere... I-I guess I could consider it... BWAHAHA!"
He couldn't hold it in, throwing his hands on his hips and letting out a victory laugh that shook the heavens.
Audience Seats:
Real-world Sakura shot up, veins popping, green eyes blazing like a forest fire. Her fists clenched so hard they creaked, knuckles white.
"NARUTO! You hopeless, dead-last IDIOT! Dreaming THIS?! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Her scream dripped with murder vibes. If this weird space didn't trap her, Naruto would already be a pancake.
[Ding! Emotional spike from Sakura Haruno! +1000 Emotion Points!]
Sasuke, meanwhile, looked like he'd stepped in something gross, scooting away from Sakura with a grimace. Ugh, these losers...
Kakashi just shook his head, hand on forehead, classic dead-fish-eye mode activated.
[Ding! Emotional spike from Naruto Uzumaki! +400 Emotion Points!]
On-Screen:
Dream-Sakura, now in full clingy-girlfriend mode, latched onto Naruto's arm, cooing, "Yay! Naruto-sama, let's go on a date! I wanna go shopping!"
"No prob, Sakura-chan! Wherever you wanna go, I'm there!" Naruto, feeling like the king of the world, waved grandly.
The duo skipped off, hand-in-hand, leaving the training ground for Konoha's bustling streets.
But something was... off.
Normally, Naruto's strolls through the village earned him glares, fear, or cold indifference—like he was a walking plague.
Today?
"Oh! Naruto-sama! Lookin' sharp today!" A veggie stall auntie beamed, tossing him a juicy red tomato.
"Naruto-sama, time for new threads? Come check out my shop—20% off!" A clothing store lady winked.
Even crazier—a graceful woman in a red kimono, towing a shy five-year-old boy, approached with reverence.
"Naruto-sama, greetings!" She bowed, then nudged her kid. "Ryota, look! This is Naruto-sama. You gotta grow up to be a ninja like him, okay?"
The boy nodded, staring at Naruto with starry-eyed awe.
The woman smiled warmly. "Naruto-sama, training hard? Don't overdo it!"
Naruto froze, brain short-circuiting.
They're... smiling at me?
They're... caring about me?
They're calling me... Naruto-sama?!
For the first time in his life, he wasn't the village pariah.
Warmth flooded his chest, eyes stinging with unshed tears. His vision blurred.
Is this a dream? It's too perfect...
Despite a tiny nagging thought—Why "sama"?—the overwhelming joy drowned it out.
"Y-Yeah! Thanks, auntie! I'm good, training's fine!" Naruto wiped his eyes, flashing his brightest, most genuine grin ever. He chatted with every villager, soaking in their kindness like a sponge.
[Ding! Emotional spike from Naruto Uzumaki! +2000 Emotion Points!]
Audience Seats:
Sasuke and Sakura were unimpressed. Sasuke, raised on clan praise and fangirl screams, found it boring. Sakura, past her initial rage, yawned. "Just greeting people? Lame."
But Kakashi? His heart twinged. Knowing Naruto's real-life rejection as the Nine-Tails' host, this dream's fake love hit hard. The contrast was brutal.
[Ding! Emotional spike from Kakashi Hatake! +500 Emotion Points!]
On-Screen:
Naruto was on cloud nine, practically glowing as the village's golden boy. Time flew as he basked in the love.
[Ding! Emotional spike from Naruto Uzumaki! +100 Emotion Points!]
[Ding! Emotional spike from Naruto Uzumaki! +100 Emotion Points!]
[Ding! Emotional spike from Naruto Uzumaki! +100 Emotion Points!]
Hidden in the shadows, Shigu was grinning like he'd won the ninja lottery, watching the Emotion Points roll in like ramen orders on a Friday night.
But as Naruto's joy peaked and the sky darkened—
WHAM!
A hand shot out, yanking Naruto's ear with vengeance.
"OW! Who—?!" Naruto yelped, wincing.
Before he could turn, a furious yet fond female voice exploded:
"NARUTO! I sent you to get soy sauce! Where the heck have you been?! It's DARK out!"
ZAP!
The screen went black, like a TV unplugged mid-episode.
The dream was over.