197

*Chapter 197: Mastering the Rasengan!*1

+250 (125)

As soon as Sasuke spoke, the points in front of him began jumping again.

*Whoa!*

Everyone present froze.

All eyes focused on Sasuke, their gazes flickering with a mix of confusion and intrigue.

*What is he up to?*

Taking all the scrolls into his possession, only to surrender?

*What kind of move is this?*

If that's the case...

Doesn't that mean no one will pass the Chunin Selection Exam?

For a moment, everyone’s expressions flickered with uncertainty as they glanced at Sasuke with subtle shifts in their gazes.

*“Sasuke, what’s the meaning of this?”*

The Third Hokage’s face darkened like charcoal, his anger barely restrained.

*This is too much!*

Such actions!

The Chunin Exams would be rendered meaningless!

It’s over!

Everything is over now!

The Third Hokage felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. He was fully aware that, with so many witnesses, it was impossible to force the continuation of the Chunin Selection Exam.

*“What I mean is...”*

Sasuke dragged out his words, his tone laced with amusement.

*“This year’s Chunin Exam is a total wipeout. No one will become a Chunin!”*

Sasuke’s voice echoed like thunder in everyone’s minds.

Unbelievable!

This Chunin Selection Exam…

It was absolutely unprecedented.

No one had ever seen anything like this before!

First, one person seized all the scrolls, then that same person forfeited.

There were no words to describe it!

The entire crowd was speechless.

+260 (130)

Once again, the numbers in front of Sasuke’s eyes fluctuated.

*“According to the rules of the Chunin Selection Exam...”*

At that moment, Anko, the proctor, stepped in.

Instantly, all eyes turned to her.

*“If no one advances to the next round during the second stage of the Chunin Exam, then the third stage is canceled, and the Chunin Selection Exam officially ends!”*

Anko’s voice was loud and clear, resounding throughout the venue. Unaware of the Third Hokage’s plans, she simply followed the rules.

*Whoa!*

In an instant, the crowd burst into discussion.

Nearly everyone was whispering.

At this point, whether they could become a Chunin no longer mattered!

What mattered was that they had just witnessed history—an event unprecedented and unparalleled!

*“You may now follow your respective Jonin instructors and leave!”*

Anko waved her hand, decisively ending the matter.

At this point, however, no one moved.

Their gazes lingered on Sasuke.

It was truly bizarre.

No one had anticipated something like this.

Meanwhile, Sasuke acted as if nothing had happened, casually walking over to Naruto and Sakura.

*“Let’s go see Kakashi-sensei!”*

Sasuke said to Naruto and Sakura, his relaxed demeanor making it seem like he hadn’t just caused all this.

*“Yeah!”*

Naruto nodded, his face breaking into a smile. He had seen everything that just transpired.

*“Sigh…”*

Sakura sighed deeply.

Just moments ago, she thought she saw hope of becoming a Chūnin.

But that hope was shattered once again.

She could only wait for the next opportunity!

Sakura understood clearly that there was no way to reverse the situation now.

This year’s Chūnin Selection Exams were officially over!

Soon after, Sasuke led Naruto and Sakura toward Kakashi’s direction.

At that moment, Kakashi was standing with Guy, his usual right eye fixed on Sasuke.

“Kakashi-sensei,” Sasuke greeted him. Afterward, Naruto and Sakura also greeted Kakashi one by one.

“Hmm,” Kakashi nodded, giving Sasuke a deep look before saying, “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

With that, Kakashi led Team 7 away.

The other Jonin instructors also guided their respective teams out.

The tower, once meant to celebrate the victor, now felt eerily empty.

Only the Third Hokage, the two proctors, and a few Anbu remained.

“Ibiki, Anko, the Chūnin Exams are over. You may leave,” the Third said with a resigned sigh.

At this moment, his heart felt a chill.

“Yes, sir!” Ibiki and Anko responded in unison. After forming hand seals, their figures vanished in a flash.

Now, only the Anbu remained in the venue.

“Let’s discuss,” the Third began.

“What do you think of Sasuke’s strength?”

A cold glint flashed in the Third’s eyes. While Ibiki and Anko were present, he had refrained from questioning in detail. But now, he needed answers.

How had so many Anbu failed to stop Sasuke?

This question had been hanging over the Third’s mind for some time.

For a moment, the Anbu remained silent.

No one spoke first.

“What’s the matter?”

The Third’s voice turned sharper, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the white-clad Yamato.

“Yamato, you speak,” he commanded.

“Sasuke’s strength is extraordinary!” Yamato admitted, his head bowed slightly, a faint tremor in his voice. If he removed his mask now, the remnants of bruises and swelling would still be visible on his face.

During the battle, Sasuke had beaten Yamato thoroughly.

Though there were no severe injuries, it hurt quite a bit!

“You mean to say even you Anbu couldn’t handle him?”

The Third’s voice carried disbelief. Sasuke was merely a Genin, after all.

The Anbu were elite, skilled and powerful.

How could they not defeat Sasuke?

If this was the case, it required deeper consideration.

“We couldn’t beat him!” Yamato nodded firmly. He wasn’t exaggerating; just the previous day, they had clashed fiercely with Sasuke.

The result?

Complete annihilation.

They hadn’t even managed to scratch Sasuke.

Even Yamato found it hard to fathom, but it had happened right before their eyes.

“I see,” the Third said with a nod, deep in thought. Taking a long draw from his pipe, he fell silent.

---

+100 (50)

A string of numbers flashed before Sasuke’s eyes.

There was no apparent trigger.

At least, Sasuke didn’t know what caused it.

Led by Kakashi, the entirety of Team 7 made their way out of the Forest of Death. The journey was smooth, with no dangers encountered.

Soon, they returned to the bustling streets of Konoha.

Kakashi stopped the team on a bridge.

As he came to a halt, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura also stopped.

“Let’s summarize this Chūnin Exam,” Kakashi began.

His gaze swept over Naruto and Sakura before finally landing on Sasuke.

“I don’t understand your actions!” Kakashi said bluntly, his eyes filled with curiosity. He couldn’t comprehend why Sasuke had chosen to forfeit.

“Sasuke, explain yourself,” he said.

With a swish, both Naruto and Sakura turned to Sasuke as well.

They had followed Sasuke’s instructions but were equally unsure about the reasoning behind his actions.

Faced with the inquisitive gazes of the three, Sasuke remained composed.

“I have my reasons,” he replied calmly.

*Chapter 197: Mastering the Rasengan!*2

Sasuke’s expression was cold and indifferent, showing no intention of explaining.

There was no way to explain it clearly.

This operation was primarily aimed at shattering some of the Third Hokage’s illusions and paving the way for Danzo to take the Hokage position smoothly.

All this information came from future events.

It wasn’t something that could be openly discussed.

There was no way to explain.

He couldn’t just say he could predict the future!

*+20*

The numbers in front of Sasuke jumped again. Up to this moment, the brackets behind the points had disappeared.

The Chūnin Exam’s major events had come to an end.

“……”

Hearing Sasuke’s words, Kakashi was momentarily speechless.

“Alright then.”

“You’re all tired, I’m sure.”

“Head back and rest.”

Seeing that Sasuke wasn’t inclined to elaborate, Kakashi decided not to press further. Giving his student some space for personal thoughts wasn’t a bad thing.

As for this Chūnin Exam...

Most of it was within Kakashi’s expectations.

Unfortunately...

While he had predicted the beginning, he hadn’t foreseen the ending.

Kakashi had always known that Sasuke would shine brightly in this year’s Chūnin Exam. There wasn’t a single person who could stop him.

Sasuke would undoubtedly take center stage in the Chūnin Exam with dazzling brilliance!

All of this had been within Kakashi’s predictions.

Even...

Even Sasuke’s ability to take all the scrolls from everyone hadn’t surprised Kakashi much—it was entirely within his expectations.

But...

What Kakashi hadn’t anticipated was Sasuke abandoning the final Chūnin Exam entirely.

This way of thinking was truly out of the ordinary.

“Yeah, I should head home too!”

Sakura said with a cheerful smile. She had already let go of her worries. Knowing she wouldn’t become a Chūnin this time, she felt no burden anymore.

“I’m heading home too,” Sasuke said as he strode off toward the Uchiha clan’s area.

To him, this Chūnin Exam had been nothing more than a formality, leaving no real impact.

Sasuke didn’t use the Flying Thunder God Technique.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to use it.

It was because he was waiting for someone!

Step by step, Sasuke walked back toward the Uchiha clan’s area. Suddenly, the wind stirred around him.

A figure abruptly appeared before Sasuke.

Silver hair and a sly grin gave this person an indescribable vibe.

“Tap, tap, tap, tap...”

The figure struck a peculiar pose as he stepped forward.

“Master, please accept your disciple’s bow!”

Immediately after, the figure bowed deeply.

It was none other than Jiraiya.

“No need for formalities. If you have something to say, let’s talk as we walk,” Sasuke said, glancing at Jiraiya before continuing to walk as if he hadn’t seen him.

The key to maintaining leverage was to stay elusive.

If he made his intentions too obvious, it wouldn’t be easy to trick Jiraiya into teaching him the Rasengan!

“Ah!”

Jiraiya froze for a moment, then quickly snapped out of it and hurried after Sasuke.

“Master!”

“Let me tell you something!”

“Your novel is selling incredibly well!”

“It’s now being distributed across the Land of Fire!”

“The demand is far greater than the supply!”

“I’m sure it won’t be long before it sweeps through the entire ninja world!”

Excitement sparkled in Jiraiya’s eyes. He had been holding back these words for several days now.

“This is just basic stuff,” Sasuke replied nonchalantly, showing no hint of surprise—not even a ripple of emotion.

These legendary works from the real world...

They had been refined through countless hands and iterations!

If they weren’t bestsellers, that would be shocking!

*+20*

The numbers before Sasuke jumped again, catching Jiraiya slightly off guard.

“Um...”

“Master!”

“What does ‘basic stuff’ mean?”

Jiraiya scratched his head, looking very much like Naruto.

“Basic technique!”

Sasuke explained it in full. When he finished, the corners of his mouth slightly curled up, clearly pleased with himself for spreading cultural influence in the ninja world.

*+30*

The number in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

“I see!”

Jiraiya nodded repeatedly, acknowledging Sasuke’s words.

It really was basic technique.

A work like this—if it doesn’t become popular, it’s practically a crime against nature!

There’s no suspense about it!

This work is bound to succeed!

“Um…”

Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly.

“Master!”

“I came here for another reason this time.”

“It’s about that manga…”

Jiraiya stopped short, not finishing his sentence, knowing that Sasuke already understood what he meant.

“Follow me,” Sasuke said.

He didn’t reject Jiraiya and continued walking toward the Uchiha clan’s area.

“Great! Great! Great!”

Jiraiya responded three times in a row, quickly following behind Sasuke with a face full of anticipation.

About ten minutes later...

Sasuke led Jiraiya to the Uchiha clan’s district.

The area was large.

It was empty.

There were hardly any people living there.

Jiraiya’s eyes lit up when he saw the place. He immediately said, “Master, can I live here?”

“No.”

Sasuke shook his head without hesitation, flatly rejecting the idea.

“But no one’s here, and the houses are empty. I could save a lot on hotel expenses.”

Jiraiya chuckled, thinking it was a great idea. Staying near Sasuke would let him push for updates more closely while saving some money.

"Read error-free versions at Book 69!"  

“No!”

Sasuke shook his head again, his tone resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

“Why not?”

Jiraiya’s voice carried a hint of a whine as he put on a pitiful look, his eyes fixated on Sasuke.

“This is the Uchiha clan,” Sasuke said calmly.

“I know that!” Jiraiya nodded.

“The Uchiha clan values cleanliness,” Sasuke replied meaningfully. He then walked straight into the house, leaving Jiraiya standing there, dumbfounded.

“…”

Jiraiya was speechless. His face turned red as if a little secret had been discovered.

“Come inside,” Sasuke called.

Sasuke led Jiraiya into the study, then took out a notebook and quickly began drawing.

*+40*

The number in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

“This…”

Jiraiya hadn’t expected Sasuke to be so efficient. As soon as he picked up the pen, he started drawing without even needing to think about the plot.

Swish, swish, swish…  

The room was quiet, save for the sound of the pen gliding across the paper.

Time passed, minute by minute.

About half an hour later...

Sasuke put down his pen and closed the notebook in front of him. He turned his eyes to Jiraiya, who was nearly drooling.

“Here.”

Sasuke handed the notebook to Jiraiya.

“Thank you, Master!”

Jiraiya immediately took the notebook, cradling it in his hands as if it were a treasure, something he would guard with his life.

“You can leave now.”

Sasuke issued a cold dismissal, his entire demeanor exuding an icy detachment that kept people at a distance.

*+50*

The number in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped yet again.

“Yes!”

Jiraiya had achieved his goal by obtaining the manga and was now completely satisfied. He couldn’t wait to get back to work.

“Master, I’ll be back!”

With that, Jiraiya dashed off, showing no hint of reluctance.

“Oh, you’ll be back,” Sasuke muttered, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He knew full well that Jiraiya would return—he had left the manga unfinished.

At the most critical moment.

Just as the buildup reached its peak.

It stopped.

Let’s see you resist!  

Sasuke felt he was getting better at this, especially when it came to keeping people hooked, mastering the art of suspense like a pro from a webnovel cliffhanger school.

---

In the Root Organization’s underground base in Konoha…  

“Are you sure about this?”

*Chapter 197: Mastering the Rasengan!*3

Danzo listened as a Root ANBU ninja reported the situation to him. For once, his normally stoic face showed a rare smile.

"Really?"

The ANBU nodded, speaking no unnecessary words.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Danzo threw his head back and laughed, his eyes lifting upward as though he could see the sunlight above the walls around him.

"The roots are finally going to grow out!"

Crossing his arms over his chest, Danzo knew all too well what the postponement of the Chunin Exams signified.

The era of the Third Hokage was coming to an end!

The prematurely initiated Chunin Selection Exams had nearly drained the Third Hokage’s political and social capital, carefully built up over the years.

And now, suddenly—

Gone!

Every ninja from the allied villages participating in the exams, along with the nobles and daimyos who traveled from all over, would be furious.

In such a scenario—

Even without Danzo, the ever-watchful candidate for the Fifth Hokage, looming on the horizon—

The Third Hokage might still have to resign in disgrace!

This was no trivial matter.

"Heaven itself is helping me!"

Danzo couldn't believe his luck this year. Everything seemed to be falling perfectly into place, one event after another, all in his favor.

In the past, all that had ever fallen into his lap were scapegoat duties.

But now, even good fortune was coming his way!

"Torune, accompany me to the Daimyo's residence. We leave immediately—there’s no time to waste!"

Danzo couldn’t afford to wait a moment longer; he had to secure his plans at once.

"Yes!"

Aburame Torune responded without hesitation.

---

The next day, news of the Chunin Exam's disastrous failure spread like wildfire throughout Konoha and quickly began circulating across the Land of Fire, with signs it might soon reach the entire shinobi world.

Alongside this sensational news was another hot topic—

A young prodigy named Uchiha Sasuke!

*+10*

*+12*

*+8*

*+3*

*+21*

...

From the moment Sasuke woke up that morning, numbers began appearing in his vision, incrementing ceaselessly.

This had never happened before.

It seemed—

Becoming famous had its perks!

Sasuke had no idea where these numbers were coming from.

Were they from the Chunin Exam?

Or were they from the bestselling books and manga he’d authored?

Either way—

As long as the points were his, he wasn’t complaining!

Time passed, minute by minute, hour by hour.

By midday, the rate of point accumulation finally began to slow down.

By evening, the points appeared only occasionally.

The entire process lasted for three whole days.

When Sasuke woke up after the third day, the points had finally stopped.

"Too many points really is a happy problem to have!"

Sasuke couldn’t believe how much this one event had brought him in system points.

He quickly opened his system panel.

*Current system points: 77,149*

Seeing the number, Sasuke froze in disbelief, his vision momentarily blurring.

"No way!"

"Did I read that right?!"

"That’s an increase of—"

"Almost 50,000 points?!"

Sasuke couldn’t help but exclaim. The frequency of points accumulating over those three days had indeed been astonishing.

But he never imagined—

The total would be this high!

"I suddenly have a brilliant idea!"

A sly smile tugged at the corner of Sasuke’s lips. He’d just realized something. These points weren’t merely about his fame.

They came from people recognizing how cool he was.

Defeating everyone in the second round of the Chunin Exams and then forfeiting—it was the ultimate act of style.

Now Sasuke understood.

All he needed to do was create more moments like this. Moments that screamed style and left everyone in awe—and then make sure they spread far and wide.

"This could lead to earning a lot of points quickly!

It’s even better than a major event!

I need to think this through!"

Knock, knock, knock...  

At that moment, a knock on Sasuke's door immediately drew his attention.

He stood up.

Opened the door.

Standing at the entrance, scratching the back of his head, was Jiraiya.

“Hehehe…”

Jiraiya grinned broadly. He didn’t even need to say anything; Sasuke already knew what he wanted.

“Come in.”

Sasuke nodded at Jiraiya, then walked ahead to the living room and sat cross-legged at one end of the table.

“Master, I’ve finished reading all the manga you gave me last time. So, about that...”

Jiraiya grinned sheepishly as he spoke.

He was already holding himself back—waiting two whole days before coming over.

In fact, he had read everything in one night.

“Hmm.”

Sasuke nodded and flipped his wrist, revealing three notebooks in his hand.

“These are two novels and one manga. Add them to the previous ones and get them all published!”

Sasuke handed the notebooks to Jiraiya.

+20

The number in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

“Yes!”

Jiraiya eagerly grabbed the notebooks and was about to leave, having achieved his goal.

“Wait.”

Sasuke called out, his dark eyes instantly turning cold and imposing.

“Huh?”

Jiraiya turned back to look at Sasuke. The sharpness in Sasuke’s gaze made him feel an immense pressure.

“I want to learn the Rasengan,” Sasuke said bluntly, without any hesitation.

By now, he had spent enough time with Jiraiya.

It was time to express his thoughts.

“No problem!”

Jiraiya grinned. He thought it might be something major, but it turned out to be quite simple.

“Let me go prepare first.”

Jiraiya was about to leave again, but Sasuke stopped him.

“No need to prepare. I learn quickly and won’t waste much time.”

Sasuke’s sharp eyes gleamed as he spoke, suddenly turning blood-red.

The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan appeared!

The six-pointed star design included two shuriken-like blades.

Its intricate patterns exuded an aura of mystery.

At that moment, Jiraiya’s expression grew serious.

Those eyes...

During his pursuit of Orochimaru’s trail, Jiraiya had encountered the Akatsuki and learned about Uchiha Itachi, gaining some insight into the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Now Sasuke was wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan.

However, Jiraiya had no knowledge of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

“I understand.”

Without even using a water balloon demonstration, Jiraiya raised his right hand in front of Sasuke.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...  

In an instant, chakra began rotating in his palm, forming a spherical shape.

The swirling chakra gave off a strong force, resembling a miniature typhoon.

“This is the Rasengan!”

Jiraiya slowly demonstrated the technique, his usual playful demeanor replaced with seriousness.

“Thank you!”

Sasuke nodded.

He observed the entire process with sharp focus.

The principle of the Rasengan wasn’t difficult;

the challenge lay in controlling chakra!

In the next moment, Sasuke raised his hand. Guided by the chakra flow patterns visible through his Mangekyō Sharingan, he started manipulating the chakra in his palm.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...  

The chakra in Sasuke’s hand spun rapidly, maintaining a spherical shape without showing any signs of breaking apart.

Ding!  

“Congratulations, host, you’ve learned [Rasengan]!”

At that moment, an electronic voice echoed in Sasuke’s mind.

+50

The number in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

Jiraiya stared wide-eyed at Sasuke. Though he had anticipated this, he was still shocked.

Sasuke had learned the Rasengan on his first try!

Jiraiya now realized that this young man in front of him not only had exceptional talent for writing but was also a top-tier prodigy in ninjutsu.

Suddenly, Sasuke crushed the Rasengan in his hand.

He accessed the storage space in his mind and pulled out an [Experience Pack].

Ding!  

“Host is using an Experience Pack.

Please select the ability to enhance:

1. Secret Technique: Shadow Imitation Jutsu.

2. Water Style: Water Severing Wave.

3. Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave.

4. Rasengan.”

Sasuke chose option 4 without hesitation.

For now, mastering the basics of other jutsu was sufficient. He could enhance them later when he had more experience packs.

For now, there was no need to add points.

Buzz!  

In an instant, Sasuke’s body trembled.

A strange sensation washed over him, followed by a deep, soul-penetrating awareness that the Rasengan had reached a state of complete mastery.

[Experience Packs Remaining: 6.]

“Rasengan!”

Sasuke shouted as he raised his right hand. The chakra in his palm quickly formed a perfectly shaped Rasengan, exuding mastery.

+100

The number in front of Sasuke’s eyes jumped significantly, reflecting the profound impact this display had on Jiraiya.

“This…”

Jiraiya looked at the Rasengan in Sasuke’s hand. The control Sasuke demonstrated was far beyond what a beginner could achieve.

If Jiraiya hadn’t personally taught Sasuke and known that the Rasengan was a rare technique, he might have thought Sasuke had been practicing it for years.

“Now…”

Sasuke smirked slightly, his eyes fixed on Jiraiya.

“It’s time for me to show you what a real master can do!”

(End of Chapter)