Chapter 175: Dancing in the Minefield!

“Forget it if you don’t want to.”

Sasuke shook his head lightly, playing an elegant game of hard-to-get.

“I don’t force people.”

*+60*

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes jumped once more.

“I’m willing!”

Jiraiya exclaimed without hesitation, his nerves growing increasingly taut.

“Jiraiya, hand me your notebook.”

Sasuke turned around, his face calm as he looked at Jiraiya. There was no honorific in his tone anymore, just directness.

*+70*

The numbers flickered again in Sasuke’s vision.

If other ninja had witnessed this scene, they’d think Sasuke had lost his mind.

*This is one of the legendary Sannin!*

Yet Sasuke dared to address him by name without formality.

“Yes, Teacher Sasuke!”

Jiraiya immediately bowed deeply to Sasuke.

When it comes to martial arts, seniority matters; the skilled are the teachers.  

As a ninja, Jiraiya would never normally acknowledge another as his master.

Let alone that—

He wouldn’t even consider taking Sasuke as his disciple.

But…

When it comes to writing—

Especially with a touch of “color”—

Jiraiya, after decades of immersion in the craft, realized he was still but a novice.

This boy, who barely seemed old enough to shave, was a true master!

And most importantly…

Sasuke didn’t criticize his “research methods” like others did. Instead—

They…

Actually…

Shared common ground!

Jiraiya, with no hesitation, handed over his notebook to Sasuke.

“Why is this a fresh notebook?”

Sasuke scrutinized the red notebook. It looked similar to the previous one but was entirely blank.

“Well… I figured I’d use it specifically to document my teacher’s works,” Jiraiya replied sheepishly, scratching his head with an awkward chuckle.

“Do you think it could be published?”

Sasuke suddenly fixed Jiraiya with a serious gaze. He had never considered this possibility before.

But now that the thought had occurred—

Why not use this to culturally export to the ninja world?  

Of course—

Export culture with a splash of color.  

“Absolutely!”

Jiraiya’s eyes widened as he nodded fervently, his sincerity unmistakable.

“Teacher, if your works are published, they’ll be bestsellers!”

Jiraiya slapped his chest in assurance. He knew the value of Sasuke’s words better than anyone.

“Good!”

Sasuke nodded, feeling this idea was indeed a masterstroke.

If I became a bestselling author in the ninja world…  

My reputation would skyrocket!  

Not a bad idea at all.

“Jiraiya, I’ll leave the publishing to you. Once I finish writing, I’ll give you the manuscript. You handle the publication, and we’ll split the royalties fifty-fifty.”

Sasuke found such tasks tedious and figured Jiraiya, being a bestselling author himself with established publishing channels, could save him a lot of trouble.

“Teacher, how can I take your royalties?”

Jiraiya waved his hands frantically, hesitating before finally speaking up.

“Teacher, I have just one request—I want to be the first reader of your novel and hope to keep the original manuscript as a collection.”

Jiraiya’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

The original manuscript—

The first draft—

This is the raw material of a writer’s creative process.

Extremely precious.

Jiraiya, who cherished his own manuscripts deeply, had never sold them.

Thus…

When he made this request, his heart was full of trepidation.

Not only was he afraid Sasuke would refuse, but he also worried he might come across as too forward.

“Fine.”

Sasuke replied without expression.

*+80*

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision soared again.

“Wonderful!”

Jiraiya nearly leaped with excitement, his mind still dwelling on the two stories he had read earlier.

“Teacher.”

“I have one small question.”

“Are you really only going to write two chapters a day?”

Jiraiya grinned, thoroughly captivated by the stories and eager to read more.

“There’s no need to make it so tedious.”

Sasuke shook his head, picked up his pen, and opened the first page of the notebook.

“I’ll write the entire book for you today, and you can take care of the publishing.”

With that, Sasuke immediately started writing, his pen moving swiftly across the blank pages.

Scratch, scratch, scratch…  

The sound of pen meeting paper filled the room as word after word appeared on the page.

*+90*

The numbers leaped again before Sasuke’s eyes.

“Writing the entire book?!”

Jiraiya swallowed hard. He was now utterly convinced he had chosen the right mentor.

Teacher Sasuke’s knowledge was immense!

However—

Considering Sasuke’s young age, this level of talent was astonishing. Truly a genius!

No wonder he’s from the Uchiha clan!  

Every member seemed to have unparalleled gifts.

Sasuke’s pen moved at incredible speed.

Page after page filled with intricate and fascinating stories.

Minutes turned into hours.

After two or three hours, Sasuke was still writing at full tilt.

Jiraiya, watching from the side, was increasingly awed.

This is what it means to be an author!  

Bursting with inspiration.  

Overflowing with creativity.  

This wasn’t just talent; it was mastery.

Jiraiya kept his eyes fixed on Sasuke, deeply inspired by his dedication to the craft.

*+50*

At this moment—

Sasuke was earnestly transcribing stories he had read so many times he could recite them in his sleep.

Suddenly, the system’s numbers popped up again.

This counts as showing off?  

Well—

If the system says so, then it does!  

Getting points was always good!

Sasuke didn’t dwell on it and continued writing at high speed. The book was almost finished.

Of course—

The story’s protagonist had been changed.

It wasn’t the same as the ones he had read before. The original names lacked resonance in the ninja world.

Instead, Sasuke aimed to write a series—

Just like Jiraiya’s books!

Jiraiya’s works featured Nagato as the protagonist in the first part, and Naruto in the later parts.

Sasuke felt he couldn’t use these names.

Thus—

He came up with a fitting protagonist.

Ōtsutsuki Shajin!

Sasuke’s series would center around this character.

An endless flow of stories—

With an immovable Ōtsutsuki Shajin as the main character!

“It’s done!”

Sasuke set down his pen after completing the final word, letting out a breath of relief.

*+50*

As soon as Sasuke spoke, the system rewarded him with more points.

“So fast?!”

Jiraiya was utterly stunned. He was now completely entranced by Teacher Sasuke’s genius.

“Jiraiya.”

Sasuke handed the red notebook to him.

“There are two stories in here.”

“The first is about the young Ōtsutsuki Shajin.”

“The second is about Shajin’s wife.”

“Read them, then get them published as two separate books.”

“I want to create an Ōtsutsuki Shajin series.”

Sasuke explained.

The first story was an adaptation of Brother Bin’s tale.

The second story was inspired by Sister Bai’s, but the protagonist was modified to become Shajin’s wife.

Of course—

She needed a name.

Sasuke decided to call her Ōtsutsuki Shako.

With both short stories completed—

*+100*

The system rewarded Sasuke with more points.

“Yes, Teacher!”

---

Jiraiya immediately grabbed the notebook in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure, treating it with extreme care.

"Teacher, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to my room now!"

Jiraiya was already itching with anticipation.

A moment ago, he had been ready to spring into action, only to be held back.

Now that he was free, he couldn’t wait to dive in and immerse himself in the excitement!

Two stories!

Plenty to enjoy!

Jiraiya was already feeling a bit impatient.

"Don’t rush."

Sasuke spoke calmly, his tone tinged with a faint disapproval. He could clearly see Jiraiya’s eagerness, and he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

He’s one of the legendary Sannin, after all.

Can’t he at least try to hide his excitement a little?

That expression, that demeanor...

It’s just too much!

"Huh?!"

Jiraiya froze, his enthusiasm immediately dampened.

"Is there... something else you need?"

His expression became somewhat awkward; all he wanted now was to return to his room as soon as possible.

But...

It was clearly the teacher’s order.

Jiraiya had no choice but to silently wait for Sasuke to continue.

"Bring me another notebook," Sasuke said, his tone still calm. The words made Jiraiya’s expression change once again.

+50

The number before Sasuke’s eyes abruptly jumped upward.

"Teacher, you’re not planning to write another one, are you?!"

Jiraiya’s eyes widened in disbelief, his shock reaching new heights.

What dedication!

He just finished writing two books.

And now he’s going to keep going?!

What kind of work ethic is this? It’s practically mass production!

"No," Sasuke replied, shaking his head slightly. Then, with a faint, mischievous smile, he added, "I’m going to draw a manga."

+50

The number before Sasuke’s eyes jumped again.

"A manga?!"

Jiraiya’s eyes grew even wider, his pupils contracting in surprise. He never imagined that his teacher had such a hidden talent.

There were manga in the ninja world, of course, but the industry was still underdeveloped, and most works were created by hobbyists in their spare time.

Like Sai, for instance.

"That’s right, a manga. Bring me a new notebook, and I’ll adapt the two novels I just wrote into manga."

Sasuke’s mind was clear—he needed to take advantage of his unique skills and fully capitalize on intellectual property development in this chaotic ninja era.

+50

The number before Sasuke’s eyes jumped once more.

"I... I understand!"

Jiraiya’s eyes sparkled with sudden realization.

To visualize it!

That would make the story so much more vivid!

Amazing!

The teacher is truly a genius!

"I’ll be right back!"

Jiraiya left those words behind and darted out of the room at lightning speed, heading toward his own quarters.

Notebooks.

He had plenty of them!

Bringing out a few wouldn’t be an issue at all!

Sasuke truly was a genius.

Jiraiya had never considered turning his works into illustrations before.

Of course, even if he had...

He couldn’t draw them!

Jiraiya quickly returned to his room, grabbed four or five notebooks, and dashed back to Sasuke’s room, eager to see what would unfold.

Manga!

To Jiraiya, this was an entirely new and exciting extension of creative work.

The novels in his hands suddenly didn’t seem quite as appealing.

When Jiraiya read Sasuke’s novels, he often imagined vivid scenes in his head.

But...

Nothing compared to the direct impact of seeing those scenes in a manga!

Soon, Jiraiya was back in Sasuke’s room, dumping the notebooks onto the desk in one go.

"Teacher, I brought these for now. If they’re not enough, I’ll grab more!"

Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head while his eyes shone with a wolfish hunger, practically drooling with excitement.

"These will do!"

Sasuke picked up one of the notebooks, flipping through it.

This one was blank—perfect for drawing.

Taking a deep breath, Sasuke recalled the techniques he had learned from various teachers in the past. With a steady hand, he began to draw.

The "Phoenix Hand" technique allowed him to bring the vivid images in his mind to life.

For Jiraiya, reading the novel required considerable imagination to piece the story together. The visuals weren’t always clear.

But for Sasuke, who had seen countless anime and manga, it was a breeze.

The first manga began to take shape: *The Fantastic Journey of Ōtsutsuki Sheren.*

Scene after scene came to life on the pages, beautifully detailed and incredibly vivid.

+100

The number before Sasuke’s eyes jumped sharply again.

"This..."

Jiraiya stared, wide-eyed, as Sasuke’s pen brought characters and scenes to life—perfectly capturing the essence of the novels.

The character of Ōtsutsuki Sheren...

He looked exactly as if he had stepped straight out of an anime!

Of course, in this world, his legend hadn’t yet spread.

"These..."

Jiraiya’s eyes burned as he watched the manga pages come to life.

Amazing!

Absolutely amazing!

His teacher was truly extraordinary.

Such depth of understanding!

Such flawless pacing!

Such mastery!

When the chapter ended with Ōtsutsuki Sheren firing a shot that struck the heroine, bringing the tale to a dramatic conclusion, Jiraiya couldn’t contain himself.

+100

Sasuke had just finished the first chapter of the manga, and another number appeared before his eyes.

"Teacher, you’re incredible!"

Jiraiya couldn’t help but give Sasuke a big thumbs-up. He was beyond impressed, his admiration immeasurable.

Genius!

Master!

As Jiraiya marveled, Sasuke put down his pen, stretched his arms, and turned to him.

"Jiraiya."

"Manga requires a lot of pages."

"From what I can tell, one notebook should hold about three chapters."

"I’ve decided: the novels will be released first."

"After the full novels have been available for some time..."

"The manga will be serialized, three chapters per volume."

"Any objections?"

Sasuke laid out his plans. He wasn’t sure if releasing the manga would generate more points from readers, but even if it didn’t...

It sounded fun!

After all, being a transmigrator was about enjoying life.

To shape the ninja world’s culture in his own way—what could be more interesting?

+100

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes jumped again as he finished explaining his plan.

"Teacher, you’re a genius!"

Jiraiya gave another enthusiastic thumbs-up. He had never thought of such an approach before.

Novels first.

Then manga.

Genius!

Absolute genius!

"But..."

"I do have one concern."

"If the entire novel is already published..."

"Wouldn’t that remove the suspense?"

"Wouldn’t it hurt the manga’s sales?"

Jiraiya, after a moment of awe, raised a valid concern. He genuinely wanted to help Sasuke succeed.

"It won’t."

Sasuke shook his head confidently, stood up, and stretched again.

"Novels and manga are entirely different mediums."

"A novel’s medium is text."

"A manga’s medium is visuals."

"They’re completely distinct styles!"

"If the manga and novel are released simultaneously, the visually superior manga would overshadow the novel."

"However..."

"If readers finish the novel first, they’ll form a loyal fanbase. Those fans will embrace the manga when it’s released."

"This strategy is called building an IP."

Sasuke introduced a concept that Jiraiya didn’t understand but didn’t bother to explain further.

It was just a clever idea that had come to him.

In this ninja world, he would create a lasting legacy—an IP centered around *Ōtsutsuki Sheren*.

+100

As Sasuke concluded, the numbers before his eyes jumped again, rewarding his innovative thinking.

So far, so good!

Sasuke had already gained a significant number of system points from Jiraiya.

"Teacher, so now..."

Jiraiya trailed off, noticing that Sasuke had stopped drawing. He wanted to seize the opportunity to return to his own room.

---

Just now, I finished reading an entire chapter of the manga.

Uncontrollable growth surged within me—I need to vent this energy somehow!

“When can you deliver this book to the publisher?”

Sasuke asked directly, hitting the nail on the head. He couldn’t afford to linger here for too long.

The mission to approach Jiraiya had already been successfully completed.

Now, with just a few more steps to pave the way, wherever Sasuke went, Jiraiya would inevitably follow.

It was as if he had successfully recruited a loyal companion!

“Tomorrow!”

Jiraiya confidently promised, giving his word without hesitation.

“The publisher is in Nagano Town!”

Wait, what?

Sasuke froze for a moment.

So that’s why Jiraiya was so fond of staying here.

It was the perfect place—ideal for gathering material and conveniently close to the publisher.

Truly a sacred haven!

“All right then, just make sure you go to the publisher tomorrow,” Sasuke said with a wave of his hand, motioning for Jiraiya to leave. As he did so, he casually stretched his back and neck.

Come to think of it...

Writing a book really isn’t for everyone!

And he’d only been writing for a short while, yet his entire body was sore!

Sasuke was ready to open his system interface to add some points when he noticed that Jiraiya hadn’t left yet.

“Jiraiya, is there something else you need?”

Sasuke glanced at Jiraiya with a look of mild confusion, his expression calm and cold, giving off an air of aloofness.

At this moment, in Jiraiya’s eyes, Sasuke radiated an aura.

He seemed larger than life—a figure of immense talent and charm.

“Uh, teacher... would it be okay if I took the manga with me, too?”

Jiraiya asked hesitantly.

This was a rare treasure, after all. If he could take it with him...

The combination of visuals and storytelling was an immersive, multi-dimensional experience!

“No.”

Sasuke rejected the idea without a trace of negotiation in his tone.

“I’ve only drawn one chapter of the manga. I need to finish three chapters before I can give it to you.”

Sasuke’s cold gaze bore into Jiraiya.

To be honest, whether Jiraiya had the manga or not didn’t really matter.

After all, it wouldn’t be published until the novel had been out for some time.

However...

Sasuke felt that giving Jiraiya the manga now might somehow mess up the layout.

And if that happened, how would he continue drawing?

It was better to wait until the whole thing was finished.

By then, Jiraiya could do whatever he wanted with it.

+100

Sasuke’s unwavering stance caused his system points to increase once again.

“Understood,” Jiraiya said, nodding with a face full of regret.

Since there was no way to take the manga with him, he could only hold onto the novel in his hands and leave.

After Jiraiya left, the room fell into a tranquil silence.

“I really didn’t expect to be writing novels and drawing manga in the shinobi world. Thinking about it, it’s actually pretty interesting!”

Sasuke felt as if he’d opened a new door for himself.

It was like discovering a whole new continent—endlessly fascinating.

“In this chaotic shinobi world, you’ve got to find some entertainment. Otherwise, it’s just endless scheming and fighting, and that would be far too dull!”

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, propping his feet up on the table and resting his hands behind his head, gazing out at the setting sun through the window.

“I wonder if my name will become another legend in the shinobi world.”

“No, wait!”

“Not many people might even know my name. Most readers just care about how good the book is, not who the brilliant author behind it is.”

“In fact...”

“The author might not even be as famous as the characters in the book!”

“If that’s the case...”

“The legend I’m creating isn’t about me, Uchiha Sasuke, but about the main characters in my novels!”

“Ōtsutsuki Toneri!”

Sasuke’s lips curled into a subtle smile. He thought his logic was flawless. As for why he chose Toneri as the protagonist of his novel?

Don’t ask.

Sasuke was a devoted fan of Wu Di!

The world might forget Danzo, but it would never forget Toneri!

To our friends on the moon—don’t worry, we Earthlings are very hospitable!

“Come to think of it, writing novels is exhausting. I never noticed while reading; I was too busy demanding updates. Now that Jiraiya’s been nagging me, I finally understand how hard it is for authors!”

Sasuke stood up and stretched his joints.

“Especially those authors who update daily!”

“You have my respect!”

“I get it now!”

“I, Sasuke, hereby beg for votes on behalf of all the authors out there!”

After muttering to himself for a while, Sasuke opened his system panel.

*Current System Points: 3,255*

“Not bad!”

Sasuke noted that his system points were increasing steadily.

At this rate, he’d easily accumulate over 10,000 points before returning to Konoha.

That was a solid gain!

He added a point to his Focus attribute.

The act of writing had drained his mental energy.

Even though he knew the plot, actually writing it down—choosing the right words and structuring the story—was an entirely different challenge.

Buzz!  

Sasuke suddenly felt a wave of clarity and mental refreshment, his exhaustion melting away. His spirits were now fully restored.

“Back to full power!”

After recovering, Sasuke decided to write two more books as a buffer for the future. He knew he wouldn’t always have this much free time.

Grabbing his pen, he began scribbling away.

---

---

"I want all these balloons," Sasuke repeated, his tone calm and emotionless as if he were stating a fact.

+21

The number before Sasuke's eyes jumped again.

An increase of just one point.

It had been a while since Sasuke had seen a one-point gain.

It seemed...

The identity of the person witnessing the act of showing off also determined the level of the gain.

Dealing with a simple balloon vendor? Earning even one point from that was decent enough for Sasuke at this stage.

"Kid, are you messing with me?"

The vendor's tone soured. It was early morning, and he had just set up his stall—only to encounter a potential troublemaker before making a single sale.

"I said, I want all of them," Sasuke repeated yet again, certain he was being clear.

+22

The number before Sasuke's eyes jumped once more.

"Do you even know how much all these balloons cost?"

The vendor glared at Sasuke, clearly annoyed. If Sasuke weren’t a kid, the vendor might’ve said much harsher words.

"I don’t know," Sasuke replied coolly, shaking his head with an expression that was infuriatingly indifferent.

+23

Another increase in the number flashed before Sasuke's eyes.

"Hah! You don’t know, yet you talk big?"

The vendor rolled his eyes and didn’t bother to say more, finding it a waste of energy.

"Then just give me a number," Sasuke replied, keeping his gaze fixed on the vendor, continuing his deliberate, showy act. Even a small gain was still a gain, after all.

+24

The number climbed again.

"Each balloon here is 15 yen. I’ve got about 3,000 balloons in total, so that comes to 45,000 yen. You say you want them all? Then show me the money!"

The vendor spread his palms mockingly, a smirk tugging at his lips. His expression was full of ridicule, as if waiting to see Sasuke embarrass himself.

"Alright," Sasuke responded, reaching into his pocket.

The vendor’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, watching Sasuke’s movement. But then, his smirk deepened—Sasuke’s pocket was flat.

Digging for money? Who was this kid trying to fool?

Let’s see how you wriggle out of this one, kid!

But then.

When Sasuke pulled his hand out of his pocket, a wallet had inexplicably appeared in his grasp.

The wallet was stuffed—visibly bulging with contents.

This was one of Sasuke’s many wallets.

He was wealthy now—not with funds from the Uchiha clan, but from the hidden rock ninja he had looted during a nighttime raid alongside Kakashi.

All that money? Now his private stash.

+25

The sight of Sasuke pulling out the wallet immediately drew the attention of bystanders.

After all, the vendor had been pretty loud.

In front of the crowd, Sasuke opened the wallet, revealing a stack of bills.

"10,000."

He pulled out a single 10,000-yen note and placed it on the vendor's counter.

+26

As soon as the money hit the table, the number before Sasuke’s eyes increased again.

The crowd collectively gasped, their eyes fixed on the young man.

This kid didn’t just look young.

He was loaded.

And... he was pretty handsome, too.

"20,000," Sasuke said, casually laying down another bill.

+26

All eyes were glued to Sasuke's every move.

"30,000," he said, placing a third bill on the counter.

+27

"40,000."

He continued, placing yet another bill down.

+28

Finally, Sasuke rummaged through his wallet, carefully pulling out a 5,000-yen bill from amidst the thick stack of 10,000-yen notes.

"Originally," he began, "if you’d sold me the balloons right away without all this nonsense, I’d have given you 50,000.

"Too much money makes it annoying to dig through, after all.

"But now... you’re only getting 45,000."

With that, Sasuke placed the final 5,000-yen bill on the counter.

+29

The number in Sasuke’s vision ticked upward again.

A wave of exclamations erupted from the crowd.

This wasn’t just about buying balloons for 45,000 yen anymore.

This kid was clearly rich!

"Good, good, good..."

The vendor’s face lit up instantly, his earlier irritation vanishing as he began packing up all the balloons. Nearly 3,000 balloons—even deflated, they still took up an enormous bag.

"See you," Sasuke said simply, taking the bag and turning to leave without a backward glance.

+30

Another jump in the numbers. The act of showing off had ended on a satisfying note.

He wandered further down the street.

At a quiet, secluded alley, Sasuke turned and walked in.

It wasn’t wise to use his personal storage space for the balloons in a crowded area.

Once inside, Sasuke willed the large bag of balloons into his private storage dimension.

Just as he was about to leave, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the alley.

The steps were deliberate, unhidden.

Sasuke turned to face three young thugs, each around twenty, exuding an air of mischief.

"Ha... Hands up!"

The leader stammered as he pulled out a knife, pointing its gleaming blade at Sasuke.

"Are you robbing me of money or something else?"

Sasuke smirked, his tone mocking.

+30

The numbers flickered upward.

Sasuke hadn't expected this.

It seemed flaunting wealth really did attract attention.

As long as you have money, you'll become a target!

An innocent man may be faultless, but possessing treasures is his crime!  

Wait a moment...

Sasuke's eyes lit up slightly.

It seems...

I'll have to flaunt my wealth more often in the future!

"R-Rob... rob your mom..."

The leader of the young thugs stammered with difficulty, but before he could finish, Sasuke interrupted.

"Now that's something you can't rob."

Sasuke shook his head calmly, spreading his hands as if expressing regret.

*+31*

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes flickered again.

"I said... rob your mom!"

The leader's face flushed red as he forced out the words. Yet, before he could finish, Sasuke cut him off again.

"You really can't rob that."

Sasuke looked at him seriously, spreading his hands again in apparent helplessness.

*+32*

The numbers in Sasuke's vision jumped once more.

"Boss, stop messing with this kid!" one of the other youths couldn't take it anymore.

"N-No... I have to... I have to say it!"

The leader, face turning even redder, pointed his gleaming knife at Sasuke.

"R-Rob... rob your mom's honor..."

Before he could finish, Sasuke's expression darkened.

"My mother passed away a long time ago, but I can't let you insult her like this. Can't you just live properly? Do you have to tempt fate like this?" Sasuke's voice turned cold.

*+33*

The numbers in Sasuke's vision rose again.

"Shut up!"

The leader looked exhausted but still waved his knife around.

"R-Rob... your mom’s... honor... Damn it... I mean your money!"

The leader finally managed to get the words out, exhaling deeply in relief.

"If it’s money you want, I have none. If it's my life, take it."

Sasuke crossed his arms, his stance clearly saying, Do whatever you want.  

*+34*

Suddenly...

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes rose again.

"Y-You’re... facing death and still acting cocky..."

The leader, irritated by Sasuke's indifferent attitude, grew increasingly frustrated, especially after being repeatedly interrupted earlier.

No way!

This kid!

Doesn’t know his place!

I’ll have to make him bleed...

Make him understand why flowers are red!

With that thought, the leader gripped his knife tightly and lunged at Sasuke with all his strength, aiming for his neck.

But then...

Something shocking happened.

Sasuke just stood there. Unmoving. Not dodging. His demeanor screamed, Do whatever you like.  

*+35*

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes jumped again.

The leader’s eyes turned bloodshot as he gritted his teeth, glaring at Sasuke.

Is this kid suicidal?  

He decided he couldn’t outright kill Sasuke just yet.

He adjusted the angle of his knife slightly, aiming for Sasuke’s arm instead.

Swish!  

The knife slashed across Sasuke’s arm...

But there was no sensation of piercing flesh.

No resistance at all.

It felt like slicing through thin air.

Buzz... crackle...  

A faint electrical sound came from Sasuke’s arm, but by the time the leader looked again, the arm had already returned to normal.

*+40*

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes surged again.

In that moment...

Sasuke’s body passively activated a lightning transformation.

He was completely immune to physical attacks, and any damage instantly healed.

This sight left the other two youths wide-eyed, their faces filled with shock.

"Did I miss?"

The leader’s mind filled with doubt as he raised the knife again, stabbing at Sasuke’s folded arms.

Buzz... crackle...  

The knife passed right through Sasuke’s body and emerged on the other side, with no resistance at all.

At the same time...

The spot where the knife pierced Sasuke glowed faintly, encircled by crackling lightning.

*+50*

The numbers in Sasuke’s vision leaped dramatically.

The three young thugs stared at Sasuke, their eyes brimming with disbelief.

"I already told you."

Sasuke’s calm voice echoed, accompanied by a sharp, birdlike chirping of electricity.

In an instant...

Sasuke’s entire body transformed into twisting, crackling lightning.

The lightning expanded outward, filling the alleyway and completely engulfing the three thugs.

"You’re dancing in a lightning field."

---

(End of Chapter)