101-105

Chapter 101: I Don’t Care About Him at All (Part 2)

---

*Somewhere.*

By the river.

Two men wearing black cloaks embroidered with red clouds stood silently along the riverbank, one ahead of the other. Neither spoke as they quietly gazed at the rippling water, lost in thought.

These two were Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame.

Shh...shh...shh...  

Just then, a plant-like figure emerged from the ground, their orange eyes fixed on the duo standing nearby.

“Any orders from the boss?” Kisame asked calmly.

“Not from the boss,” came White Zetsu’s reply. “Uchiha Sasuke has left the Hidden Leaf Village on a mission.”

Whoosh!  

At that moment, a cold glint flashed through the eyes of the figure standing by the river.

Kisame glanced at Itachi’s back, as if reading his inner turmoil.

“Do we know why? And who’s with him?” Kisame asked on Itachi’s behalf.

“It might be related to unrest at the Land of Fire’s border,” White Zetsu answered. “The team is heading towards the Land of Earth. It consists of three Genin and one Jonin.”

“Itachi-san?” Kisame turned to Itachi, waiting for his decision.

“Who’s the Jonin?” Itachi’s voice was calm and devoid of emotion.

“Taijutsu specialist Might Guy,” Black Zetsu interjected. “Strong and reliable—an excellent leader.”

“What’s the plan, Itachi-san?” Kisame inquired.

“We still lack intelligence on the Four-Tails Jinchuriki in Iwagakure. I’ll handle it personally. Zetsu, inform the boss,” Itachi replied lightly.

“I’ll join you, Itachi-san,” Kisame said with a grin, his sharp teeth glinting. He saw through Itachi’s facade—it was clear he was worried but pretended not to care.

“Alright,” Zetsu nodded and slipped back into the ground, disappearing.

“Itachi-san, are you planning to meet your brother during the mission?” Kisame asked curiously.

“No, I don’t care about him at all. I’m just going to complete the mission,” Itachi replied without a trace of emotion.

“Understood.” Kisame didn’t press further.

---

Meanwhile, Sasuke and Team Guy had been running all morning. Sasuke’s physical stats had improved by nearly 20 points.

“Sasuke, are you tired? Do you want to take a break?” Tenten hesitated for a moment before asking with concern.

“I’m fine.” Sasuke shook his head. After boosting his physical stats, he felt more energetic than ever.

+5  

A faint number appeared in Sasuke’s mind. However, the increase was small, and he didn’t feel like continuing his act for now.

“Hmph, always pretending to be tough!”

Tenten rolled her eyes at Sasuke, then glanced ahead at Guy.

“Guy-sensei, could you slow down a bit? We’ve been running all morning—let’s take a break!” Tenten’s tone carried a hint of complaint.

“Tenten, are you already tired? You need to train harder!” Lee said cheerfully, unfazed by the run due to his taijutsu training.

“Leave me alone!” Tenten retorted. To her, Lee was an unyielding blockhead.

“Tenten, Sasuke seems fine to me,” Neji’s cold voice came from behind, with a tinge of sarcasm. He had been watching Sasuke closely and couldn’t hide his amazement.

Sasuke seemed to get tired quickly—but every time Neji thought Sasuke was about to collapse, he miraculously recovered.

One moment Sasuke seemed drained, the next he was full of energy again.

Neji couldn’t take it anymore.

He convinced himself that Sasuke was deliberately putting on a show to mock him after their recent duel.

Neji was frustrated, but there was nothing he could do.

---

“Neji, what’s with you? Sasuke’s new to our team, and this pace might be too much for him,” Tenten chided, feeling Neji was less gentlemanly than she had thought.

“I’m really fine. No need to worry about me,” Sasuke said coolly. He could keep running indefinitely with his system’s stat boosts, even if it meant outlasting everyone else on the team.

+10  

Another number appeared in Sasuke’s mind. The system rewarded him with more points for turning down Tenten’s concerns repeatedly.

This must be the power of being an Uchiha!

He’d never admit to cheating—after all, it was all thanks to his superior bloodline.

“Tenten’s right. Let’s rest here for half an hour,” Guy suddenly announced.

The team stopped in their tracks, taking out water bottles and snacks to replenish their energy for the journey ahead.

“Sasuke, aren’t you eating anything?” Tenten asked, holding out a bag of soldier pills.

“No, I’m fine,” Sasuke replied.

+5  

Once again, rejecting Tenten’s offer was interpreted by the system as showing off.

So… was rejecting people continuously the key to success?

“You’re so stubborn!” Tenten huffed, stomping her foot. She wanted to force-feed Sasuke the soldier pills but couldn’t bring herself to mar his handsome face.

“Tenten, are you free?” Sasuke suddenly asked, his dark eyes locking onto hers and making her heart race.

“H-huh? What do you mean?” Tenten stammered, worried he was about to scold her.

“If you’re not busy, could you teach me how to throw kunai properly?” Sasuke said earnestly. He used to dismiss kunai throwing as unimportant, but mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique had changed his perspective.

“Wha—?!”

Tenten’s surprised exclamation caught the attention of the rest of Team Guy.

Guy, Lee, and Neji all turned to look at her, confusion written across their faces.

What had happened?

Tenten blushed deeply, interpreting Sasuke’s request as a way of getting closer to her.

---

(To be continued)

*Chapter 102: Essential Ninja Supplement – Soldier Pills! (Part 3)*

Tenten shyly glanced at Sasuke. His handsome face made her feel a bit flustered, prompting her to quickly lower her head.

What’s going on?  

Sasuke wants to learn weapon-throwing from me?  

That reason feels so contrived!

“Phew!”

Tenten took a deep breath, trying hard to calm her chaotic feelings.

Actually...

The time at Ichiraku Ramen wasn’t their first meeting.

Once, when Tenten was training in a small forest, she had seen Sasuke practicing his shuriken-throwing technique.

One throw after another.

Clang! Clang! Every single one hit different bullseyes with pinpoint accuracy.

It was impressive—and, honestly, a bit of a show-off move.

Just as Tenten was about to applaud, Sasuke walked away with a swagger, looking utterly cool and aloof.

Back then, she didn’t feel much—just thought, What’s up with this guy? Why so dramatic?  

But now, looking at him...

So handsome!  

In her mind, Tenten had completely chalked up Sasuke’s request to learn weapon-throwing as an excuse to strike up a conversation with her.

“I’m serious, of course,” Sasuke said with a nod. He genuinely wanted to learn—after all, he couldn’t keep throwing kunai randomly forever.

“You... I... uh...” Tenten’s face turned as red as a tomato, and her words became jumbled.

“???” Sasuke looked at Tenten, his head filling with question marks.

“I... I...” Tenten suddenly grew hesitant. She couldn’t decide whether to teach him or not, her emotions swirling in a complex mess.

“...” Sasuke was speechless. What is going on? I don’t get it at all!  

Suddenly...

At that moment—

Guy Sensei stood up abruptly, striking several energetic poses in succession, his whole being radiating vitality.

“It’s about time! Let’s keep moving and get the intel to the frontlines quickly!” Guy announced loudly.

“Right! We must seize the moments of youth!” Lee mirrored Guy’s pose.

Neji silently stood up, saying nothing, his body language practically screaming, I don’t know these two.  

“Yeah, let’s move. No more delays!” Tenten hurriedly jumped up, using Guy’s words as an excuse to flee.

Even she didn’t know why she wanted to run.

She really wanted to talk more with Sasuke, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Her nerves were completely overwhelming.

When Sasuke had rejected her before, she found him stubborn. But now that Sasuke was the one reaching out to her, she didn’t know how to respond.

What’s wrong with me? Why am I like this?  

Tenten silently cursed her own lack of courage, but she still quickly ran to Guy’s side, ready to continue their journey.

Sasuke stared blankly at the fleeing Tenten, utterly confused.

What just happened? Did I scare her off? Why does this feel like I did something wrong?  

“Let’s move out!” Guy Sensei gave Sasuke a meaningful look, though even he didn’t fully grasp what had just transpired.

And so—

Team Guy, now a group of five, resumed their journey, moving at high speed toward the borders of the Land of Fire.

This time...

Tenten avoided talking to Sasuke altogether, deliberately keeping some distance between them.

Weird!  

Sasuke didn’t overthink it—he just felt Tenten was acting strange and focused on the rhythm of their rapid travel.

Time passed minute by minute.

Before anyone realized it, night had fallen.

The five of them had been running non-stop all afternoon, without a single break.

They’re all stamina freaks! Sasuke marveled internally. With his current B-level physique, running until nightfall still cost him significant stamina—he probably lost about 20 points today!

Suddenly—

Guy Sensei came to a halt.

“We’ll rest here for half an hour before transitioning to night travel,” Guy announced loudly.

“Yes, sir!”

Everyone, Sasuke included, responded in unison. Even Team Guy’s members seemed tired.

And so—

They all stopped to take a well-deserved break.

Sasuke leaned against a tree, preparing to open his system panel. He intended to allocate 1 point to his Physical attribute and check on his progress after a full day of travel.

"Sasuke, have a soldier pill. Your physical endurance is impressive, but you've been running all day—you need to replenish your energy!"

Tenten approached Sasuke again, holding a large, deep brown pill. It was hefty and substantial in size.

"Thank you."

This time, Sasuke didn’t refuse. He took the soldier pill from Tenten.

She was right.

After traveling like this all day, even he had to be tired.

Even Guy-sensei was worn out; Sasuke couldn't keep pretending otherwise. It wouldn't make sense!

Without hesitation, Sasuke popped the soldier pill into his mouth.

The pill melted instantly like a sugar ball, spreading a comforting warmth in his stomach that dispelled both hunger and fatigue.

In an instant, Sasuke felt all his exhaustion vanish, and even his chakra reserves were restored.

So that’s how it works!

Sasuke immediately understood why Team Guy always seemed so relentless and why ninja could travel for such long distances without rest.

Soldier pills.

These things really existed!

Although one pill couldn’t compare to enhancing his stats through the system, it still restored a significant amount of stamina and chakra, extending his sprinting capacity.

"You… you should rest for a bit!"

Tenten, seeing Sasuke eat the pill, felt relieved. But when she looked at his handsome face, she suddenly became flustered and scurried away.

"???"

Sasuke was about to thank her, but she ran off before he could say anything.

What was that about?

He genuinely couldn’t understand.

Still, he didn’t dwell on it. He really did need a break.

Even though the system could restore his body and spirit to peak condition, staring at trees all day while running had left his mind numb.

He opened his system panel.

*Current System Points: 174*

Next, Sasuke opened the *Attributes* menu, mainly to check on his Speed and Physical stats.

*Attributes:*

- *Spirit:* B (49/500)

- *Physical:* B (76/500)

- *Illusion:* E (2/100)

- *Ninjutsu:* B (0/500)

- *Strength:* B (176/500)

- *Speed:* D (87/200)

After reviewing his stats, Sasuke focused on Speed and Physical.

Today’s travel had increased his Speed stat by around 30 points, effectively turning it into a dedicated speed-training session.

It would take about three days to reach the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.

By then, his Speed stat might hit *C-rank*.

Not bad!

Sasuke felt vindicated in his decision to wear weighted gear. It was proving incredibly effective for building his physical abilities.

“Time to move on. Traveling at night will be slower than during the day, so we’ll camp around midnight,” Guy announced as he stood up, surveying the group before focusing on Sasuke and giving him a reassuring nod.

"Sasuke, if you have any issues along the way, let me know immediately. We can figure out a solution together."

As the team’s only Jonin and strongest member, Guy knew he had to look after everyone.

“I understand. Thank you, Guy-sensei,” Sasuke replied, suddenly realizing that beneath the over-the-top youthfulness, this eccentric man was actually quite thoughtful.

“Well then…”

Guy raised one arm dramatically, clenching his fist as if his eyes were ablaze with passion.

“Time to ignite the flames of youth with a night run!”

---

*Chapter 103: "I’m Here!" (Part 4)*

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison, quickly standing up, maintaining their formation, and continuing forward on their journey.

Sasuke observed everything closely.

*Team Guy* was indeed well-trained!

After all, they had graduated from the ninja academy a year ago. By the time they participated in the Chunin Exams, they were already seasoned—not like the still-intern-like Team 7.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

Under the cover of night, the five members of Team Guy moved swiftly through the forest.

The forest at night was vastly different from during the day. It was filled with the sounds of wild beasts, and many nocturnal animals were out hunting.

Visibility in the darkness was extremely low. Each leap from branch to branch tested the fundamental skills of every ninja.

No one spoke during the night journey.

Sasuke recalled from the textbooks at the academy:

The darker the night, the less noise one should make. Any sound could reveal your position, turning you into a target for wild animals or other ninjas.

As he moved through the forest, Sasuke discovered knowledge beyond what was in the textbooks.

For instance, traveling on tree branches was not just about conserving energy—it also effectively avoided encounters with ground-dwelling beasts, reducing unnecessary trouble.

Experience had to be accumulated in the field; books couldn’t teach everything.

Time ticked by, second by second.

In the silent forest, the others only heard the wind and the growls of animals. But in Sasuke’s mind, a constant "ding-ding" sound echoed.

Before he realized it, midnight had arrived.

Guy stopped abruptly without making a sound, and the rest of the team instinctively halted in perfect sync.

"From now on, we stop traveling. Everyone will take turns keeping watch for two hours. Rest and recover your energy," Guy said softly.

"Yes!" Team Guy responded in unison, their voices low. Sasuke alone remained silent.

"Tenten, you’ll take the first watch. Wake me up in two hours. Lee will go third, Neji fourth, and Sasuke will take the last watch," Guy assigned the watch order, placing the first and last shifts with Tenten and Sasuke, respectively.

This arrangement gave both of them the best chance to rest.

Tenten just needed to stay up a bit later, and then she could sleep soundly. Sasuke, on the other hand, only had to wake up early.

It was clear that Guy was looking out for them.

"Sensei, I object!"

To everyone's surprise, Sasuke spoke up.

+5  

The system registered Sasuke's bold declaration as "showing off," and his points jumped up.

Suddenly, all eyes were on Sasuke, filled with curiosity and confusion.

"Sasuke, you’ve been given the last watch. What more could you want? Don’t tell me you’re trying to avoid taking watch altogether?" Neji said with irritation. He had been displeased with Sasuke the entire journey.

"Sasuke, if you prefer, I can take the last watch instead. That way, you can rest better," Tenten offered kindly.

Lee, ever the optimist, seemed indifferent. He didn’t mind however things were arranged.

"Sasuke, what are you suggesting?" Guy asked directly.

"You’ve all been traveling all day. You should rest. I’ll take responsibility for keeping watch the entire night," Sasuke said earnestly.

+20  

For a moment, everyone was stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"Sasuke, that’s not funny," Tenten said sternly. "You haven’t rested much all day, and there’s more traveling tomorrow. If you stay up all night, your body won’t hold up."

"Hah! If you’re so eager, go ahead!" Neji sneered, clearly unimpressed by what he saw as Sasuke's bravado.

"You’re amazing, Sasuke!" Lee exclaimed, genuinely impressed. He truly believed in Sasuke's stamina and capability.

"Absolutely not!" Guy rejected the idea outright. There was no way he’d let Sasuke stay up all night.

"Sensei, do you know why the Third Hokage assigned me to your team?" Sasuke suddenly asked, a sly smile curling on his lips.

+10  

The system registered another boost in points.

"What do you mean?"

Guy was momentarily stunned. He had tried to understand the Third Hokage’s intentions ever since witnessing Sasuke use the Flying Thunder God Technique.

"Sensei, this mission is not just about delivering intelligence, and I’m no ordinary Genin. Tonight’s watch is my responsibility. Rest assured, and tomorrow, I’ll share the Third Hokage’s secret orders with you," Sasuke said, patting the ninja tool pouch at his waist.

+11  

The system’s points increased again, hinting at Sasuke's mastery of using words to craft an air of authority.

"A secret order from the Hokage?"

Guy’s eyes widened in surprise. The rest of Team Guy was equally bewildered. None of them had ever encountered such a situation.

"The relationship between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth is precarious right now, with war looming on the border. The fewer people who know the real intel, the better. Sensei, you understand what I mean, right?" Sasuke said, his tone deep and mysterious.

+12  

The system continued its incremental rewards.

Could it be that "talk-no-jutsu" triggered this kind of progressive points system? Sasuke wondered, eager to test the theory further.

"Sasuke, are you saying that the intel we’re carrying to Asuma is false?" Guy asked, his mind struggling to keep up.

The rest of the team fell silent, each lost in thought as they looked at Sasuke with mixed emotions.

"Exactly. What you’re carrying is bait for Iwagakure’s ninjas. The real intel is with me, and I’ll hand it over tomorrow," Sasuke lied smoothly, his expression calm.

+13  

The points climbed once more.

"Why tomorrow?" Guy asked, the others leaning in, equally curious.

"I don’t know. You can ask the Third Hokage when we get back," Sasuke replied, brushing the question aside with a casual wave.

You’re kidding me! Sasuke thought to himself.

If I have to explain why tomorrow, I’ll have to make up some handwritten order from the Hokage!

+14  

The system rewarded his flawless improvisation.

"If it’s the Third Hokage’s order, then we’ll follow it," Guy concluded, abandoning any further questioning.

"Sasuke, are you absolutely sure you can stay up all night? You’ll be okay?"

If it truly was the Hokage’s directive, then Sasuke might be capable. Still, Guy was hesitant. After all, Sasuke was a rookie Genin on his first mission.

"Don’t worry about me. I’ve got this. Rest easy; I’m here!" Sasuke said, thumping his chest confidently. His voice was filled with unwavering self-assurance.

(End of Chapter)  

**Chapter 104: Time to Stir Things Up! **  

 **+15**   

The numbers in front of Sasuke's eyes began to increase once again.  
"Alright!"  

 Guy nodded in agreement.  

 Since Sasuke had already made up his mind, all Guy could do was trust him.  
"Let's pitch the tent!"  

 Guy addressed the other three members of Team Guy, indicating it was time to prepare a place to sleep.  

 Neji glanced at Sasuke with a deep, contemplative look.  

 He couldn’t understand.  

 Why was Sasuke so insistent on standing guard alone?  

 Wouldn’t it be easier for everyone to take turns?  
Why go out of his way to do this?  

 Was it just to show off?  

 Neji couldn’t fathom Sasuke’s actions or logic.  

 Tenten remained worried but had nothing more to say at this point.  

 Lee, as always, was filled with admiration.  

 After more than half an hour of work, Team Guy had finished setting up the tents, and all four went inside to rest.  

 Under the silent night sky, Sasuke alone sat on a tree branch, listening to the quiet rustling of leaves.  

 He didn’t immediately take out the scroll to write a letter—there were other priorities.  

 Now was the time to train.  

 Sasuke opened his system panel to check how many system points he had accumulated after the recent gains.  

 **Current System Points: 259**  

 Aside from the points just obtained, he had also allocated 15 points to physical attributes during the journey.  

 He then opened the attribute list.  

 All attributes related to physical fitness had undergone changes:  

 - **Body Attribute**: Rank B (106/500)  
- **Strength Attribute**: Rank B (191/500)  
- **Speed Attribute**: Rank D (102/200)  

 It seemed that long-distance travel yielded effects comparable to physical training.  

 Normally, running wouldn’t increase strength.  

 This was all thanks to the weights Sasuke carried. The weights had helped him refine his strength during the journey.  

 **Whoosh!**  
Sasuke leapt down from the tree branch, landing smoothly on the ground. He retrieved a jump rope from his ninja pouch.  

 Now was the perfect time to train.  

 Even at night, no time should be wasted!  

 Sasuke grabbed the jump rope and began to jump quickly, depleting his stamina with each motion.  

 The sound of the rope whirring filled the air.  

 Each time his stamina ran low, he added points to his body attribute to recover.   Sasuke immersed himself in training, losing track of time as it passed.  

 After a while...  

 A slight rustle came from one of the tents.  

 Tenten crawled out of her tent and immediately began looking for Sasuke.  

 “Oh my gosh!”  

 When Tenten saw Sasuke jump-roping, she felt a wave of dizziness.  

 Was this guy overflowing with energy?  
After running all day, he still had so much vitality left?  

 Tenten took a deep breath of the cool night air. Without disturbing Sasuke, she quietly ran off to the woods to relieve herself.  

 **+10**  
At that moment, the numbers in Sasuke's vision jumped again.  

 Just by glancing at Sasuke, Tenten had unknowingly contributed 10 system points to him, boosting his nighttime training.  

 Not long after, Tenten returned from the woods. She looked at Sasuke for a moment longer before silently slipping back into her tent.  

 The night returned to its previous tranquility.  

 Some time later...  

 Lee’s tent shook slightly.  

 Shortly after, Lee stumbled out of the tent, his body visibly shaky as fatigue and drowsiness weighed heavily on him.  

 **Swish, swish, swish...**  

 As soon as Lee stepped out, he saw Sasuke jumping rope nearby.  

 “...”  

 Lee snapped awake instantly.  

 **Sasuke training?**  
**Good heavens!**  

 Is this guy even human? Lee had already labeled Sasuke a "stamina freak" in his mind, but now he revised it.  

 No stamina.  

 Just **freak!**  
This guy isn't human—he's a monster!  

 Lee no longer wanted to look directly at Sasuke. Every time he did, it felt like Sasuke's efforts completely overshadowed his own hard work, which he took so much pride in.  

Can you believe this?  

 Look at what this "genius" is doing!  
If geniuses train like this, how is a hard-working Taijutsu ninja supposed to survive?  

 Lee stared blankly at Sasuke jumping rope, and a strange thought popped into his mind.  

 It might not be long...  

 Before Sasuke's physical strength surpassed his own!  

 This is no joke!  

 Lee immediately dashed back into the tent. Barely moments later, he reemerged with a jump rope in hand and rushed to Sasuke's side.  

 "Sasuke, I’ll train with you!" Lee said seriously. He couldn’t let anyone outwork him.  

 "Aren’t you worried about being too tired tomorrow?" Sasuke asked, still jumping rope, his tone curious.  

 "If you’re not worried, why should I be?" Lee retorted, puffing out his chest.  

 "Can you even compare yourself to me?" Sasuke said indifferently.  

 **+10**  

 The moment Sasuke said this, the number in front of his eyes increased.  

 “...”  

 Lee nearly fainted on the spot. That kid’s words were getting more and more direct, but...  

 He wasn’t wrong.  

 Still, that really stung his pride!  

 "Go back to sleep!" Sasuke commanded, his tone firm.  

 He had two reasons for saying this: one, to genuinely persuade Lee to get some rest and recover, and two, to test if this "mouth jutsu" of his would continue to stack points.  

 **+11**  

 As Sasuke predicted, the number increased in a steady trend.  

 Perfect!   

Realizing this pattern, Sasuke decided to employ this training method on anyone in Konoha who opposed him.  

 For those on his side, like Ebisu, he’d play along and flaunt his skills.  

 But for those on the opposing side, whether it was through words or actions, they’d be getting roasted—like the Third Hokage, for instance.  

 "I... I’m not even tired!" Lee protested weakly. Truthfully, it was his stubborn pride that pushed him to keep training while Sasuke trained.  

 "No, you’re tired," Sasuke replied firmly, leaving no room for argument.  

 "I’m not!" Lee thought it was absurd. How could Sasuke know his own state better than he did?  

 "You are!"   

Sasuke locked eyes with Lee and quoted a modern sage with a classic line.  

 "Just listen to me on this!"   

**+12**   

With those words, the number ticked up again.  

 "I think I can train a little longer," Lee stammered, caught off guard by Sasuke’s dominating logic.  

 "Lee, do you think you can train just because you feel awake?" Sasuke’s lips curled into a faint smirk. "Sorry, it’s not about what **you** think—it’s about what **I** think!"  

 **+13**   

The moment Sasuke dropped that bombshell, the number rose again.  

 "I..." Lee found himself utterly speechless, overwhelmed by Sasuke’s overbearing presence.  

 "Now, get back to the tent!" Sasuke commanded coldly.  

 **+14**  

 The number continued its steady climb.  

 "Yes, sir!"  

 At this point, Lee couldn’t argue anymore. Utterly defeated, he slunk back into the tent with a look of resignation.  

 Once Lee was gone, Sasuke stopped jumping rope and gazed up at the serene night sky. A mischievous smile spread across his face as he pulled out a scroll and a pen from his ninja pouch.  

 "Time to stir up some trouble!"  

 ---  

*Chapter 105: I Don’t Even Need Flying Raijin to Deal with You!*

The night was deep and quiet, with a dark moon and a chilling breeze.

Sasuke sat under the moonlight, one hand holding a scroll and the other a pen. Using the unique abilities of the Kirin Hand, which he had acquired through the lottery, he began writing letters in the precise handwriting of the Third Hokage.

Swish, swish, swish...  

In the stillness of the midnight hour, the sound of the pen gliding across the scrolls was oddly soothing.

After about ten minutes, several scrolls written in the name of the Third Hokage were completed.

Among them were:

- A confidential letter to Guy.

- A secret message to Asuma.

- One for Kakashi.

Most importantly, the intelligence being relayed for this mission had been completely altered.

Since he intended to stir things up, it had to be significant.

"Third Hokage, peace achieved through struggle will endure; peace sought through compromise will perish. You've lived long enough to know this. How can you still not understand? People are already stepping all over you!"  

Sasuke let out a cold chuckle, fully aware of the information being delivered in this operation.

Konoha planned to seek peace with Iwagakure by agreeing to cede a portion of Fire Country's entrusted missions. Negotiations revolved around the percentage of missions to relinquish.

This was not how peace should be sought.

The Third Hokage had a long history of making such compromises:

- Offering Hyuga Hizashi to the Land of Lightning to maintain peace.

- Repeatedly forging peace treaties with the treacherous Land of Wind.

- Now, agreeing to Iwagakure’s demands for mission concessions.

It wasn’t that war couldn’t be waged—it was that the Third Hokage refused to allow it.

Under his leadership, Konoha had become a village of his fantasies, sustaining a fragile peace in the war-torn shinobi world through endless concessions.

"Third, it won’t be long before Orochimaru comes for you. Let me help you out. At least let the final chapter of your Hokage tenure be a little more dignified."  

Sasuke’s eyes gleamed under the moonlight, sharp as stars piercing the night.

Swish, swish, swish...  

Before long, Sasuke finished writing and stored the scrolls in his ninja pouch. Then, he pulled out a skipping rope.

*Training!*

Time had to be used efficiently. Strengthening himself was paramount.

He had to ensure that when the inevitable storms arrived, he wouldn’t be swept away but would lead the shinobi world through them.

Sasuke had just begun skipping rope when Neji, lying in his tent, found himself unable to sleep.

His mind replayed their battle from earlier that day.

Something about it was strange. He had lost inexplicably.

The more Neji thought about it, the more questions surfaced. His Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms had clearly sealed Sasuke’s chakra points. So how had Sasuke still managed to use chakra?

And what was that Flying Raijin-like teleportation technique?

As these thoughts swirled, Neji’s pride felt trampled, leaving him increasingly restless.

Finally, he got up, pushed aside the tent flap, and stepped out—only to see Sasuke skipping rope under the moonlight, exuding elegance and poise.

"What kind of monster is this?!"  

Neji’s fiery resolve instantly fizzled out, his mouth twitching. Moments ago, he had considered challenging Sasuke again, but now that idea vanished.

Sasuke had run all day, stood watch, and was still training.

"Even more insane than Lee!"  

Neji was in utter shock.

*+20*

At that moment, a notification flashed before Sasuke’s eyes—system points increased.

Neji had come out!

Sasuke smirked slightly. Was Neji here to deliver points? Without acknowledging him, Sasuke continued skipping rope.

"Sasuke, aren’t you tired?" Neji hesitated before speaking.

No response.

Sasuke ignored Neji completely, as if he were air.

*+10*

Another increase. This time, the same method yielded fewer points. Sasuke made a mental note: next time, he’d need new tricks to maximize results.

Meanwhile, Neji decided not to speak further, sparing himself some dignity.

But… his pride wouldn’t let it go. He activated his Byakugan, chakra coursing to his eyes, focusing on Sasuke’s form.

What he saw left him stunned.

"Such immense chakra reserves!"  

Neji couldn’t believe it. He hadn’t noticed during their daytime battle. Sasuke’s chakra was leagues beyond what it used to be.

"How can someone improve so quickly?!"  

Neji was baffled. Had Sasuke been hiding his strength, or had something extraordinary happened in these few days?

"Have you looked enough?"  

Sasuke’s cold voice broke the silence. Putting away the skipping rope, he had already used the system to restore his stamina, ensuring peak condition.

*+10*

Another point gained.

Neji quickly deactivated his Byakugan, taking a deep breath. "Sasuke, do you really know the Eight Trigrams Palms?" he asked, his tone restrained.

"Do you want to find out?" Sasuke smirked, his gaze laced with mockery.

*+10*

Neji felt his dignity being challenged but couldn’t back down. He assumed a defensive stance.

"I don’t even need Flying Raijin to deal with you."  

Sasuke’s eyes gleamed as he stepped forward, channeling blue-violet lightning into his hands.

"Now you’re within my Lightning Style Eight Trigrams Palms range."  

With the Sharingan activated, Sasuke’s swift, electrified movements bore down on Neji.

The night air crackled with energy, setting the stage for another fierce clash.

(End of Chapter)