*Chapter 41: Jump Towards the Future!*

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+15.

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes jumped, marking the largest increase he’d seen since meeting Lee.

This wave of showing off...

Sasuke was immensely satisfied.

*Truth.*

Sometimes, it’s the ultimate form of showing off.

After all, his strength was just that overwhelming. A genius couldn’t help but shine, even if he wanted to stay low-key.

Sasuke glanced at Lee, who was slumped in the puddle of sweat and mud. Lee’s face was strained, veins still bulging from the aftermath of opening his chakra gates. The strain of unlocking those limits had wracked his body with pain.

“I... I...”

Lee managed a bitter smile. He had always believed Neji’s talent was unparalleled among Konoha’s youth. But now, here was this Uchiha genius, an even more terrifying force of nature.

*Speechless.*

Lee couldn’t find the words. He’d been thoroughly outclassed in the very discipline he had dedicated his life to mastering.

“Lee,” Sasuke said, his tone casual yet teasing, “you mentioned earlier—if you didn’t finish the push-ups, you’d do 3,000 rope skips. Isn’t it time for that now?”

Sasuke’s dark eyes gleamed with eagerness. He was ready to test yet another method of self-improvement.

*Training.*

It was his new source of joy. Showing off was rewarding, sure, but a little variety didn’t hurt.

“We... we did... 1,000 push-ups, right?” Lee’s voice trembled, his gaze locked on Sasuke. His sore arms shook as he tried to form fists.

*Was this guy a devil?*

After such an intense session, Sasuke still had energy to spare? Rope skipping after that kind of training wasn’t dedication—it was sheer lunacy.

“Not enough.”

Sasuke wagged a finger at him, his expression so sincere that Lee almost believed him.

+1

“Sasuke, I... I lost count...” Lee muttered hesitantly.

“No worries. I kept track,” Sasuke replied smoothly, his calm demeanor making it impossible for Lee to tell if he was joking.

+1

“How... how many?” Lee asked, though a sinking feeling told him he was walking straight into a trap.

“999!” Sasuke declared with a straight face, completely ignoring the twitch in Lee’s eye.

+1

“...”

Lee was utterly speechless. This had to be deliberate.

“Now,” Sasuke said, crossing his arms as he squatted beside Lee, looking down with an air of superiority. “Can you still jump? Or are you too tired?”

+1

“I can...” Lee insisted stubbornly. Propping himself up with one arm, he tried to sit upright, only for his exhausted body to betray him. He fell back with a wet splat, mud splashing everywhere.

“Lee,” Sasuke said, patting his teammate on the back. Unfortunately, he used a bit too much force, causing Lee to sink deeper into the puddle. “As a man, it’s okay to admit when you can’t do something. There’s no shame in it.”

With that, Sasuke reached toward Lee’s waist, pulled out a jump rope, and added, “If you can’t do it, I’ll take over. I’ll finish your share.”

+4

Lee’s head spun. What did Sasuke even mean? He struggled to process the situation.

“What... do you mean?” Lee asked cautiously.

“6,000.”

Sasuke held up six fingers with a triumphant smirk, as if congratulating himself with a perfect “666.” Then, holding the rope, he moved to a clear space.

Lee’s eyes widened in disbelief.

*No way.*

This guy wasn’t joking.

He’s really going to do it!

*Is he insane?*

Lee’s heart went through a rollercoaster of emotions: from confidence to despair, to awe and finally... resignation.

This wasn’t just a difference in talent.

This was a gap between worlds.

Neji? He couldn’t even compare.

Sasuke was on another level—a true genius.

+10

Sasuke took the jump rope in hand, watching the numbers flash before his eyes. A sly grin spread across his face.

*Perfect.*

Lee’s presence was practically a points farm. Whether Sasuke showed off intentionally or not, Lee’s reactions kept generating rewards.

*Endless opportunities.*

Before starting, Sasuke glanced at his system panel:

*Current points: 71.*

He felt an overwhelming sense of comfort. With this many points, completing 6,000 skips—or even adding a zero to that—wouldn’t be a problem.

*Time to begin!*

Sasuke had a clear strategy. Lee was drained from the push-ups and the backlash of the Eight Gates. Completing Lee’s exercise for him would have a massive impact on his pride.

And that meant more points.

*Swish~ Swish~ Swish~*

The rope swung rhythmically beneath Sasuke’s feet. Within moments, he found the pace, his stamina steadily draining as the jumps piled up.

Time passed.

Sasuke’s arms ached, but instead of slowing down, he sped up, entering a zone of pure focus.

*Ding, ding, ding!*

Three notification sounds echoed in his mind. He paused, curious, and opened the attribute panel:

*Stamina +1*

*Strength +1*

*Speed +1*

Sasuke’s eyes widened. A single training session had boosted three attributes at once.

This was... incredible.

Not wanting to lose momentum, he used one system point to instantly restore his stamina, the process smooth and instantaneous. He didn’t even miss a beat in his rhythm.

*This is amazing!*

Sasuke’s excitement reached new heights. Ideas flooded his mind. After school, he’d buy his own jump rope.

*Jumping towards the future!*

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(End of Chapter)