**Chapter 40: Sasuke, I Hereby Declare You the Strongest!**

Sasuke withdrew his focus from Rock Lee, his interest waning. Even with two gates open, Lee still had the stamina to keep going for a while longer. This battle was far from over.

First things first—stabilize the situation.

Sasuke added 1 system point to his *Stamina* attribute, raising it to 169.

*Hum!*

A familiar warmth spread through his body, seeping into every cell and erasing all traces of exhaustion. Sasuke basked in the sensation.

One word: Awesome.
Two words: Pure Bliss.
Three words: Absolutely Fantastic.

With his *Stamina* attribute increased, his endurance and physical strength grew stronger and more durable. Yet, this time felt... different.

Even though his body was fully replenished, he sensed a lingering fatigue—mental exhaustion.

“This must be from using the Sharingan,” Sasuke reasoned, quickly identifying the likely cause. The Sharingan was notorious for its chakra drain and mental toll.

Now, it was time to experiment.

The *Strength* and *Speed* attributes had proven ineffective at recovery earlier, so he skipped them, opting to test *Ninjutsu* first.

Add points.

*Ninjutsu Attribute: Rating E (2/100)*

A faint change flickered within him, but it had no impact on his fatigue.

Add points again.

*Genjutsu Attribute: Rating E (2/200)*

Still no improvement.

Finally, Sasuke turned to the most likely candidate: *Spirit*. This was his last hope for addressing mental exhaustion.

Add points!

*Spirit Attribute: Rating E (2/100)*

*Hum!*

A distinct sensation rippled through Sasuke’s body. It was unlike anything he had felt before—like drinking the strongest cup of coffee, chewing on icy mint gum, or applying a cooling balm.

His mind sharpened to a razor’s edge, and the mental strain from using the Sharingan vanished entirely.

“I get it now!”

Sasuke smirked as his thoughts crystallized into a clear understanding.

“The system’s six attributes fall into two categories: physical qualities and spiritual ninjutsu. Each category has a *state* attribute and two *functional* attributes.”

“For physical qualities, *Stamina* is the state attribute, governing overall physical endurance and recovery. The *Strength* and *Speed* attributes extend these qualities but don’t impact recovery.”

“For spiritual ninjutsu, *Spirit* is the state attribute. It restores both chakra and mental strength. Meanwhile, *Genjutsu* enhances illusions, and *Ninjutsu* boosts techniques.”

“In short—*Stamina* and *Spirit* form the foundation of the entire system!”

Sasuke’s grin widened. With system points at his disposal, he was now a self-sustaining powerhouse, capable of endlessly restoring his stamina and chakra.

Wait.

This sounds a bit like... Edo Tensei.

Unlimited chakra?

A wilder thought struck Sasuke: if adding points to *Stamina* could heal exhaustion, could it also heal injuries?

If so...

Oh. My. God.

This system wasn’t just powerful—it was absurd. It wasn’t a cheat code; it was a full-blown glitch.

The idea consumed Sasuke. He wanted to test it immediately. But pausing mid-contest with Rock Lee would mean conceding.

Then inspiration struck.

His eyes gleamed.

Such a perfect opportunity to show off!

Just then, Rock Lee let out a guttural roar. His chakra flared wildly, steam rising from his body as his skin flushed crimson. His bowl-cut hair stood on end like a Super Saiyan mid-transformation.

*Sizzle, sizzle...*

The third gate had opened.

“What a beast,” Sasuke thought, momentarily stunned by Rock Lee’s resolve. Opening the Eight Gates just for push-ups? That was next-level dedication.

“Stop!”

Sasuke abruptly halted, planting his hands on the ground and springing to his feet in a fluid motion. His body formed an elegant arc before landing upright.

+3

Rock Lee stared, bewildered. His expression betrayed a mix of surprise and suspicion.

“Rock Lee, I concede.”

Sasuke dusted off his hands, sweat-streaked palms leaving faint smudges on his thighs. He raised a thumb toward Rock Lee, his face lit with a mischievous grin.

“In push-ups, you’re unbeatable. Against me, Sasuke Uchiha, you’re the strongest!”

He delivered the compliment with a smug charm, borrowing the phrasing of an old master.

+10

*Show-off successful.*

Having achieved his goals, Sasuke had no intention of lying around doing push-ups any longer. Taking a step back, he spread his arms in mock surrender.

“...”

Rock Lee seethed internally. Sasuke showed no signs of fatigue. This level of nonchalance was... excessive.

*Too much!*

Yet, deep down, Lee couldn’t help but respect the outcome. His strength was waning fast, and continuing would have been torture.

*Sizzle, sizzle...*

The steam dissipated, and his bowl-cut hair flopped back into place. With his gates closed, exhaustion overtook Rock Lee, and he collapsed into the puddle of his own sweat.

“Sa... Sasuke, were you holding back?”

Lee’s voice wavered with humiliation—not at Sasuke’s words, but at the idea of being let off easy.

“I wasn’t! I didn’t! Don’t accuse me!”

Sasuke waved his hands dismissively, though the smug curve of his lips said otherwise. It was the classic “deny everything” strategy, and it reeked of guilt.

+5

“...”

Rock Lee’s face darkened. *Do all geniuses lie this effortlessly?*

But...

A small part of him warmed at Sasuke’s subtle gesture of protecting his pride. For all his arrogance, Sasuke’s actions showed a surprising amount of consideration.

“Sasuke, tell me the truth!”

Lee’s gaze was firm, his voice insistent. He emphasized “truth,” leaving no room for interpretation.

Sasuke chuckled.

Did Lee want flattery? Too bad.

But... farts? Sure, all-you-can-eat.

“Alright, fine. The truth?” Sasuke’s face grew mock-serious. “I was holding back.”

His delivery was so blunt it made Lee’s jaw drop.

(End of Chapter)