**Chapter 37: The Enduring Contest!**

 Sasuke came to a halt, his steps faltering as he trudged toward the training ground. He wasn’t sure how many laps he had run, but his legs felt like lead, and his stamina was completely spent.  

 **“It must’ve been at least half an hour,”** Sasuke estimated, mentally tallying his gains. During the grueling run, his **Strength** attribute had increased by 1 point, and his **Speed** attribute by 1 point.  

 That made a total of **2 system points** earned solely from effort.  

 ---

 **“Independent training is effective,”** Sasuke thought, wiping sweat from his brow, **“but not as efficient as showing off.”**  

 He weighed his options. Training could steadily improve his attributes when showing off wasn’t possible, but the latter was undeniably faster. Even simple trash talk often earned him more points.   

Reaching the wooden stakes, Sasuke noticed the deep dents and cracks marring their surfaces.  

 **“No way… did Rock Lee do all this?”**  

 Sasuke leaned against one of the stakes, breathless. His throat was dry, and the relentless running left him lightheaded.  

 **“That guy’s a monster!”** Sasuke muttered, feeling a mix of awe and exasperation. He finally understood why Might Guy hailed Lee as a "genius of hard work."  

 Still, Sasuke smirked to himself. **“Good thing I’ve got the Lightning Release technique. A perfect counter to their taijutsu style.”**  

 ---

 Sasuke opened his system panel:  

 - **Current System Points: 12.**   

Most of these were earned through his earlier interactions with Lee. It reaffirmed his strategy: showing off whenever possible.  

 Without hesitation, Sasuke poured all 12 points into his **Strength** attribute.  

 **Strength: Rank D (160/200)**  

 *Buzz!*   

A warm current surged through Sasuke’s body. Every cell seemed to hum with energy, washing away his fatigue. It felt like stepping into a hot spring after a long day, followed by a refreshing nap.  

 Sasuke clenched his fists, marveling at the newfound vitality coursing through him.  

 --- 

“Wait…” Sasuke paused, frowning.  

 **“Does adding points to Strength always rejuvenate me, or does this happen with any attribute?”**  

 The question gnawed at him. To find out, he’d need to exhaust himself again.  

 **“Looks like I’ll have to push myself further.”*  

 As Sasuke readied himself for another round of running, a blur of green appeared on the horizon.  

 ---

 Rock Lee was back.  

 His sweat-soaked jumpsuit clung to his body as he approached, chest heaving. He had just completed 500 laps, but his determined expression showed no signs of wavering.  

 Lee’s eyes locked onto Sasuke.  

 **“A genius… but I will surpass him!”**  

--- 

Sasuke rose smoothly, his expression calm and collected. Any trace of exhaustion was gone, leaving Lee momentarily speechless.  

 **“You’re finally back,”** Sasuke said, brushing nonexistent dust from his pants. His tone was casual, as if he had been waiting forever.  

 **“I’ve been done for a while.”**   

Lee froze, disbelief flashing in his eyes. **“H-he’s not even tired?”**  

 +1  

 A familiar system notification appeared before Sasuke’s eyes. He bit back a grin.   

--- 

**“Alright, no need to admire me too much,”** Sasuke continued with a dismissive wave. **“Let’s move on to the next stage of training.”**  

 +1   

Lee’s thick eyebrows twitched. He wasn’t sure if Sasuke was joking or genuinely being smug.  

 He decided not to dwell on it. Instead, he declared: **“We’ll do 1,000 push-ups! If you can’t finish, you’ll need to jump rope 3,000 times!”**  

 ---

 This time, Lee vowed to keep an eye on Sasuke. During their earlier run, he hadn’t been able to monitor the Uchiha closely, but now he’d ensure no shortcuts were taken.   

Sasuke smirked. **“Let’s do this.”**  

 He leaned forward into a dramatic pose, almost resembling a falling Michael Jackson move, before catching himself with his hands.  

 +1   

The system credited him again. **“Perfect. Small gains, but consistent.”**  

Lee frowned, but pushed the thought aside, focusing on his own form.  

**“Start!”** Lee barked, and both launched into their push-ups.  

 ---

 Lee’s voice echoed through the woods as he counted aloud: **“1—2—3—4—”**  

 Sasuke, meanwhile, matched Lee’s pace, sweat already dripping from his forehead. After a dozen reps, his arms and core began to ache, but he gritted his teeth, determined not to falter.  

 **“Faster,”** he urged himself, quickening his pace.  

 ---

 From the corner of his eye, Lee observed Sasuke. His surprise grew with each passing second.  

 **“Is this the same Sasuke who looked exhausted earlier? What is driving him now?”**  

 Lee’s competitive spirit flared. Refusing to be outdone, he sped up his movements, abandoning his steady rhythm.  

 ---

 Both pushed themselves to their limits. Sweat poured in rivulets, pooling on the ground beneath them.  

 Lee’s breaths grew unsteady, his rhythm breaking, but his stubbornness refused to let him stop.  

 **“I won’t lose—not in physical training!”**  

 Sasuke, equally determined, felt his muscles scream in protest. But with every push-up, his resolve deepened.  

 --- 

This wasn’t just training anymore.  

 It was a battle of wills.   

(End of Chapter)