*Chapter 22: I Don't Live to Please You!*

+5

The numbers before Sasuke's eyes jumped. His earlier actions had clearly been interpreted as showing off by the people in front of him.

But the value wasn’t increasing fast enough.

If used wisely, this situation could escalate even further.

Crack... Crack...  

Hyuga Neji’s expressionless face darkened with irritation. His tightly clenched fists made audible cracking sounds as he suppressed his anger.

*"You dare speak of my father that way!"*

Neji’s tone was cold and hostile, every word dripping with fury. His father was a wound that had never healed—a source of pain buried deep in his heart.

Suddenly, Neji stood abruptly, his sharp gaze fixed on Sasuke. Sitting casually in his chair, Sasuke seemed entirely unaware—or entirely indifferent—to his provocative words. Neji’s anger surged, and he prepared to confront Sasuke.

“Neji, sit down.”

Might Guy’s firm voice cut through the tension, halting Neji in his tracks.

“Guy-sensei, he—”

Before Neji could finish, the ramen guy—wearing his signature chef’s hat—appeared with a tray holding three steaming bowls of ramen. Calmly, he placed the bowls on Sasuke’s table, his presence instantly commanding attention.

*"No one fights in my ramen shop."*

The ramen guy’s voice was steady but carried an undeniable authority. His warning glance was enough to quell the brewing storm.

“I understand.”

Neji sat back down, though his fists remained clenched, and his sharp gaze stayed fixed on Sasuke.

But Sasuke?

He seemed utterly unaffected by the standoff. Instead, he calmly picked up his chopsticks and began eating his ramen.

He was starving.

No amount of Neji’s anger could change that. He needed to eat to regain his strength.

+4

The numbers before Sasuke’s eyes rose again.

Huh?  

A realization struck Sasuke. The system was smarter than he’d initially thought. Ignoring Neji was also registering as showing off.

Interesting. Let’s test this out.  

Sasuke continued eating, pretending Neji wasn’t even there.

“Sasuke, you still have the nerve to eat ramen?”

Neji’s frown deepened. Never in his life had a peer dismissed him so completely. He was used to being acknowledged—revered, even. This level of disregard was infuriating.

*"You insulted my deceased father. If you apologize now, I might consider forgiving you!"*

But Neji’s demand was met with the loud slurping of ramen noodles.

+5

The faint blue veins on Neji’s forehead throbbed under his headband as his anger boiled.

This guy…  

If it weren’t for the ramen guy and Guy-sensei’s presence, Neji would have lashed out long ago. His reputation as the strongest Genin in the Leaf Village wasn’t just for show.

Sasuke wouldn’t stand a chance.  

Meanwhile, Sasuke continued eating, louder this time, his slurps and chomps filling the shop.

+6

The numbers rose higher.

Sasuke smirked inwardly. Continuous ignoring was stacking the effect. He’d discovered a simple yet effective strategy: the longer he ignored Neji, the angrier and more humiliated the latter became.

But Sasuke also understood the limits. Pushing too far would diminish the impact, and Neji might begin to think he was avoiding confrontation out of fear. That wouldn’t do.

For now, he stayed focused on his ramen, finishing his second bowl and starting on his third. The feeling of fullness began to lift the fatigue he’d felt earlier.

“Sasuke, do you think this silent, unresponsive behavior is impressive?”

Neji’s voice was steady, his tone shifting from fury to scorn. A faint smirk curled his lips. “Actually, it’s not. It only makes me look down on you even more.”

Neji’s words hung in the air, cutting through the growing silence.

Team Guy observed quietly. They had started to interpret Sasuke’s silence as weakness. Even Tenten, who initially found Sasuke intriguing, began to wonder if he was simply a coward.

But just as Neji finished speaking, Sasuke set down his chopsticks and looked directly at him.

*"Whether you look down on me or not, it doesn’t matter."*

Sasuke’s calm voice cut through the tension. His dark eyes met Neji’s piercing white ones, the directness of his gaze catching Neji off guard.

*"I don’t live to please you."*

The words hung heavy in the air, silencing the shop entirely. Sasuke’s tone wasn’t loud, but it carried a weight that struck everyone.

Team Guy stared at Sasuke, stunned by his unexpected response.

For the first time, Neji’s confidence wavered.

(End of Chapter)