Chapter 134

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Ding

Main Quest: Bell-Stealing Battle (Completed)

Your performance in the Bell-Stealing Battle greatly exceeded the expectations of Jonin Kakashi Hatake. Although it's a pity you didn't manage to steal a bell, you have successfully caught Kakashi's attention. Your subsequent flawless performance in the 'teamwork' assessment secured your place in Team 7. The road to becoming Hokage is no longer distant.

Quest Rewards: Elite Chunin-level Chakra Reserves; Earth Style: Earth Wall (Dog Head Edition); Konohagakure Secret Taijutsu Technique: One Thousand Years of Death.

After leaving Katsuragi Mountain, Gensou used medical ninjutsu to heal Sasuke's injuries and allow him to rest. It was then that the system finally notified him that the main quest had been completed.

As expected, it still retained its usual style.

"Well, at least you didn't lie about the bell," Gensou mused.

Of course, there was no way he would pull out a string of bells and hang them from Kakashi's waist during a battle. That would have been completely out of character.

If he really did that, Kakashi would probably never understand why he did it, even on his deathbed.

But, regardless, the quest was completed.

As for the rewards, Gensou didn't bother to complain about the Thousand Years of Death or the dog head. However, when he focused on the Elite Chunin-level Chakra Reserves, he felt the increase. Though still insignificant, it was about a third more than the standard Chunin-level chakra.

This reward was likely benchmarked against elite Chunin, such as the now-deceased Root ninjas.

With these rewards in hand, combined with his previous setup, the "self" in Konoha could likely be categorized as a Tokubetsu Jonin.

At that time, the "self" might have been quite grateful to the system.

After all, he was the man who, at the same age, surpassed the reincarnations of Asura and Indra.

But as powerful as you are, can you make Sasuke call you 'sama'?

"Gensou-sama."

At that moment, Sasuke, having finished his rest, opened his eyes and noticed Gensou looking his way. He immediately stood up and addressed him respectfully.

Gensou nodded and praised him, "To hold your ground against Kakashi and Kurenai, two Jonin from Konoha, for so long—your performance was impressive."

Hearing this, Sasuke's face showed rare excitement.

Although Gensou had taught him many things, he had never once praised him.

Perhaps Gensou considered Sasuke's progress as something ordinary.

Though he never expressed it, Sasuke had always secretly yearned for praise from the man he deeply admired—Gensou. Just as he once longed for his father's approval after successfully performing the Great Fireball Jutsu by the lake.

He had thought that with Gensou's high standards, such praise would take a long time to come.

He never expected to hear it at this moment, unexpectedly entering his ears.

Watching the uncharacteristically excited Sasuke, Gensou smiled faintly.

Sasuke's performance in the earlier battle had indeed surprised him.

He had held his own against Kakashi and the others at the start, and later managed to survive until Gensou arrived.

Even by his own strict standards, Sasuke's performance deserved high praise.

After all, Sasuke had not yet reached his full potential.

Naturally, praise was due.

"This time served as your field training. When we return, continue refining your combat style, and you will gain much," Gensou advised.

Sasuke nodded seriously.

Then he asked, "Gensou-sama, are we heading back to the village now?"

After traveling such a long distance and fighting some battles, Sasuke had made some guesses about the purpose of this journey but had yet to grasp the full picture.

With little curiosity, he hadn't asked Gensou many questions.

After all, training is training, no matter where it takes place.

And with Gensou always by his side, he could ask him about training matters anytime.

But now, it seemed that unlike at the Fire Temple, Master Gensou had gained something significant at Katsuragi Mountain, and it was probably time to return.

Indeed, Gensou had gained quite a lot from Hotaru, and in good spirits, he had even given her a training scroll as a parting gift.

If he remembered correctly, the girl had a remarkable talent for Water Style.

However, contrary to Sasuke's assumptions, Gensou had not completed his mission and didn't plan to return immediately. Instead, he explained as they continued traveling through the Land of Fire:

"Before we return, we need to retrieve something crucial for the future of Locks Village."

"Something crucial for Locks Village?" Sasuke asked, puzzled.

Gensou gazed into the distance. "You'll find out soon enough."

After the battle at Katsuragi Mountain, Gensou and Sasuke traveled through the Land of Fire, taking great care to conceal their tracks, unlike before.

Despite no casualties in Kakashi's team, the absence of their strongest asset, Guy, combined with Neji's injuries and the overall exhaustion of the others, forced them to retreat to Konoha after bidding farewell to the Tsuchigumo Clan.

On the way back, Lee carried the injured Neji, and Kakashi supported the exhausted Guy. The group moved quickly toward the village without stopping.

Initially believing he could continue, Guy now comfortably rested on Kakashi's back. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, he suddenly remembered something and sternly whispered in Kakashi's ear:

"I almost forgot to mention it. Kakashi, that Uchiha Uzumaki's Sharingan is extremely powerful. Both his perception and genjutsu felt stronger than your Sharingan."

"Uchiha Uzumaki?"

Like Gensou, Kakashi was initially taken aback by the name.

But knowing Guy well, he quickly understood.

After hearing Guy's account, Kakashi's expression became more serious.

As his longtime rival, Guy was very familiar with Kakashi's Sharingan.

If Guy said the masked man's Sharingan was superior, it could only mean, as Kakashi had suspected, that the man's Sharingan was at the Mangekyō level.

This was undoubtedly the worst-case scenario.

Another Uchiha had emerged from nowhere, wielding a Mangekyō Sharingan.

Not only was he powerful, but he hadn't even used the Mangekyō Sharingan's special abilities during their fight.

Such a figure, staying close to Sasuke, clearly harbored ill will toward Konoha. He had attacked the Fire Temple and the Tsuchigumo Clan with reckless abandon, and who knows what he might do next?

Kakashi sighed at the thought.

Konoha was truly facing troubled times.

Moreover, once the news of this encounter spread, the already turbulent shinobi world would likely become even more unstable.

"We can only find solace in small things now," Kakashi shrugged as he noticed Guy staring at him, waiting for a response.

"Let's just hope we get to see that masked man with the Mangekyō Sharingan meet Itachi someday."

That encounter would surely be quite the spectacle.

(End of Chapter)