Chapter 12: Killing Bounty Mode Opens

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Zabuza, who was unconscious, never imagined that one day he would be manipulated by a young boy who had just graduated from the ninja academy.

Kakashi looked at Naruto's reckless demeanor, sighed, and continued to read his book.

Zabuza never dreamed that he would end up being carried by a mere assistant.

However, considering Sasuke's future, he would inevitably become a formidable warrior, making this situation less of an insult.

As for Haku, who was following behind, he was perceived as Zabuza's helper, and he was noticed by Sasuke.

Kirigakure Anbu's disguise? What a joke. Do they think I'm that gullible? If someone is lurking nearby, as long as they are not from Konoha, it doesn't matter if they are taken out.

"Sasuke, your strength is not just what it appears to be on the surface." Kakashi thought silently, pondering his chances if he were to fight Sasuke.

Sasuke was toying with the decapitating sword in front of him, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Good sword."

It is much more powerful than the finely crafted steel sword he was currently wielding. The only drawback is its size, otherwise, he could use it as a temporary weapon.

Its weight and size make it unsuitable for certain techniques. Rather than letting it rust away in a warehouse, it would be better to sell it back to Kirigakure. They would surely value this sword.

Having made up his mind, Sasuke stored the new sword in the system space, and a mechanical, cold voice echoed in his mind.

"Ding!"

"The host has defeated a Jonin for the first time, activating the killing bounty mode."

"The system will reward a certain number of exchange points for defeating ninjas of corresponding levels."

- "Genin: 10~50 exchange points (depending on strength)"

- "Chunin: 100~200 exchange points"

- "Jonin: 500~1200 exchange points"

- "Kage level: 5,000~20,000 exchange points"

"The exchange section for Kage level and above is unlocked by defeating a Kage level expert."

Sasuke frowned. According to the system's classification, ninjas could be ranked from weakest to strongest: Genin, Elite Genin, Chunin, Elite Chunin, Special Jonin, Jonin, Elite Jonin, Kage level, Veteran Kage level, Super Kage, Half-Step Six Paths, Six Paths Level, and Six Paths Peak.

Even powerful individuals like Orochimaru are considered at the Veteran Kage level, but if they encounter a master of genjutsu, Orochimaru's combat capabilities would be significantly diminished.

As for the "frail" Nagato in the Akatsuki organization, with his Rinnegan and Six Paths Skeleton, his strength lies between Kage and Super Kage.

At the peak of the Super Kage level are fighters like Madara and Hashirama, who clashed at the Valley of the End. Their rivalry was legendary.

Madara, who had absorbed the Ten-Tails, reached the Six Paths level, although he wasn't as powerful as the Sage of the Six Paths.

"System, why haven't I heard about this killing bounty mode before?"

The system remained silent, pretending not to hear Sasuke's question. It couldn't admit that it had just added it to encourage Sasuke's spending!

"Tch." Seeing the system being so evasive, Sasuke didn't bother to press the issue.

He glanced back at Kakashi, who was still deep in thought, and then turned his attention to Tazuna.

"Mr. Tazuna, do you want to rest for a while? You look exhausted."

Tazuna wiped his sweat, stopped, and looked at Sasuke gratefully. In his heart, he felt that this young man, despite his cold exterior, was actually very kind and warm-hearted.

"No need, it's important to keep moving. If I arrive at the Land of Waves sooner, I can relieve myself of this burden."

The old man was still focused on his thoughts, and Sasuke also wanted to arrive quickly to see if Tazuna's daughter could fulfill his request.

After returning from this mission, the Chunin Exams would soon be approaching. It was time to settle some scores with the Third Hokage.

Over the years, Sasuke had been living on edge, silently honing his strength, waiting for an opportunity.

Time flies by so fast; Sasuke was either traveling or training.

He was now an Elite Jonin. To reach Kage level, he needed a breakthrough opportunity.

Of course, if Sasuke exchanged for a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, his overall strength would definitely reach Kage level.

But that wasn't his goal. He wanted to reach Kage level without relying on the Sharingan and then awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan to become the strongest among Kage levels.

In the original story, Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after reaching Kage level, but his own flaws were exposed when he tried to capture the Eight-Tails.

The Mangekyō Sharingan is indeed a powerful tool, but if your own combat abilities don't measure up, it's difficult to stand among the truly strong.

Phew~

Sasuke took a deep breath, and the air he exhaled formed a spiral arc in the air. If you looked closely, you could see a faint lightning in the mist.

Naruto and Sakura were learning to walk on water nearby. Sakura, with her outstanding control skills, mastered the technique after just a few lessons.

But Naruto struggled, constantly falling into the water.

"Hey, Naruto, listen to what I'm telling you. You'll succeed if you stay calm."

Kakashi lay under a tree not far away, flipping through a book while instructing Naruto.

"I know, Kakashi-sensei!"

Naruto glanced at Sasuke, who was practicing with his eyes closed, and the unwillingness in his heart grew stronger. He gritted his teeth and continued his training.

If he couldn't even master this technique, how could he ever hope to surpass Sasuke?

Do I, Naruto Uzumaki, like to make empty boasts?

After repeated failures, Naruto finally grasped the trick and steadily gathered chakra at the soles of his feet, allowing him to stand firmly on the water.

"Hahaha! I told you, how could a genius like me fail?"

"Sasuke, are you convinced now? This is the true strength of the great Naruto!"

Naruto winked at Sasuke, trying to catch his attention.

Such a boring guy. Sasuke didn't even bother to look up. Naruto's character wasn't bad; he was just a bit mischievous.

Having been alone since childhood, he was very similar to Sasuke, which is why Sasuke's attitude toward him wasn't too cold.

However, Sasuke hated people who showed off in front of him, so he immediately retorted, "Naruto, you're not bad. You actually learned to walk on water early. I only learned it when I was seven."

Naruto, whose emotions were always evident on his face, was unhappy. He rolled up his sleeves, ready for a fight. "Damn it, Sasuke! How dare you look down on me? I'll show you why they call me the great Naruto!"

Seeing Naruto charging at him without a second thought, Sasuke smiled, "That's exactly what I wanted! Naruto, I hope you're not just full of hot air."

Naruto, the little ninja, didn't disappoint. In the indifferent eyes of Kakashi and Sakura, he was soon pinned to the ground by Sasuke, the sound of their scuffle echoing around them.

His face repeatedly met the ground, and even as tears threatened to fall, Naruto stubbornly refused to admit defeat. Sasuke, not one to tolerate provocations, increased his strength gradually.

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