Choose the Mission or Your Comrades!
This was the dilemma Kakashi wrestled with.
The shadow of his father's past weighed heavily on him, influencing his decision-making.
Ultimately, the choice didn't matter as much as doing his best.
Just then, Sasuke's vision suddenly brightened.
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully rescuing Tazuna.][Reward Received: One Genin Gift Package.]
[Would you like to open it?]
So the mission was completed after all! That was a relief. To be marked with Orochimaru's cursed seal and not even complete the mission would've been unbearable.
Sasuke raised his head, glancing at Kakashi, who seemed deeply conflicted.
"Why do you have to choose?"
Kakashi looked at Sasuke, assuming his question came from youthful naivety, unaware of the weight of such decisions.
There would come a time when one would have no choice but to prioritize one over the other. When that moment arrived, Sasuke would understand.
"You want to find Naruto and Sakura, and you want to complete the mission successfully."
"If that's what you want, then just do it!"
Sasuke's voice broke the tension, and he slowly stood up.
He could feel the surging chakra within him, far greater than before. It seemed he had once again increased his reserves.
Sasuke glanced at the system display:
[Chakra Reserves: Low.]
The system's assessment of his chakra had upgraded from "very low" to just "low." It was a small change, but it marked a significant step. He was no longer in a state where just a few jutsu would leave him drained.
"Kakashi-sensei, you should go look for Naruto and Sakura."
"Leave this place to me!"
Kakashi turned to Sasuke, his expression uncertain.
"You..."
"Trust me. Last time, I almost defeated Zabuza, didn't I?"
"This time, I'll do even better!"
Kakashi frowned. Sasuke's strength was undoubtedly impressive for a Genin, but the previous encounter had caught Zabuza off guard.
This time, Zabuza would undoubtedly come prepared. If Sasuke faced him alone...
"Sensei, people grow stronger through experience. Trust me!"
To Sasuke, Zabuza was an excellent live-combat target.
And now, Sasuke was confident he could defeat him.
The only concern lies in the fact that Zabuza still has an ally, Haku.
Although Haku isn't particularly strong, his Kekkei Genkai is quite troublesome.
Sasuke looked at Kakashi with a serious and earnest expression.
For a moment, it seemed like Kakashi was swayed by Sasuke's words.
Kakashi glanced at the bandages on his body. The injuries left by Kimimaro couldn't heal within a single day.
Unlike Sasuke, who could recover simply by resting after fainting.
In terms of combat ability, Sasuke might indeed be slightly stronger than Kakashi at the moment.
"Alright!"
"This time, I'll leave it to you, Sasuke. I'm genuinely worried about Naruto and Sakura!"
Naruto's situation, in particular, was special. As the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, nothing must happen to him.
Otherwise, Kakashi would become a criminal of Konoha.
Not just because of the Nine-Tails Naruto was also the son of Kakashi's mentor.
There was no way Kakashi could stand idly by.
"Kakashi, go quickly!"
"Before we figure out their situation, I'm worried too."
Kakashi nodded. It was indeed imperative to find Naruto as soon as possible.
With that, Kakashi stepped out of the room, taking one last glance at Sasuke.
There was no need for hesitation; since he had made the decision, he chose to trust Sasuke.
Kakashi quickly disappeared.
Sasuke was left alone in the room, feeling the abundant chakra coursing through him.
At the same time, Sasuke turned his gaze toward the system interface.
"Alright! Let me see what rewards the so-called Genin Package holds!"
[Genin Package Unlocked]
[Reward 1: A portion of Genin-level chakra]
In an instant, Sasuke felt his chakra surge dramatically.
It increased by half of his current chakra reserves.
Now, by Sasuke's estimation, his chakra levels were on par with Kakashi's or even slightly higher.
It could be said that his chakra had already reached Jōnin levels.
Yet, despite this, the system still evaluated his chakra reserves as relatively low.
[Reward 2 (Choose One)]
[1. Four basic C-rank jutsu (randomly selected but compatible with the host's chakra nature, ensuring usability)]
[2. One-time access to the Ninjutsu Laboratory (enabling the development of a single C-rank jutsu, with no time limit)]
The fact that he could choose his reward excited Sasuke more than the direct chakra boost.
The Ninjutsu Laboratory was something Sasuke had used once before, and he had been eager to enter it again ever since.
He hadn't expected the opportunity to come so soon.
Though this time there was no time limit, the lab was restricted to developing only one C-rank jutsu.
However, compared to four basic C-rank jutsu, the chance to develop his own was far more valuable.
Basic C-rank jutsu could be learned later at his own pace.
But an opportunity to develop a custom jutsu? That was rare.
"I choose the second reward!"
[Congratulations! You have obtained one-time access to the Ninjutsu Laboratory.]
[Entering the Ninjutsu Laboratory...]
Boom!
Just like last time, Sasuke found himself inside the Ninjutsu Laboratory.
This time, there was no need for surprise he jumped straight into action.
Among the available options, Sasuke unhesitatingly chose to develop a Lightning Release technique.
Compared to Fire Release, Sasuke had always been more passionate about Lightning Release.
After all, mastering lightning was far cooler than wielding fire.
"So, you think limiting it to a C-rank jutsu will leave me at a loss?"
Sasuke smirked.
For most people, creating a C-rank jutsu might simply mean adding another attack technique to their arsenal.
But for Sasuke, a transmigrator with a wealth of knowledge, the restrictions weren't as limiting as they seemed.
Just because the jutsu was ranked C didn't mean its power had to be capped!
Moreover, Sasuke's goal was to truly control lightning. Ordinary Lightning Release techniques couldn't even come close to achieving that.
The jutsu Sasuke envisioned was entirely different from conventional techniques.
And, of course, it had to follow his preferred "seal-less" style.
"Alright, let's begin! Let's see if my idea can truly take shape!"
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