Returning to Kakashi and the others, Sasuke reflected on Haku's earlier attacks with the Executioner's Blade.
To him, now an expert in kenjutsu, Haku's moves were riddled with flaws. Even without using any ninjutsu, Sasuke could have easily defeated him in less than three moves.
Looking at the progress he had made in his kenjutsu:
[Mastered Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu (Proficient), Hatake Sword Technique (Proficient)]
After only two days of training, Sasuke had effortlessly reached proficiency in the Hatake Sword Technique. He estimated he wasn't far from mastering it entirely.
He decided he would continue refining it once they returned to Konoha.
However, Sasuke felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of things he needed to train.
He wouldn't abandon the Sage Transformation of the Curse Mark it was critical to his growth.
At the same time, refining his chakra was non-negotiable.
In ninjutsu, he needed to continue honing Godspeed, Chidori, and Static Discharge, the three lightning-based techniques.
As for fire-style techniques, Fire Dragon Explosion still required work. Sasuke wanted to push its power further, to the point where he could use it as a standard attack with the strength of a finisher.
He couldn't neglect his kenjutsu and taijutsu training either.
Additionally, his enhanced body demanded physical conditioning without proper development, even Godspeed might become too taxing to sustain.
The list of tasks felt endless, and Sasuke already doubted whether he had enough time for everything.
After returning to Konoha, there would be just over ten days before his match against Neji Hyuga. Defeating Neji would grant him access to the Sharingan Training Methods.
But when that happened, his list of things to train would grow even longer.
Time... there's just not enough.
Lost in thought, Sasuke didn't realize he had already made his way back to the group.
Kakashi looked up at him. "How did it go?"
Sasuke understood that Kakashi was asking about Haku.
"It's handled. He won't be bothering us for a while."
Kakashi nodded, satisfied that Sasuke hadn't killed him.
"Alright, let's head back to Konoha. Once we're there, no one will interrupt your training anymore."
Naruto and Sakura exchanged puzzled glances, confused by Kakashi's remark.
"Interrupt? Who would even try to interrupt us?" they both wondered.
However, seeing Kakashi's expression, it was clear he didn't intend to say anything, leaving everyone wondering what secret he and Sasuke were keeping.
The four of them resumed their journey. They were now close to the Hidden Leaf Village and would return by afternoon. They didn't stop along the way for Naruto and Sakura to train; instead, they pushed forward at full speed.
At that moment, Haku was still tailing them. Sasuke sighed and shook his head. Once they reached the village, Haku would be easily detected. Underestimating the skills of the Leaf's Anbu and Root ninjas would be a grave mistake.
He wouldn't be able to follow for much longer.
As they entered the periphery of the Hidden Leaf Village, which encompassed not only the village itself but also a large area surrounding it, the surveillance became apparent. Although the monitoring outside the village wasn't as dense as inside, it was still impossible for anyone to enter unnoticed.
As expected, upon reaching this zone, Haku sensed the danger and stopped following them.
Kakashi chuckled. "Knowing when to back down can save your life."
Upon returning to the Leaf Village, they went to the mission assignment desk to report their success. Kakashi also included details about the new, unexpected mission they had completed. The mission, originally ranked C, was upgraded to A-rank, significantly increasing the reward.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was astonished to learn that Sasuke had single-handedly defeated Zabuza Momochi.
Although Zabuza wasn't the most formidable opponent, he was still considered an elite-level jonin. That Sasuke could defeat him alone was astonishing.
Kakashi's report left no room for doubt.
"His progress is beyond my expectations," Hiruzen remarked as he reviewed the report, particularly focusing on the two new jutsu Sasuke had created.
Lightning Style: Godspeed
Lightning Style: Discharge
One was an S-rank jutsu, the other C-rank. Both were Lightning Release techniques and seemed somewhat related. Discharge appeared to be a prerequisite for mastering Godspeed.
Hiruzen's experienced eye quickly recognized the terrifying potential of Discharge. It wasn't just a simple lightning burst but could be unleashed from any part of the body and even imbued into weapons. The jutsu's power was far from ordinary.
If Discharge alone was noteworthy, Godspeed was even more impressive, potentially qualifying for inclusion in the Forbidden Scroll.
However, since Sasuke had created these techniques, it was ultimately up to him. As the Third Hokage, Hiruzen couldn't force Sasuke to share them if he didn't want to.
However, Hiruzen suddenly recalled something.
"Neji Hyuga and Sasuke Uchiha have an upcoming duel."
"Hmm, this could be a great opportunity!"
It was the perfect chance to instill the Will of Fire in Sasuke.
A battle between the declining Uchiha clan and the thriving Hyuga clan. The outcome seemed predetermined Hyuga could not lose. If they did, many Hyuga clan members would be dissatisfied.
With Hiruzen's influence, any fallout could be easily managed.
Therefore, by showing Sasuke kindness and support from the Hokage faction, Hiruzen believed Sasuke would be deeply grateful. Restoring the Uchiha clan's honor was of immense importance to someone like Sasuke, a proud heir of his family.
Meanwhile, Sasuke, now back in the Hidden Leaf, was focused on planning his training schedule. Little did he know, Hiruzen was already setting things in motion.
[Congratulations, Host, for completing your first A-rank mission!][Reward: One A-rank Jutsu]
[Godhood Quest Unlocked]
[Objective: Strive to become the "God of Shinobi" by growing stronger.]
[Current Power Level: Average Genin]
[Next Stage: Average Chunin]
[Task: Achieve Chunin status and reach an average Chunin power level within three months.]
[Reward: Chakra Attribute Enhancement]
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