The burning sensation came quickly and faded just as fast.
Uesugi Sasuke felt as though a thick book had been forcibly crammed into his brain.
Everything about [Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique], from the finger movements for its hand seals to the way chakra was refined and compressed in his chest, became as instinctive as eating and drinking.
He even had an illusion.
It was as though he had practiced this technique thousands upon thousands of times.
He struggled up from the ground, waves of physical exhaustion and chakra depletion washing over him.
He glanced at the apothecary's corpse nearby and walked over in silence.
Without any tools, he could only dig a hole in the ground with his hands and give the corpse a simple burial.
Once he had finished, he bowed to the mound of earth.
"Sorry I was late."
The flames of vengeance burned even more fiercely in his heart.
He had to grow stronger.
Stronger still.
Strong enough to protect himself, strong enough to crush every evil demon.
He dragged his exhausted body away from the blood-soaked woods and reached a secluded stretch of riverbank.
Moonlight spilled across the river, making its surface shimmer.
Sasuke stood on the bank and steadied his breathing.
He wanted to try it.
To see just how powerful this strength that cost 100 points really was.
Recalling the knowledge in his mind, he began forming hand seals.
Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.
The instant he completed the final seal, he could clearly feel what little chakra remained in his body being rapidly drawn out and gathered in his chest.
A searing heat rose in his throat.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
He snapped his mouth open.
An enormous fireball over three meters in diameter erupted from his mouth, surging forth as though it would burn everything in its path.
Boom!
The fireball skimmed the river's surface, instantly evaporating the water and raising great clouds of white mist.
Without slowing, it slammed into the opposite bank over a dozen meters away.
The flames burst apart.
Several trees so thick it would take outstretched arms to encircle them, along with the surrounding bushes, were reduced to charcoal in an instant, sparks scattering everywhere.
Its terrifying power left even Sasuke stunned.
This was ninjutsu.
This was his own power.
But before he could savor that joy, an overwhelming weakness swept through his entire body.
His vision went black, his legs buckled, and he collapsed helplessly to his knees.
The chakra in his body had been completely drained.
Not a drop remained.
He did not even have the strength to lift a finger.
"You've... got to be kidding."
He lay on the ground, gasping for breath.
Just one shot.
A single Great Fireball had nearly wrung out all his chakra.
He could not possibly use this as a regular move.
It was a tremendously powerful trump card: one shot to decide the fight-or one shot that left him at anyone's mercy afterward.
He was now immensely grateful that he had not impulsively used it against that evil demon earlier.
Otherwise, he would definitely have been the one to die.
Sasuke lay there for over half an hour before barely recovering enough strength to sit up.
He opened the system panel again.
[Host: Uesugi Sasuke] [Template: Young Sasuke (activated)] [Revenge Points: 0] [Unlocked skills: Basic Taijutsu, Ninja Tool Throwing Technique, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique] [Skills awaiting unlock: Chidori (300 points), Sharingan (1,000 points)...]
His gaze settled on [Chidori].
It required 300 points.
Judging by the value of the demon from earlier, he needed to kill two more.
The Great Fireball was certainly powerful, but its cost was equally terrifying.
He needed a technique that consumed less chakra, was more efficient, and could serve as a regular means of attack.
Chidori was undoubtedly the best choice.
More importantly, he had keenly noticed a certain connection between [Chidori] and [Sharingan].
The system would not have placed them together for no reason.
If he wanted to become truly strong and escape his current predicament of collapsing after a single shot, unlocking more skills was his only way forward.
Sasuke clenched his fists.
The hunt had to continue.
Before you continue