NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4: A New Rival
The next day dawned bright and clear, the village of Konoha bustling with activity as usual. Ethan felt the invigorating energy of the town as he and Hinata walked toward the training grounds. Their sparring sessions had become a morning routine, one that Ethan found both challenging and enjoyable.
However, today was different. As they reached the grounds, they found someone already there—a tall, dark-haired boy with piercing eyes and an air of cold confidence.
"Sasuke Uchiha," Ethan murmured under his breath.
The famous prodigy of the Uchiha clan stood in the clearing, his hands in his pockets as he surveyed the area. His intense gaze landed on Ethan and Hinata, narrowing slightly.
"You're the one everyone's been talking about," Sasuke said, his voice low and calm. "The outsider training with Hinata."
Ethan stepped forward, meeting Sasuke's gaze. "That's me. And you must be Sasuke."
Sasuke smirked, his expression laced with condescension. "If you're serious about being here, you'll need more than just talk. Let's see what you can do."
---
A Challenge Issued
Hinata looked nervous, glancing between Ethan and Sasuke. "Sasuke, he's new. Maybe we should—"
"It's fine, Hinata," Ethan interrupted, smiling at her. "I'll take him on."
The system's voice chimed in Ethan's mind.
"New mission: Defeat Sasuke Uchiha in a sparring match. Reward: Unlocking the Chakra Enhancement ability. Penalty for failure: Reduced affinity with key characters."
Ethan clenched his fists. He wasn't about to back down, especially not with a potential reward like that on the line.
"All right, Sasuke," Ethan said, stepping into the clearing. "Let's see what you've got."
---
The Fight Begins
Sasuke wasted no time, dashing forward with incredible speed. Ethan barely had time to react as Sasuke's fist came flying toward him. He dodged to the side, his movements sharper than they should have been thanks to the system's enhancements.
"You're faster than I expected," Sasuke said, his smirk growing. "But speed isn't everything."
He launched a flurry of strikes, forcing Ethan to go on the defensive. Ethan blocked and parried as best he could, his mind racing. Sasuke was strong—far stronger than the rogue ninja they had faced yesterday.
The system chimed in.
"Tip: Exploit his arrogance. Use unpredictable movements to disrupt his rhythm."
Ethan grinned. He had an idea.
---
A Counterattack
As Sasuke lunged for another strike, Ethan feigned a stumble, falling to one knee. Sasuke's eyes flickered with amusement, and he moved in for what he thought would be the finishing blow.
But Ethan was ready. Using the momentum from his fall, he pivoted and swept Sasuke's legs out from under him. Sasuke hit the ground with a grunt, but he recovered quickly, flipping back to his feet.
"Not bad," Sasuke admitted, his smirk replaced by a more serious expression. "But this isn't over."
Sasuke performed a series of hand signs, and Ethan's heart sank.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive ball of flames erupted from Sasuke's mouth, hurtling toward Ethan. He braced himself, scrambling for a plan.
"Activate Chakra Shield," the system instructed.
Without hesitation, Ethan focused his chakra, and a faint barrier formed around him just as the fireball hit. The flames dissipated, leaving Ethan unharmed but winded.
---
A Draw
Before the fight could continue, a familiar voice rang out.
"That's enough, you two!"
Naruto and Sakura approached, Naruto looking excited while Sakura had her hands on her hips, clearly annoyed.
"What's going on here?" Sakura demanded. "Sasuke, why are you picking fights again?"
Sasuke scoffed, turning away. "Just testing his skills. He's not as bad as I thought."
Naruto grinned, slapping Ethan on the back. "Way to hold your own! Sasuke doesn't go easy on anyone."
Ethan smiled, though his legs felt like jelly. The fight had pushed him to his limits, but he had held his ground.
The system's voice returned.
"Mission complete. Reward: Chakra Enhancement ability unlocked. Affection levels: Sasuke Uchiha: 10%, Naruto Uzumaki: 20%, Sakura Haruno: 10%."
---
Building Bridges
As the group sat together under a tree, Ethan felt a sense of camaraderie beginning to form. Even Sasuke, though distant, seemed to acknowledge him.
"You're not bad," Sasuke said quietly. "But you've got a long way to go."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Ethan replied with a grin.
Hinata smiled softly, relieved that the tension had eased. Naruto and Sakura continued to chat, their voices filling the air with warmth.
Ethan leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment. The bonds he was forming felt real, and the power he was gaining from the system was just the beginning.
The multiverse still awaited him, but for now, he was exactly where he needed to be.
---
End of Chapter 4