4. The Path to Power
Chapter 4: The Path to Power
The sun had set by the time Team 7 arrived at Tazuna's house. The battle against Zabuza had taken its toll on everyone. Naruto was still boasting about their "teamwork," Sakura fussed over Kakashi's injuries, and Sasuke… Sasuke was deep in thought.
The Minecraft System had proven itself useful, but he had only scratched the surface of its potential. If he was going to surpass Itachi, he needed to understand everything about it.
As the others settled in, he silently pulled up his system menu.
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Sasuke's System Interface
DING!
> [Minecraft System - Status Page]
Name: Uchiha Sasuke
Level: 3
EXP: 50/400
Health: 100%
Chakra: 80%
Inventory Slots: 12/30
Equipped Items:
Stone Sword (Durability: 80/100)
Stone Armor Set (Equipped)
Stone Pickaxe (Durability: 90/100)
Skills & Abilities:
Mining Mastery (Lv.1): Mine ores and blocks at twice the normal speed.
Crafting Table Summon: Instantly place a crafting table anywhere.
Inventory Storage: Store up to 30 items in a personal inventory.
Item Durability View: See the durability of tools and weapons.
Recipe Unlocks: Discover new crafting recipes by leveling up.
Current Crafting Recipes:
Wooden Tools
Stone Tools
Stone Armor
Iron Furnace (Locked: Requires Iron)
Sasuke's eyes scanned the screen. The Mining Mastery skill would be useful, but what intrigued him the most was the Iron Furnace Recipe. If he could find iron…
His thoughts were interrupted by Kakashi's voice.
"Sasuke, you're being unusually quiet. Thinking about the battle?"
Sasuke dismissed the screen and turned to his sensei, who was lying down, bandaged from the fight.
"...That was the first real fight I've seen you in," Sasuke admitted. "You were holding back, weren't you?"
Kakashi chuckled. "Maybe a little. But don't get overconfident. Zabuza will be back, and next time, he won't be alone."
Sasuke clenched his fists. He needed to get stronger—fast.
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The First Test of Strength
Later that night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Sasuke quietly left the house. The moon cast a soft glow over the misty village as he made his way to the nearby forest.
DING!
> [New Quest: Find and Smelt Iron]
Mine 10 Iron Ore (0/10)
Reward: Iron Furnace + 100 EXP
Sasuke smirked. Perfect.
He found a rocky outcrop and equipped his stone pickaxe.
CHINK! CHINK! CHINK!
A few dirt and stone blocks disappeared into his inventory, revealing a grayish ore with specks of silver—Iron Ore.
> +1 Iron Ore
He continued mining, his Mining Mastery skill allowing him to dig faster than before. Within minutes, he had gathered enough.
DING!
> Quest Complete!
Reward: Iron Furnace + 100 EXP
A new crafting option appeared in his menu. He opened his inventory and selected the Iron Furnace recipe.
> Crafting…
[Iron Furnace Created!]
A heavy, stone-and-metal furnace materialized in front of him.
Sasuke crouched down, inspecting it. "Now… let's test this."
He placed some iron ore inside, along with a few wooden planks as fuel. Immediately, the furnace roared to life, smelting the iron twice as fast as a normal one.
DING!
> +1 Iron Ingot
Sasuke's smirk widened. With this, he could finally craft stronger weapons.
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A New Recipe Unlocked
DING!
> [New Recipe Unlocked: Iron Sword]
Requires: 2 Iron Ingots + 1 Stick
Sasuke immediately crafted one. The Iron Sword appeared in his inventory, its blade gleaming in the moonlight. He gave it a few test swings, feeling its improved balance and weight.
"This is it," he whispered. "With this, I can fight on a whole new level."
But as he sheathed his new weapon, a sharp sound echoed from deeper in the forest.
Swoosh!
Sasuke spun around, his Sharingan activating instinctively. Something—or someone—was watching him.
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Back at Tazuna's House
The next morning, Naruto yawned and stretched. "Man, I slept great! I bet I'm way stronger now!"
Sakura scoffed. "You don't get stronger just by sleeping, idiot."
Kakashi, now sitting up, eyed Sasuke. "Sasuke… you're up early."
Sasuke simply nodded. He hadn't slept at all—he had been mining, crafting, and training. His body felt heavier, but the Iron Sword resting at his hip reminded him that it was all worth it.
Tazuna entered the room, looking exhausted. "We need to get to the bridge soon. I don't know when Zabuza will strike again."
Kakashi nodded. "We'll continue training today, just in case. I have a plan."
Sasuke's fingers grazed the hilt of his new sword.
Let Zabuza come. This time, he'd be ready.
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To Be Continued…