NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 12: ch12
**Ding! The host successfully pretended to be a force, acting as a big shot, earning +999 pretend points!**
**Ding! Pretend points have been automatically assigned: Chūnin-level Chakra +666, Three Tomoe Sharingan +333.**
**Ding! Chūnin-level Chakra (1622/1000), experience maxed out, leveling up now!**
**Ding! Level up successful, earned: Jōnin-class Chakra (622/10000).**
**Ding! Three Tomoe Sharingan (2006/10000), still incomplete, keep working on pretending to upgrade your abilities!**
...
In an instant, the recently earned points were distributed. Just like that, his previously Chūnin-level Chakra advanced into Jōnin level, and all this happened in front of the legendary Sannin—Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.
The Chakra fluctuations from this breakthrough were immediately sensed by the three of them.
"This... this is the Chakra wave of a Jōnin-level breakthrough?" Tsunade stared at Ethan Uchiha, her anger dissipating in the face of sheer shock from his Sharingan and newfound power.
"Impossible," Jiraiya muttered through gritted teeth, yet he couldn't deny it. The Chakra surges were clearly coming from Ethan Uchiha.
There was no doubt about it. This was the Chakra of a Jōnin.
Jiraiya began to doubt reality. Where did this prodigy even come from? He hadn't been away from Konoha for long, but it seemed as if the world had changed completely.
"The Uchiha clan..." Orochimaru's interest was piqued, his grin widening as he gazed at Ethan Uchiha. His eyes shimmered with intrigue.
"What are you staring at? Never seen a five-year-old Jōnin before?" Ethan Uchiha straightened up confidently.
"I haven't," Tsunade muttered under her breath, her mouth twitching. A five-year-old Jōnin? Back when they were six and graduated from the ninja academy, they barely had the strength of a Genin. This comparison was just ridiculous.
"Not a Jōnin-level Chakra by the age of five? Go home and grow sweet potatoes!" Ethan Uchiha snorted coldly.
Tsunade and the others felt as if they'd been struck straight through the heart.
Was this kid serious?
Did he really think everyone was a genius like him?
Back when they graduated at six, they were considered prodigies by all, but compared to Ethan Uchiha, they were nothing.
"The ramen's ready! Enjoy!" the shop owner called, placing a large bowl of pork char siu miso ramen on the table.
Ethan paused for a moment before deciding to sit down. He reached for the chopsticks, putting aside any thoughts of an argument. After all, Ichiraku Ramen was far more important than any quarrel.
At that moment, the system's voice chimed in his mind again.
**Ding! The host successfully pretended to be a force, gaining +999 pretend points!**
**Ding! Pretend points automatically assigned: Jōnin-level Chakra +111, B-rank Blast Body Flicker Technique +888.**
**Ding! Jōnin-level Chakra (733/10000), not yet full. Keep pretending to further your abilities!**
**Ding! B-rank Blast Body Flicker Technique (1000/10000), not yet full. Keep pretending to upgrade!**
It turned out that he had unknowingly pretended again, with points allocated automatically, bringing him even closer to improving his abilities.
But right now, none of that mattered. The ramen was just too delicious. No wonder this shop would thrive until the era of Boruto.
...
"Tsunade, just let it go," Jiraiya said softly, noticing Tsunade's simmering anger toward a five-year-old Ethan Uchiha. It wasn't worth the trouble.
"Do you think I'm that unreasonable?" Tsunade muttered, taking a deep breath as she sat back down.
Their noodles were served soon after. She decided to overlook Ethan's remarks for now, but still turned to Jiraiya. "When did—"
"Of course you are!" Ethan Uchiha interjected, cutting her off before Jiraiya could respond.
For a moment, the ramen shop's atmosphere turned icy.
"Ethan Uchiha, don't think that just because you're from the Uchiha clan, you can act so arrogantly. I hate the Uchiha the most. Keep testing me, and I'll have you lying in a hospital bed," Tsunade threatened, her temper flaring as she resisted the urge to throw her bowl of noodles at him.
"My name's Ethan Uchiha, not just some random Uchiha kid. And let's be honest—weren't you just telling the truth earlier?"
Ethan put down his chopsticks, ready to push the situation even further.
Why was he doing this?
It didn't really matter. Sometimes the truth just needed to be said, right?
Besides, the Uchiha and Senju clans had always been rivals. Even if Tsunade no longer carried the Senju name, she was still the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama. This animosity between the two clans was deeply ingrained.
Now, as fate would have it, they were locked in another confrontation.
Initially, Ethan had no intention of stirring the pot, but Tsunade's sarcastic remarks had ignited his competitive nature. How could he, an Uchiha, let that slide?
"Ethan Uchiha, you've got guts. I won't finish this meal. You just wait," Tsunade spat, storming out of the ramen shop, trembling with rage.
As she exited, she heard Ethan's voice behind her: "I've got plenty of guts, and they're big! What can you do about it?!"
Tsunade stumbled, almost tripping as she rushed out.
Inside the ramen shop, Jiraiya was left staring at Ethan Uchiha with a newfound admiration.
This kid had serious nerve.
He had never seen Tsunade storm off like that before.