READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 10: Club fair
Sasuke awoke before dawn, the early morning light barely filtering through his curtains. The room was still and quiet, yet there was a stirring within him. He had been meditating every day, focusing on his chakra and the strange seal that bound his Rinnegan, but today something was different. He could feel it—a subtle shift, like the faint cracking of a barrier that had held firm for too long.
Seated cross-legged on his bed, Sasuke let out a slow breath, eyes shut tightly in concentration. The flow of chakra within him was becoming more natural, less restricted. The seal that had blocked his power was weakening, little by little, but it was still there, taunting him. For now, he could access only his Sharingan, and even then, its use drained him faster than it ever had before.
Sasuke opened his eyes, the crimson glow of his Sharingan flickering briefly in the low light before fading. "Not yet," he muttered, frustration gnawing at him. He stood, pulling on his uniform with methodical precision. Today was another day at Advanced Nurturing High School, another day of blending in and observing. But every moment in this world felt like time wasted. His true goal—the regaining of his full power—was all that mattered.
As he walked to school, the world around him continued as normal. Students chatted animatedly on their way to class, unaware of the looming mysteries around them. Sasuke passed by without so much as a glance in their direction, his thoughts elsewhere. The seal was weakening, but there had to be a way to accelerate the process. His mind wandered over possible solutions—meditation, control, and perhaps even something in this world that could help break the seal. Whatever it took, he would regain his power.
His musings were interrupted as he arrived at school. The familiar voice over the speaker system crackled to life. "Attention, students. Today, we will be holding the annual Club Fair. All students are encouraged to attend and explore the clubs available. The event will begin shortly in the gymnasium."
Sasuke entered the classroom, finding Ayanokoji and Horikita already in their seats. The announcement of the Club Fair didn't seem to excite either of them, but it did spark a faint curiosity in Sasuke. Clubs were of little interest to him, but they might provide more opportunities to observe the students and the dynamics at play in this school.
Ayanokoji broke the silence. "Are either of you going to the Club Fair?" His question was directed at both Sasuke and Horikita, though his tone remained indifferent.
"I might," Horikita responded flatly, her attention focused on her notebook.
Sasuke, seated behind them, answered without much thought. "I'll go."
Horikita glanced at him, a bit surprised. Sasuke had shown little interest in socializing or participating in school activities thus far. Ayanokoji simply nodded in response. As usual, the exchange was brief, with none of them making more effort than necessary.
The gymnasium was packed by the time they arrived. Over 200 students were gathered for the Club Fair, ranging from first-years like Sasuke to third-years who clearly held more authority. The energy in the room was buzzing with excitement as students eagerly surveyed the various club booths set up around the space. Sasuke, however, remained impassive, scanning the faces around him with cold indifference.
A girl with short purple hair stepped up to the podium at the front of the gym. "Welcome to the Club Fair! My name is Tachibana, and I'll be explaining the different clubs available to you today," she said cheerfully. Her voice carried easily over the crowd, and for a moment, the attention of the students was focused on her as she explained the benefits of joining clubs.
Sasuke's mind drifted as she spoke. None of this mattered to him. His thoughts turned inward, focusing once again on the seal. The small progress he had made today was encouraging, but it wasn't enough. There had to be something—some way to speed up the process. He clenched his fists slightly, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.
His attention snapped back to the stage as the energy in the gym suddenly shifted. The atmosphere grew tense as a tall boy with glasses took the stage. He stood silently, surveying the room with an air of authority. Sasuke noticed the immediate difference in the crowd's reaction. Whispers began to spread among the first-years.
"Who's this guy?" one student whispered.
"He forgot what to say? Look at him just standing there," another mocked.
Sasuke observed silently as the tension in the room grew. The boy said nothing for thirty seconds, his gaze piercing through the crowd. Then, all at once, the whispers stopped. There was a pressure in the air—an invisible force that made everyone in the room take notice.
When the boy finally spoke, his voice was calm yet commanding. "I am Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President." His tone was soft but authoritative, the kind of voice that made people listen. "The Student Council is not for those who lack ability. Only those who can demonstrate true excellence will be considered."
The mocking whispers from earlier were gone. In their place, a silent reverence had taken over the gym. Horikita Manabu continued his brief speech, laying down the expectations for any student who dared to apply for the Student Council. When he finished, he left the stage just as quietly as he had arrived, but the impact of his presence lingered.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. The similarities between this boy and Horikita Suzune were too obvious to ignore. Their cold, calculated demeanor, the way they carried themselves—it was clear they were siblings. Sasuke filed this information away, though he doubted it would be of much importance. He was more focused on the strange, subtle power he had felt from Horikita Manabu. It wasn't chakra, but there was something about the boy's aura that demanded respect.
After the Club Fair ended, Sasuke parted ways with Ayanokoji and Horikita, leaving them to their conversations with Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo. He had no interest in their trivial banter about which clubs were worth joining. He walked back to his dorm, his mind once again on the seal that was holding back his power.
Entering his room, Sasuke sat on the bed and closed his eyes, immediately entering a state of meditation. His chakra flowed through his body, more fluidly now than it had before. With each passing day, the seal weakened, and today, it felt even closer to breaking. He could almost sense the Rinnegan stirring, though it was still out of reach.
As the hours passed in silent focus, Sasuke made a breakthrough. He could feel the threads of chakra beginning to slip through the cracks of the seal. His Mangekyo Sharingan activated, the familiar crimson pattern swirling in his eyes. For the first time in days, it didn't immediately cause strain. He held it for longer than usual, but soon enough, the familiar burning sensation began to creep in, and blood trickled from his eye.
"Still not enough," Sasuke muttered to himself, wiping the blood from his cheek.
He could also feel his body's healing process was slower than in the past. Here, in this world, he was weaker, his abilities diminished. Yet, with each day of meditation and focus, his chakra seemed to strengthen. If he could keep this up, it would only be a matter of time before the Rinnegan returned—and with it, the full scope of his power.
For now, Sasuke would remain patient. The seal was weakening, and soon, he would be ready to reclaim everything that had been taken from him.
And with that, Sasuke leaned back, his eyes focused on the ceiling. There was no need to rush. His power would return in time, and when it did, he would be prepared to face whatever mysteries this world held.