NOVEL WEB Chapter 17: The mysterious energy
Sasuke sat quietly, watching the interaction between Hirata and Horikita with a cold indifference. Hirata was doing his best to rally the class, to inspire unity and cooperation, but Sasuke could already see the cracks in his approach. It was admirable, perhaps, from an idealistic standpoint, but ultimately futile in Sasuke's eyes. This class was a mess, full of individuals who lacked the discipline to see beyond their immediate problems.
"Sorry, but can you ask someone else? I'm not very good at discussing things." Horikita's tone was sharp, her words cutting through Hirata's efforts like a blade.
Hirata, ever patient, tried again. "You don't have to force yourself to say anything in particular. It's good enough to just be there."
Horikita didn't even flinch. "I'm sorry, but I have no intention of meeting for a pointless reason."
Her words were calm but final, leaving no room for negotiation. Hirata, persistent as ever, made one last attempt. "I think this is our first trial as a united class. So—"
"I already refused. I'm not participating." Her voice was like ice—strong, unyielding. Despite understanding Hirata's position, she had no interest in playing along with his idealistic vision.
Hirata paused, clearly disappointed, but he wasn't the type to force his views on others. "I-is that so. Sorry... If you ever change your mind, please participate."
Horikita had already turned her attention elsewhere, her dismissal of Hirata complete. Sasuke observed her closely. *She doesn't even realize the main problem.* Her intelligence was evident, but her rigid nature and stubborn refusal to engage made her blind to the bigger picture. Sasuke found it... disappointing.
Meanwhile, Hirata shifted his attention to Sasuke, his expression brightening slightly. "Thank you for agreeing to help, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke merely glanced at him, his face devoid of any emotion. "Don't expect much. I'm not interested in the class or its future."
He said the words flatly, letting them hang in the air. Sasuke wasn't lying—he didn't care about the success of Class D or its unity. If someone from the class died tomorrow, it wouldn't affect him in the slightest. Still, there was no harm in staying close enough to observe. If this system had hidden advantages or secrets, he would uncover them in time. And if Hirata's plan happened to offer any benefits, he'd exploit those too.
As Sasuke's thoughts drifted, Ayanokoji's voice cut through the silence. "Why did you agree to help Hirata?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly, giving Ayanokoji a sideways glance. "It's for my own benefit," he said, his voice calm and direct.
Ayanokoji looked thoughtful, perhaps misinterpreting Sasuke's words. He likely assumed Sasuke wanted to rise to Class A, to elevate himself above the others. But Sasuke had no such ambition. The hierarchy of classes here meant nothing to him. If sasuke could read his thoughts, Sasuke would've laughed at the idea. His motivations were far beyond such trivial goals.
Hirata, now finished with his efforts, thanked Sasuke again before moving on to another group of students. Sasuke leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his mind already disengaged from the conversation.
"Wow, Hirata is pretty remarkable," Ayanokoji remarked, breaking the silence between them. "He was able to get everyone in action. It's not unusual to feel depressed by the situation."
Sasuke responded with a nonchalant "Hn," not bothering to offer more. Hirata's efforts were fine for someone like him—idealistic and hopeful. But in Sasuke's experience, such efforts rarely produced real results. Actions spoke louder than words, and Hirata's words, though well-intentioned, were just that—words.
Horikita, still seated nearby, chimed in with her own analysis. "That's one way to look at it. If you're good at solving problems with discussions, there won't be any difficulties. However, if a student that's not very smart tries to hold a discussion, it would probably descend into mayhem. I can't bring myself to accept the situation right now."
Her tone was calm but laced with frustration. Sasuke could sense that she, too, was grappling with the reality of their situation, though her pride prevented her from fully acknowledging it.
Ayanokoji, ever the observer, tilted his head slightly. "Bring yourself to accept the situation? What do you mean by that?"
Horikita's eyes flickered toward Ayanokoji but gave no direct response. She didn't seem to want to elaborate further, and Sasuke could feel the tension between them. It was clear that Horikita wasn't ready to admit the cracks in her own thinking. Like most people, she was more focused on her goals than the reality in front of her.
*They're all too focused on the surface,* Sasuke thought. The class system, the points, the rankings—it was all a distraction. They were trapped in this game, but Sasuke wasn't playing by their rules. He had his own objectives, and as long as the others remained blind to the bigger picture, they would never understand him.
As the conversation lulled, Sasuke glanced out the window, his mind wandering back to more important matters. His chakra, his past, the unknown forces that brought him here. There were far greater mysteries to solve than the petty concerns of Class D. But for now, he would play along—observe, analyze, and wait for the right moment to act.As the conversation between Ayanokoji, Horikita, and Hirata slowly came to an end, Sasuke turned his gaze away from them, his eyes drifting toward the window. The world outside was bathed in a soft glow, seemingly peaceful. But Sasuke's thoughts were far from tranquil. His mind wandered back to the previous night, the moment when he had attempted to unlock the full power of his Rinnegan once again.
He had managed to open it—for only fifteen seconds. It wasn't much, but in that brief span, he had learned something significant. As he looked around using his Rinnegan, Sasuke had immediately noticed how weak the chakra in this world was, far less potent than what he was used to in the ninja world. It was strange, almost unsettling, to be in a place so devoid of the energy that once flowed abundantly around him.
But there was something else. Just before his Rinnegan had closed, he detected other forms of energy as well—ones that didn't belong to chakra. One, in particular, stood out. It was subtle, not nearly as potent as chakra, but it was there, lurking in the background. This energy seemed to carry with it the negative emotions of the people around him, feeding off their fears, anxieties, and anger. It was an energy that felt *cursed*, unlike anything Sasuke had encountered before. It wasn't natural, and that intrigued him.
*What kind of world have I found myself in?* Sasuke thought. The discovery of this cursed energy was troubling. It wasn't strong enough to be a direct threat to him, but it felt wrong. Almost like a sickness that had infected the very air, tethered to the emotions of humanity. It was something he would have to investigate further.
His eyes flicked back to the inside of the classroom, catching sight of the class points displayed on the poster at the front. Class D's score was abysmal—zero points. The students around him were in disarray, still struggling to understand the gravity of their situation. Their chaotic, disorganized behavior didn't bode well for the future.
*Can this class really make it to Class A?* Sasuke wondered, though the question felt more rhetorical than anything. With the lack of teamwork, the constant squabbles, and the glaring absence of leadership, it seemed highly unlikely. This class was fractured, each person focused on their own survival. In his experience, groups like this fell apart quickly, and only those strong enough to rise above the chaos would survive.
Sasuke scoffed inwardly. Class A wasn't even a goal for him. He had no real interest in the school's arbitrary ranking system, but he was curious to see how far this class could fall. Watching their descent would provide valuable insight into the mechanisms of this world and its people.
*These people are weak,* he thought, a cold indifference settling over him. *They have no understanding of true power, of the real struggles that exist outside this artificial environment.*
And yet, despite himself, Sasuke couldn't fully discard the thought of Class D's potential. With the right manipulation, even this chaotic group might be turned into something useful. He didn't care about their success, but if playing along for now meant he could gather more information, then so be it.
The cursed energy he had sensed last night lingered in his thoughts. There was something about it that gnawed at him, a mystery he couldn't ignore. If it was connected to this world's structure, or if there were others out there who could wield it, Sasuke needed to know.
For now, though, he would continue observing. Playing the role of the silent outsider was nothing new to him.