In the forest, an axe wreathed in orange-red flames cut through the cool morning air, precisely severing a dry tree branch.
The broken branch showed scorch marks, yet no sparks remained.
Sasuke retracted the axe, exhaling a warm, white breath.
Three months ago, he couldn't even make a wooden sword spark; now, he could make flames briefly cling to the axe blade.
Moreover, his physical capabilities had greatly improved. In his original world, chakra could only be used to cast ninjutsu or help ninja traverse various terrains.
But with the addition of breathing techniques, it seemed different.
With each of Sasuke's breaths, chakra flowed throughout his body, nourishing it.
Though slow, it was steady and continuous. After three months, Sasuke's body was much stronger than before, roughly reaching the level of a teenager.
He bent down to pick up the fallen branch, carefully placing it in the bamboo basket on his back.
"Looks like I can still fit five or six more."
Sasuke muttered to himself, his obsidian-like eyes scanning the surrounding trees.
This basket was still too small, or rather, he was still too small; at 8 years old, he could only carry a basket of this size.
Spring had just arrived, and many trees had sprouted new buds, but there were still many dead branches from last winter that needed clearing.
This was something Yoriichi had taught him—when gathering firewood, only take dead branches and do not harm living wood.
The axe swung out again, this time the flames were even brighter.
Sasuke felt the heat flow generated by his breathing within his body, rising from his dantian and flowing along a specific path to his right arm. The axe blade cut through the air, emitting a faint hum.
"Sun Breathing, Modified: Branch Cutter."
This was a variation Sasuke had devised himself.
The Sun Breathing taught by Yoriichi was originally a sword technique for combat, but Sasuke found that as long as he controlled the temperature and range of the flames, it could perfectly be used for daily chores.
The flames could not only cut branches but also instantly char the cut surface, preventing sap loss.
The basket was quickly filled.
Sasuke wiped the sweat from his forehead and tucked the axe back into his waist.
The basket was already full, but he estimated that this firewood would only last the family about five days.
Shi was recently pregnant and needed more hot water; Yoriichi also enjoyed a hot bath to relieve fatigue after a day of farming.
"I should chop some more," Sasuke murmured to himself, "I can also sell it as charcoal."
Although the basket was full, he could still pile some wood on top and tie it down with some bark, and it wouldn't fall off.
He remembered the price of charcoal at the market when he went to town to sell herbs with Yoriichi a few days ago.
Though cheap, if accumulated slowly, it would be a considerable income.
In another ten months, the child in Shi's womb would be born, and the family would need more savings.
The corners of Sasuke's mouth unconsciously turned up—he could also share the burden with his adoptive parents, which made him feel quite proud.
Three months ago, he was still consumed by the hatred of the Uchiha clan's annihilation, only thinking of getting stronger for revenge and fearing the unfamiliar world.
Now, what he thought about every day was how to help Shi with more housework and how to make Yoriichi worry less.
This kind of peaceful life was something he had never experienced in his original world.
Sasuke took a deep breath, preparing to continue chopping wood.
Suddenly, his ears caught an unnatural rustling from the bushes in the distance.
It wasn't an animal's sound—it was the sound of a blade chopping through plants, accompanied by heavy breathing.
Sasuke immediately held his breath, his body leaping lightly like a cat behind a large tree.
He closed his eyes and concentrated. Although chakra was difficult to refine in this world, after three months of breathing technique training, his five senses were far superior to ordinary people's.
"Thirty paces away... one person... injured..." Sasuke judged the person's condition by their breathing.
The person's breathing was erratic, their footsteps heavy, and they occasionally let out painful groans.
Sasuke cautiously peered out, observing through the gaps in the leaves.
A man in tattered armor was using a samurai sword to cut through the obstructing bushes, his face covered in blood and anger.
A bulging money bag hung from the man's waist, and fresh blood stained his blade.
"Damn it... those bastards..." the man cursed through gritted teeth, "They want me to go die... Hehe, fat chance! This should be the village below, right? Then I can scare those stupid farmers and get rice and money."
"Maybe I can even play with their wives, ha ha ha..."
Sasuke's eyes instantly turned cold.
He gently set down his basket and took off his axe.
For three months, Yoriichi had not only taught him breathing techniques but also lessons on how to be a person.
The most important of these was: power is for protecting important people.
The man was getting closer and closer to the village, and Sasuke's wooden house was directly in his path.
Although his father could easily kill this man.
But his mother was pregnant now and absolutely must not be startled. Sasuke stepped out from behind the tree, blocking the man's path.
"Please stop here." Sasuke's voice was calm, unlike an eight-year-old's, "You are not welcome there."
The man was stunned, clearly not expecting a child to suddenly appear in the remote mountains.
He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Sasuke—black hair, black eyes, dressed in simple linen clothes, holding an ordinary axe.
The only thing not ordinary was the child's gaze, terrifyingly calm.
"Where did this brat come from? But since you're here, lead the way! Take me to your house, I'm starving right now!"
The man brandished his samurai sword, blood drops from the blade splattering onto the surrounding leaves, "Hurry up and lead the way, or I'll cut you down right now!"
Sasuke did not get angry.
He pulled out two dry biscuits from his pocket, which Shi had prepared for him that morning, and threw them at the man's feet.
"Take these and leave. I've already told you once."
The man looked down at the dry biscuits, then looked up at Sasuke, the fierce light in his eyes intensifying.
"You little brat, how dare you speak to a samurai lord like that?" He advanced two steps, "Do you have any money on you? Hand it all over!"
Sasuke noticed that the man limped slightly on his right leg when he walked, and the bloodstains on his armor were still fresh.
This was either a deserter or a bandit.
"Whose blood is on you?" Sasuke suddenly asked.
The man grinned, revealing his uneven, yellowed teeth.
"A clumsy woodcutter. I told him to lead the way, but he tried to run." He gestured with his sword across his neck, "So I cut off his head and sent him happily to meet the King of Hell!"
Sasuke's eyes completely turned cold. In his original world, he had seen too many evil people like this.
On the night the Uchiha clan was annihilated, the eyes of those Anbu ninja were exactly like this man's—full of disregard for life.
"Whether what you say is true or false," Sasuke slowly raised his axe, "you are too dangerous."
The man burst out laughing, not taking the child seriously at all.
"What? You want to chop me with that broken axe? Come on, you little bastard!"