Naruto pouted, twisting his right arm experimentally, wishing he could reverse time and fix the mistakes of the morning. Despite his exhaustion from handstand walks and relentless Chakra Refining Technique practice, he felt a spark of determination.
At that precise moment, Uchiha Sasuke strolled past, hands buried casually in his pockets. His eyes were closed, his posture perfect, and he carried an air of arrogance that seemed to repel even the morning sun. Students lingered in his wake, stealing glances and whispering praises as if drawn to his aura.
"Hmph," Sasuke scoffed quietly, his voice slicing through Naruto's thoughts. "Diao Che Wei… do you really think you can achieve anything with such pitiful effort?"
Naruto froze. For a heartbeat, he processed the words, then his face contorted with anger, steam practically rising from his ears.
"Bastard Sasuke! What did you just say?!" He clenched his fists, flexing his useless right arm in frustration.
Sasuke merely grunted, a small smirk tugging at his lips, and continued on his path without so much as a glance backward.
"Damn it!" Naruto fumed, watching the retreating figure. "If my right hand weren't completely useless right now, I'd challenge you to a one-on-one fight, you know!"
Before he could dwell further, a rapid, earthquake-like thumping sounded behind him. Naruto turned to see Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka charging forward, their arms locked together like twins, moving in perfect unison. There was no hesitation, no slackening of pace—they refused to be separated by a single step.
"Sakura-chan…" Naruto whispered, his eyes instantly lighting up. The sight of her seemed to drive away every twinge of pain and fatigue he had felt during the morning's training.
However, before he could rush to greet her, Sakura's sharp voice cut through the air.
"Get out of my way, Naruto!"
Before he could even react, Sakura pushed him aside, knocking him to the ground. She then sprinted past, Ino in tow, as they both chased after Sasuke's departing figure.
Naruto rose to his feet, brushing off dust and debris, and gritted his teeth. "Every single one of them… they only ever look at Sasuke. Not me. Just… not me."
His fists tightened as he vowed, silently, "When I become Hokage, everyone will see me differently. Just wait!"
Rubbing his aching shoulder and arm, he trudged toward the Ninja Academy classroom. Class hadn't officially started, but clusters of students were already inside, laughing, teasing, and preparing for the day's lessons.
"Host detected…" The system's mechanical voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Yeah, I get it," Naruto muttered. "It's just Chakra Refining Technique again. I'll start immediately."
He had slowly begun to understand the system's rhythms. This time, he didn't wait for a warning or countdown. Instead, he proactively entered training mode, focusing his mind on the rhythmic flow of chakra throughout his body. His ability to refine chakra had already surpassed that of most of his peers. Without Kurama's previous interference, his efficiency had soared. Even now, Naruto could maintain the Chakra Refining Technique while allowing his mind to wander slightly—a mark of his growing mastery.
He muttered under his breath, "Top ten in one month… How is that even possible?"
Naruto's frustration was real. Even with the system's assistance, the goal seemed insurmountable. He understood the depths of his current abilities all too well. This awareness—self-awareness—was both a curse and a blessing.
Then, a spark of realization hit him. "Oh! I can ask someone for help with my studies. That's it! But… who should I ask?"
Naturally, the first person that came to mind was Sakura Haruno. Though Sasuke was undoubtedly the strongest in the class overall, Sakura's academic performance alone was unmatched. Plus… a small, mischievous smile spread across Naruto's face. He had a crush on her. Asking for her help might kill two birds with one stone.
Even though the class hadn't yet started, Naruto had already been practicing the Chakra Refining Technique for hours. This was his moment to make progress without interruption. Carefully, he approached Sakura, ensuring the system remained silent—no warnings were triggered.
"Um… Sakura, can I… can I ask you a favor?" Naruto said, pressing his hands together in a gesture of earnest pleading.
Sakura turned toward him, her usual composed expression softening slightly at his unusual nervousness. However, the moment Naruto's words left his mouth, a ripple of shock passed through the classroom. Students stopped talking mid-laugh, pens frozen mid-air.
"What's going on?" a classmate whispered.
Naruto scratched the back of his head, feeling his face grow hot. "Uh… well… I was wondering if you could help me with the lesson?"
Sakura blinked, taken aback, and for a fleeting moment, a hint of suspicion crossed her face. "Stop messing around, Naruto," she said sharply, folding her arms. "I will never like you!"
Before he could respond, she pivoted on her heel and strode away. Naruto froze mid-step, stunned into inaction.
A cold breeze swept the classroom, stirring papers and sending a white sheet fluttering to the floor. Naruto's plan, as perfect as he thought it was, had a fatal flaw: Sakura's stubbornness.
Crushed by the sudden rejection, Naruto's shoulders slumped. He trudged backward, a defeated rooster, head bowed, heart heavy.
Then, a soft, barely audible voice pierced his despair.
"Na… Naruto-kun…"
He looked up to see Hinata Hyuga standing hesitantly, her head bowed, her pale eyes cast downward. Her short hair barely moved in the light morning breeze. Fingers trembling, she fidgeted nervously, clearly struggling to speak.
"Hmm? What is it, Hinata?" Naruto asked, surprised.
Hinata's voice was barely a whisper. "I-I… if… if you really want private lessons…" She paused, chewing her lip nervously, "I-I can help you…"
Naruto froze mid-step. His eyes lit up, shining with sudden hope. He spun around to face her, a broad grin spreading across his face. "R-Really, Hinata?! You'd really help me?"
Hinata's face blazed crimson. She couldn't meet his gaze, but she gave a subtle nod, barely perceptible.
"That's amazing!" Naruto exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. Even though Hinata's grades weren't quite on Sakura's level, they were still impressive. With her help, he could finally avoid the system's impending "minor punishment."
"Thank you, Hinata!" Naruto said eagerly, stepping forward and reaching to take her hand.
Hinata gasped softly, her cheeks practically aflame. The heat in her ears spread to her entire body, making her head feel like it was about to explode.
"Ah—" she murmured, her voice trembling.
Naruto's eyes softened. "Hinata, are you okay?"
She glanced down at their clasped hands. A fleeting sense of relief passed through her chest, though a strange pang of embarrassment lingered. She looked up shyly, her voice barely audible: "N-Nothing…"
Naruto considered their plan. "Then we'll schedule lessons tomorrow morning. Where should we meet?"
Hinata hesitated. "I… I don't think my house will work…"
Naruto grinned. "No worries. Then come to my place! It's fine—you're helping me anyway."
Her small heart pounded wildly in her chest, nearly threatening to escape. She barely managed to nod, a shy, excited smile curling her lips.
In that moment, Naruto realized something important. No matter how fierce the competition, no matter how impossible the system's goals seemed, he had allies who cared—quiet, brave allies who were willing to stand by him.
As the sun rose higher over Konoha, Naruto felt a new surge of determination. Today wasn't just another day at the Academy—it was the start of something bigger. A chance to rise, to grow stronger, and perhaps, in his own way, to win not only in academics but in the hearts of those who mattered most.
The path ahead was long, and the challenges were formidable. But with Hinata's support—and his own unwavering spirit—Naruto knew he could take the first steps toward the impossible dream he carried in his chest: to become Hokage.
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