Sasuke Uchiha's gaze lingered on Naruto, and a complex mixture of emotions churned within him. Seeing Naruto's weary but determined expression stirred something Sasuke could hardly name—a strange unease, a prickling in his chest.
"What the hell is this Diao Che Wei doing?" he muttered under his breath. "Does he really want to turn things around? Damn it…"
Though he appeared indifferent on the surface, Sasuke cared about Naruto more than anyone else, more than even Iruka could. Iruka, kind and understanding as he was, remained a teacher and an elder—never truly a peer. Hinata, despite her unwavering affection for Naruto, could not fully grasp the depth of his loneliness. Only Sasuke understood it completely.
He felt an unusual jealousy, not born from resentment but from recognition. Naruto, despite his hardships, could express himself freely. He could endure loneliness yet continue striving to be acknowledged, through laughter, mischief, or even the occasional failure. Sasuke, by contrast, was imprisoned by his pride, his cold genius, and the hatred buried deep within his heart. He could not reach the same freedom Naruto had.
And now, seeing Naruto working so hard, so desperately, Sasuke felt a spark—an electric tension that urged him to push himself even further. His pen trembled in his grasp, and with a sharp crack, it snapped under his tight fist.
Sakura, who had been quietly observing from the side, glanced at Naruto several times, noting the determination radiating from him. Hinata, meanwhile, secretly blushed, happy beyond words for Naruto.
"Come on, Naruto-kun…" she whispered softly.
Naruto crossed his arms, his expression a mixture of frustration and dissatisfaction. He would have smiled freely at such progress under different circumstances, but the system had imposed a harsh time limit: one month to improve his grades from the very bottom to the top ten of the class.
The goal felt absurd. Achieving it was almost akin to being told, "Go to the Hokage's office and challenge the Third Hokage to a duel!"
"I need to push even harder," Naruto muttered to himself, determination hardening in his eyes.
From that moment onward, Naruto immersed himself in the lessons. For the first time, he actively listened without any reminders from the system. During every break, he practiced the Chakra Refining Technique relentlessly. His intensity created an unusual aura in the classroom. Others instinctively gave him space, curious yet wary of this transformation.
Ding!
After ten consecutive lessons of complete focus, Naruto's body and mind reached a new threshold. The system rewarded his unprecedented effort with a newly unlocked ability: Knowledge Absorption.
The moment he realized it, Naruto froze, eyes wide. "Talent… Knowledge Absorption… even if I don't fully understand it, it feels like I've just leveled up!"
He immediately tested the new ability. Entering a state of full concentration, his chaotic thoughts organized themselves like a river clearing after years of stagnation. The feeling was euphoric, almost tangible, like a sudden release after prolonged tension. It was as if a stubborn blockage had been removed, leaving his mind crystal clear.
System: You have entered a state of full concentration. Knowledge Absorption skill activated. Mastery of Mathematics increased, proficiency +5.
Naruto practically glowed with excitement. "Five points! Unprecedented success!" he exclaimed, laughter bubbling up uncontrollably.
As the system prepared to initiate its next trial—a Lightning Release baptism—Naruto barely had time to react. Wait, can't I admit I was wrong first?! he thought, though the thought was quickly swept away by the thrill of discovery.
He soon realized that Knowledge Absorption wasn't limited to academic subjects. It could even apply to understanding Ninjutsu, his weakest area. The Clone Technique, one of the three basic Ninjutsu skills taught at the Ninja Academy, had always been his weakest link. Unlike the Transformation Technique or his special Sexy Technique, which were relatively stronger, the Clone Technique required precise Chakra control and refinement. Clones created were mere illusions, lacking physical form, and thus could not defend or attack—they were purely for distraction. Despite its simplicity, Naruto had struggled to master it.
Iruka-sensei began the next lesson with a clear and methodical explanation. "The Clone Technique is a basic Ninjutsu used to create an illusionary duplicate of your body. It requires a certain amount of refined Chakra and careful control."
"The hand seal sequence is Ram-Snake-Tiger. Focus your Chakra while visualizing a duplicate image of yourself. Then release the Chakra to manifest this illusion, as if you were reflecting in a mirror."
"Now, everyone, begin practicing. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
For the first time, Naruto's Knowledge Absorption kicked in fully. Every word of Iruka-sensei's explanation imprinted itself in his mind.
"Ram-Snake-Tiger hand seals… visualize yourself… refine Chakra…" he repeated aloud, understanding blooming like a light in his brain.
He immediately formed the hand seals and visualized his duplicate. Releasing his refined Chakra, a clone appeared instantly in the classroom.
But it tumbled to the ground, eyes rolling, tongue lolling comically, resembling a messy puddle rather than a skilled ninja. Laughter erupted around him, mocking the failed attempt.
Normally, Naruto would have been infuriated, ready to retort, but now he had no time for distractions. The system had set a strict task: perform the Clone Technique 300 times to fully master it.
"What?! Three hundred times?!" Naruto groaned. "Even if I have enough Chakra, my body won't survive that many repetitions!"
System Warning: Lightning Release baptism countdown: 5… 4… 3…
Exhausted, Naruto simply endured, performing the technique again and again. With each repetition, his movements grew more precise, more controlled. The clones began to appear less comically distorted and more like exact replicas of himself.
"Ram-Snake-Tiger… visualize… refine Chakra… Clone Technique!" he repeated, sweat dripping from his brow, but his eyes shone with unyielding determination.
After dozens of repetitions, his clones stabilized, maintaining form and balance. Even Iruka-sensei, observing from the front, could not hide a small vein of astonishment.
"Naruto… is this… your true potential?" he muttered quietly.
By the time he reached the final repetitions, Naruto's proficiency had increased visibly. The chaotic energy that once plagued his clones had been refined into precision. The system confirmed: Clone Technique mastery +1.
Naruto laughed breathlessly, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Yes! Finally… progress!"
His classmates looked on in stunned silence. The boy who had once been the laughingstock of the academy had transformed into a diligent, focused, and improving ninja before their very eyes. Even Sasuke, who had watched silently from afar, felt a pang of both irritation and grudging admiration.
Hinata's small smile never faded, and Sakura glanced at him with a mixture of surprise and cautious respect. The seeds of change were planted, and Naruto was finally beginning to realize that his hard work, determination, and the support of those around him could truly transform him.
This was more than just mastering techniques. It was a tangible step toward the impossible—a future where Naruto could rise above his limitations, his classmates' expectations, and even the system's punishing trials.
The first lesson was over, but the journey had only begun. For Naruto, every repetition, every drop of sweat, and every effort to refine his Chakra brought him closer to the Hokage he had always dreamed of becoming.
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