The morning sunlight streamed brightly through the window, illuminating the room with a warm glow. Outside, cicadas chirped lazily in the summer heat, and sparrows flitted cheerfully between branches. Summer had officially arrived in Konoha.
Naruto sat across from Hinata, surrounded by scattered books, notes, and a few small trinkets he had brought into his study space. His foundation in academics was practically nonexistent—a blank slate. Yet, despite the challenges, his potential was limitless. Private lessons seemed nearly impossible, given how much he lacked at the start.
But Hinata's patience seemed endless. Even when Naruto struggled to understand the simplest concepts, she continued explaining with gentle care, her soft, shy smile never faltering.
"I'm sorry, Hinata… am I really this stupid?" Naruto asked, scratching his head in frustration.
Hinata shook her head gently. "No, Naruto-kun. I never thought that about you…"
"Really?" Naruto asked, eyes wide.
Hinata's cheeks flushed faintly, and after a brief pause, she whispered softly, "I… I've actually always admired you, Naruto-kun."
"Admir… me? For what?" Naruto asked, tilting his head curiously.
Hinata looked down, her hands nervously clasping each other. "Naruto-kun is always so optimistic, cheerful, and full of energy. No matter how others treat you or what they say, you never lose your courage. You don't let ridicule affect you, and you never give up, even when facing a genius like Sasuke."
Naruto stared at her small, earnest face. He opened his mouth to respond, but hesitated, unsure how to reply.
"H-Hinata… I'm not actually as good as you say," he admitted honestly. "It's not that I don't care what others think… I just… I can't really explain it. I just want to prove myself and show that I'm capable to everyone who looks down on me."
Hinata's eyes softened, and she smiled slightly. "That's why you're so amazing, Naruto-kun…"
Naruto felt his heart skip a beat. Hinata's words, gentle and sincere, made his chest flutter in a way he didn't expect.
"H-Hinata… it's like you're telling me all this for the first time," he said, slightly awed.
Hinata's face turned even redder. She lowered her gaze, voice barely above a whisper. "That's… that's what I've always wanted to tell you, Naruto-kun. Maybe you don't remember, but… once, when I was being bullied by bad kids, it was you who stood up for me and protected me…"
Naruto rubbed his chin, trying to recall the memory. "Hmm… was that really me?"
Hinata nodded, smiling. "Of course. Ever since that day… I've always tried to look out for you, Naruto-kun. Your strength, your optimism, your perseverance—they've always motivated me to keep improving myself."
For someone sensitive, Hinata's words would have sounded like a confession. Naruto, however, simply crossed his arms proudly, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Is that so? Heh! I do look really great, don't I?"
Hinata nodded gently. "Yes… of course."
Naruto's confidence surged, and suddenly, his expression shifted as a thought struck him.
"Ah! I almost forgot!" he exclaimed. "I got my first skill yesterday—Knowledge Absorption!"
Hinata blinked, confused. Naruto leaned forward slightly, his tone brimming with determination.
"Hinata, I'm going to focus with all my strength now! Don't be surprised!"
Although Hinata didn't fully understand, she nodded in agreement. "O-Okay…"
As Naruto entered a state of full concentration using his Knowledge Absorption ability, the effect was immediate. Every explanation Hinata gave suddenly became crystal clear to him. Concepts that had been confusing before now clicked effortlessly. Not only could he understand, but he could also apply the knowledge to similar problems on his own.
Hinata, watching silently, felt both surprised and pleased. Naruto's growth, even in a single morning, far exceeded what she expected.
The entire morning passed in quiet concentration. The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting warm rays over the pair as they studied.
Finally, Hinata looked up. "Naruto-kun… I… I only took half a day off. It's time for me to return home."
"You took the day off? Isn't it the weekend?" Naruto asked in surprise.
Hinata shrugged slightly, a small frown on her delicate face. "Yes… I asked my father for permission. But I have a lot of training to do this afternoon, so I probably won't be able to continue tutoring you today. If another opportunity comes up, I'll let you know in advance."
Naruto, always slow to catch on, finally understood. He scratched his head and chuckled dryly. "You're right… I can't just think of myself. Hinata has to train too."
"But… you're really just going to leave?" Naruto asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "I haven't even said thank you yet!"
Hinata stood and walked toward the door. Turning, her cheeks flushed, she offered a shy smile and a small wave.
"No… there's no need, Naruto-kun. I've already received the best thank you gift."
With that, she turned and left. Her hurried steps on the stairs echoed like a nervous little rabbit, leaving Naruto watching from the window, holding her sun hat, a faint look of surprise crossing his face.
"Hinata…" he muttered, his tone soft. "She's… different from anyone I know… besides Iruka-sensei, she's the only one who's treated me with such care…"
Despite his thick skin, Naruto was acutely aware of who treated him kindly. He smiled to himself. When I go to school, I'll make sure to properly show Hinata my gratitude.
Meanwhile, the system chimed in, its mechanical voice cutting through Naruto's thoughts:
"Congratulations, host! After this morning's private lesson, measurable progress has been made in all academic areas."
Naruto grinned, not needing the system to confirm it. He could feel how much he had learned, how his understanding had increased dramatically. Hinata's patient explanations, combined with his Knowledge Absorption skill and his own determination, made this morning nearly equivalent to half a year of independent study.
Checking his academic skill stats, Naruto saw the proof of his rapid growth:
Physics: 48/100
Chemistry: 39/100
Mathematics: 40/100
Language Arts: 52/100
History: 46/100
English: 58/100
Biology: 52/100
Ethics: 44/100
Ninja Principles: 52/100
Compared to his starting scores of twenty or thirty points in most subjects, this was an impressive transformation. Most of his subjects had increased by 10 to 20 points, a huge leap for someone who had previously struggled.
Although Naruto might not yet be in the top ten academically, he was no longer at the very bottom of the class. His confidence surged as he yawned and stretched. The system had been reasonable today, making no interruptions and refraining from issuing any Lightning Release warnings during the session.
Even though academic studies were mentally exhausting compared to practicing the Clone Technique three hundred times, Naruto found a sense of satisfaction in his progress.
Looking at the sun directly overhead, the system chimed once more:
"Host, it is now lunchtime. Please prepare a meal for yourself immediately."
Naruto eagerly cooked a hearty meal and finished it quickly, musing to himself: Maybe next time I'll invite Hinata to eat with me…
No sooner had he finished than the system's voice returned.
"Host, now that you've completed your academic studies for the morning, it's time to proceed to the Konoha Village Ninja Training Grounds for Taijutsu practice."
"Taijutsu?" Naruto asked, intrigued. He didn't hesitate. He cleaned up the space, changed into proper training attire, and headed toward the training grounds.
Before he could even arrive, a sudden, fierce noise stopped him in his tracks.
Pat, pat, pat—pat, pat, pat!
"What… an earthquake?" Naruto whispered nervously. Pushing aside the bushes, he peeked cautiously.
Ahead, a man with bright orange hair and thick eyebrows was furiously attacking a wooden post—punching, kicking, and grinding his teeth as though burning with pure determination.
"Wow… he's terrifying," Naruto muttered, taken aback. "Does he really have to go that far?"
The system chimed in once more, bluntly.
"Host, Taijutsu training today is simple. You just need to work slightly harder than Rock Lee in front of you."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Huh??"
"Do you want me to die?!", he muttered under his breath, realizing the intensity of the challenge ahead.
---