Iruka's voice was firm. "If you know you lack natural talent, then you must work even harder!"
"Will skipping class and playing pranks every day make you any stronger?!"
Uzumaki Naruto was taken aback. He knew, deep down, that Iruka-sensei genuinely cared for him.
But… "Iruka-sensei, I really, really have been trying my absolute best!"
"Maybe, I really am just too stupid…"
"I was destined to be a last-place loser from the day I was born…"
Iruka drew a deep breath and gently placed a hand on his head.
"No, Naruto. I know you have potential, and you can definitely become a better ninja."
"I also know you're trying, but I hope you can push just a little bit harder, be a bit more diligent. Maybe then, things will start to change…"
Naruto looked up, his expression blank as he stared at Iruka.
"If I try hard... will I really get stronger?"
Iruka's expression faltered slightly. He couldn't bring himself to lie to Naruto.
"In the world of ninja, hard work doesn't always guarantee success, but…"
"If you don't work hard, there's no hope at all. Even if you are a genius. Do you think Sasuke doesn't train himself?"
Uzumaki Naruto understood what Iruka was trying to say. He clenched his fists with renewed determination.
"Alright, Iruka-sensei, I will work hard!"
A small smile touched Iruka Umino's lips. He patted Naruto's head again and said softly, "I believe in you, Naruto."
Naruto's nose stung, and tears welled in his eyes. Iruka-sensei… he was the only person in the entire world who acknowledged him… He couldn't bear the thought of disappointing him… "I understand, Iruka-sensei!"
"Starting today, I'll put in ten, no, a hundred times more effort!"
"I will never let you down!"
Just then.
[Uzumaki Naruto, detecting your desperate resolve to become stronger, the Roll to Hokage System is loading…]
[Three…]
[Two…]
[One!]
[Binding successful!]
[Roll to Hokage Schedule Plan generating…]
Uzumaki Naruto was completely dumbfounded.
"Roll... Roll to Hokage System?" he muttered. "What in the world is that?!"
Back in the Ninja Academy classroom, Uzumaki Naruto was uncharacteristically silent. The voice that had suddenly appeared inside his mind had left him utterly terrified.
He wanted to ask Iruka-sensei about it, but no matter how hard he tried, the words about the "System" wouldn't come out. It was as if the System itself was preventing him from speaking.
"Hmm…"
Uzumaki Naruto sat at his desk, arms crossed and head down, squinting as he racked his brain about the strange changes happening to him.
"What exactly is this… System?" he couldn't help but ask aloud.
A cold, mechanical voice immediately responded inside his mind.
[A System is a program designed to help its host achieve certain desires. As long as the host follows the System's rules, unimaginable and generous rewards can be obtained.]
[This System is named the Roll to Hokage System. As its name implies, it can assist the host in surpassing all rivals and realizing the dream of becoming Hokage much sooner.]
Uzumaki Naruto didn't grasp all the details, but the phrase "realize the dream of becoming Hokage sooner" was like a brilliant light that instantly illuminated his entire mind!
"I see! You mean, you can actually help me become Hokage?!"
[Yes.]
"That's incredible! Then, then I'll definitely do whatever you say! But... what do I need to do?"
Uzumaki Naruto was completely overjoyed, his entire body trembling slightly with raw excitement.
[The host only needs to train according to the schedule established by this System.]
"It's that simple?"
[Yes.]
"It's really that easy?"
[Yes.]
"Then what are we waiting for! Let's get started now!"
[Yes.]
[The host has officially activated this System. Scanning current attributes. The first training plan has been successfully generated based on your current attributes. The training assistance protocol has officially launched…]
[Detecting that the host is currently in the academic lesson phase of the schedule.]
[Please, host, concentrate all your energy and pay full attention to understand all of the knowledge being taught.]
[Any violation will result in the Baptism of Lightning Release from this System.]
Uzumaki Naruto blinked. "…The Baptism of Lightning Release? What's that?"
The next moment.
*Rumble—*
*Boom!*
A powerful surge of Lightning Release appeared from thin air, erupting violently and slamming directly into Naruto!
The intense, searing pain immediately caused Uzumaki Naruto to let out a hysterical scream!
"Ah ah ah ah ah—"
However, this so-called "Baptism of Lightning Release" was entirely invisible to everyone else. So, to the teacher and students in the classroom, it just looked like Naruto had suddenly gone mad and started screaming.
Iruka-sensei, who was in the middle of his lecture, could not help but sigh deeply.
"Naruto! What are you doing? Sit properly in my class!"
Uzumaki Naruto felt like he had been electrocuted until he was charred on the outside and jelly on the inside, yet he couldn't explain his suffering. He could only slump back into his seat, shaking his head with great difficulty, looking completely defeated.
"N-nothing…"
Iruka-sensei couldn't help but rub his own forehead in frustration.
"Naruto, this is your final chance. If you shout and disrupt the class one more time, I will make you stand in the hallway!"
Ordinarily, Naruto would not have cared at all. Standing in the hallway was fine by him; he wouldn't have to listen to this boring lesson anymore! Sometimes, he even got to see Akimichi Choji and Nara Shikamaru out there, two guys he could "suffer together" with. For Naruto, those two were some of his only companions.
The greatest friendships between boys might be forged through making mistakes and being punished together. Sometimes, Naruto even suspected that Iruka-sensei deliberately sent the three of them to the hallway together just so he'd have a chance to make some friends.
But now, Naruto didn't dare talk back to Iruka-sensei at all. Because... if he was sent to the hallway, it would undoubtedly mean he wasn't "fully concentrating on the lesson"! The "Baptism of Lightning Release" would almost certainly descend upon him again!
Having just experienced that agony, Uzumaki Naruto wanted absolutely nothing to do with it a second time… "Yes! Iruka-sensei! I will definitely listen carefully!"
Iruka-sensei was taken completely by surprise.
*'That Naruto... why is he acting so strangely today?'*
*'Normally, he would have just argued back without a single care in the world…'*
Iruka thought.
Still, for Iruka, this sudden change was at least a good thing.
*'Could it be that my words from earlier finally had an effect on him?'*
Iruka nodded in relief, a warm feeling swelling up inside his chest.
The other students, however, simply frowned at the display.
Uchiha Sasuke shot a casual glance toward Naruto, his face impassive, but a hint of puzzlement was in his eyes.
Sakura Haruno paid no mind; she just continued to stare dreamily at Sasuke with her chin resting in her hand.
Akimichi Choji, who was secretly sneaking potato chips from his desk and quietly munching on them, was also surprised by Naruto's behavior.
"Shikamaru, what's up with Naruto?"
"Did he have a complete personality change or something?"
However, Nara Shikamaru was already sound asleep.
Akimichi Choji glanced over at his friend, shook his head helplessly, then popped another potato chip into his mouth, chewing it quietly...
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Naruto was gasping for breath.
"Full concentration... I have to concentrate…"
"Damn it! How am I supposed to concentrate fully, dattebayo!"
The System, however, offered no hints, its mechanical, cold voice simply continuing.
[Please, host, listen and learn with full concentration. Otherwise, you will receive the Baptism of Lightning Release from the System…]
[Warning, countdown 5… 4… 3…]
"Aah! I know, I know!" Naruto yelled internally. "Just don't baptize me again!"
Uzumaki Naruto frantically grabbed his head with both hands, forcing his eyes wide open to stare intently at what Iruka-sensei was writing on the blackboard…
"The trajectory of a shuriken's flight is a typical parabola." Iruka continued his lecture.