Uzumaki Naruto continued his practice of the Chakra Refining Technique, pushing himself until the stroke of midnight before he finally heard the System's long-awaited prompt...
[Today's eight-hour Chakra Refining Technique practice is now complete.]
[Today's Chakra increase: 9 points. Current total Chakra: 23 points.]
*THUD—*
Naruto collapsed onto his bed, too exhausted to even muster a complaint.
"Only 23 points?" Hearing the System's notification, Naruto said with a look of utter despair.
[The host is merely a Ninja Academy student; 23 points of Chakra is already quite an excellent amount.]
[Ordinary Ninja Academy students only possess around 10 points of Chakra.]
[A Genin, at most, has 100 points.]
[A Chunin possesses several hundred to a thousand points.]
[Only a Jonin can surpass the thousand-point mark.]
[Of course, this is just the most common state; exceptionally talented individuals are not included in this category.]
A spark of pride ignited in Naruto's chest. *'So that's how it is… My 23 points of chakra already put me ahead of most academy students! This could be considered my own special talent, right?!'*
[Today's practice schedule has been successfully concluded.]
[Current attributes are as follows…]
**Host:** Uzumaki Naruto
**Age:** 10 years old
**Identity:** Konoha Ninja Academy student
**Chakra:** 23 points
**Ninjutsu:**
* Clone Technique (16/100)
* Transformation Technique (59/100)
* Substitution Technique (31/100)
* Chakra Refining Technique (61/100)
**Taijutsu:**
* Basic Taijutsu (43/100)
* Shuriken Technique (41/100)
**Academic Subjects:**
* Physics (28/100)
* Chemistry (19/100)
* Mathematics (20/100)
* Literature (42/100)
* History (36/100)
* Calligraphy (49/100)
* Biology (44/100)
* Ninja Ethics (26/100)
Looking at the data, Naruto felt a wave of shame. These scores were downright pathetic.
"Hmm… Besides my chakra being a bit higher than the others, only the Chakra Refining Technique is passing… and that was only because the System forced me to improve it today. It seems I really am the dead last of the class!"
Just then.
[Proper sleep is the foundation for all progress. Host, please enter sleep mode immediately. Otherwise, you will receive the baptism of Lightning Release!]
Naruto yelped, "Ahhh! How can I possibly sleep when I keep thinking I'm about to get electrocuted! At least be reasonable!"
[Host, please at least enter a state of preparing for sleep. Stop overthinking, and clear your mind…]
Well, that was at least more reasonable than being directly forced to sleep. Naruto immediately closed his eyes, forcing himself to think of nothing. And indeed, after a day of pure exhaustion, he quickly fell into a deep and heavy sleep.
Naruto slept more soundly than he ever had before. However, he would occasionally shiver violently in his sleep, as if he was dreaming of the baptism of Lightning Release...
The next morning, at exactly six o'clock, the System's voice, as precise as any alarm clock, rang out in Naruto's mind.
[Sleep has reached the required six hours. Host, please get up immediately and prepare to begin today's training!]
Naruto groaned, "...Ah, it's only six o'clock? I'm begging you, just let me sleep a little longer…"
[Warning! Countdown to the baptism of Lightning Release…]
"...I'm awake, I'm awake!"
Naruto could only helplessly rub his sleepy eyes, let out a huge yawn, throw back his covers, and crawl out of bed.
[Host, please wash up immediately, prepare a nutritious and balanced breakfast, and finish eating it within half an hour!]
Naruto didn't say a word. He had already learned his lesson and no longer dared to challenge the System, immediately complying with the order. Fortunately, having prepared everything the night before, he had some experience and wasn't nearly as flustered. After a rushed meal, he finally completed everything within the half-hour time limit.
Naruto was now ready to head to the Ninja Academy to start a new day of learning.
[A new day brings a new beginning, and with it, a new schedule.]
[Today is also a day full of potential.]
[Host, please continue to work hard and persevere. After the first day's assessment, a small goal has been set for you…]
[Please achieve a top-ten ranking among the fifty students in the class assessment one month from now.]
[If you fail, you will face a small punishment!]
Naruto almost choked on his own spit.
"Top… top ten?! You might as well just electrocute me to death right now! How is that even possible, you idiot!"
It was no wonder Naruto burst out like that. To go from being the bottom of the entire class to a top-ten ranking in just one month… it was simply an impossible dream!
But the System remained as cold and unforgiving as ever.
[Detected that it is time for the host to go to school. Please proceed to the Ninja Academy immediately, by walking on your hands!]
Naruto's eye twitched. "…Frog jumps with weights after school, and walking on my hands to school, is that it? You're being cruel damn system? Afraid my legs can't take it, so you're tormenting my arms instead, right?!"
Although he was complaining wildly in his heart, he had no choice but to obey. He suddenly flipped into a headstand, walking on his hands and gritting his teeth as he headed towards the Ninja Academy.
"Hmph, so what if I have to walk on my hands? What's the big deal! This level of difficulty is nothing to me, the man who will become Hokage!"
[Host's method of walking on hands is incorrect. Please immediately switch to walking on one hand!]
Naruto froze. "…Huh?! Are you serious?!"
[Warning! Countdown to the baptism of Lightning Release…]
"…I'll switch, I'll switch right away!"
Naruto gritted his teeth, painstakingly shifting his body's center of gravity to one side. He then cautiously lifted one hand, wobbling and trembling with the effort. Although he could barely maintain his balance, trying to walk all the way to the Ninja Academy on one hand was another matter entirely.
*Bang—*
*Thump!*
Such strange behavior naturally, once again, drew widespread discussion. Pedestrians couldn't help but point at him and retreat a few steps.
"That kid really has gone crazy…"
"What is he doing now? Is he trying to attract attention this way?"
"Hmph, he really is a strange one!"
Naruto had no mental energy to pay attention to the passersby's chatter at this moment. His face was flushed crimson, his teeth bared, as he concentrated all his mental and physical energy into his right arm, exerting every ounce of his strength just to keep from falling.
Sweat continuously dripped down, falling onto the soil of Konoha Village.
*Whoosh—*
He finally, finally reached the Ninja Academy. Naruto no longer cared about the strange looks from the crowd. He stood up, feeling as if his entire right arm no longer belonged to him.
[Host has completed the one-handed handstand walk to the Ninja Academy for the first time. Stamina +1.]