My name is Uchiha Sasuke, and my mood right now is very complicated. Watching Naruto's exasperated expression, I feel an inexplicable irritation welling up inside me.
*'What in the world is that dead last trying to pull?'*
*'Does he really think he can turn things around?'*
*'Damn it…'*
Uchiha Sasuke, who outwardly looked down on Naruto with disdain, was actually the one who paid him the most attention. Even Iruka, who could empathize with and understand Naruto, was ultimately an elder and a teacher, not a peer of the same age. Even Hinata, despite her immense fondness for Naruto, could never fully comprehend the depths of his loneliness.
Only him.
He understood Naruto, and even… envied him. Because even though Naruto was lonely, he could express himself freely. Whether it was through playing pranks or being disliked by others, he never gave up his desperate efforts to gain recognition.
But Sasuke couldn't do that. His coldness, his pride, his genius, and the all-consuming hatred buried deep within his heart had become a cocoon that bound him, preventing him from ever breaking free.
Both of them had lost everything. Yet, Naruto possessed a fiery passion that Sasuke could never have. And he, in turn, possessed a natural talent that Naruto could not hope to achieve.
But now, even Naruto was starting to work hard. And when Sasuke's own excellence felt threatened, it sent a subtle, sensitive, and intense stimulation through him. He couldn't quite articulate this feeling himself. It only transformed into a powerful driving force, pushing him to work even harder.
The pen in Sasuke's hand trembled slightly, and with a forceful squeeze of his palm, it snapped with a sharp 'crack' sound…
Sakura, who had been silently observing Sasuke, couldn't help but glance at Naruto a couple of times. When she turned back at the sound of Sasuke's pen breaking, she only saw a slightly distorted, pained expression on his face.
"Sasuke…"
Sakura didn't understand why; of course, she couldn't possibly comprehend Sasuke's current state of mind.
Hinata's face was slightly flushed, and she secretly rejoiced for Naruto in her heart.
*'Naruto-kun, g-go for it…'*
Naruto sat down, his arms crossed, fuming and thoroughly dissatisfied. To be honest, if this had happened before, with such progress, Naruto would have had a grin splitting his face from ear to ear.
But not now. The time limit set by the System was one month! One month to raise his grades from the very bottom of the class to the top ten! What was the difference between that and telling him to go to the Hokage's Office and snatch the hat of gramps for himself. Scratch that. Naruto could have pulled that off but this task seems more absurb than that.
"It seems I still need to push myself even harder!"
For the next few classes, Naruto, for the first time without the System even needing to remind him, actively and attentively listened to every lecture. During the break times, he also unhesitatingly devoted himself to practicing the Chakra Refining Technique. This unusual sight had now become a strange fixture in the classroom, causing everyone to instinctively keep their distance, yet still watch him with a sense of morbid curiosity.
Until…
*Ding!*
[The host has maintained a state of complete concentration for ten consecutive classes and has gained a new ability: Knowledge Absorption!]
[Once in a state of complete concentration, the ability to absorb and process knowledge will be greatly increased!]
Naruto was stunned for a moment, then his mouth dropped open and his eyes lit up with excitement.
"An ability! Knowledge Absorption! Although I don't totally get it, it sounds like I've become even more amazing!"
He immediately tried it out. In the subsequent classes, once he entered a state of complete concentration, his mind, which was usually a jumbled, chaotic mess, suddenly opened up with startling clarity! This feeling was indescribable. It was like a river that had been blocked for over ten years had suddenly been cleared. Or like a chronic case of constipation suddenly, completely, and uncontrollably resolving itself… one could only describe it as an epiphany, an enlightenment!
[You have entered a state of complete concentration. The Knowledge Absorption ability has been activated. Your mastery of [Mathematics] has increased, proficiency +5.]
Naruto was practically beaming with joy.
"5 points! That's huge compared to before! Ahahaha…"
[Detection: The host has exited the state of complete concentration and is about to receive a Lightning Release baptism from the System.]
[Warning countdown: 5…]
Naruto yelped, "…Can't I just admit I was wrong?!"
Moreover, Naruto discovered that the ability of this [Knowledge Absorption] entry wasn't just for his academic subjects. It could even be applied to understanding Ninjutsu!
This particular class happened to be on the Clone Technique, which was Naruto's absolute weakest area. The Clone Technique is one of the three basic ninjutsu taught at the Ninja Academy. Relatively speaking, it isn't very difficult. The clones it creates have no physical form, only illusions, so they cannot be used for attack or defense, but only for luring enemies. Of course, also because they lack physical form and realism, they can easily be seen through by any ninja with strong perception.
Naruto's Clone Technique had always been the weakest of the Three Basic Techniques. His Transformation Technique was relatively stronger; he had even developed his own unique ninjutsu from it. That was the ninja world's greatest divine technique, the Sexy Jutsu, which had even defeated the progenitor of chakra, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya! But the Clone Technique… Naruto still found it incredibly difficult to master.
On the podium, Iruka-sensei was speaking eloquently.
"The Clone Technique is a basic ninjutsu that involves refining and controlling a certain amount of chakra to create an illusion identical to the user's body, used to deceive enemies."
"The hand seal sequence for the Clone Technique is Ram—Snake—Tiger."
"While forming the hand seals, you must manipulate and control your chakra, form an image of yourself in your mind, and then create it, as if you were pulling your own reflection out of a mirror."
"Alright, everyone, start practicing now! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
In the state of [Knowledge Absorption], Naruto, for the first time, truly absorbed every single thing Iruka-sensei said about the Clone Technique.
*'Hand seal sequence Ram-Snake-Tiger, imagine my own image in my mind, control chakra to create it… Ah ha! I get it!'*
Naruto immediately began forming the hand seals with both hands, while an image of himself appeared in his mind. He refined his chakra, guiding it to create an identical illusion.
"Clone Technique!" he roared, releasing his chakra. A clone instantly appeared in the classroom!
However, his clone immediately slumped limply to the ground, as if it had just downed a gallon of cheap sake, with its eyes rolled back and tongue hanging out, looking like a complete pile of useless mud.
"Hahahahaha!" The classroom erupted in laughter, with mocking voices echoing all around.
If this were in the past, Naruto would definitely have retorted. But this time, he didn't even have the chance.
[Detection: The host's Clone Technique is too weak. Please immediately devote yourself entirely to practicing the Clone Technique. Today's goal is… to practice the Clone Technique three hundred times!]
Naruto: "???"
"H-how many?!"
"Three hundred times."
"If you want to kill me, just say so!"
"Three hundred times?! Never mind if I have enough chakra, even if my chakra was enough, my small body couldn't possibly handle it!"
[Warning: Lightning Release baptism countdown, 5… 4…]
"…"
"If you had just said that earlier, I would have understood!" Naruto was powerless to resist and could only silently endure the inevitable.
"Ram-Snake-Tiger… imagine my own shadow in my mind, while simultaneously manipulating the refined chakra…"
"Clone Technique!"
*Thump—*
With another soft thud, Naruto's limp, pathetic clone once again appeared on the ground.
"Ah ha! That's great!" Iruka-sensei came closer, looking at the clone still sprawled limply on the ground, and couldn't help but feel a vein pop on his forehead.
"Naruto, what's so great about it!"
Naruto pointed emphatically at his clone. "Iruka-sensei, look closely! Even though he's still lying on the ground, at least he's not sticking his tongue out anymore!"
Iruka: "…"
"Keep practicing!"
"…Oh."
Even if Iruka hadn't said that, Naruto wouldn't have had time to stop. Three hundred Clone Techniques! If he didn't hurry, today was destined to be another sleepless night!
"Clone Technique!"
"Clone Technique—"
"Clone Technique…"
[The host has completed ten Clone Technique trainings. Mastery has increased, proficiency +1!]
"Oh! There's hope!"