"Clone Technique x10!"
Throughout the entire basic ninjutsu course, Naruto relentlessly continued to practice the clone technique.
"Clone Technique!"
"Clone Technique!"
Soon, Naruto was drenched in sweat and completely exhausted. Practicing ninjutsu is far from easy. It not only demands a high amount of chakra and physical strength but also significant mental fortitude and endurance. Naruto's chakra and physical strength were both excellent. His spirit and endurance, however, were far behind.
But under the "gentle reminder" of the System and the looming threat of the small punishment in a month, Naruto had no choice but to practice with all his might.
[Host has completed fifty clone techniques. His mastery has increased. Proficiency +1!]
"That's great!" Naruto looked at his newly created clone, raised his hands high, and shouted with an inexplicable excitement.
Sasuke, Sakura, and the others couldn't help but look over. Iruka-sensei also stepped forward.
"…Naruto, your clone is still lying on the ground!"
Naruto pointed at his clone angrily, filled with confidence. "Look carefully, Iruka-sensei! Although he's still lying on the ground, he's not sticking out his tongue or rolling his eyes anymore! He just looks like he's asleep!"
And it was true. If Naruto's clone jutsu looked like he had been drinking cheap liquor before, now it just looked like he was simply fast asleep. It was, admittedly, a huge improvement.
Iruka was speechless. "…The clone technique is used to lure the enemy. What's the point of creating a clone that's just lying on the ground?"
However, he also saw Naruto's efforts. By the end of the class, the other students had actually thinned out, having simply given up on continuing to practice. The few who remained were just pretending. But Naruto had persisted until the very end.
He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Naruto, you've been working so hard recently. Do you have any specific goals you want to achieve?"
Naruto blurted out with snot and tears streaming down his face, "Iruka-sensei, I must be in the top ten of the class in the assessment in a month!"
Iruka's eyes widened instantly. "Ah?"
The entire classroom suddenly fell into a dead silence. Then, it was broken by a thunderous roar of laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Is Naruto crazy? What is he, talking in his sleep?"
"You're clearly at the bottom of the class, and you expect to be in the top ten in just one month?"
"How is that even possible!"
"I'm dying of laughter!"
Sasuke looked at Naruto, who had a deadly serious face, and frowned as well. Although he also found it ridiculous, when he saw Naruto's expression, he felt that he wasn't joking.
*'What on earth is that dead last thinking? Why do I feel like he's become a completely different person these past two days…'*
Hinata's face was red, and the corners of her mouth were gently raised. *'Naruto-kun, come on, come on… I believe you can do it…'*
Facing the laughter of the whole class, Iruka-sensei did not laugh. He patted Naruto's shoulder and spoke earnestly.
"Naruto, I see your determination to become stronger. I've seen your efforts over the past two days, but… haste makes waste. We certainly need to pursue progress, but we can't be too ambitious. We still have to take it one step at a time, okay? Getting into the top ten of the class in just one month is too much for you. If you want to set a goal, you don't need to compare yourself with others, just compare yourself with yourself."
Naruto listened to what Iruka-sensei said and knew that he was truly doing it for his own good. But he had his own reasons!
"Iruka-sensei, I understand what you mean, but, but I… I still have to be in the top ten in a month!"
"Pfft—" The other students in the class couldn't help but burst out laughing again.
But Iruka asked seriously, "Why, Naruto? Why are you so obsessed with getting a top-ten ranking?"
Naruto sputtered, "Because… Ahhh, I can't say it!"
Iruka didn't smile. He nodded and ruffled Naruto's hair. "Okay, it's alright if you don't want to talk about it. Since you have such ambition, that's always a good thing. Even if you can't achieve your goal in the end, you will definitely be much better than you are now. Good job, Naruto. If you have any questions, just ask me anytime."
Naruto felt a wave of gratitude. Only Iruka-sensei would take him so seriously, instead of treating him like a complete joke…
"Yeah, I understand, Iruka-sensei!"
…
At dusk, the bell for the end of the school day at the Ninja Academy finally rang. Soon, the entire school grounds were filled with students gathered in groups of three or five, their cheerful laughter filling the evening air.
"Dad!"
"Let's go home, Santa."
"Mom, I want ice cream!"
"Okay, okay, I'll buy it for you on the way."
"That's great!"
Naruto walked exhaustedly through the crowd, and couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness in his heart.
"Huh, you're at the bottom of the class. You really think you can get into the top ten in just one month? Too naive." Sasuke walked past with his hands in his pockets, a large group of adoring girls still following him closely.
Naruto didn't get angry this time. Instead, he grinned and teased Sasuke back. "Sasuke, you don't have to pay so much attention to me, you know?"
Sasuke's expression changed instantly. "What did you say, 'dead last'?!"
"I mean, you're a guy they call a genius, and you've been paying so much attention to me. I think you must be afraid of being surpassed by me, right?"
Sasuke immediately yelled angrily, "You must be joking! Do you think you can be compared with me just because you're the last one?"
Naruto crossed his arms and said confidently, "Ah, that's exactly what I thought. I never think I'm inferior to you!"
Sasuke clenched his fists, veins popping out on his forehead. "Hmph, you ignorant fool. I will let you know the real difference between you and me!" After saying this, he left with an angry look on his face. However, the inexplicable pressure Naruto was putting on him made Sasuke determined to return home and practice ten, no, a hundred times harder than he was now!
…
"What's wrong with Sasuke-kun?"
"It seems that Naruto has angered him…"
"That jerk Naruto only knows how to pick on Sasuke!"
"But, Sasuke-kun does seem to be very concerned about that guy. Why is that…"
"Who knows…"
Naruto made a face at Sasuke's retreating back, pulled open his eyelids, stuck out his tongue, and…
"Naruto-kun, I'll see you tomorrow."
Naruto quickly put away his grimace and saw that it was Hinata, scratching his head in embarrassment. "Aha, it's Hinata. Oh, right, the make-up lessons, I almost forgot… See you tomorrow!"
Naruto smiled brightly, waved at Hinata, and then began to do his weighted frog jumps, moving step by step toward his home.
Hinata gently touched her fingers together, her face flushed. Thinking of tomorrow's tutoring session, her heart couldn't help but beat wildly. *'Tomorrow I get to be with Naruto-kun…'* Hinata covered her blushing and hot cheeks with her two small hands.
"Ah… I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep at all tonight…"
The peaceful Konoha Village. It's another night of twinkling lights in every house.
Naruto returned home with a heavy load and easily made dinner. He didn't even need the System to remind him and immediately continued practicing the clone technique.