Naruto was so frightened just by looking at the watermelon-headed and bushy brows guy in front of him, who was training as if his life depended on it, that his face turned pale. When he heard the System say, "You just need to work a little harder than him," it was like seeing the very gates of hell opening up before him!
"You've got to be joking!"
"That guy is simply trying to kill himself!"
[Host, please begin your physical training immediately and work a little harder than Rock Lee.]
[Warning, countdown to the baptism of lightning release, 5...]
He reluctantly pushed aside the bushes, emerged, and greeted Rock Lee, who was still practicing with desperate intensity.
"Hello…"
It was a rare occasion for Rock Lee to hear someone actively start a conversation with him. He temporarily stopped his hard training, looked back, and his eyes suddenly flashed with blazing flames!
"Oh! It's Naruto!"
Naruto didn't bother asking how the other boy knew him. The strange thing was, although no one seemed to like him, everyone still seemed to know who he was. He scratched his head and laughed dryly. "Aha, yeah, it's me. May I have your name?"
"Rock Lee!"
"I see…"
Rock Lee suddenly raised the corner of his mouth and gave Naruto a thumbs-up. "Naruto! I saw it!"
"You saw what?"
"Of course, it's your shining youth, always practicing so hard!"
"Shining youth?"
"That's right! Whether you're going to school or coming home, you're always doing weighted frog jumps or walking on your hands. You're constantly and diligently practicing. You are truly a role model for us all!"
Naruto was stunned, but a hint of pride also emerged in his eyes. "Aha, that's nothing, really, nothing at all!"
Rock Lee suddenly became even more fired up. "Oh! Well said, Naruto! Indeed, the daily practice on the way to and from school is just a small thing. The real training has only just begun! How about it, do you want to join me and burn with the passion of our youth?!"
Naruto did not want to join. But did he have a choice?
"…Oh, this is exactly what I was thinking!"
"Lee, I will never lose to you!"
Rock Lee laughed heartily. "That's the right attitude! Come on, Naruto!"
Naruto gave a guilty laugh and stood side by side with Rock Lee. "So, what should we practice?"
Rock Lee clenched his fists. "It's very simple! Kick the wooden stake 3,000 times in a row! Then, punch the wooden stake 4,000 times! Then, jump rope 3,000 times! And 3,000 push-ups! If you can't do it, you have to walk upside down around Konoha Village 30 times!"
Tears immediately burst from Naruto's eyes. "No… you can't be so extreme, right?!"
Rock Lee smiled confidently. "What are you talking about, Naruto! This is just the beginning! You and I both have dreams. We want others to recognize us and prove our worth. If that's the case, then these training exercises are nothing! This is what it takes! This definitely counts, okay!"
Rock Lee smiled brightly, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.
"Come on, Naruto! Burn with the fire of youth alongside me!"
Rock Lee stopped talking and immediately threw himself into the exaggerated and terrifying special training.
*Thwack—*
*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*
He kicked out with his left leg, a fierce side kick that slammed into the hard wooden stake. Then, without stopping, he kicked out with his right leg in a rapid series, striking the other side with punishing force! Suddenly, the wooden stakes began to splinter, sending chips of wood flying.
Naruto had a sad look on his face, helplessness written all over his eyes. "What else can I say…"
He took a deep breath, then kicked the other wooden stake with the same brutal force.
*Thump! Thump! Thump—*
Two hot-blooded losers began their devilish training and hellish practice under the scorching summer sun!
…
"1263!"
"1264!"
"1265!"
This was also the first time that Rock Lee had met someone who would practice together with him. He was moved, but he also felt a sense of inexplicable competition. He began to train even harder than usual.
Naruto, who had never undergone such a high level of hard training, was far inferior to Rock Lee in terms of raw explosive power. However, he also had his own advantages: good endurance, strong vitality, and a powerful recovery ability! So, even though he was already completely exhausted, Naruto gritted his teeth and continued to persevere.
"2110!"
"2111!"
"2112!"
"Come on, Naruto, hope is right in front of us!"
Naruto panted, "…I don't believe you! Hasn't the stake kicking just begun?! This is just the beginning, isn't it?!"
Rock Lee laughed heartily. "That's true!"
Naruto: "…"
He was out of breath and no longer had the energy to argue with Rock Lee. He could only try his best to keep going. Sweat fell like rain, dripping onto the grounds of the Konoha training field and quickly disappearing into the dry earth.
"2997!"
"2998!"
"2999…"
Naruto was like a dog, his tongue hanging out as he breathed heavily. But as Rock Lee said, there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel...
"3000!"
Naruto gritted his teeth for the last time and kicked the wooden stake. With a loud bang, wood chips flew everywhere.
"Finally, it's finally done…" In an instant, his entire body collapsed to the ground, wriggling like a reptile.
Rock Lee also finished at the same time, panting as he wiped the sweat from his face.
"Naruto, this is just the beginning. Cheer up!"
Naruto waved his hands weakly. "No… I can't do it anymore… I need to rest for a while…"
[It has been detected that the host has not yet completed the goal of physical training and is about to be baptized by lightning release.]
[Warning, countdown 5...]
Naruto's eyes shot open. "Huh?! I've obviously finished it!"
[Host, please note that your training goal is to work a little harder than Rock Lee. You have only completed the same amount of training as him.]
Naruto wanted to cry. "…How can I even do that! Are you really trying to kill me?!"
[Countdown 4…]
"Okay, okay! I get it!"
Naruto struggled to get up helplessly, staggering. The wooden stake in front of him was already a blurry, double image. But in order to avoid being struck by lightning, he could only grit his teeth and kick the wooden stake again.
"3001! Done… it's done…"
Who would have known. When Rock Lee saw this scene, he couldn't help but be stunned.
"Naruto, what are you doing? Oh! I see!" He pounded his fists together, his eyes burning with blazing flames. "You mean to say that we can't dwell on the past, we must surpass ourselves and develop even harder and more rigorous training! I understand, Naruto! You are trying to motivate me in this way!"
Rock Lee instantly became reignited with passion. He bent down into a lunge and then kicked out fiercely.