Chapter 03: That Kid Naruto Caught the Study Bug?!
Although he was just electrocuted until he was charred on the outside and tender on the inside, Naruto heard a notification sound from the system.
His proficiency in the physics course had increased?
Even though he didn't quite understand the exact meaning, there was no doubt...
He had leveled up!
Uzumaki Naruto hurriedly rubbed his eyes vigorously, widened them to the maximum again, and looked back at the heavenly script-like writing on the blackboard.
This time, the effect was immediate and outstanding...
He still couldn't understand it!
However...
It seemed he understood a little bit!
"Am I really a genius?!"
Uzumaki Naruto chuckled foolishly, feeling a sense of smugness rising in his heart.
However...
[Detected that the Host has left the state of total focus learning. About to receive a Lightning Release Baptism from the System...]
[Warning countdown 5... 4... 3...]
Uzumaki Naruto: "..."
He had experience this time, showing no sloth whatsoever, and immediately forced himself into a learning state.
Iruka-sensei smiled slightly: "Very good, Sakura. As expected of the top student in the class."
Sakura was equally smug.
"Did you see that, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke remained expressionless.
Sakura could only sit back helplessly.
"Sakura..."
Seeing this scene, Uzumaki Naruto just wanted to sigh and feel sad for a moment, when suddenly...
[Warning countdown 5...]
Uzumaki Naruto: "...Height, initial velocity, gravitational acceleration..."
What was originally an ordinary class, in Naruto's eyes now, was simply as terrifying as being dragged into an Anbu prison for severe torture!
Attending class was like attending a funeral!
A short forty-five minutes became the longest time in Naruto's short life...
No distractions, total focus!
It sounded simple, but for a guy like Naruto who was used to being lazy and playful, it was harder than ascending to heaven!
Although he had tried his best to force himself to listen attentively out of fear of the "Lightning Release Baptism," he still couldn't avoid getting distracted...
One moment he wanted to steal a glance at Haruno Sakura...
The next moment he couldn't help but want to curse Sasuke a few times...
Then his stomach growled again, and the image of Ichiraku Ramen circled constantly in his mind like a heavenly scene...
But every time his mind just started to wander, that piercing warning sound would ring out immediately, forcing him to interrupt his thoughts.
Like sitting on pins and needles, like thorns on his back, like a fishbone in his throat.
In this state where seconds felt like years, he didn't know how much time had passed.
Finally...
He endured until the moment Iruka-sensei announced the end of class.
Uzumaki Naruto felt like he had run three marathons. He instantly deflated like a popped balloon, quickly losing his dreams, and slumped onto his desk with a thud.
Seeing this, Iruka-sensei actually revealed a hint of a smile.
"That guy Naruto really didn't cause trouble for the whole class..."
"Moreover, his eyes were wide open like copper bells; it seemed he was really listening to the class..."
"It seems my earnest advice was effective after all!"
He coughed once: "Ten minutes break, next class is Mizuki-sensei's chemistry class!"
"Ah—"
Wails instantly filled the classroom.
But Naruto didn't even have the strength to wail...
Just then.
[According to the schedule set by this System, the break time is the best opportunity to overtake and out-grind others!]
[Please immediately start cultivating the Chakra Refining Technique!]
[Current Chakra Refining Technique cultivation time must not be less than eight hours a day!]
Naruto: "...Are, are you kidding me!"
"Eight hours?!"
"Do I still need to sleep or not!"
[Detected that the Host is not cultivating according to the System's schedule plan. About to initiate Lightning Release Baptism...]
[Warning countdown, 5... 4... 3...]
"Aaaaaahhhhh!"
"I'll cultivate, I'll cultivate, okay?!"
Although Naruto was mentally and physically exhausted, thinking of the terror of the Lightning Release Baptism, he could only force himself to sit still, then start cultivating according to the Chakra Refining Technique method taught in the Ninja Academy's basic curriculum.
The so-called Chakra Refining Technique, as the name implies, is to extract physical energy and spiritual energy from oneself, mix and refine them, turning them into chakra available for one's own use.
But to be precise, the mixture of physical energy and spiritual energy produced by the 130 trillion cells of a ninja is not chakra, but stamina.
Stamina exists in everyone's body, not just in ninjas.
At the same time, stamina is also the foundation for directly unleashing Taijutsu. Of course, Taijutsu can also be enhanced with chakra to increase its power.
To unleash Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, one needs to convert stamina into chakra.
The Chakra Refining Technique taught in the Ninja Academy is essentially training to convert stamina into chakra.
Continuously converting stamina into chakra thereby raises one's own chakra "limit."
That is, the so-called chakra volume.
As for chakra control and so on, that's a story for later, not an ability Naruto can master right now.
Naruto's chakra volume is naturally enormous.
This is not only because the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox inside his body, through the special Eight Trigrams Sealing Style, is constantly leaking demon fox chakra to mix with his own chakra.
But also because Naruto inherently possesses the bloodline power of the Uzumaki Clan.
Both his chakra volume and vitality far exceed that of ordinary ninjas.
At this moment...
It was break time, and others were laughing wantonly. Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, and other girls surrounded Sasuke once again, while the boys played around in groups of three or five.
Only Uzumaki Naruto sat alone in the corner, quietly closed his eyes, and began his cultivation.
As he operated the Chakra Refining Technique, after mixing spiritual energy and physical energy, wisps and strands began to slowly transform, becoming the chakra itself that he could use to unleash ninjutsu.
What surprised Naruto was...
Even though that class just now had exhausted him.
But now, practicing the Chakra Refining Technique not only didn't make him more tired but actually restored some of his strength...
Indeed, human potential is limitless!
[Host successfully operated Chakra Refining Technique, Chakra Volume +1...]
Listening to the notification sound in his mind, Naruto suddenly felt that this system might not be so bad...
Many times people don't work hard enough because they can't see a progress bar.
Once progress can be clearly visualized or even quantified, no matter how boring the study, cultivation, or work is, it will bring powerful motivation, even pleasure.
Naruto was currently in this stage.
...
At this moment, Naruto's only two partners in the Ninja Academy, Akimichi Choji and Nara Shikamaru, were also staring at him dumbfounded...
"Shikamaru, am I seeing things? That guy Naruto, is he cultivating the Chakra Refining Technique during the break? Munch munch munch..."
Nara Shikamaru also rubbed his sleepy eyes.
"Maybe I haven't woken up yet..."
"I'll sleep a bit more..."
Akimichi Choji widened his eyes, stuffing chips into his mouth in large mouthfuls, bloodshot veins appearing in his eyes.
"This is bad, could that guy Naruto have..."
"Caught the study bug?!"