Chapter 10: First Entry Reward! [Knowledge Absorption]!
I am Uchiha Sasuke.
My feelings right now are very complicated.
Looking at Naruto's exasperated expression, an inexplicable irritability arose in Sasuke's heart.
"What the hell is that dead last doing?"
"Does he really want to turn things around?"
"Damn it..."
Uchiha Sasuke, who seemingly looked down on Naruto, was actually the one paying the most attention to him.
Even Iruka, who could empathize with and understand Naruto, was ultimately a senior, a teacher, not a peer of the same age.
Even Hinata, although her favorability towards Naruto was maxed out, ultimately couldn't fully understand Naruto's feeling of loneliness.
Only Sasuke.
He understood Naruto, and even...
Envied Naruto.
Because although Naruto was lonely, he could express himself wantonly. Whether it was through pranks or being disliked, he never gave up his efforts to make others acknowledge him.
But Sasuke couldn't do that.
His coldness, his pride, his genius, and the hatred buried deep in his heart had become a cocoon binding him, leaving him no way to break free.
Both of them had lost everything.
Naruto possessed a passion that he couldn't have.
While he possessed talent that Naruto couldn't reach.
But now, when even Naruto started working hard and his own excellence was threatened, Sasuke would very subtly and sensitively suffer intense stimulation.
He couldn't explain this feeling clearly himself.
It would only turn into motivation to force himself to work harder.
The pen in Sasuke's hand trembled slightly. With the force from his palm, with a crack, it was actually snapped directly...
Sakura, who had been silently watching Sasuke, couldn't help but take a few more glances at Naruto at this time.
When she turned her head back upon hearing the sound of Sasuke's pen breaking, she only saw a slightly twisted face.
"Sasuke-kun..."
Sakura didn't know why, and naturally couldn't understand Sasuke's mood at this moment.
Hinata blushed slightly, secretly happy for Naruto in her heart.
"Naruto-kun, do, do your best..."
Naruto crossed his arms and sat down huffing with anger, dissatisfied in his heart.
Honestly, if it were before, Naruto would be grinning from ear to ear with such progress.
But not now.
The time limit set by the system was within one month!
One month to raise his grades from the bottom of the class to the top ten!
What was the difference between this and telling him to go directly to the Hokage's office and beat up the Third Hokage?!
"It seems I have to continue to put in more effort!"
In the following classes, for the first time, Naruto didn't need the system to remind him; he actively listened attentively with total focus.
During the breaks, he also didn't hesitate to seize the time to cultivate the Chakra Refining Technique.
This peculiar scene had become a sight in the classroom, making everyone tacitly stay away while watching curiously.
Until...
Ding!
[Host has maintained a state of total focus for ten consecutive classes. Obtained a new entry ability: Knowledge Absorption!]
[Once entering the state of total focus, the ability to absorb and digest knowledge is greatly enhanced!]
Naruto was stunned, then opened his mouth wide, his eyes lighting up.
"Entry ability!"
"Knowledge Absorption!"
"Although I don't quite understand, it seems I've become even more amazing!"
He immediately tried it out. In the following classes, once he entered the state of total focus, sure enough, his brain, which was originally a mess of paste, suddenly enlightened!
This feeling was indescribable.
It was like a river channel blocked for more than ten years suddenly being dredged.
Or like years of constipation suddenly being relieved in a rush, unstoppable...
It could only be described as sudden enlightenment, being filled with wisdom!
[You have entered the state of total focus. Knowledge Absorption entry ability activated. Mastery of the [Mathematics] course has increased. Proficiency +5.]
Naruto was simply about to bloom with laughter.
"5 points!"
"An unprecedented great success!"
"Ahahaha..."
[Detected that the Host has left the state of total focus. About to receive a Lightning Release Baptism from the System.]
[Warning countdown 5...]
Naruto: "...I was wrong, okay?!"
Moreover.
Naruto discovered that this [Knowledge Absorption] entry ability was not only for various cultural subjects.
Even for the understanding of Ninjutsu, it could play a role!
This class was on the Clone Technique, which Naruto was least good at.
The so-called Clone Technique is one of the Three Basic Jutsu in the Ninja Academy, the most fundamental ninjutsu.
Relatively speaking, it is not very difficult.
Because the clones created do not have physical bodies but are just illusions, so they cannot be used for attack or defense, but only to lure enemies.
Of course, also because they lack physical bodies and authenticity, they are easily seen through by ninjas with strong insight.
Naruto's Clone Technique had always been the weakest among the Three Basic Jutsu.
His Transformation Technique was relatively stronger, and he even developed his own unique ninjutsu for it.
That was the number one divine technique in the Ninja World that defeated the progenitor of chakra, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki...
Sexy Jutsu!
But Naruto always had difficulty mastering the Clone Technique perfectly.
On the podium, Iruka-sensei spoke with fervor and assurance.
"The so-called Clone Technique is a basic ninjutsu that refines and controls a certain amount of chakra to create illusions identical to the main body, used to confuse the enemy."
"The hand seal sequence for the Clone Technique is Ram—Snake—Tiger."
"While making hand seals, manipulate and control the chakra to form an image of yourself in your mind, and create it, just like pulling yourself out of a mirror."
"Alright, everyone start practicing now!"
"Feel free to ask me if there's anything you don't understand."
Under the state of [Knowledge Absorption], for the first time, Naruto successfully took in all of Iruka-sensei's words about the Clone Technique.
"Hand seal sequence Ram-Snake-Tiger, imagine my own image in my mind, control chakra to create it..."
"Aha! I understand!"
Naruto immediately began making hand seals with both hands, while the image of himself appeared in his mind, and he refined chakra, guiding it to create an identical illusion.
"Clone Technique!"
He shouted angrily, chakra released, and a clone instantly descended into the classroom!
However, his clone collapsed softly on the ground, looking like it had drunk three catties of fake wine, rolling its eyes, sticking out its tongue, completely a puddle of mud.
"Hahahahaha!"
Roars of laughter erupted around him, and mocking voices were chaotic.
If it were in the past, Naruto would definitely retort.
But this time, he simply didn't have the chance to do so.
[Detected that the Host's Clone Technique is too weak. Please immediately start practicing the Clone Technique with wholehearted devotion. Today's goal is... practice the Clone Technique three hundred times!]
Naruto: "???"
"How, how many?!"
[Three hundred times.]
"If you want my life, just say it directly!"
"Three hundred times! Never mind if I have enough chakra, even if I do, my small body can't handle it!"
[Warning, Lightning Release Baptism countdown, 5... 4...]
"..."
"If you had said so earlier, I would have understood!"
Naruto was powerless to resist and could only silently enjoy it.
"Ram-Snake-Tiger, imagine my own shadow in my mind, while manipulating the refined chakra..."
"Clone Technique!"
Bang—
Another soft sound, and Naruto's clone collapsed on the ground again.
"Aha! Awesome!"
Iruka-sensei came close, looking at the clone still lying softly on the ground, veins popping on his forehead.
"Naruto, where is it awesome!"
Naruto pointed vigorously at his clone.
"Iruka-sensei, look carefully!"
"Although he is still lying on the ground, at least he isn't sticking his tongue out!"
Iruka: "..."
"Continue practicing!"
"...Oh."
Even if Iruka didn't say so, Naruto didn't have time to stop.
Three hundred times of Clone Technique!
If he didn't hurry up, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night!
"Clone Technique!"
"Clone Technique—"
"Clone Technique..."
[Host completed ten times of Clone Technique cultivation. Mastery increased. Proficiency +1!]
"Oh! There's hope!"
"Clone Technique x10!"