Hokage, no one knows better than me how to cultivate talent.

However, there's always a way to overcome difficulties. Just like last time, he wrote down some tips on using the Wind Release: Gale Palm and then gave them to Naruto.

[You have gifted Naruto Uzumaki, a high-quality talent with a level 2 relationship, with the Wind Release: Gale Palm Training Manual]

[Naruto was deeply moved by the high-quality talent, triggering a five-fold critical hit.]

[Reward Obtained: Water Release: Water Formation Wall (Intermediate)]

Water Release: Water Wall was originally just a C-rank Water Release defensive ninjutsu, but after receiving a large amount of memories from his mind, Shusui was pleasantly surprised to find that the system had given him the Water Wall used by Tobirama Senju. Not only was the ninjutsu level increased by one rank, but the range, rotation speed, and defensive power were also amplified. In fact, the number of water walls released was five more than one of the C-rank ones, making a total of six water walls, which could provide 360-degree defense without any blind spots.

The following week, Shusui had Hinata continue her training as usual, while Naruto added a ninjutsu lesson to his curriculum: Wind Release: Gale Palm.

After training on Sunday afternoon, Shusui stood in front of the two of them and said seriously, "You've been training each other for almost a month. Tomorrow's exam will be the time for you to reap the rewards of your hard work. I don't have high expectations for you two. Hinata, your goal this time is to be in the top ten. Naruto, your goal is to be in the top fifteen."

"Teacher Qiushui, don't worry, we will definitely not let you down!"

Naruto and Hinata straightened their backs simultaneously, their gazes firm, and answered in unison.

Looking at the confident expressions on their faces, Qiu Shui nodded in satisfaction.

Hinata's original ranking was between fifteenth and twentieth. After this period of special training, and considering the average score of Class 1, Grade 4 last year, she should have no problem breaking into the top ten.

As for Naruto, although he has consistently ranked last in his grade, the system's mission requires him to be among the top fifteen. Even if his theoretical knowledge is slightly lacking, as long as his practical combat performance can break into the top three, it won't be a big problem for him to squeeze into the top ten in terms of overall score.

After all, he had already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique and the Wind Release: Gale Palm. Looking at the entire fourth grade, apart from Shino Aburame and Sasuke Uchiha, who could pose a threat to him, the others had virtually no chance of winning against a group of more than a dozen Narutos.

"Naruto, Hinata, you two don't need to come to training tomorrow," Akisui continued.

"Huh? Why, Akisui-sensei?" Naruto immediately tensed up and looked at him helplessly.

He quickly searched his mind to see if he had done something wrong or said something he shouldn't have, which might have made Teacher Qiushui angry.

Hinata was the same; she unconsciously clenched her sleeves, her heart pounding with anxiety.

"The exam is the day after tomorrow," Qiu Shui quickly explained when she realized the two had misunderstood her meaning. "There's no training tomorrow, so you can rest well and recharge for the exam the day after tomorrow."

The two of them finally breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling that they had never been so nervous in their lives.

Monday.

The classroom of Class 1, Grade 4 was unusually quiet compared to its usual bustling atmosphere. Although the students were all seasoned test-takers who had experienced countless exams since entering school, they still couldn't help but feel nervous before each exam.

Some people buried themselves in books, trying to memorize a few more formulas at the last minute.

Some people huddled together in twos and threes, using seemingly relaxed conversation to mask their inner unease.

"Ino." A girl turned her head and looked at Yamanaka Ino, who was sitting diagonally behind her. She tentatively asked, "Tomorrow is the first monthly exam of the new semester. What rank do you think you can get?"

Yamanaka Ino, with her chin resting on one hand and idly twirling a pen in the other, sighed softly upon hearing this and said, "Ugh, don't even mention it. I've been too busy playing at home lately and haven't studied much. I'm lucky to have kept my place in the top ten."

Upon hearing this, a hint of confusion appeared on the girl's face.

She clearly remembered that last week, she had asked Ino to go out and play together after school several times, but she was always refused.

On the other side of the classroom.

"Sakura," Sakura's deskmate leaned over, her face filled with admiration, and said, "You must have gotten first place in the theory exam again!"

Sakura Haruno paused in her book-turning, looked up, gave a modest smile, and said, "Oh dear, I haven't been studying much lately, and all the other students are very attentive in class. Getting first place... well, it's not certain."

But her deskmate also looked puzzled when she heard this. She remembered that when she went to play with Haruno Sakura last week, her parents said that she was reading in her room.

She glanced at Sakura Haruno's humble face but didn't say anything.

The people were talking quite loudly.

Nara Shikamaru lazily lay on the table, listening to the conversation between the two girls in front of him. A thought popped into his mind: women are such a hassle.

They were all working incredibly hard, they were all incredibly nervous, and they all wanted to crush their opponents, but when they finally met, it was either me lying to you or you lying to me.

Are you tired?

Kiba Inuzuka suddenly ran to the podium and said loudly, "I heard from students in other classes that if a class's grades are bad, the homeroom teacher will be punished, and in serious cases, they might even be replaced."

The students looked at each other and began to discuss it.

"Could it be that Iruka-sensei's homeroom teacher was replaced because of this?" a student suddenly blurted out.

The classroom fell silent instantly.

"Very likely," another voice chimed in, a look of sudden realization on its face. "Otherwise, it wouldn't explain why Iruka-sensei, who was teaching so well, would suddenly resign from his position as homeroom teacher."

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

Yes, Teacher Iruka taught them for more than three years. Although his lectures weren't particularly exciting, he was conscientious and responsible, and cared about every student. Suddenly, he said he was no longer going to be their homeroom teacher. Later, when students asked him, he said it was for personal reasons, and everyone believed him at the time. But now, thinking about it... it's terrifying.

Akamaru, inside Kiba Inuzuka's hood, let out two soft "woof woof" sounds, as if echoing the whimper.

Kiba Inuzuka glanced at the students around him, and seeing that everyone's emotions were stirred up, he immediately pressed his advantage, saying, "I can't control which teacher we get, but Akisui-sensei's teaching is so good, we can't replace him!"

The classroom was filled with excitement.

"Yes, we can't replace Teacher Qiushui!"

A voice immediately followed.

"I'll fight anyone who tries to replace Teacher Qiushui!"

Another voice, its tone brimming with ruthlessness.

"It's so rare to find a teacher who's this interesting in his lectures," someone muttered quietly. "I don't want to go back to the old days."