Naruto, what kind of Hokage would you be if you didn't roll around!

"Clone Technique x10!"

Chapter 11 The Little Dream of the Bottom of the Class

Throughout the entire basic ninjutsu course, Naruto continuously practiced the Shadow Clone Technique.

"Clone Technique!"

"hateful……"

"Clone Technique!"

Soon, Naruto was drenched in sweat and exhausted.

Practicing ninjutsu is not easy; it requires not only a high level of chakra and physical strength, but also mental fortitude and endurance.

Naruto's chakra and stamina are both excellent.

Their mental and physical endurance were already far inferior.

But under the system's "gentle reminder," and thinking of the small punishment a month later, Naruto had no choice but to train with all his might.

[The host has completed fifty repetitions of the clone technique training, increasing their mastery level. Proficiency +1!]

"great!"

Naruto looked at his newly created clone, raised his hands high, and shouted with inexplicable excitement.

Sasuke, Sakura, and the others couldn't help but look over.

Teacher Iruka also stepped forward.

"...Naruto, your clone is still lying on the ground!"

Naruto confidently pointed angrily at his own clone.

"Look closely, Iruka-sensei!"

"Although he is still lying on the ground, he's no longer sticking out his tongue or rolling his eyes!"

"It looks like she's asleep!"

indeed so.

If Naruto's Shadow Clone Technique looked like he was drunk before, now it just looks like he's simply asleep.

It has to be said that this is indeed a huge improvement.

Iruka: "..."

"The clone technique is for luring enemies, what's the point of lying on the ground like that!"

However, he also saw Naruto's efforts.

By the later stages of the class, most of the other students had already given up on practicing.

They're just putting on an act.

But Naruto persevered until the very end.

He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Naruto, you've been working so hard lately, is there some goal you want to achieve?"

Naruto blurted out, his face covered in snot and tears.

"Teacher Iruka, I must be in the top ten of the class in the assessment in a month!"

Iruka's eyes widened instantly.

"what?"

The entire classroom fell into a deathly silence.

Then, a deafening roar of laughter erupted.

"Hahahahaha!"

"Is Naruto crazy? What is he talking about in his sleep?!"

"He's clearly at the bottom of the class, how can he expect to get into the top ten in just one month?"

"how could it be possible!"

"Killing me!"

Sasuke frowned as he looked at Naruto's serious face.

Although he also found it laughable, seeing Naruto's expression, he realized that Naruto wasn't joking.

"What on earth is that loser thinking?"

"It feels like he's become a completely different person these past two days..."

Hinata blushed slightly, and the corners of her mouth gently turned up.

"Naruto-kun, go, go for it..."

"I believe you can do it..."

Despite the laughter from the entire class, Ms. Iruka did not laugh.

He patted Naruto on the shoulder and said earnestly.

"Naruto, I see your determination to become stronger."

“I’ve seen how hard you’ve worked these past two days, but…”

"Haste makes waste. Of course we should strive for progress, but we can't be too ambitious. We should take it one step at a time, okay?"

"Getting into the top ten in the class in just one month is too much of a stretch for you..."

"If you're going to set goals, don't compare yourself to others; just compare yourself to your past self first..."

Naruto listened to Iruka-sensei's words and knew that he genuinely cared about Naruto's well-being.

However, I have my own unavoidable difficulties!

“Teacher Iruka, I understand what you mean, but, but I…”

"We still need to get into the top ten in a month!"

"Pfft-"

The other students in the class couldn't help but burst out laughing again.

Iruka asked seriously, "Why, Naruto?"

Why be so fixated on getting into the top ten?

Naruto: "Because..."

"Ugh, I can't say it!"

Iruka did not laugh.

He nodded and patted Naruto's hair.

"Okay, it's fine if you don't want to talk about it. Since you have such ambition, it's a good thing. Even if you don't reach your goal in the end, you will definitely be much better than you are now."

"Well done, Naruto. Just ask me anytime if you don't understand anything."

Naruto was deeply grateful.

Only Iruka-sensei would take me this seriously, instead of treating me like a joke...

"Yes, I understand, Teacher Iruka!"

……

As dusk fell, the school bell finally rang, signaling the end of the ninja academy's term.

Soon, groups of three or five people from the entire ninja academy filled the twilight with joyful laughter.

"father!"

"Let's go home, Third Aunt."

"Mommy, I want ice cream!"

"Okay, okay, I'll buy it for you on the way."

"amazing!"

Naruto walked wearily through the crowd, and a sense of loneliness inevitably arose in his heart.

"Hmph, bottom of the class, you think you can improve to the top ten in just one month?"

"too naive."

Sasuke walked past with his hands in his pockets, still followed by a large group of infatuated girls.

This time, Naruto didn't get angry. Instead, he grinned and teased Sasuke.

"Sasuke, you don't need to pay so much attention to me, do you?"

Sasuke's expression instantly changed: "What did you say, you loser?!"

"I mean, you, this so-called genius, have been paying so much attention to me, I bet you're afraid of being surpassed by me, aren't you?"

Sasuke immediately retorted angrily, "Are you kidding me!"

"You think you can compare to me with your bottom-of-the-barrel status?"

Naruto crossed his arms and said confidently, "Ah, that's what I think too."

"I have never considered myself inferior to you!"

Sasuke clenched his fists so tightly that veins popped out on his forehead.

"Hmph, you ignorant fool, I'll show you the difference between you and me!"

After saying this, he left with a face full of anger.

However, the inexplicable pressure Naruto put on him made Sasuke determined to train ten or even a hundred times harder than he was now when he returned home!

……

"What's wrong with Sasuke-kun?"

"It seems like he's been angered by Naruto..."

"That bastard Naruto, all he does is pick on Sasuke!"

"However, Sasuke-kun does seem to care a lot about that guy's appearance, why is that..."

"Who knows..."

Naruto made a face at Sasuke's back, pried open his eyelids, stuck out his tongue, and slurped...

"Naruto, see you tomorrow."

Naruto quickly stopped making faces, saw it was Hinata, and scratched his head sheepishly.

"Ah, it's Hinata. Oh right, tutoring, I almost forgot..."

"See you tomorrow!"

Naruto smiled brightly, waved to Hinata, and then began weighted frog jumps, heading step by step towards his home.

Hinata gently fiddled with her fingers, her face flushed. Thinking about tomorrow's extra class, her heart pounded wildly, her mind racing...

"I can go with Naruto-kun tomorrow..."

Hinata covered her flushed cheeks with her two small hands.

"what……"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight..."

Chapter 12: Hinata's First Date (or rather, Not-So-Good)!

Konoha Village is peaceful and safe.

Another night of countless lights shining in every home.

Naruto returned home with his weighted frog jumps, and after a few tries, he cooked dinner. Without even needing a reminder from the system, he decisively continued practicing his Shadow Clone Technique.