The moment Naruto's Shadow Clone finally returned to his body, the consequences hit him like a tidal wave.Unimaginable, excruciating pain surged through every fiber of his being. His entire body felt as though it were on fire, muscles screaming, veins throbbing. The pain was indescribable—far beyond anything a normal ninja could endure.Naruto couldn't help but let out a heart-wrenching scream, his voice echoing through the quiet streets of Konoha. Yet, as ironically cruel as fate could be, his body refused to respond. He couldn't move an inch.Rock Lee, who had been accompanying him after noticing Naruto's determined but reckless training, froze in shock."Naruto, what—what's happening to you?!" he exclaimed, panic flashing across his face. "Are you okay? I'll take you to the hospital right now!"Naruto shook his head weakly, forcing a bitter, tragic smile through the pain."No… I'm fine," he said, voice strained but determined. "I… I'll be okay after some rest."He didn't want to worry anyone—not Iruka Sensei, not Lee, not anyone else. After all, Iruka had already forbidden him from pushing his Shadow Clone Technique this far.Rock Lee, though inexperienced in Ninjutsu, wasn't blind. His sharp eyes caught the subtle twitching of Naruto's muscles and the pallor of his face. Clearly, the technique had taken a massive toll on him."Naruto… your Shadow Clone Technique… it seems to come with terrible risks," Lee said carefully, his worry barely contained.Naruto's smile turned even more tragic, but there was a fierce glint in his eyes."If we don't take risks, how can someone like Diao Che Wei—or anyone, really—ever surpass the geniuses of our world?!" Naruto said, his voice hoarse but resolute.Lee froze. He understood the sentiment all too well; he had felt the same relentless drive to surpass his limits. But he couldn't stop himself from speaking the words that weighed heavily on his heart."But… you look terrifying! If this keeps going, will you… die?!"Naruto panted heavily, but his expression softened into a resolute smile as he looked at Lee."Lee, if you had to choose… would you rather live without achieving your dream, or would you rather die trying?"Lee's heart trembled at the question. He knew Naruto's words were not just hypothetical—they were the essence of the shinobi spirit."I'd rather die!" Lee shouted, fists clenching, eyes blazing."Me too!" Naruto responded, the fire of determination igniting within him.Lee's worry shifted into admiration. Naruto's unwavering spirit mirrored his own. There was no turning back now; both of them shared the same ideal."Better to die standing than live on your knees," Naruto said, his voice filled with conviction.Their palms met in a tight, resolute handshake, a symbol of mutual respect and shared determination. Both broke into wide, almost silly grins, despite the severity of the situation."Let's go, Naruto. I'll take you home!" Lee offered, ready to support him.Naruto gave a strained but genuine smile. "Thank you, Lee… but…"Just then, a chilling system notification echoed in his mind:[Please return home on your own, Host, and do not accept help from others! True training can only lead to improvement by pushing past your limits! Otherwise…][Warning! Lightning Release Baptism Countdown: 5…]Naruto clenched his teeth, determination blazing brighter than ever. "Hahaha, Lee… thank you, but I, Uzumaki Naruto, don't need anyone's help!"He struggled to stand, body trembling violently under the weight of exhaustion and pain. Every step was agony, every movement a test of his willpower. But he refused to falter."How could a mere afternoon of training make me unable to stand?!" he muttered through gritted teeth, forcing himself forward, staggering and swaying.Rock Lee watched in awe, tears threatening to spill. Naruto's indomitable spirit reminded him why he admired this boy so deeply."Naruto! I knew I wasn't wrong about you! You're a true man too!" Lee yelled, voice choked with emotion.Naruto's back was barely visible through the fading light, but he raised an arm high, giving a thumbs-up. His face was twisted in pain, tears and snot streaming down, yet his resolve never wavered.Finally, he made it home. Every ounce of his strength had been drained; the fatigue and agony from the Shadow Clone's return had stripped him of almost all will. But the system's relentless guidance didn't allow him a moment's rest.[Please prepare dinner immediately, Host. After dinner, please continue your training!]Naruto groaned but obeyed. He hastily prepared and consumed a simple meal, each bite restoring a little strength. Yet even this minor recovery couldn't erase the physical torment that clawed at him.After finishing his meal, he resumed training. Exhaustion pressed against him like a physical weight, but his spirit burned hotter than ever.Soon, he entered another round of sparring—this time in his sleep. Only now, there was a new challenger alongside Sasuke: Hyuga Neji.Seeing Neji's face in his dream rekindled Naruto's fighting spirit instantly."Hyuga Neji! I must defeat him!" Naruto declared, summoning every ounce of his strength.The battle raged relentlessly, yet Neji was no ordinary opponent. The current Neji was the pinnacle of his generation—Byakugan activated, Gentle Fist perfected, combat experience and sheer fighting will at their peak.Naruto attacked with all his might, using the new techniques he had just mastered—the Leaf Great Whirlwind and Leaf Strong Whirlwind—but Neji's Gentle Fist was flawless. Every strike was countered, every maneuver anticipated.Even his most desperate moves, executed with full force and precision, were neutralized by Neji's secret technique: the Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Palm, Rotation.But instead of despairing, Naruto felt his fighting spirit ignite anew. Every defeat was a lesson; every counter, a challenge. He could feel himself growing stronger, even as his body screamed in protest.All through the night, he battled Neji in his dreams. Pain and fatigue became constant companions, but Naruto's resolve never faltered. He trained harder than ever, his strength and skills growing rapidly.Days passed in a blur. Cultural studies, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and dream sparring filled his schedule, tormenting him immensely but rewarding him even more.The month agreed upon with the system drew to a close, and Naruto checked his attributes once more:Host: Uzumaki NarutoAge: 11Identity: Konoha Ninja Academy StudentChakra Amount: 360 pointsNinjutsu:Clone Technique: 79/100Transformation Technique: 96/100Substitution Technique: 82/100Chakra Refining Technique: 100/100Sexy Technique: 90/100Shadow Clone Technique: 90/100Taijutsu:Basic Taijutsu: 90/100Shuriken Technique: 70/100Leaf Whirlwind: 98/100Leaf Great Whirlwind: 92/100Leaf Strong Whirlwind: 92/100Cultural Subjects:Physics: 82/100Chemistry: 79/100Mathematics: 81/100Chinese: 78/100History: 90/100English: 87/100Biology: 85/100Moral Character: 90/100Ninja Insights: 82/100Entries:[Knowledge Absorption], [Physical Strength Monster], [Multi-tasking]Naruto compared this with his first attribute check—two entirely different worlds. His former self had been almost useless, struggling even with basic techniques. Now, with 360 chakra points, he towered above his peers, even some Chunin.Every basic Ninjutsu was at an excellent level. His Transformation Technique had evolved into the versatile Sexy Technique, while his Clone Technique had matured into the formidable Shadow Clone Technique. With these, he could achieve perfect performance and even earn extra credit in practical exercises.Under the relentless guidance of Bushy Brow Sensei, Might Guy, Naruto's Taijutsu—Leaf Whirlwind, Leaf Great Whirlwind, and Leaf Strong Whirlwind—had all reached mastery levels far beyond ordinary Academy students. Ordinary Genin wouldn't even stand a chance against him.Naruto leaned back, a small, confident smile playing across his lips. This was the result of tireless effort, of pushing beyond limits, and of refusing to let pain or fear dictate his path."This is just the beginning," he whispered to himself, eyes glinting with determination. "The Final Exam is coming… and I won't let anything stop me."The month had been grueling, almost purgatorial, but Naruto's spirit was unbroken. The road ahead would be just as challenging—but now, he was ready to face it head-on.The journey of the Uzumaki boy was far from over. Every trial, every setback, and every heartbeat of pain had only made him stronger. Soon, he would step into the exam hall, not just as a student, but as a warrior ready to prove himself to the world.And in that moment, Naruto knew—he would leave everything on the line, no matter the cost.
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