Naruto pouted, rotating his arm, trying to bring it back to life.
At this moment, Uchiha Sasuke, surrounded by admiring peers and a flurry of activity, walked by indifferently with his hands in his pockets and eyes closed.
"Hmph, Diao Che Wei, do you think you can turn things around with this kind of effort?"
Naruto was stunned for a moment, then erupted in anger.
"You bastard Sasuke! What did you say?!"
Uchiha Sasuke snorted lightly and left without looking back.
"Damn it! That accursed Sasuke! If my right hand wasn't useless right now, I'd challenge you to a one-on-one fight!"
"Hiss… ha…"
While he was still fuming, a rapid, earthquake-like sound came from behind him.
Naruto looked back and saw Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka, shoulder to shoulder, elbow to elbow, practically squeezed together like conjoined twins, running towards him, refusing to give an inch.
"Sakura-chan…"
When Naruto saw Sakura, his eyes immediately lit up, as if all his previous fatigue and pain had vanished.
However… "Get out of the way, Naruto!"
Sakura Haruno shoved Naruto to the ground, then she and Ino Yamanaka wrestled each other as they chased after Sasuke.
Naruto got back up, dusted himself off, and snorted as he watched Sasuke's retreating figure.
"Every single one of them only likes Sasuke."
"When I become Hokage, I'll definitely make all of you look at me with new eyes, hmph, just you wait!"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch…"
Naruto rubbed his shoulder and arm as he walked towards the Ninja Academy classroom.
It wasn't time for class yet, and groups of students were laughing and playing in the classroom.
"Host detected…"
"Alright! I get it!"
"Isn't it just the Chakra Refining Technique?"
"I'll start training now!"
"…"
Naruto had gradually figured out the system's routine. This time, without waiting for it to say more, he proactively answered and quickly entered a state of training.
Anyway, no one paid attention to him, so he might as well use this opportunity to improve.
The Chakra Refining Technique was Naruto's most proficient ability at the moment.
And without Kurama interfering, Naruto's Chakra refining efficiency was becoming higher and higher.
His Chakra reserves were already far beyond his peers, and now they were growing even more, rising steadily.
In fact… the current Naruto could now practice the Chakra Refining Technique while allowing himself to get distracted.
This was the result of practicing until it was ingrained in his bones, allowing him to do it subconsciously.
"To get into the top ten in class within a month…"
"How is that even possible!"
Naruto was extremely distressed. Even with the system's help, this was simply impossible… He had a very deep understanding of his current skill level.
This was what was called self-awareness.
"Oh, that's right!"
"I can ask someone to help me with tutoring!"
"Aha, I forgot about that trick…"
"But who should I ask?"
The first person to appear in his mind was, of course, Sakura Haruno.
Although Sasuke was undoubtedly the best in the class, that was based on comprehensive assessment. In terms of academic performance alone, Sakura Haruno was the top student.
Not to mention… a lewd smile couldn't help but appear on Naruto's lips… he already liked Sakura the most… it was simply killing two birds with one stone!
While class hadn't started yet, he had already practiced the Chakra Refining Technique for a long time.
Naruto carefully stopped, and seeing no warning from the system, he breathed a sigh of relief and happily went to find Sakura Haruno.
"ano sa, ano sa…"
"Sakura, can I ask you for a favor?"
Naruto pleaded with his hands pressed together.
Sakura Haruno had just been treated coldly by Sasuke, and she snapped, "What is it?!"
Naruto grinned, "Well, it's… that…"
"Could you help me with tutoring?"
As soon as Naruto's words came out, not just Sakura Haruno, but everyone around looked over in surprise.
The classroom immediately fell silent.
"What's wrong?"
Naruto scratched his head.
Sakura Haruno was also startled, but then she decided that Naruto was just trying to get close to her with such an excuse.
She said impatiently, "Naruto, stop playing games with me!"
"I will never like you!"
With that, she turned and walked away with big strides.
Naruto was instantly frozen in place.
A cold breeze blew through.
A white paper on the desk fluttered to the ground.
His plan was so perfect, it just had one tiny flaw.
That was, Sakura Haruno was unwilling.
Despairing, Naruto hung his head like a defeated rooster, dejectedly walking back.
Just then.
"Na… Naruto-kun…"
That faint, mosquito-like voice was… "Hm? What's wrong, Hinata?"
The short-haired girl with white eyes didn't dare to look at Naruto, her head down, face flushed, her index fingers gently touching, wanting to say something, but unable to utter a single word.
"Strange girl…"
Naruto pouted and was about to turn and leave.
But Hinata finally mustered her courage: "Th-that… "
"Naruto-kun, if… if you really want tutoring…"
"I… I can help you…"
Naruto's steps instantly halted, his eyes lit up, and he abruptly turned back, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"R-really, Hinata?!"
Hinata quickly lowered her head again, her face flushed, not daring to look at Naruto's face, only shyly nodding slightly.
"That's great!"
Naruto knew that although Hinata's grades weren't as good as Sakura Haruno's, she was still among the best.
With her tutoring, his chances of avoiding the system's "small punishment" were greatly increased!
"Thank you, Hinata!"
Naruto couldn't help but walk forward excitedly and grasped Hinata's small hand.
"Ah—"
Hinata immediately let out a gasp, her face completely red as if she had a fever, her small head almost steaming… "Hm? What's wrong, Hinata?"
"Hinata?!"
…The young Naruto wouldn't know that even though he failed all his subjects, there was one thing he always got full marks in.
That was Hinata's affection for him.
In any world, even if the universe was turned upside down, and personalities were completely reversed… this one thing never changed.
Chapter 9: Look at Naruto, everyone!
Suddenly having her small hand held by Naruto, such intimate contact, was more than Hinata's little heart could bear.
Her face was flushed, her head was hot, and she almost fainted directly.
Fortunately, Naruto's calls brought her back to consciousness.
But seeing Naruto's face so close made Hinata blush again, her heart pounding like a startled deer.
"Na… Naruto-kun, let go of my hand…"
Naruto then looked down and realized he had been tightly holding Hinata's hand the whole time.
"Ah ha, I got too excited, I didn't notice…"
"Hinata, what's wrong?"
Hinata looked at her hands, feeling relieved for a moment, but then a strange sense of loss arose in her heart.
She lowered her head, her face red: "N-nothing…"
"Naruto-kun, tomorrow is the weekend, we can arrange a time and place for tutoring…"
Naruto thought for a moment.
"Hmm…"
"Then let's do tutoring in the morning. As for the location…"
"How about your house?"
Hinata shook her head: "I'm afraid that won't work…"
Naruto said: "You're right, after all, you're helping me with tutoring…"
"Then come to my house!"
Hinata's little heart instantly pounded wildly.