"Clone Technique X10!"
Chapter 11: Diao Che Wei's Small Dream
Throughout the entire basic Ninjutsu course, Naruto continuously practiced the Clone Technique.
"Clone Technique!"
"Damn it..."
"Clone Technique!"
Soon, Naruto was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.
Practicing Ninjutsu was not easy; it not only demanded a high level of Chakra and stamina but also required mental fortitude and endurance.
Naruto's Chakra and stamina were considered excellent.
His mental fortitude and endurance, however, were originally far behind.
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.
"[Host has completed fifty Clone Technique trainings, mastery has increased, proficiency +1!]"
"That's great!"
Naruto looked at his newly created clone, raised his hands high, and shouted excitedly.
Sasuke, Sakura, and the others couldn't help but look over.
Iruka-sensei also walked forward.
..."Naruto, your clone is still lying on the ground!"
Naruto confidently pointed at his clone.
"Look closely, Iruka-sensei!"
"Although it's still lying on the ground, it's not sticking out its tongue or rolling its eyes anymore!"
"It looks just like it's asleep!"
Indeed.
If Naruto's previous Clone Technique looked like he had drunk fake alcohol, now it just looked like it was simply asleep.
It must be said that it was indeed a huge improvement.
Iruka: "..."
"The Clone Technique is used to lure enemies, what's the deal with it lying on the ground!"
However, he also saw Naruto's effort.
Because by the later part of the class, other students had already scattered, having completely given up on continuing to practice.
Some were just pretending.
But Naruto persisted until the very end.
He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Naruto, you... working so hard lately, do you have some goal you want to achieve?"
Naruto blurted out, his face covered in snot and tears.
"Iruka-sensei, I must get into the top ten of the class in the assessment a month from now!"
Iruka's eyes instantly widened.
"Huh?"
The entire classroom immediately fell silent.
Then, a roar of laughter erupted like a tsunami.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Is that Naruto guy crazy, what kind of nonsense is he dreaming about!"
"He's just a Diao Che Wei, and he wants to get into the top ten of the class in a month?"
"How is that possible!"
"I'm dying of laughter!"
Sasuke looked at the serious-faced Naruto and frowned.
Although he also found it laughable, seeing Naruto's expression made him feel that he wasn't joking.
"What is that Diao Che Wei thinking?"
"How come he seems like a completely different person these past two days..."
Hinata, however, had a flushed face and a gentle smile on her lips.
"Naruto-kun, g-go for it..."
"I believe you can do it..."
Facing the entire class's ridicule, Iruka-sensei did not laugh.
He patted Naruto on the shoulder and said earnestly.
"Naruto, I see your determination to become stronger."
"I've also seen your efforts these past two days, but..."
"Haste makes waste. Of course, we want to pursue progress, but we can't be too ambitious. We still need to take it one step at a time, okay?"
"Getting into the top ten of the class in a month is too much for you..."
"If you're going to set goals, you don't need to compare yourself to others. Comparing yourself to your past self is enough..."
Naruto listened to Iruka-sensei's words, knowing that he was sincerely looking out for him.
It's just that he had an unavoidable difficulty!
"Iruka-sensei, I understand what you mean, but, but I..."
"Still have to get into the top ten a month from now!"
"Pfft—"
The other students in the class couldn't help but burst out laughing again.
Iruka, however, asked seriously, "Why, Naruto?"
"Why are you so insistent on getting into the top ten?"
Naruto: "Because..."
"Ah, I can't say it!"
Iruka didn't laugh.
He nodded and stroked Naruto's hair.
"Alright, it's okay if you don't want to say. Since you have such ambition, it's always a good thing. Even if you don't achieve your goal in the end, you will definitely improve a lot more than you are now."
"Good job, Naruto. If you don't understand anything, just ask me anytime."
Naruto was incredibly grateful.
Only Iruka-sensei would take him seriously like this, instead of treating him as a joke... "Understood, Iruka-sensei!"
...At Higurashi, the Ninja Academy's dismissal bell finally rang.
Soon, the entire Ninja Academy was filled with groups of three or five, their joyful laughter permeating the twilight.
"Dad!"
"Let's go home, Santa."
"Mom, I want ice cream!"
"Alright, alright, I'll buy it for you on the way."
"Awesome!"
Naruto, exhausted, walked among them, and a sense of loneliness inevitably arose in his heart.
"Hmph, Diao Che Wei, you think you can get into the top ten of the class in a month?"
"Too naive."
Sasuke walked by 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 have to pay so much attention to me, do you?"
Sasuke's expression instantly changed: "Diao Che Wei, what did you say?!"
"I mean, you, the one called a genius, keep paying so much attention to me. I think you must be afraid of being surpassed by me, aren't you?"
Sasuke immediately retorted angrily, "What a joke!"
"Do you think a Diao Che Wei like you can be compared to me?"
Naruto crossed his arms, confidently saying, "Ah, that's exactly what I think."
"I never thought I was inferior to you!"
Sasuke clenched his fists, veins popping out on his forehead.
"Hmph, you ignorant fool, I'll let you know the difference between you and me!"
After saying this, he left with an enraged expression.
However, the inexplicable pressure Naruto put on him made Sasuke determined to train ten or even a hundred times harder when he returned home!
..."What's wrong with Sasuke-kun?"
"He seems to have been angered by that Naruto guy..."
"That Naruto bastard, he just knows how to make trouble for Sasuke!"
"But Sasuke-kun seems to really care about that guy, why is that..."
"Who knows..."
Naruto made a face at Sasuke's retreating back, pulling down his eyelids and sticking out his tongue, "Blech..."
"N-Naruto-kun, see you tomorrow."
Naruto quickly stopped making faces. Seeing it was Hinata, he scratched his head sheepishly.
"Ah ha, it's Hinata. Oh, right, tutoring, I almost forgot..."
"See you tomorrow!"
Naruto smiled brightly, waved at Hinata, and then began weighted frog jumps, heading towards his home step by step.
Hinata gently fiddled with her fingers, her cheeks flushed. Thinking about tomorrow's tutoring, her heart couldn't help but pound, like a deer running wild... "Tomorrow I can be with Naruto-kun..."
Hinata covered her blushing, warm cheeks with both hands.
"Ah..."
"I probably won't be able to sleep tonight..."
Chapter 12: First Date (Tutoring) with Hinata!
Peaceful Konoha Village.
Another night of lights in every home.
Naruto returned home with weighted frog jumps, made dinner with newfound familiarity, and without even needing a system reminder, resolutely continued his Clone Technique practice.