I am Uchiha Sasuke.
My mood is very complicated right now.
Looking at Naruto's exasperated expression, Sasuke felt an inexplicable irritation welling up inside him.
"What the hell is that Diao Che Wei up to?"
"Does he really want to turn things around?"
"Damn it..."
Uchiha Sasuke, who outwardly looked down on Naruto, was actually the one who paid him the most attention.
Even Iruka, who could empathize with and understand Naruto, was ultimately an elder and a teacher, not a peer his age.
Even Hinata, despite her immense fondness for Naruto, could never fully comprehend Naruto's sense of loneliness.
Only Sasuke.
He understood Naruto, and even... envied Naruto.
Because even though Naruto was lonely, he could express himself freely; whether it was through pranks or being disliked by others, he never gave up his efforts to gain recognition.
But Sasuke couldn't do that.
His coldness, his pride, his genius, and the hatred buried deep in his heart had become a cocoon that bound him, preventing him from breaking free.
Both of them had lost everything.
Yet, Naruto possessed a passion that he could not have.
He, on the other hand, possessed a talent that Naruto could not hope to achieve.
But now, even Naruto was starting to work hard, and when his excellence felt threatened, it made Sasuke feel a subtle, sensitive, and intense stimulation.
He couldn't quite articulate this feeling himself.
It only transformed into a driving force to push himself to work even harder.
The pen in Sasuke's hand trembled slightly, and with a forceful squeeze of his palm, it snapped with a 'crack' sound...
Sakura, who had been silently observing Sasuke, couldn't help but glance at Naruto a couple of times.
When she turned back upon hearing the sound of Sasuke's pen breaking, she only saw a slightly distorted face.
"Sasuke..."
Sakura didn't understand why; of course, she couldn't comprehend Sasuke's current mood.
Hinata's face was slightly flushed, and she secretly rejoiced for Naruto in her heart.
"Naruto-kun, g-go for it..."
Naruto sat down, arms crossed, fuming and dissatisfied.
To be honest, if it were before, with such progress, Naruto's mouth would have split into a wide grin.
But not now.
The time limit set by the system was within one month!
One month to raise his grades from the bottom of the class to the top ten!
What was the difference between that and telling him to go to the Hokage Office and beat up the Third Hokage?!
"It seems I still need to push harder!"
For the next few classes, Naruto, for the first time without the system reminding him, actively and attentively listened to the lectures.
During the break times, he also unhesitatingly devoted himself to practicing the Chakra Refining Technique.
This unusual sight had become a fixture in the classroom, causing everyone to instinctively keep their distance, yet curiously watch him.
Until... Ding!
The host has maintained a state of complete concentration for ten consecutive classes and has gained a new ability, Knowledge Absorption!
Once in a state of complete concentration, the ability to absorb and process knowledge greatly increases!
Naruto was stunned, then his mouth dropped open, and his eyes lit up.
"Ability!"
"Knowledge Absorption!"
"Although I don't quite understand, it seems I've become even more amazing!"
He immediately tried it, and in the subsequent classes, once he entered a state of complete concentration, his mind, which was originally a muddled mess, suddenly opened up!
This feeling was indescribable.
It was like a river that had been blocked for over ten years suddenly clearing.
Or like chronic constipation suddenly resolving completely and uncontrollably... one could only say it was an epiphany, an enlightenment!
You have entered a state of complete concentration, the Knowledge Absorption ability has activated, your mastery of [Mathematics] has increased, proficiency +5.
Naruto was practically beaming.
"5 points!"
"An unprecedented success!"
"Ah ha ha ha..."
Detection: The host has exited the state of complete concentration and is about to receive a Lightning Release baptism from the system.
Warning countdown: 5...
Naruto: "...Can't I just admit I was wrong?!"
Moreover.
Naruto discovered that the ability of this [Knowledge Absorption] entry wasn't just for cultural subjects.
It could even be applied to understanding Ninjutsu!
This particular class was on the Clone Technique, Naruto's weakest area.
The Clone Technique is one of the three basic Ninjutsu taught at the Ninja Academy.
Relatively speaking, it doesn't have much difficulty.
Because the clones created have no physical form, only illusions, they cannot be used for attack or defense, but only for luring enemies.
Of course, also because they lack physical form and realism, they can easily be seen through by Ninja with strong perception.
Naruto's Clone Technique had always been the weakest of the Three Body Techniques.
His Transformation Technique was relatively stronger; he even developed his own unique Ninjutsu for it.
That was the Ninja World's greatest divine technique, the Sexy Technique, which defeated Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the progenitor of Chakra!
But the Clone Technique, Naruto still found it difficult to master perfectly.
On the podium, Iruka-sensei spoke eloquently.
"The Clone Technique is a basic Ninjutsu that involves refining and controlling a certain amount of Chakra to create an illusion identical to the user's body, used to deceive enemies."
"The hand seal sequence for the Clone Technique is Ram—Snake—Tiger."
"While forming the hand seals, manipulate and control your Chakra, form an image of yourself in your mind, and then create it, as if pulling your reflection out of a mirror."
"Alright, everyone, start practicing now!"
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
In the state of [Knowledge Absorption], Naruto, for the first time, truly absorbed everything Iruka-sensei said about the Clone Technique.
"Hand seal sequence Ram-Snake-Tiger, imagine your own image in your mind, control Chakra to create it..."
"Ah ha! I get it!"
Naruto immediately began forming hand seals with both hands, while an image of himself appeared in his mind, and he refined Chakra, guiding it to create an identical illusion.
"Clone Technique!"
He roared, releasing Chakra, and a clone instantly appeared in the classroom!
However, his clone slumped limply to the ground, like it had drunk three catties of fake liquor, eyes rolled back, tongue hanging out, completely a pile of mud.
"Hahahahaha!"
The surroundings erupted in laughter, with mocking voices in disarray.
If it were in the past, Naruto would definitely have retorted.
But this time, he didn't even have the chance to do so.
Detection: The host's Clone Technique is too weak. Please immediately devote yourself entirely to practicing the Clone Technique. Today's goal is... to practice the Clone Technique three hundred times!
Naruto: "???"
"H-how many?!"
"Three hundred times."
"If you want my life, just say so!"
"Three hundred times, never mind if my Chakra is enough, even if my Chakra is enough, my small body can't handle it!"
Warning: Lightning Release baptism countdown, 5... 4...
"..."
"If you had said that earlier, I would have understood!"
Naruto was powerless to resist and could only silently endure.
"Ram-Snake-Tiger, imagine your own shadow in your mind, while simultaneously manipulating the refined Chakra..."
"Clone Technique!"
Bang—
With another soft thud, Naruto's limp clone once again appeared on the ground.
"Ah ha! That's great!"
Iruka-sensei came closer, looking at the clone still sprawled limply on the ground, and couldn't help but have a vein pop on his forehead.
"Naruto, what's so great about it!"
Naruto pointed emphatically at his clone.
"Iruka-sensei, look closely!"
"Even though he's still lying on the ground, at least he's not sticking his tongue out anymore!"
Iruka: "..."
"Keep practicing!"
"...Oh."
Even if Iruka hadn't said that, Naruto wouldn't have had time to stop.
Three hundred Clone Techniques!
If he didn't hurry, today was destined to be a sleepless night!
"Clone Technique!"
"Clone Technique—"
"Clone Technique..."
The host has completed ten Clone Technique trainings. Mastery has increased, proficiency +1!
"Oh! There's hope!"