"Still not working!"
"The Physical Strength Monster trait is very useful, but once Knowledge Absorption activates and I enter a state of complete focus, I'm only concerned with the textbooks and can't manage the weighted handstands!"
"I must… use Divided Attention!"
It has come to this; there's no turning back.
I just have to do it!
Naruto gritted his teeth, struggled once more, and began this seemingly impossible challenge…
"What in the world is Naruto up to?"
"Munch, munch, munch…"
Akimichi Choji said indistinctly, eating potato chips and looking at Naruto's back.
Nara Shikamaru yawned widely, facing the morning sun, looking utterly listless.
"Who knows…"
Akimichi Choji shook his head: "Even if he was stimulated by something, isn't he trying a bit too hard?"
"It's almost exaggerated… Munch, munch, munch…"
"Hey, Shikamaru, do you think we should also try a bit harder?"
Nara Shikamaru looked at the white clouds in the sky, his eyelids drooping.
"Why?"
Choji paused, his hand, which was about to put a chip in his mouth, also stopped.
"After all, even Naruto is working so hard, and it seems like everyone else in the class is also affected by him…"
"Naruto hasn't been standing in punishment with us lately, and it feels a little lonely…"
Shikamaru yawned again.
"Choji, Naruto being able to work hard might be a good thing for him."
"However, everyone's pursuits are different. Although he's a Diao Che Wei like us, he has a dream of becoming Hokage, he wants to work hard to catch up with others and gain everyone's recognition."
"But I'm different."
"I just want to live a peaceful life…"
Choji stuffed another chip into his mouth.
"Well, that's true, but I always feel like I'm wasting time…"
Shikamaru patted his shoulder and smiled.
"Are you happy every day?"
"Hmm… how should I put it, I am quite happy…"
"Then it's not a waste of time."
"Well, actually, it's fine if I'm not happy, I don't care anyway…"
With that, he clasped his hands behind his head and lazily walked forward.
Choji seemed to understand but not fully, but he trusted Shikamaru completely and no longer dwelled on it, stuffing a large mouthful of chips and chasing after Shikamaru.
"Naru…"
Ahead, Rock Lee, also facing the morning sun and pouring out his passion and sweat, saw Naruto's figure and was overjoyed. Just as he was about to wave hello, he suddenly froze.
"Naruto?"
This terrifying training method left Rock Lee dumbfounded!
"H-how can he even do that?!"
"That Naruto, he usually complains, but he's actually working harder than me!"
"So that's how it is, I can't lose to him either. Weighted one-handed handstands, and studying at the same time?!"
"Alright, I'll do it too!"
Rock Lee imitated him, but just like Naruto, it wasn't that simple… He lasted three seconds before falling heavily to the ground.
"Damn it…"
"Again!"
On the other side.
Hinata also saw Naruto's figure. Remembering yesterday's "date" at Ichiraku Ramen, her face couldn't help but flush, and a hint of sweetness filled her heart.
"Naruto-kun… is he starting to train even harder?"
"I… I still shouldn't disturb him…"
"And I must also work harder, otherwise, I won't be worthy of standing by his side…"
Hinata silently watched Naruto, not disturbing him, only cheering him on in her heart…
Finally, after much effort, he arrived at the Ninja Academy. Naruto was already drenched in sweat and mentally exhausted.
This time, it was a double torment of mind and body!
Far surpassing anything before.
He could finally put down the weights and threw away the damned textbooks, collapsing onto the ground and gasping for breath.
However…
[Congratulations to the host for completing a more difficult training challenge. The ability of Divided Attention has improved, proficiency +3, current proficiency 51 points!]
Naruto was startled, then overjoyed.
"So Divided Attention can also be improved?"
"That's great!"
Just then, a figure blocked the morning sun, casting a shadow over Naruto, who was slumped on the ground.
Naruto looked up and saw a cool face with hands in his pockets.
"Hmph, Diao Che…"
Before Sasuke could finish his sentence, Naruto suddenly had an instinctive reaction.
"S-A-S-U-K-E!"
"Let's fight again!"
He shot up into the air and charged towards Sasuke!
Sasuke's expression changed in surprise.
"What are you doing?!"
Naruto was clearly provoked last night; seeing Sasuke's face made him instinctively want to beat him up.
It was only natural, really; anyone who had fought 37 consecutive battles, with 3 wins and 34 losses, would never let it go.
Although Sasuke was startled, he instinctively dodged the attack.
Suddenly, a figure stood between Naruto and Sasuke, spreading her arms and angrily shouting.
"Stop it, you idiot Naruto!"
It was Sakura Haruno.
But Naruto was already seeing red at this point, not even noticing who was in front of him.
His body moved faster than his mind.
In an instant, Naruto's punch had already slammed out!
Bang—
Right into Sakura Haruno's face!
Chapter 27: Hinata and Sakura, A Woman's War! Please give monthly votes!!!
Naruto's fierce punch landed squarely on Sakura Haruno's face!
Immediately, blood gushed from Sakura Haruno's nose, her features seemed to twist together, the intense pain pierced her bones, and she was violently sent flying, collapsing heavily onto the ground!
For a moment, the entire Ninja Academy playground was dead silent, not a sound to be heard.
"W-what did that Naruto just do?!"
"He actually punched Sakura Haruno flying!"
"What is he thinking?!"
"N-no, didn't he always adore Sakura Haruno and fawn over her?!"
"How could he…"
"He actually did something like this…"
"No, he probably just wanted to hit Sasuke, and Sakura rushed forward, so Naruto couldn't stop his hand…"
"Even so, this is too much…"
Not to mention the others, even Naruto himself was completely stunned, staring blankly at his fist, then at Sakura Haruno lying on the ground, at a loss for what to do…
"S-Sakura-chan…"
"What… what did I do?"
Uchiha Sasuke also frowned.
He saw it clearly; Naruto's punch was definitely not aimed at Sakura Haruno.
It was aimed at him.
But why would this Diao Che Wei suddenly attack him?
Could it be that the accumulated hatred had finally made him unable to bear it any longer?
He, of course, wouldn't know that Naruto now instinctively reacted when he saw his face… If he didn't strike first, he would be the one to "die"!
In this situation, Naruto almost instinctively lashed out.
Moreover, he maintained the same vigorous fighting spirit he had in his dream.
Sakura Haruno couldn't possibly withstand such an attack.
What's more, she completely didn't expect that Naruto would actually attack her… This was simply outrageous!
More and more onlookers gathered, all erupting in a clamor of discussion.
Even Shikamaru, Choji, and Inuzuka Kiba were wide-mouthed in shock.
When Ino Yamanaka saw it, she shrieked and rushed forward to check on Sakura Haruno's condition.
"Sakura, are you, are you alright?"
Although the two were now rivals in love and seemed to be fiercely competing, deep down they still considered each other their best friends.
Ino certainly wouldn't truly stand by and do nothing.
Sakura Haruno struggled to sit up, absently wiping away the blood gushing from her nose, still not having fully recovered, unsure of what had happened.
"What, what happened to me…"
Ino said: "Naruto was about to fight Sasuke, and you suddenly rushed over and were punched flying by Naruto…"
Sakura Haruno's ears were still ringing, but hearing Ino's words, she finally sobered up a bit.