Naruto stood up, and facing her small back in the morning sun, he couldn't help but blurt out,
"Hinata..."
"Hm?"
Hinata stopped, turning back to look at Naruto with some unease.
"W-what is it, Naruto-kun?"
Naruto flashed a brilliant, sunny smile.
"Thank you."
Hinata trembled slightly at his words, her face reddening even further. Unable to respond, she nodded almost imperceptibly and immediately ran off.
Naruto still wanted to say something... [Host, please begin your Chakra Refining Technique training immediately!]
[Warning...]
[Warning!]
Naruto: "..."
He cast aside all the jumbled thoughts in his mind; this was the most important thing!
He also immediately ran towards the classroom, ready to begin his training.
Sasuke snorted. Though he claimed it was boring, he had watched the entire scene unfold.
He walked away with his hands in his pockets, his mind replaying Naruto's eyes from moments ago... that look filled with fighting spirit, even killing intent... In that instant, what he had thought was... to flee.
Yes, to flee... How could a mere Diao Che Wei make him feel fear?!
No, this was impossible... But deep down, Sasuke knew this was his true feeling.
That man's voice constantly reminded him, even appearing in his most terrifying nightmares... "My foolish little brother..."
"If you want to kill me and avenge your parents and clan, then hate me, resent me!"
"And then..."
"Live on in ugliness, run with all your might, cling to life by any means..."
That was the devilish voice of Uchiha Itachi, the executioner who slaughtered his entire clan and murdered his parents!
Although he was the person Sasuke hated most, Sasuke was still subtly and deeply influenced by his words, affecting his mind and everything... Therefore, when faced with fear and despair, Sasuke would have the urge to run away.
But... even so, what was that just now?!
It wasn't a powerful enemy, nor was it a desperate situation; it was just... a mere Naruto!
"Damn it—"
Sasuke gritted his teeth, his fists clenching with a grinding sound.
He was still too weak, not just in strength but also in his mental state.
He had to find a way to force himself to grow rapidly!
Otherwise, even Naruto would surpass him, let alone killing Uchiha Itachi!
...The crowd gradually dispersed.
Choji, still munching on potato chips, had watched the entire show.
"Shikamaru, what do you think?"
Shikamaru pouted: "Women... are indeed the most troublesome and terrifying creatures..."
"Mom is like that, Ino is like that, Sakura is like that..."
"Even the most introverted and shy Hinata also hides such a terrifying side..."
"That's why I'll never find a woman in my life..."
He yawned as he spoke, walking towards the classroom.
Choji ate his potato chips in big mouthfuls, a smile spreading across his lips.
"Don't speak too soon, Shikamaru..."
...Iruka sensei walked into the classroom and immediately noticed an unusual atmosphere.
And... "Hmm?"
"Why aren't Sakura and Ino here for class?"
Hinata lowered her head guiltily, her fingers instinctively intertwined.
But the "culprit," Uzumaki Naruto, had his eyes wide like brass bells, diligently cultivating and seizing every moment, not even hearing Iruka sensei's words.
A girl timidly said, "Iruka sensei, Sakura and Ino... they had a fight..."
Iruka sensei frowned.
"Just because of that?"
"Seriously, I understand you're all in your prime youth, but you can't all be so willful..."
"And it's not just Naruto, even Sakura is acting this way..."
A boy snickered, "Iruka sensei, it's precisely because of Naruto that Sakura is like this..."
Iruka sensei was taken aback.
"What?"
Following the gazes of the crowd, he quickly pinpointed the targets... Hinata?
Naruto?
And Sakura, Ino... C-could it be a love triangle, a battleground of three girls surrounding Naruto?!
Chapter 29: Divided Attention and Perpetual Motion Machine! Please give me your monthly votes!!!
The bewildered Iruka sensei looked utterly confused.
Naruto's changes might be significant, but not to this extent, right?
Hinata, well, that went without saying.
He could tell that the young girl had always looked at Naruto differently.
Iruka had always paid attention to Naruto, so he knew very well who was good to him and who wasn't.
He subconsciously glanced at Hinata, who shyly lowered her head.
But... weren't Sakura and Ino always circling Sasuke?
How strange... Although Iruka sensei was older, he was a confirmed bachelor and couldn't comprehend such romantic entanglements.
He shook his head.
"Ahem, never mind. I'll talk to them when they return."
"Class is starting now."
[Host, it's class time. However, please enter a state of Knowledge Absorption while maintaining Chakra Refining Technique, using Divided Attention, and listening attentively.]
Naruto only then realized that Iruka sensei had entered at some point.
Although what had just happened was a bit perplexing, he hadn't really thought much about it because he was "immersed" in his training.
But... simultaneously performing Chakra Refining Technique and listening to class is just too much!
Even on the way to school, doing weighted handstands while reciting, at least that was a division of labor between hands and brain, not interfering with each other... Now you're asking me to listen to class and refine Chakra at the same time?!
Is that even possible?!
Divided Attention and listening attentively?
Does that even sound like human speech?!
[Host, please begin your training immediately, or you will be subjected to the baptism of Lightning Release.]
[Warning countdown 5...]
"Alright, alright, you win!"
Naruto grumbled internally, but not daring to disobey, he immediately tried it with a 'let's see' attitude.
He was already training in Chakra Refining Technique.
After such a long period of training, his proficiency in Chakra Refining Technique had already reached 80 points!
It was indeed his most skilled Jutsu at the moment.
"Hmm..."
"If I want to cultivate Chakra Refining Technique while listening to class and also enter the state of Knowledge Absorption, there's only one way..."
"That is to completely stop using my brain and let my body refine Chakra on its own!"
Naruto was much clearer in his analysis of things now.
For the [Knowledge Absorption] entry to work, he had to go all out, which meant occupying all his brain cells.
So, to use Divided Attention, he had to let his body move on its own.
In other words... it was subconscious.
Or rather, muscle memory.
In reality, this wasn't impossible; many sports or jobs, once extremely proficient, could indeed be done without much thought.
For example, anyone can walk and talk at the same time.
Talking and thinking wouldn't cause them to trip while walking.
Nothing more than sheer familiarity.
A Jonin like Kakashi Hatake, dealing with a Genin team like Team 7, could read make-out paradise while effortlessly defeating them; it was the same principle.
That being said, Naruto could only try it little by little.
Fortunately, his Divided Attention proficiency had increased a bit earlier, giving Naruto some experience...