Sakura Haruno looked at the distraught Sasuke, her brows furrowing tightly.
"Sasuke-kun..."
"Is it because of what happened with Naruto that..."
"But, it's truly unbelievable. I never imagined Teacher Mizuki would be a bad guy, and to think he'd actually die at Naruto's hands..."
"Sasuke-kun, wait for me!"
She was stunned for a moment, but then she focused her attention back on Sasuke and ran to catch up.
Walking into the Ninja Academy behind her were Ino and Hinata.
Ever since her falling out with Sakura, Ino had become much closer to Hinata.
But at this moment, her face was also a bit pale.
"Hinata, did Naruto really kill Teacher Mizuk... I mean, Mizuki? I was dumbfounded when I heard the news. Is it true?"
Hinata shook her head and whispered, "I, I don't know either. Probably..."
Ino said in shock, "Even if Mizuki deserved to die for trying to kill Iruka, who would have thought he'd die at Naruto's hands?"
"Is the current Naruto already strong enough to kill a Chunin?!"
Hinata was visibly very nervous, and her heart was filled with lingering fear.
"I, I'm just so grateful that Naruto-kun is safe and sound..."
"And of course... Teacher Iruka too..."
Hinata's eyes couldn't help but moisten slightly, and her hands were clasped tightly together, praying, blessing, and thanking the gods.
Ino's heart stirred.
Everyone else was just shocked by the big thing Naruto had done.
Only Hinata was concerned about Naruto himself... This might be... Chapter 58: Hinata's Gentleness and the Second Date! Please give me monthly votes!!!
Looking at Hinata's delicate and worried expression, even Ino couldn't help but be moved.
She sighed.
"Although Naruto is lonely and in pain, if he knew that at least you cared for him like this, I think he would be incredibly satisfied and happy..."
Hinata's little face flushed red, but she still shook her head.
"No, it's not just me..."
"At least, there's also Teacher Iruka..."
"Naruto was willing to risk his life to save Teacher Iruka, which shows that in his heart, he already considers Teacher Iruka family..."
Ino nodded, but couldn't resist teasing, "Teacher Iruka is in first place in his heart, so what about you, little Hinata?"
Hinata said, "I'm very happy for Naruto, really..."
"Because what he needs most is actually Teacher Iruka..."
"Family love, friendship, romantic love... family love is always the most important..."
"Teacher Iruka just filled the biggest void of family love for Naruto, so I..."
"I'm very grateful to Teacher Iruka."
Ino couldn't help but sigh.
"There you go again, saying such understanding, thoughtful, and mature things..."
"Every time you say something like that, besides making me feel more pity for poor Naruto, I also feel a bit of sympathy for you..."
"W-why?"
Ino said, "Because people with such mature thoughts often live a harder life than others..."
Hinata tilted her little head, "Is that so?"
"But, I really like my current life..."
"Alright, alright, I get it!"
"Sigh, but now, I'm actually a little envious of Naruto..."
"He has you caring for him so much. I wonder if one day, someone will care for me like that too..."
Hinata quickly said, "Ino, you're so good, of course you will..."
Ino laughed heartily, "Hahahahaha, that's true!"
The two chatted and laughed as they walked towards the classroom... At this moment, Naruto was both cultivating and, with a 'divided mind,' pondering the events that had transpired earlier.
"Hmm--"
"I think I saved Teacher Iruka while enduring the baptism of Lightning Release..."
"But my memory is unclear now. I only remember it hurting like hell at first, but then I seemed to go numb..."
Kurama thought to himself, 'You went numb, but I didn't!'
"But..."
Naruto also couldn't help but feel a lingering fear: "I'm really amazing, able to endure such a painful Lightning Release baptism. I was just too worried about Teacher Iruka, I forgot everything else..."
"Hehe, maybe I'll even be immune to Lightning Release in the future!"
"The system's punishment won't be a big deal anymore!"
"[Detecting a significant increase in the host's endurance to Lightning Release baptism. Future punishments will increase the electrical intensity. Host, please do not harbor any Luck mentality! ('Luck mentality' means 'a Luck mentality' (jiao xing xin li) or 'a fluke mentality' or 'a stroke of luck mindset')]"
"Ah--"
Naruto was instantly dumbfounded and wide-eyed.
"Isn't that too cruel?!"
Sure enough, this system wasn't so easy to deal with... But from its prompt, his endurance to Lightning Release had indeed increased significantly.
This way, in the future, if there were enemies who used Lightning Release, wouldn't he be much easier to deal with?!
Deep down, Naruto knew the system was for his own good.
From stopping him from stealing things from the Third Hokage's house, to stopping him from saving Teacher Iruka, to stopping him from looking for Mizuki, it was all for his safety.
However, some choices are not about rationality.
These are things that the system would probably never understand.
Naruto temporarily cast aside his wild thoughts and fully immersed himself in cultivation and study.
He had essentially lost a day's time.
He had to find every way to make it all up.
That day, Naruto ignored the whispers of others and focused only on working harder to improve himself... After school, the second weekend arrived.
When Naruto thought of tutoring, he naturally thought of Hinata.
He walked over openly, waved to Hinata, and smiled brightly.
"Yo, Hinata!"
"Tomorrow's the weekend, can you still help me with tutoring?"
"Please..."
Naruto clasped his hands together and pleaded.
Hinata's little face turned crimson, and she nervously lowered her head.
"Mm."
Her mosquito-like reply made Naruto lean his ear closer.
"What?"
Hinata's face instantly flushed even more, and she quickly avoided Naruto's gaze, nodding repeatedly.
"I, I can..."
Naruto heard her reply clearly and was overjoyed.
"That's great! Thank you, Hinata!"
"Then, we'll see each other tomorrow morning!"
"O-okay, Naruto-kun..."
But Naruto had already waved his hand and skipped away happily.
He hadn't heard her last words.
Ino couldn't help but lean in and tease.
"Oh, little Hinata, you get to go on a date with Naruto again tomorrow..."
"N-not a date, just tu-tutoring..."
Ino pinched her slightly chubby cheeks.
"You're really shy, so cute..."
Hinata quickly said, "D-don't tease me, Ino..."
Ino burst out laughing... That night, after finishing his strenuous cultivation, Naruto once again fell into a dream.
However, this time, his battle with Sasuke was somewhat distracted.
After the battle with Mizuki, although Naruto had erupted with killing intent and successfully killed his enemy, it had inexplicably left a shadow in his heart.
He was still too young, after all.
The question of whether or not to kill was too heavy for him...
However, Sasuke on the other side was merciless, his moves ruthless, and as a result, Naruto's win rate dropped significantly.
"What's wrong, Diao Che Wei, can't you bring yourself to kill me?"
"Then you'll be the one to die!"
Even in a dream, Sasuke was still as cold and arrogant.
Naruto hesitated.
Sasuke suddenly yelled, "What are you hesitating about, Diao Che Wei!"
"You might not care about your own life, but what about the lives of others?!"
"Those you care about most, those you want to protect..."
"What about their lives?!"
"Being merciful to your enemies is being cruel to them!"
"Do you want to see Iruka's corpse, or that scoundrel Mizuki's corpse?!"
Naruto's heart trembled!
In his mind, imagining Iruka truly dying before him, silent, a bloody and mangled sight, Naruto couldn't help but be filled with immense grief!