Chapter 13: I've Already Received the Best Thank-You Gift...
Naruto's foundation didn't need much explanation.
It could be said to be utterly destitute, completely empty.
His main selling point was infinite potential.
So even with tutoring, this was absolutely an impossible mission.
Fortunately, Hinata's patience seemed endless.
Sometimes Naruto himself felt he was too stupid, wondering why he always couldn't understand, but Hinata kept her gentle and shy smile, continuing to try hard to explain to Naruto.
"Sorry, Hinata, am I too stupid?"
Hinata shook her head.
"No, Naruto-kun, I have never thought that..."
"Really?"
"Mm... I, I actually have always envied Naruto-kun..."
"Envied me? What for?"
Hinata blushed, thought for a moment, and whispered.
"Naruto-kun is always so optimistic and cheerful, full of vitality. No matter how others see you or what they say about you, you never get discouraged. Even facing everyone's ridicule, you don't care at all. Even facing the genius Sasuke, you never admit defeat."
Naruto looked at Hinata's small face, opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.
"Hinata, actually I'm not as good as you say, and it's not that I don't care about others' opinions, it's just..."
"I can't explain it well either, anyway, I just want to prove myself, so that those who look down on me can see."
Hinata smiled gently: "So that's exactly what makes Naruto-kun the most amazing..."
Looking at the girl's smile, Naruto felt slightly moved in his heart.
"Hinata, this seems to be the first time you've said so much..."
Hinata's face turned even redder, and she lowered her head.
"Because, these are the words I have always wanted to say to Naruto-kun."
"You may not remember, but before, when I was bullied by a group of bad kids, it was Naruto-kun who stood up and saved me..."
Naruto rubbed his chin, recalling carefully.
"Hmm... did that happen?"
Hinata smiled: "Of course it did. Since... since then, I have always been paying attention to Naruto-kun. Your strength, your optimism, your hard work, your refusal to admit defeat, are all motivations encouraging myself..."
To a sensitive person, Hinata's words would be tantamount to a confession.
But Naruto was unmoved at all; instead, he crossed his arms and became proud.
"Is that so? Heh, seems I really am quite amazing!"
Hinata nodded gently: "Mm, of course..."
Naruto instantly gained confidence, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Ah!"
"Almost forgot about that!"
He suddenly remembered that he had obtained his first entry ability yesterday...
[Knowledge Absorption].
As long as he entered the state of total focus, he could greatly improve his understanding and mastery of knowledge!
Hinata tilted her little head.
"What?"
Naruto patted his chest confidently.
"Hinata, next I'm going to enter full power mode!"
"Don't get scared by me!"
Although Hinata didn't understand what he was saying, she still nodded.
"Mm... okay."
Sure enough.
Once Naruto entered the state of total focus, with the effect of the [Knowledge Absorption] entry, his understanding of Hinata's explanations instantly rose several levels.
Not only was it not so obscure anymore, but he could even draw inferences about other cases from one instance.
This made Hinata both surprised and delighted.
The morning passed quietly amidst their tutoring.
Hinata glanced out the window.
The sun was high in the sky.
She said somewhat flusteredly: "Naruto-kun, I... I only asked for half a day off, it's time to go back."
"Asked for leave? Isn't today the weekend?"
Hinata said somewhat helplessly: "Yes, I asked for leave from my father..."
"Because..."
"Anyway, I need to complete a lot of training in the afternoon, I'm afraid I can't continue tutoring Naruto-kun."
"If there's another chance, I will tell Naruto-kun in advance."
Even though Naruto was careless, he could understand at this time.
He scratched his head and laughed dryly: "Th-That's true, can't just think about myself. Hinata also needs to work hard on training!"
"But... are you just leaving like this?"
"I haven't even expressed my thanks yet!"
Hinata stood up, walked to the door, looked back with a shy smile on her blushing face, and waved to Naruto.
"No... no need, Naruto-kun."
"I have already received the best thank-you gift."
She said goodbye, then turned and left blushing. Soon, the hurried sound of her going downstairs was heard, seeming very embarrassed, like a little rabbit running away.
Naruto watched from the window as the girl ran all the way holding her sun hat, feeling a bit confused for a moment.
"Hinata..."
"What a strange person, but..."
"Besides Iruka-sensei, she is the second person to treat me so well..."
Although Naruto was dense, he knew very well in his heart who treated him well.
"Mm, when I get to school, I'll thank Hinata properly!"
[Congratulations Host, after a morning of tutoring, all subjects have improved to a certain extent!]
Naruto grinned.
Even without the system saying it, he could feel that he seemed to understand a lot of new knowledge.
With Hinata's patient explanation, plus the assistance of the [Knowledge Absorption] entry ability under total focus, and of course his own efforts...
This morning's tutoring was simply equivalent to half a year of his own study!
Of course, before this, he wouldn't have learned much in half a year either.
Current Cultural Studies Proficiency
Cultural Studies:
Physics (48/100)
Chemistry (39/100)
Mathematics (40/100)
Literature (52/100)
History (46/100)
English (58/100)
Biology (52/100)
Ethics (44/100)
Ninja Knowledge (52/100)
Naruto checked his current attributes. Compared to the twenty or thirty points at the very beginning, all cultural subjects could completely be said to have been reborn and advanced by leaps and bounds!
Almost all courses had increased by 10 to 20 points!
Honestly, even if the exam started right now, although it was impossible for Naruto to reach the top ten in cultural studies, he would at least be at a lower-middle level.
It was completely different from being the dead last at the bottom before.
Naruto stretched greatly.
At least Brother System was somewhat reasonable. It basically didn't come out to cause trouble during this morning's tutoring, let alone issue any Lightning Release Baptism warnings.
Obviously, it also knew the necessity of his tutoring...
Naruto stretched greatly.
Although he didn't really cultivate, this cultural studies session was simply more torturous for him than three hundred times of Clone Technique.
One was physical strength, the other was mental.
Seeing the sun right in the middle, the system also immediately prompted that it was time for lunch.
He immediately prepared a sumptuous meal for himself and wolfed it down, thinking to himself that next time he should invite Hinata to eat together...
[Host tutored cultural studies in the morning. In the afternoon, please immediately head to the Konoha Village Ninja Training Ground and prepare to accept Taijutsu training!]
"Taijutsu?"
Naruto didn't refuse either, nodding obediently. After cleaning up the mess, he changed into clothes suitable for training and headed towards the Konoha Ninja Training Ground.
Before he even arrived there, he suddenly heard terrifying sounds.
Bang bang bang—
Bang bang bang!
"What is this? An earthquake?!"
Naruto pushed aside the bushes and took a peek, seeing a guy with a bowl cut and thick eyebrows frantically attacking a wooden stake, punching and kicking, gritting his teeth!
It was simply like burning hot blood, burning life!
"Wh-What a scary guy!"
"Is it necessary to work this hard?"
[Host's Taijutsu training is very simple. You just need to work a tiny bit harder than Rock Lee in front of you!]
Naruto: "???"
"So you want me to die?!"