After a ten-minute break, Naruto's chakra reserves instantly increased by 3 points!
Moreover, the proficiency of the Chakra Refining Technique itself improved as well, reaching 58 points. From now on, the efficiency of chakra extraction during practice would be greatly enhanced.
Finally enduring until class started, Naruto let out a sigh of relief, completely drenched in sweat.
However, when he saw Teacher Mizuki stride into the classroom, Naruto's heart filled with nothing but despair.
"Today, we will continue to study Chemistry…"
Naruto: "…A-a-a-a-ah!"
"Why do ninja have to study something like Chemistry?!"
Although he roared inwardly, Naruto still widened his eyes helplessly and forced himself into full concentration. Fortunately, thanks to the lessons learned from the previous class, he managed to enter the state of focus much faster this time.
But the problem was that his mental and physical endurance were gradually reaching their limits… If the last class was living hell, then this class was truly hell itself.
Even so, in order to escape the torment of the Lightning Release's baptism, Naruto persevered with all his might.
> You have fully concentrated on listening to the lecture for the first time. Your mastery of the [Chemistry] course has improved. Proficiency +3, current proficiency: 19 points!
Naruto: "…It only increased to 19 points?"
"It was just 16 before?!"
"It's even worse than Physics class…"
Seeing the data so clearly laid out, Naruto became painfully aware of his identity as a Diao Che Wei… Yet his astonishing change had already drawn everyone's attention.
Even as a Diao Che Wei, Naruto's "presence" in class was impossible to ignore.
After all, both the bottom and the top students stand out.
The ones who go unnoticed are always those who just scrape by with sixty points.
And Naruto also carried the special identity of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Even though the children didn't know, they were subtly influenced—mirroring the adults' attitudes toward Naruto. They, too, treated him differently without realizing why.
But being distant and cold toward Naruto didn't mean they couldn't see him. On the contrary, whether it was the old Naruto—lazy, idle, skipping class to pull pranks—or the current Naruto, suddenly focused and even using every break to practice, both versions firmly drew everyone's eyes.
"What's wrong with Naruto?"
"He seems like a completely different person."
"Could he have been possessed by a demon?"
"Shh! Don't say that. Last time I said something like that, my dad scolded me…"
"Did something happen to him?"
"Could it be heartbreak?"
"It's possible. He's always liked Sakura, but Sakura only has eyes for Sasuke-kun…"
"And with Sakura's rough personality, it wouldn't be surprising if he was crushed by that."
"So that's it…"
Sakura Haruno naturally noticed Naruto's change.
Listening to everyone whisper, she frowned slightly.
"Could it really be because of me that Naruto…"
"Should I comfort him?"
"…No. If I do, he'll definitely misunderstand. I don't want him thinking he has a chance."
With that thought, Sakura once again turned her attention back to Sasuke.
But in reality, the one paying the most attention to Naruto was Uchiha Sasuke.
His stern, indifferent face showed no change.
But inside, his heart was in turmoil.
"What the hell is Naruto up to?"
"Does that loser really think he can turn things around?"
"Damn it… I won't lose to a guy like him."
"I still have to… kill that man!"
As the thought arose, a figure shrouded in blood and darkness flashed through Sasuke's mind. His vision filled with a pair of blood-red Sharingan glowing with terrifying light.
Sasuke trembled, gritted his teeth, and clenched his fists.
"Shut up!"
Unable to endure it anymore, he suddenly shouted at Sakura, Ino, and the other girls.
"Sasuke-kun…"
Startled, Sakura and the others froze. Seeing the frightening expression on his face, they didn't dare say more and retreated quietly.
"Sakura, what's wrong with Sasuke?"
Ino asked nervously, her face pale.
"How would I know? And even if I did, why would I tell you? Don't forget, we're rivals in love now!"
Ino made a face at her.
"You're going to lose, Forehead!"
"Ino Pig!"
Sasuke glanced at them in annoyance, then turned away and began practicing on his own.
"Huh? Sasuke-kun is practicing too?"
"He's already a genius, but he's still working so hard?"
"Could it be… because of Naruto?"
"No way, that's impossible! Sasuke-kun is amazing. He wouldn't be influenced by Naruto!"
"Exactly! They're on completely different levels!"
Ignoring their chatter, Sasuke immersed himself in training.
Naruto, hearing the commotion, glanced over. Seeing Sasuke's actions, his eyes widened.
"That bastard Sasuke… he's actually practicing too?"
"Ha! Could it be he's scared I'll catch up to him if I work hard?"
"It must be true!"
> Warning: Lightning Release's baptism countdown, 5… 4… 3…
"Ahhh! I know, I know! If that Sasuke bastard is working so hard, then I'll work ten times—no, a hundred times—harder than him!"
Naruto immediately threw himself back into training.
The two of them clashed from across the classroom without speaking a single word. Yet the air between them was already blazing with invisible rivalry.
It felt as if scorching currents were surging from Naruto and Sasuke, violently colliding in the middle…
After enduring eight classes and every break in between—a day that felt like years—Naruto finally welcomed the end of school.
But rest wasn't waiting for him.
> Detected: Host is heading home. The journey is an opportunity to train taijutsu strength. Please return home using weighted frog jumps!
Naruto: "…Frog jumps?!"
"And weighted frog jumps?!"
"Spare me!"
"I really can't go on…"
> Lightning Release's baptism, countdown 5… 4… 3…
"Ahhh! Fine! I'll jump, okay?! Is that good enough?!"
With no choice, Naruto shoved his textbooks and training tools into his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and—like a warrior bravely facing death—squatted down to leap forward.
"Hmm?"
Sasuke, Sakura, and the other students couldn't help but stare wide-eyed at him.
What on earth was wrong with that guy?
Had he completely lost his mind?
"You're working way too hard…"
Only Iruka-sensei smiled with relief, his expression gentle.
"Naruto… effort is good, but don't overdo it."
Elsewhere.
Watching Naruto frog-jump into the distance with his weighted backpack, a boy with thick eyebrows and a bowl cut, standing in front of the upper-classroom, clenched his fists in excitement as his eyes lit up!
At the same time, a quiet girl with pale eyes gazed silently at Naruto's back, her hands clasped as she whispered a prayer.
"Naruto-kun… g-good luck…"