I am Uchiha Sasuke.
My mood is… complicated right now.
Looking at Naruto's exasperated expression, I feel an inexplicable irritation welling up inside me.
What the hell is that dead last up to?
Does he really want to turn things around?
Damn it…
Outwardly, I looked down on Naruto. But in truth, I was the one who paid the most attention to him.
Even Iruka, who could understand Naruto's pain, was still just a teacher—not a peer.
Even Hinata, despite her obvious feelings for Naruto, could never fully understand his loneliness.
Only I could.
I understood Naruto. And maybe… I even envied him.
Because even though he was lonely, Naruto could express himself freely. Whether it was through pranks or being disliked, he never gave up on trying to be acknowledged.
But me? I couldn't do that.
My coldness, my pride, my so-called genius, and the hatred buried deep inside me… all of it had become a cocoon, binding me in place.
Both of us had lost everything.
But Naruto had a passion I couldn't have.
And I… had a talent he could never hope to achieve.
Yet now, even Naruto was working hard. And when his efforts began to threaten my place, it sparked something inside me. A subtle, sensitive, burning stimulus.
I couldn't put it into words.
But it pushed me, forced me, to work harder too.
The pen in my hand trembled. I clenched harder, and with a sharp crack, it snapped in two.
Sakura, who had been sneaking glances at me, looked over. When she saw my twisted expression, her eyes widened.
"Sasuke…"
She didn't understand. Of course she couldn't. No one could understand how I felt right now.
Hinata, meanwhile, flushed pink and whispered in her heart:
"Naruto-kun… g-go for it…"
Naruto slumped into his seat, arms crossed, sulking.
To be honest, if this had been the old Naruto, he'd already be grinning ear to ear at his progress.
But not now.
The system had given him one month—just one month—to raise his grades from dead last to the top ten.
Wasn't that the same as telling him to march into the Hokage's office and beat up the Third Hokage?!
"It seems I still need to push harder!"
For the first time, without any prompting from the system, Naruto focused intently on his lectures.
During breaks, he threw himself into practicing chakra refinement without hesitation.
This strange sight became a fixture in the classroom. Everyone instinctively kept their distance, but their curiosity couldn't help but linger.
Until—Ding!
The host has maintained complete concentration for ten consecutive classes. New ability unlocked: [Knowledge Absorption]!
Effect: While in complete concentration, the ability to absorb and process knowledge is greatly enhanced.
Naruto froze, then his jaw dropped and his eyes lit up.
"An ability! Knowledge Absorption! I don't quite get it, but… it sounds amazing!"
He immediately put it to the test.
In the very next lesson, as soon as he entered that focused state, his once-scattered mind suddenly became clear.
The feeling was indescribable.
Like a river that had been dammed up for ten years suddenly flowing free.
Like… constipation that had lasted forever suddenly and explosively resolving itself.
It was enlightenment!
You have entered a state of complete concentration. Knowledge Absorption activated. Mastery of [Mathematics] increased. Proficiency +5.
Naruto beamed.
"Five points! Unprecedented success! Ahahaha!"
Detection: The host has exited complete concentration. Lightning Release baptism imminent.
Countdown: 5…
Naruto: "...Can't I just admit I was wrong?!"
But soon, he realized something else—Knowledge Absorption wasn't limited to book learning.
It worked with ninjutsu too!
This lesson was about the Clone Technique—Naruto's weakest subject.
The Clone Technique was one of the three basic jutsu taught at the Academy.
Because the clones were just illusions without physical form, they couldn't attack or defend—only distract. And naturally, skilled ninja could see through them easily.
Naruto's Clone Technique had always been the worst of his basics.
His Transformation Technique was better. He'd even invented his own ultimate move: the world-shaking Sexy Jutsu, which had once defeated none other than Kaguya Ōtsutsuki!
But clones? Hopeless.
On the podium, Iruka lectured:
"The Clone Technique refines and controls chakra to create an illusion identical to yourself, used to deceive enemies."
"The hand seal sequence is: Ram → Snake → Tiger."
"While forming the seals, imagine your reflection in a mirror, then pull it out with chakra."
"Alright, begin practicing. If you have questions, ask me."
In his focused state, Naruto finally absorbed everything Iruka said.
"Hand seals: Ram, Snake, Tiger… visualize myself… refine chakra to create the image…"
"Aha! I get it!"
He quickly formed the seals, imagining his own figure clearly in his mind, guiding chakra into shape.
"Clone Technique!"
Poof!
A clone appeared—only to immediately collapse to the floor, limp and twitching like it had downed three barrels of cheap sake. Its tongue lolled, eyes rolled back.
The class burst into laughter.
In the past, Naruto would've shouted back.
But this time, he didn't even have the chance.
Detection: The host's Clone Technique is far too weak. Immediate training required. Today's goal: perform the Clone Technique 300 times.
Naruto: "???"
"Th-three hundred?!"
Confirmed: Three hundred.
"If you want me dead, just say so! Even if I had enough chakra, my body can't take that!"
Warning: Lightning Release baptism countdown, 5… 4…
"…Fine, fine! You should've just said that to begin with!"
Naruto had no choice but to obey.
"Ram, Snake, Tiger… visualize the shadow… guide chakra…"
"Clone Technique!"
Poof!
Another limp clone flopped to the ground.
"Ah ha! That's great!"
Iruka strode over, twitching as he looked at the pathetic figure.
"Naruto, what's great about this?!"
Naruto pointed proudly at the clone.
"Iruka-sensei, look carefully! Even though he's lying down, at least his tongue isn't sticking out this time!"
Iruka: "…"
"Keep practicing!"
"O-okay…"
Not that Naruto had a choice.
Three hundred clones. If he didn't hurry, tonight was going to be endless.
"Clone Technique!"
"Clone Technique!"
"Clone Technique…"
Progress: 10 attempts complete. Clone Technique mastery increased. Proficiency +1.
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Oh! There's hope after all!"