But at the same time, as the experience from the Shadow Clones flooded back into his main body, a tidal wave of unimaginable fatigue and agonizing pain surged through him! This pain was indescribable, a raw, all-consuming agony that ripped a heart-wrenching scream from Naruto's throat. But ironically, his body was completely unable to move!
Rock Lee was startled. "Naruto, what—what's wrong with you?! Are you okay? I'll take you to the hospital!"
Naruto, however, stopped him, a bitter, tragic smile twisting his lips. "No… I'm fine. I… I'll be fine after some rest." He didn't want to go to the hospital; on one hand, he genuinely felt it wasn't a serious injury, and on the other, he didn't want to worry Iruka-sensei and the others. After all, Iruka-sensei had already forbidden him from training with the Shadow Clone Technique.
Rock Lee breathed a sigh of relief seeing that Naruto could still speak, but seeing his pale face and the way his muscles were twitching uncontrollably, he couldn't help but remain worried. "Naruto, your Shadow Clone Technique… it seems to come with a terrible risk." Although Rock Lee wasn't skilled in ninjutsu, he wasn't a fool; he could clearly see that the moment Naruto's Shadow Clones had dissipated, it had subjected him to a terrifying backlash.
Naruto still managed that tragic smile. "If we don't take risks, how can losers like us ever surpass geniuses?!"
Rock Lee was stunned. Indeed, no one understood that feeling more than he did. "But… you look really scary. If this continues, will you… die?!"
Naruto panted heavily but still smiled as he looked at Rock Lee. "Lee, if you had to choose, would you rather live without achieving your dream, or would you rather die trying?"
Rock Lee's heart trembled. "I'd rather die!"
Naruto smiled. "Me too!"
Rock Lee understood his meaning and no longer tried to dissuade him, merely nodding deeply. "I understand, Naruto. You and I are the same. Better to die standing than to live on your knees!" Their palms clasped tightly together, and both boys broke into weary, silly grins. "Let's go, Naruto, I'll take you home!"
Naruto was extremely grateful; he truly had no strength left to walk. "Thank you, Lee…"
But just then, a familiar, cold voice echoed in his mind.
[Please return home on your own, Host. Do not accept help from others! True training can only lead to improvement by pushing past your own limits! Otherwise…]
[Warning! Lightning Release baptism countdown: 5…]
Naruto was speechless. "Hahahahaha, Lee, thank you, but I, Uzumaki Naruto, don't need anyone's help! How could a mere afternoon of training make me unable to stand?!" He gritted his teeth, struggled, and stood up again, swaying precariously. Stumbling, he could only force himself to walk home alone.
Rock Lee couldn't help but tear up. "Naruto! I knew I wasn't wrong about you! You're a true man, too!"
"Of course!" Naruto's back was to him, but his arm shot up, giving a thumbs-up. His facial features, however, were already twisted in pain, his mouth and eyes askew, tears and snot streaming down his face.
***
Naruto finally made it home, grimacing the entire way. All his strength was completely exhausted; the fatigue and pain after the Shadow Clone Technique had dissipated completely overwhelmed him, stripping him of all will. But the System didn't let him off that easily.
[Please prepare dinner immediately, Host. After dinner, please continue your training!]
Naruto had no choice. He hastily prepared and ate dinner, recovering a sliver of his strength. Then, he resumed his training. After finally completing it with great difficulty, he began a new round of sparring in his sleep. Only this time, in addition to Uchiha Sasuke, he had another opponent: Hyuga Neji! Seeing Neji's face, Naruto's weary mind suddenly rekindled with fire.
"Hyuga Neji! I must defeat you!"
With his fighting spirit restored, Naruto unleashed his power again in his sleep, battling Hyuga Neji fiercely. However, the current Hyuga Neji was indeed the strongest existence of their generation. His Byakugan, Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Palm, combat experience, and fighting will were all perfect and impeccable. Even when Naruto fought with all his might, he was defeated again and again. Naruto even used the Konoha Great Cyclone and Konoha Strong Cyclone he had just trained in today, but they were still neutralized by his opponent's Gentle Fist. His most desperate attacks were completely crushed by Neji's absolute defense, the Hyuga secret technique: Rotation!
Naruto was not discouraged; instead, his fighting spirit burned even brighter. Throughout the entire night, he fought desperately against Hyuga Neji. His daily life was now spent in an environment as harsh as purgatory.
The remaining half-month passed in a flash. The study of cultural subjects, the training of ninjutsu and taijutsu, plus the ninja sparring in his dreams… while tormenting him immensely, his own strength also rapidly increased.
Soon, the one-month period he had agreed upon with the System was drawing near. It was almost time for the final exam of the semester.
Naruto checked his current attributes again.
**Host:** Uzumaki Naruto
**Age:** 11 years old
**Identity:** Konoha Ninja Academy Student
**Chakra Amount:** 360 points
**Ninjutsu:**
* Clone Technique (79/100)
* Transformation Technique (96/100)
* Substitution Technique (82/100)
* Chakra Refining Technique (100/100)
* Sexy Technique (90/100)
* Shadow Clone Technique (90/100)
**Taijutsu:**
* Basic Taijutsu (90/100)
* Shuriken Technique (70/100)
* Konoha Whirlwind (98/100)
* Konoha Great Cyclone (92/100)
* Konoha Strong Cyclone (92/100)
**Cultural Subjects:**
* Physics (82/100)
* Chemistry (79/100)
* Mathematics (81/100)
* Calligraphy (78/100)
* History (90/100)
* Language Arts (87/100)
* Biology (85/100)
* Moral Character (90/100)
* Ninja Strategies (82/100)
**Entries:**
* [Knowledge Absorption]
* [Physical Monster]
* [Multitasking]
Naruto finished reading and thought back to the first time he had checked his attributes. The two versions of himself were poles apart! His former self could be described as utterly useless. However, now, with 360 points of chakra, that was tens, if not hundreds of times more than his peers! Even among Chunin, he would definitely be considered an outstanding individual!
All three basic ninjutsu had reached an excellent level. In addition, he had evolved the Transformation Technique into the Sexy Technique, and the Clone Technique into the Shadow Clone Technique. Once he performed these two, he could easily get full marks, or even bonus points! As for taijutsu, under the guidance of Thick-Eyebrows-sensei, Might Guy, his Konoha Whirlwind, Great Cyclone, and Strong Cyclone had all reached a high level of mastery. Let alone other Ninja Academy students, even ordinary genin would definitely not be his opponents.