"Naruto..."
Ninja Academy, inside the classroom.
Uzumaki Naruto was sleeping soundly on his desk when he was suddenly awakened by this gentle, pleasant call. In a daze, he lifted his head and saw the face of the girl he had been longing for.
The morning sunlight was just right, falling on the girl's delicate and beautiful face like a soft glow. Her pink long hair was gently tied up with a hair clip, and her bangs fluttered slightly, covering her somewhat broad forehead. A pair of lively green eyes were slightly narrowed, looking at him with a gentle smile.
"Sa... Sakura-chan?!"
Drool involuntarily flowed from the corner of Uzumaki Naruto's mouth.
It was unclear if it was from sleeping or from seeing his goddess.
"Are you awake?"
Haruno Sakura continued to ask softly.
Uzumaki Naruto was overjoyed. Why was Sakura suddenly so gentle to him today? Could it be...
Did she finally discover his charm and fall in love with him?!
He immediately nodded like a pounding garlic.
"I'm awake, I'm awake, Sakura-chan!"
Haruno Sakura giggled.
Then...
She fiercely threw a punch.
Bang—
Accompanied by a loud noise, Uzumaki Naruto was sent flying directly. He crashed into a large section of tables and chairs with a clatter, finally falling heavily to the ground, looking utterly miserable.
Everyone in the classroom looked over, bursting into cheerful laughter.
"Ah—"
Uzumaki Naruto was a bit dazed from the hit. Covering his red and swollen face, he asked with both grievance and confusion.
"Sakura-chan, wh... why did you hit me!"
Haruno Sakura put her hands on her hips and huffed, "I already said I was going over to Sasuke-kun's side!"
"But you, this guy, were sleeping here like a dead pig, blocking my way, and wouldn't wake up no matter how I called!"
"Do you think you deserved that hit or not?!"
As she spoke, she lifted her foot and stepped over the tables and chairs Uzumaki Naruto had knocked over, leaning close to Uchiha Sasuke. Her face changed instantly, replaced by a bright, sunny smile.
"Sasuke-kun!"
"I specially brought love-filled rice balls for you, do you want to taste them?"
"I made them myself!"
Uchiha Sasuke gave a cold snort, turned his face away, and looked out the window, having no intention of paying attention to her at all.
Watching this scene, Uzumaki Naruto couldn't help but grit his teeth, his fist hardening.
"Damn it!"
"That guy Sasuke only knows how to act cool and show off!"
"Why does Sakura happen to like that kind of guy!"
He climbed up angrily, patted his butt, and instead of blaming Sakura who had hit him, he strode towards Uchiha Sasuke step by step, rolling up his sleeves.
The little girls in the classroom couldn't help but scream.
"Naruto! Don't get close to Sasuke-kun!"
"Bastard Naruto, what do you want to do to Sasuke-kun?!"
Naruto approached Sasuke fiercely; the two's eyes were already close at hand.
Uchiha Sasuke rolled his eyes at him in disgust.
"Dead last, do you want to die?"
Hearing this title, Naruto became even more furious.
"What did you say, bastard Sasuke?!"
"Fight me if you have the guts!"
However, before he could make a move, Haruno Sakura could no longer endure it and threw another punch.
Bang—
It hit Naruto right on the forehead, sending him flying once again.
"What are you doing, Naruto!"
"Stay away from Sasuke-kun!"
Uzumaki Naruto fell to the ground again, rubbing his painful forehead, looking at Haruno Sakura with a pitiful expression.
"Sakura, you... you..."
The classmates in the room roared with laughter again, looking mockingly at Naruto on the ground, pointing and discussing, but no one approached him, let alone pulled him up.
Uzumaki Naruto stood up huffing with anger, once again sensing that loneliness and pain.
But he seemed to have gotten used to it.
Or rather, forced himself to pretend to be used to it.
"Hmph, what's so great about that!"
"One day, I will become the Hokage and make all of you acknowledge my existence!"
If there was one thing he was good at, it was probably his ability to comfort himself...
Otherwise, perhaps he wouldn't be able to survive a single day.
He wasn't exactly smart, but he wasn't a fool either.
He could feel the strange, cold attitude of the entire village.
That wasn't even dislike...
It was hatred.
But what exactly had he done?
He couldn't figure it out.
Even though his favorite person, Haruno Sakura, was rough with him, she was at least willing to pay attention to him and talk to him. For Naruto, who had suffered neglect and cold stares for years, this was even a luxury, a form of kindness...
While others didn't want to get near him at all.
At this moment, not only Haruno Sakura, but also Yamanaka Ino and the others were already crowding around Sasuke, talking and laughing, frantically displaying their charm and feelings, trying to get Sasuke to look at them one more time.
Meanwhile, the boys in the class formed groups of three or five, also laughing and playing around.
Only Uzumaki Naruto was left alone.
He lowered his head, a trace of gloom appearing in his eyes.
But he quickly dispelled the pain in his heart again, placed his hands behind his head, strode through the noisy crowd, kicked open the classroom door, and walked towards the outside of the school.
The lively crowd seemed to be in a different world from him.
Why does no one care about me...
Uzumaki Naruto clenched his fist and hatefully kicked a small stone on the playground.
Bang—
The stone hit a wooden bucket in the distance; there were also some painting tools nearby.
Uzumaki Naruto looked at those brushes and paint buckets, his eyes suddenly lighting up, and he slammed his right fist into his left palm.
"I've got it!"
...
"Lord Fourth Hokage, a hero who sacrificed himself and protected the village with his life..."
"Hehe, how about a taste of this!"
On the Hokage Rock of Konoha Village, Uzumaki Naruto was wantonly waving the brush in his hand, applying paint and colors equally onto the statues of the past Hokage.
He satisfyingly added a mustache to the Fourth Hokage, stepped back slightly to look from a distance, and felt very proud of his work.
Just then.
Suddenly, Naruto felt a chill down his back, as if sensing some terrifying existence.
He struggled, just wanting to turn his head.
"U! Zu! Ma! Ki! Na! Ru! To!"
A voice rang out violently, scaring him into jumping. After managing to steady himself, he looked back only to find it was Iruka-sensei.
"Iruka-sensei, you scared me to death!"
Umino Iruka snorted angrily, "It's class time right now! What are you doing here!"
Uzumaki Naruto paused, then scratched his head and laughed.
"I'm creating art. How is it, Iruka-sensei? It's quite artistic, right?"
"Especially the graffiti on Lord Fourth Hokage, that's my masterpiece!"
Iruka was furious: "Clean it up immediately! Then obediently come back to class with me!"
Uzumaki Naruto: "...Oh."
He pouted in spite, but ultimately obediently wiped the paint graffiti clean.
On the way back to the Ninja Academy.
Iruka couldn't help but ask, "Naruto, why do you do things like that?"
Uzumaki Naruto giggled, "Because I can do it! Others wouldn't dare to do this, right?"
"Only I, Uzumaki Naruto, have such guts!"
Iruka naturally understood his thoughts and also understood the loneliness and pain in his heart.
He sighed, "Naruto, I know you want to get others' attention and acknowledgment, but it's impossible to achieve that through these kinds of pranks. Shouldn't you be studying and training harder instead?"
Uzumaki Naruto hurriedly said, "I'm already working very hard, Iruka-sensei!"
"B-But... there are many things I simply can't learn. Never mind comparing with that bastard Sasuke, I'm not even as good as any of the other classmates..."
Iruka said in a deep voice, "Since you know your talent is poor, you should work desperately hard!"
"Does skipping class every day to pull pranks make you stronger?!"
Uzumaki Naruto also stood there in a daze.
He actually knew that Iruka-sensei genuinely wanted what was best for him.
But...
"Iruka-sensei, I really, really have already worked very hard!"
"Maybe, it's really that I'm too stupid..."
"I'm destined to be a dead last..."
Iruka took a deep breath and gently patted his head.
"No, Naruto. I know you have potential, and you can definitely become better."
"I also know you are working hard. It's just, I hope you can work a little harder, be a little more diligent, and maybe things will change..."
Naruto lifted his head, looking at Iruka blankly.
"If I work hard, will I definitely become strong?"
Iruka's expression changed slightly.
He didn't want to lie to Naruto.
"Actually, in this Ninja World, many times effort doesn't necessarily bring rewards, but..."
"If you don't work hard, then there is absolutely no hope."
Uzumaki Naruto listened, seemingly understanding yet not fully understanding, but he still clenched his fist.
"Okay, Iruka-sensei, I will work hard!"
Umino Iruka smiled slightly, patted his head again, and said softly.
"I believe in you, Naruto."
Naruto's nose couldn't help but tingle, and tears began to swirl in his eyes...
Iruka-sensei...
He is the only person in this world who acknowledges me...
He...
Really doesn't want to disappoint Iruka-sensei...
"I understand, Iruka-sensei!"
"From today on, I will put in ten times, a hundred times the effort!"
"I will absolutely not fail your expectations!"
At this very moment.
[Uzumaki Naruto, detected your desperate determination to become strong. The Grind to Become Hokage System is beginning to load...]
[Three...]
[Two...]
[One!]
[Binding successful!]
[Grind to Become Hokage Daily Schedule generating...]
Uzumaki Naruto was instantly dumbfounded.
"Grind... Grind to Become Hokage System?"
"What the hell is that?!"