Chapter 02: Lightning Release Baptism!
Returning to the Ninja Academy, Uzumaki Naruto remained unusually silent.
He was frightened by the voice that had suddenly appeared in his mind.
He had originally wanted to ask Iruka-sensei, but no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn't speak a word about that "System."
It was as if the System was completely stopping him.
"Hmm..."
Uzumaki Naruto sat in his seat, arms crossed and head lowered, eyes narrowed as he thought hard about the changes in his body.
"System... what exactly are you?"
He couldn't help but scratch his head and ask.
A cold, mechanical voice immediately appeared in his mind.
[The so-called System is a program that can help the Host achieve a certain wish. As long as the Host acts according to the System's rules, you can obtain unimaginably rich rewards.]
[This System is named the Grind to Become Hokage System. As the name implies, it can lend the Host a hand to out-grind others and realize the dream of becoming Hokage at an early date.]
Uzumaki Naruto didn't understand much of the rest, but the phrase "realize the dream of becoming Hokage" was like a lamp that instantly lit up in his mind!
"I see! You mean to say, you can help me become Hokage?!"
[Yes.]
"That's great! Then, then I'll definitely do as you say! It's just, what should I do?"
Uzumaki Naruto was overjoyed, his body trembling slightly with excitement.
[The Host only needs to cultivate according to the schedule set by this System.]
"It's that simple?"
[Yes.]
"It's that easy?"
[Yes.]
"Then what are we waiting for! Let's start immediately!"
[Yes.]
[Host has formally activated this System. Current attributes are being scanned. Success in generating the first daily schedule based on current attributes. Cultivation Assist System formally starting...]
[Detected that the Host is currently in the cultural studies class phase of the schedule.]
[Please concentrate all your energy and focus completely to listen to and understand the learning of all knowledge content.]
[If there is any violation, you will be subjected to a Lightning Release Baptism from this System.]
Uzumaki Naruto: "...Lightning Release Baptism?"
"What is that?"
In the next instant.
Rumble—
Boom!
The power of Lightning Release appeared out of thin air, erupted suddenly, and ruthlessly blasted onto Naruto's body!
The intense pain and stimulation immediately caused Uzumaki Naruto to let out a hysterical scream!
"Aaaaaahhhhh—"
However, the so-called "Lightning Release Baptism" was invisible to others.
So, all the teachers and students in the entire classroom only saw Naruto suddenly go crazy and start screaming.
Iruka-sensei, who was teaching, couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"Naruto! What are you going crazy about again?!"
Uzumaki Naruto was electrocuted until he was charred on the outside, but he couldn't voice his suffering. He could only slump in his seat, shaking his head with a look of despair.
"N... Nothing..."
Iruka-sensei couldn't help but hold his forehead.
"Naruto, I'll give you one more chance. If you continue to yell and disrupt the order of the class, don't blame me for being ruthless and kicking you out to stand in the hallway as punishment!"
If it were usual times, Naruto certainly wouldn't have cared.
Standing in the hallway was just standing in the hallway; it meant he didn't have to listen to this boring class anymore!
Sometimes, he could even meet those two guys, Akimichi Choji and Nara Shikamaru, to "share joys and sorrows" together...
For Naruto, those two were rare partners.
The best source of male friendship might just be making mistakes and getting punished together...
Sometimes, Naruto even suspected that Iruka-sensei intentionally made the three of them stand in the hallway together so that he could have a chance to make friends...
But right now, Naruto didn't dare refute Iruka-sensei at all, because...
If he were sent to stand in the hallway, it would undoubtedly mean he wasn't "listening to the class with total focus"!
The "Lightning Release Baptism" would probably descend immediately!
Uzumaki Naruto had just suffered enough; he wouldn't want to try it again even if it killed him...
"Yes! Iruka-sensei! I will definitely listen attentively!"
Iruka-sensei was stunned.
"This kid Naruto, why is he acting so out of character today?"
"Normally, he would have long since started arguing with me nonchalantly..."
However, for Iruka, this was ultimately a good thing.
"Could it be that what I said earlier finally had an effect?"
Iruka nodded in relief, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
The other students, however, frowned.
Uchiha Sasuke inadvertently glanced at Naruto. Although his face remained emotionless, he was somewhat puzzled in his heart.
Haruno Sakura didn't care at all; she just rested her chin on her hand and continued to stare at Sasuke.
Akimichi Choji, who was secretly taking chips out of his desk and stuffing them into his mouth, was also surprised.
"Shikamaru, what's up with that guy Naruto?"
"Did he change his personality?"
However, Nara Shikamaru was already asleep.
Akimichi Choji took a look, shook his head helplessly, then stuffed another chip into his mouth, munching quietly.
...
Uzumaki Naruto gasped for breath heavily.
"Focus completely, focus completely..."
"Damn it! How exactly do I focus completely, dattebayo!"
However, the System gave no hints, only continuing in its cold, mechanical voice.
[Please listen and learn with total focus, otherwise, you will be subjected to a Lightning Release Baptism from the System...]
[Warning, countdown 5... 4... 3...]
"Ahhh, I got it!"
"Don't baptize me again!"
Uzumaki Naruto rubbed his hair frantically with both hands, forcing himself to widen his eyes and stare dead at the content Iruka-sensei was writing on the blackboard...
"The flight trajectory of a shuriken is a typical parabola."
"How far it can fly depends on the height of the flight and the initial velocity..."
"Taking this question as an example, as a ninja, you are standing at a height of 5 meters and throw a shuriken with a horizontal initial velocity of 100 meters per second. What is the total distance when it finally lands?"
Uzumaki Naruto: "...Uhh... uhh... uhh..."
"What the hell! I can't understand it at all!"
[Please listen and learn with total focus, otherwise, you will be subjected to a Lightning Release Baptism from the System...]
[Warning, countdown 5... 4... 3... 2...]
"Ahhh, I got it!"
Uzumaki Naruto rubbed his cheeks vigorously, once again forcing himself to throw his whole body and mind into it.
"Throwing a shuriken forward, horizontal initial velocity 100 meters per second, what is the final distance..."
"Mmhmm..."
"Aha! I know! If it's 100 meters per second, then however many seconds it flies is however many hundreds of meters!"
"The problem is, how many seconds can it fly..."
Iruka's gaze swept across the entire classroom, obviously preparing to find a lucky person to answer the question.
The classroom instantly went on high alert, everyone silent as a cicada in winter.
Iruka sighed and said helplessly, "Sakura, you answer it."
"Yes, Iruka-sensei!"
Haruno Sakura said with full confidence, "To calculate the final distance, you need to multiply the horizontal initial velocity by the flight time. The flight time is determined by the height. Considering the gravitational acceleration in the Ninja World is approximately equal to 10, then it is obvious that..."
She spoke with fervor and assurance, making the heads of the vast majority of students spin.
Uzumaki Naruto naturally didn't understand either.
However, unlike before, this time he forced himself to listen with total focus. Even if it sounded like gibberish from heaven, with snot and tears on his face, he strove to widen his eyes and prick up his ears, carefully listening to every single word Haruno Sakura said...
Just then.
[You have devoted yourself to listening to the class with total focus for the first time. Your mastery of the [Physics] course has improved. Proficiency +3. Current Proficiency: 28 points!]
Uzumaki Naruto froze, followed by a burst of wild joy!
"Th... This works too?!"