A Pirated Life Is Extremely Pitiful

Clang, clang, clang—

In a dizzying exchange of blows that happened too fast to follow, two agile figures quickly separated, only to slam into each other again the next moment, their attacks sounding like the clash of metal!

Zing!

Naruto, eyes closed, used both hands to grip a kunai and block Shisui Uchiha's short katana. Whether this was his real body or not didn't matter anymore.

To counter genjutsu, he hadn't opened his eyes since the fight began, relying entirely on his senses to track Shisui Uchiha's chakra and launch a storm of attacks.

But after a few breaths of combat, Shisui Uchiha seized the moment when Naruto's attack weakened and immediately used the Body Flicker Technique. Seeing the familiar phantom appear, Naruto quickly formed hand seals and created numerous Shadow Clones.

But this only served to delay him slightly.

Sensing his clones being blown up one by one by Shisui's other phantoms, Naruto began to mobilize the abundant chakra within him, pouring it into his kunai. In the blink of an eye, the kunai clashing with Shisui Uchiha's katana transformed into an incredibly sharp longsword.

Shisui Uchiha immediately retreated, revealing a clear opening. Naruto quickly switched to holding the sword with one hand and thrusting forward forcefully, while his other hand already gripped another kunai.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Instantly, thousands of shuriken flew towards Shisui Uchiha. Such an attack was impossible to dodge, but after the barrage, Naruto sensed that Shisui Uchiha's chakra on the other side still existed.

Was it a phantom from the start, or had he quietly swapped with his real body at some point?

Naruto opened his eyes and saw dozens of Shisui Uchihas calmly surrounding him. Taking a deep breath, he casually threw away the kunai in his hand, then condensed a black chakra sphere in each hand.

Great Spinning Wheel!

Boom!

The battle was over.

"Congratulations! You have gained experience in Shisui Uchiha's genjutsu training!"

The text on the pop-up window began to flicker.

After exiting the battle, Naruto glanced at the pop-up window, his expression as calm as ever.

Time slipped through his fingers like fine sand; it was the end of the year again in the blink of an eye.

Over the past six months, the rewards he received from Shisui Uchiha had always been genjutsu training experience. He had grown accustomed to it.

Without paying too much attention to the pop-up notification, Naruto's thoughts moved, and Choji's avatar immediately appeared on the window. Just as he was about to start a battle, something unexpected happened.

"Congratulations! You have obtained Lightning Release chakra!"

The mechanical prompt echoed throughout the Mirrored World.

Before Naruto could react, Kurama's voice sounded in his ear again.

"Naruto, your homeroom teacher is calling your name, asking you to come to the podium to get your final assessment report card."

"I know."

Naruto immediately exited the Mirrored World. As soon as he came to his senses, he saw Iruka staring at him with a thunderous expression, clearly furious. Everyone else in the classroom had also turned to look at his seat.

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Present!"

"Come up and get your report card!"

Iruka waved the report card in his hand. Watching Naruto's approaching figure, he felt his composure about to shatter.

Following the Third Hokage's instructions, Iruka had paid special attention to Naruto in every class for the past year.

He could swear on the Sage of Six Paths that from the start of the semester to the holidays, Naruto had never paid attention during any knowledge-based lessons held in the classroom. He had just called him up to get his report card for the second time, clearly zoning out.

Naruto had also never demonstrated his Ninjutsu or Taijutsu lessons outside of class in front of him, always just wasting time.

But what made Iruka unable to believe it was that Naruto not only had excellent scores on his written exams but had also easily passed the three basic ninja techniques assessment.

"Thank you, Teacher Iruka."

After a perfunctory thank you, Naruto calmly took his report card from the podium and turned to walk back to his seat.

"Wait a moment!"

Iruka's eyelid twitched, and he said sternly, "Aren't you going to look at your scores? Aren't you afraid you'll fail?"

Naruto stopped in his tracks. After slowly turning around, he met Iruka's gaze and smiled, "Teacher Iruka, under the guidance of such an excellent teacher as yourself, how could I possibly fail?"

~~~~~~~~

During the lunch break, Iruka, carrying the class's report cards, arrived at the Hokage's office.

"Lord Hokage! I really can't continue as this class's homeroom teacher anymore!"

After submitting the students' report cards, Iruka, with a fluctuating expression, handed over another envelope, on which the words "Resignation" were clearly written.

"Oh? Why?"

After reviewing Naruto's report card, the Third Hokage stared sharply at Iruka and did not accept his resignation letter.

"Judging by the report cards, all the students in the class you are guiding have excellent scores. What problem has arisen that makes you make such a decision?"

Seeing Iruka's conflicted expression, the Third Hokage's voice gradually became stern.

"I feel I don't have the qualifications to teach Naruto!"

"You've seen my individual report, right? Naruto doesn't cause trouble at school, but he never pays attention in class. I feel like Naruto is also unhappy with me as his homeroom teacher, so please consider it."

"Iruka!"

The Third Hokage's voice suddenly deepened, cutting him off.

"Naruto isn't the only one who doesn't pay attention in class, is he? Shikamaru and Choji also sleep in class every day. Can I say that they're both unhappy with you as their homeroom teacher?"

"But I really can't face Naruto!"

Iruka's eyes were red, and his voice trembled as he spoke, his emotions overwhelming him.

"Sigh~"

The Third Hokage stood up from his chair, holding Naruto's report card.

"Iruka, I know you're in a difficult position, but you know Naruto's identity. He's a Jinchuriki. Setting aside that identity, he's very similar to how you were as a child. I thought you would be able to accept him with an open heart from the same perspective."

"I remember you once said you wanted to be a teacher, that it was your dream to pass on the Will of Fire to future ninjas, and that you would dedicate this dream to your lifelong career."

Iruka's expression froze instantly, a complex look appearing in his eyes as he stood there silently. After a long moment, he took two deep breaths to calm himself.

"But Third Hokage, I don't think Naruto will accept me. He's very withdrawn at school."

Hearing this, the Third Hokage's face showed a look of kindness. "Heh heh, then why don't you proactively accept Naruto?"

"He's also a part of Konoha. I hope that under your guidance, Naruto can also become a successor to the Will of Fire in the future!"

Iruka's body trembled upon hearing this, as if a string in his heart had been plucked. His eyes quickly became firm, and he bowed to the Third Hokage. "I understand, Hokage-sama!"

"Yes, go. I believe in you."

Iruka left the office. The moment he walked out the door, the gentleness on the Third Hokage's face vanished without a trace.

"Father, my homeroom teacher just came out of the Hokage's office. Do you think he reported me?"

Naruto sat in the classroom, sensing that Iruka had just left the Hokage's office.

"He probably didn't, did he? Your grades aren't the problem~"

Minato Namikaze, inside the sealed space, said this, but his voice clearly lacked conviction. He knew that Naruto had never seriously attended a single class, so the possibility of Iruka not reporting him was almost zero.

"I occasionally listened to Iruka's lessons. He's always repeatedly instilled the Third Hokage's Will of Fire in the students."

"Uh, I don't think there's anything wrong with his teaching in this regard."

Minato Namikaze was a little confused. As a teacher, it didn't seem wrong for Iruka to propagate the Will of Fire.

"The content of the Will of Fire is undoubtedly positive, but how many children can truly grasp this ideology?" Naruto's eyes flashed as he continued, "Moreover, under his guidance, the focus of the Will of Fire is always on the image of the Third Hokage himself."

"This makes many students extremely idolize the Third Hokage, to the point where most of them clamor to become Hokage like him, and they definitely want to be a glorious Hokage like the Third Hokage."

"Where did the other Hokage go? Of course, Iruka mentioned them, but he either pointed to the Hokage Rock for remembrance or simply glossed over them with words like 'legends'."

Minato Namikaze's expression became somewhat solemn. He understood Naruto's meaning but didn't know what to say.

"You don't need to be so serious. I just want to say that everyone is original when they are born, but under the teachings of someone like Iruka, most of them become confused about whether they want to become Hokage or walk the path of a strong person like the Hokage."

Minato Namikaze looked at Naruto with a complicated expression. "But letting children strive for such dreams is the best for the village, isn't it?"

"Yes!"

Naruto nodded, his eyes shining brightly.

"But how many people can achieve their dreams? In the end, they sadly let their lives gradually become pirated copies."