Teaching Naruto the Second Ninjutsu

However, there are always more solutions than problems. He wrote down some insights on using Wind Style: Gale Palm just as he had last time, and then gave them to Naruto.

[You have gifted a high-quality talent with a level two relationship, Naruto Uzumaki--Wind Style: Gale Palm Training Manual]

[High-quality talent Naruto Uzumaki is deeply moved, triggering a fivefold critical success]

[Reward obtained: Water Style: Water Formation Wall (Intermediate)]

Water Style: Water Formation Wall was originally just a C-rank defensive ninjutsu, but after Qiushui finished absorbing the massive amount of memories in his mind, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that the version provided by the system was actually the one used by Senju Tobirama. Not only was the ninjutsu rank increased by one level, but its range, rotation speed, and defensive power were all amplified. Even the number of water walls released increased from the standard single C-rank wall to six, allowing for a three-hundred-sixty-degree defense with no blind spots.

Over the next week, Qiushui let Hinata continue her practice according to the schedule, while Naruto added an extra training session for Wind Style: Gale Palm.

After the training session on Sunday afternoon, Qiushui stood before the two of them and said with a serious expression, "I have been training you for nearly a month. Tomorrow's exam is the time for you to reap the rewards of your hard work during this period. My requirements for you two are not high: Hinata, your goal this time is to enter the top ten; Naruto, your goal is the top fifteen."

"Teacher Qiushui, don't worry, we definitely won't let you down!"

Naruto and Hinata straightened their backs in unison, their gazes firm as they responded in one voice.

Qiushui looked at the confident expressions on their faces and nodded with satisfaction.

Hinata's original grades hovered between fifteenth and twentieth place. After this period of special training, and combined with the average grades of last year's Class 1, Year 4, it shouldn't be a problem for her to break into the top ten.

As for Naruto, although he had consistently remained at the bottom of the grade, the system mission required him to enter the top fifteen. Even if his theoretical knowledge was slightly lacking, as long as his practical combat scores could break into the top three, squeezing into the top ten for his overall grade would not be a major issue.

After all, he had already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique and Wind Style: Gale Palm. Looking across the entire fourth grade, aside from Aburame Shino and Uchiha Sasuke who could pose a threat to him, the others had basically no chance of winning when faced with a dozen Narutos swarming them.

"Naruto, Hinata, you two don't need to come for training tomorrow," Qiushui continued.

"Huh? Why, Teacher Qiushui?" Naruto immediately became nervous, looking at him in a flustered manner.

He frantically searched his mind, wondering if he had done something wrong or said something he shouldn't have that had angered Teacher Qiushui.

Hinata was the same; she subconsciously gripped her sleeves, her heart pounding with anxiety.

"The exam is the day after tomorrow," Qiushui said, realizing they had misunderstood his meaning, and quickly explained, "No training tomorrow; you should rest well for a day, recharge your batteries, and prepare to face the exam the day after."

Only then did the two let out long sighs of relief, feeling as though they had never been so nervous in their lives.

Monday.

In the classroom of Class 1, Year 4, it was unusually quiet compared to the usual bustle. Although everyone sitting there was a veteran who had experienced countless exams—having taken at least eighty to a hundred exams since entering school—they still couldn't help but feel nervous whenever an exam approached.

Some buried their heads in books, trying to memorize a few more formulas at the last minute.

Others huddled together in small groups, using seemingly casual chatter to mask their inner unease.

"Ino." A girl turned her head to look at Ino Yamanaka, who was sitting diagonally behind her, and asked tentatively, "Tomorrow is the first monthly exam of the new semester. What rank do you think you can get?"

Ino Yamanaka rested her chin on one hand while idly spinning a pen with the other. Hearing this, she sighed softly and said, "Sigh, don't mention it. I've just been playing around since I got home lately and haven't really reviewed. It'll be a miracle if I can even keep my spot in the top ten."

When the girl heard this, a trace of doubt appeared on her face.

She clearly remembered that last week, she had asked Ino to go out and play after school several times, only to be rejected each time.

On the other side of the classroom.

"Sakura." Sakura Haruno's desk mate leaned over, a look of admiration on her face as she said, "You'll probably be first in the theory exam again this time!"

Sakura Haruno paused as she flipped through her book. She looked up, revealing a humble smile, and said, "Oh, I haven't really been reviewing properly lately either, and the other students have been very diligent in class. Being first... that's not necessarily guaranteed."

But when her desk mate heard this, a trace of doubt also appeared on her face. She remembered that when she went to find Sakura Haruno to play last week, her parents had both said she was in her room studying.

She glanced at Sakura Haruno's humble face and said nothing.

The volume of their conversation was not exactly low.

Shikamaru Nara lay lazily on his desk. Listening to the dialogue between the two girls in front, a thought popped into his mind: women are such a hassle.

They are clearly working harder than anyone else, clearly nervous as hell, and clearly dying to stomp their opponents into the ground, yet the moment they meet, it's nothing but lies back and forth.

Aren't they tired?

Inuzuka Kiba suddenly ran to the podium and said loudly, "I heard from students in other classes that if the class grades are bad, the homeroom teacher will be punished, and in serious cases, they might even be replaced."

The students looked at each other and began to discuss it.

"Is that why Iruka-sensei was replaced as our homeroom teacher?" a student suddenly blurted out.

The classroom went silent instantly.

"It's very possible." Another voice chimed in, a look of sudden realization on their face, "Otherwise, it doesn't explain why Iruka-sensei, who was teaching just fine, would suddenly resign from his position as homeroom teacher."

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

That's right, Iruka-sensei had been with them for over three years. Although his lectures weren't exactly brilliant, he was diligent and responsible, caring for every student. Then, all of a sudden, he said he wouldn't be the homeroom teacher anymore. When students asked later, he said it was for personal reasons, and everyone believed it at the time. Now that they thought about it... it was terrifying to contemplate.

Akamaru, inside Inuzuka Kiba's hood, let out two "woofs," as if in agreement.

Inuzuka Kiba scanned the surrounding students, and seeing that everyone's emotions had been stirred up, he immediately struck while the iron was hot, saying, "I don't care about other teachers, but Teacher Qiushui teaches so well—we can't let him be replaced!"

The classroom was filled with righteous indignation.

"That's right, we can't let Teacher Qiushui be replaced!"

A voice immediately followed.

"I'll fight anyone who tries to replace Teacher Qiushui!"

Another voice, filled with absolute ferocity.

"It's finally nice to have a teacher whose lectures are so interesting," someone muttered in a low voice, "I don't want to go back to the way things were before."