Naruto, What's the point of being Hokage if you don't get involved!

Naruto, if you don't grind, how will you become Hokage!

Author: Machine Raccoon

Introduction:

Naruto Uzumaki, are you content being a sycophant, a dead last, and suffering the cold stares of everyone?

Do you want to know the true meaning of hard work? Do you want to realize your dream of becoming Hokage and being acknowledged by everyone sooner?

[Roll Into Hokage System officially loaded, training schedule as follows...]

[Taijutsu training: Just need to work a little bit harder than Rock Lee.]

[Ninjutsu training: Clone Technique 1,000 times, Transformation Technique 1,000 times, Substitution Technique 1,000 times.]

[Chakra training: Chakra Refinement Technique must be no less than twelve hours every day.]

[Theoretical knowledge training: Immersive study of mathematics, physics, chemistry, history, and other subjects for two hours each.]

[If not completed, you will receive a Baptism of Lightning Release from the system...]

Naruto Uzumaki: "...Do you want this baptism for yourself?!"

System: "Naruto Uzumaki, if you don't grind, how will you become Hokage?!"

Chapter 1 Demon Fox? Sycophant? Dead last? Naruto Uzumaki reporting for duty!

"Naruto..."

In the Ninja Academy classroom.

Naruto Uzumaki 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 sun was just right, spilling onto the girl's delicate and beautiful face like a soft glow. Her long pink hair was gently tied back with a clip, and her bangs fluttered slightly, covering her slightly broad forehead. A pair of lively green eyes were squinting slightly, looking at him with a gentle smile.

"Sa... Sakura-chan?!"

Drool couldn't help but flow from the corner of Naruto Uzumaki's mouth.

It was unclear whether it was from sleeping or because he saw his goddess.

"Are you awake?"

Sakura Haruno continued to ask softly.

Naruto Uzumaki was overjoyed. Why was Sakura being so gentle to him today? Could it be, could it be that...

She finally discovered his charm and fell in love with him?!

He nodded immediately like a mortar and pestle.

"Awake, I'm awake, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura Haruno giggled.

Then...

She threw a punch with all her might.

Bang--

Accompanied by a loud noise, Naruto Uzumaki was sent flying directly, crashing into a large row of desks and chairs before finally falling heavily to the ground, looking utterly disheveled.

Everyone in the classroom looked over, erupting into a burst of cheerful laughter.

"Ah--"

Naruto Uzumaki was a bit dazed from the hit. Holding his swollen, red face, he asked with a mix of grievance and confusion.

"Sakura-chan, wh... why did you hit me!"

Sakura Haruno put her hands on her hips and huffed: "I already told you I was going to Sasuke-kun's side!"

"But you were sleeping here like a dead pig, blocking my way, and I couldn't wake you up no matter how much I called!"

"Tell me, didn't you deserve to be hit?!"

As she spoke, she stepped over the desks and chairs Naruto Uzumaki had knocked over, moved close to Sasuke Uchiha, and instantly changed her expression, putting on a bright, sunny smile.

"Sasuke-kun!"

"I specially brought you a homemade rice ball. Would you like to try it?"

"I made it myself!"

Sasuke Uchiha let out a cold snort, turned his face away, and looked out the window, having no intention of paying her any mind at all.

Watching this scene, Naruto Uzumaki couldn't help but grit his teeth, his fists tightening.

"Damn it!"

"That guy Sasuke, he only knows how to act cool!"

"Why does Sakura have to like a guy like that!"

He climbed up angrily and brushed off his backside. Instead of blaming Sakura for hitting him, he strode toward Sasuke Uchiha, rolling up his sleeves.

All the little girls in the classroom couldn't help but scream.

"Naruto! Stay away from Sasuke Uchiha!"

"You idiot Naruto, what are you trying to do to Sasuke Uchiha?!"

Naruto closed in on Sasuke aggressively, their eyes now only inches apart.

Sasuke Uchiha rolled his eyes at him in disgust.

"Loser, do you want to die?"

Hearing this nickname, Naruto was even more enraged.

"What did you say, you bastard Sasuke?!"

"If you've got the guts, fight me!"

However, before he could even make a move, Sakura Haruno could no longer hold back and punched him again.

Bang—

It landed right on Naruto's forehead, sending him flying once more.

"What are you doing, Naruto!"

"Stay away from Sasuke Uchiha!"

Naruto Uzumaki fell to the ground again, rubbing his aching forehead and looking at Sakura Haruno with a pitiful expression.

"Sakura, you... you..."

The classmates in the classroom burst into laughter again, looking at Naruto on the floor with mockery, pointing and whispering, but no one approached him, let alone offered a hand to pull him up.

Naruto Uzumaki stood up huffily, once again sensing that familiar loneliness and pain.

But he seemed to have grown accustomed to it.

Or rather, he forced himself to pretend he was used to it.

"Hmph, what's the big deal!"

"One day, I will become the Hokage and make all of you acknowledge my existence!"

If there was one thing he was truly good at, it was perhaps his ability to cope with his own emotions...

Otherwise, he might not have been able to survive a single day.

He certainly wasn't smart, but he wasn't a fool either.

He could sense the strange, cold attitude of everyone in the village.

It wasn't even dislike...

It was hatred.

But what had he actually done?

He couldn't figure it out.

Even though Sakura Haruno, whom he liked the most, treated him roughly, she was at least willing to acknowledge him and speak to him. For Naruto, who had suffered years of neglect and cold shoulders, this was a luxury, a form of kindness...

As for the others, they didn't want to get anywhere near him.

At this moment, not only Sakura Haruno but also Ino Yamanaka and the others had crowded around Sasuke, chatting and laughing, frantically showing off their charm and affection in an attempt to make Sasuke look at them just once.

The boys in the class were gathered in small groups, laughing and joking among themselves as well.

Only Naruto Uzumaki was left alone.

He lowered his head, a hint of sadness appearing in his eyes.

But he quickly brushed away the pain in his heart, placed his hands behind his head, and strode through the noisy crowd, kicking the classroom door open and heading outside the school.

The lively crowd felt as if they belonged to a different world than his.

Why did no one care about him...

Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists and kicked a small stone across the playground in frustration.

Bang—

The stone struck a wooden bucket in the distance, next to which were some painting supplies.

Naruto Uzumaki looked at the brushes and paint buckets, and suddenly his eyes lit up as he slammed his right fist into his left palm.

"Got it!"

"Fourth Hokage, the hero who sacrificed himself and used his life to protect the village..."

"Heh heh, how about a taste of this!"

On the Hokage Rock in Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki was recklessly swinging his brush, splashing paint and pigment evenly across the statues of the past Hokage.

He added a pair of small mustaches to the Fourth Hokage with satisfaction, stepped back to look from a distance, and felt very proud of his work.

Just then.

Suddenly, a chill ran down Naruto's back, as if he had sensed some terrifying presence.

He struggled, just about to turn his head.

"NARUTO UZUMAKI!"

A voice erupted suddenly, startling him so much he jumped straight into the air. After finally steadying himself, he looked back to find it was none other than Umino Iruka.

"Umino Iruka, you scared me to death!"

Umino Iruka snorted angrily, "It is class time! What are you doing here!"

Naruto Uzumaki froze, then scratched his head and laughed.

"I'm creating art! What do you think, Umino Iruka? It has a real artistic flair, doesn't it?"

"Especially the graffiti of the Fourth Hokage—that is my masterpiece!"

Umino Iruka was furious, "Wipe it off immediately! Then come back to class with me!"

Naruto Uzumaki: "...Oh."

He pouted in defiance, but in the end, he obediently wiped the paint graffiti clean.

On the way back to the Ninja Academy.

Umino Iruka couldn't help but ask, "Naruto Uzumaki, why did you do something like that?"

Naruto Uzumaki gave a cheeky grin, "Because I can! No one else would dare to do it, right?"

"Only I, Naruto Uzumaki, have the guts!"

Umino Iruka certainly understood his intentions, just as he understood the loneliness and pain in his heart.

He sighed, "Naruto Uzumaki, I know you want to gain the attention and recognition of others, but you won't achieve that through these kinds of pranks. Shouldn't you be focusing on working harder at your studies and training?"

Naruto Uzumaki hurriedly said, "I am already working very hard, Umino Iruka!"

"But, but... there are so many things I just can't learn. Never mind comparing myself to that jerk Sasuke, I'm not even as good as any of the other students..."