Naruto, If You Don't Roll, What Will You Be as Hokage!

I am Sasuke Uchiha.

My mood is complicated right now.

Watching Naruto's exasperated expression, an inexplicable irritation stirred within Sasuke's heart.

What the hell is that dead-last doing?

Does he really think he can turn things around?

Damn it...

Sasuke Uchiha, who appeared to look down on Naruto, was actually the person who paid the most attention to him.

Even Iruka, who could empathize and understand Naruto, was ultimately a senior and a teacher, not a peer of the same age.

Even Hinata, despite her affection for Naruto being maxed out, could never fully comprehend the depth of Naruto's loneliness.

Only Sasuke.

He understood Naruto, and perhaps...

envied him.

Because although Naruto was lonely, he could express himself recklessly; even if it meant pulling pranks or being hated, he never gave up on his efforts to be acknowledged by others.

But Sasuke could not do that.

His coldness, his pride, his genius, and the hatred buried deep in his heart had become a cocoon that bound him, leaving him no way to break free.

Both of them had lost everything.

Yet Naruto possessed a passion he could never have.

And he possessed a talent Naruto could never reach.

But now, with even Naruto beginning to work hard, threatening his own excellence, Sasuke felt a subtle, sensitive, and intense stimulation.

He could not even explain this feeling himself.

It only transformed into the drive that forced him to work even harder.

The pen in Sasuke's hand trembled slightly, and with the force of his grip, it snapped with a sharp crack...

Sakura, who had been silently watching Sasuke, couldn't help but glance at Naruto twice.

When she turned back at the sound of Sasuke's pen breaking, she only saw a slightly twisted face.

"Sasuke..."

Sakura was confused and naturally could not understand Sasuke's current mood.

Hinata blushed slightly, secretly happy for Naruto in her heart.

"Naruto-kun, g-go for it..."

Naruto crossed his arms and sat down huffily, feeling unsatisfied.

To be honest, if this were before, he would have been grinning from ear to ear with such progress.

But not now.

The time limit set by the system was within one month!

One month to raise his grades from the bottom of the class to the top ten!

How was this any different from telling him to walk into the office of the Third Hokage and beat him up?!

Looks like I have to keep pushing myself!

For the next few classes, for the first time, Naruto didn't need the system to remind him; he took the initiative to listen intently with full concentration.

During the breaks, he didn't hesitate to seize the time to practice the Chakra Refinement Technique.

This unusual sight had become a spectacle in the classroom, causing everyone to tacitly keep their distance while watching with curiosity.

Until...

Ding!

[The host has maintained a state of full concentration for ten consecutive classes and has acquired a new trait ability: Knowledge Absorption!]

[Once in a state of full concentration, the ability to absorb and digest knowledge is significantly increased!]

Naruto was stunned, then opened his mouth wide, his eyes shining.

"A trait ability!"

"Knowledge Absorption!"

"I don't quite get it, but it seems like I've become even more awesome!"

He immediately put it to the test. In the following class, once he entered a state of full concentration, his brain, which had previously been a total mess, suddenly cleared up!

This feeling was indescribable.

It was like a riverbed that had been blocked for over a decade suddenly being cleared.

Or like chronic constipation suddenly being relieved in a torrential, unstoppable flow...

It was as if the clouds had parted and he had been struck by a bolt of enlightenment!

[You have entered a state of intense focus. The Knowledge Absorption trait is active. Your mastery of [Mathematics] has increased. Proficiency +5.]

Naruto was practically beaming.

"Five points!"

"An unprecedented, massive success!"

"Hahaha..."

[Host detected exiting the state of intense focus. You are about to be baptized by the System's Lightning Style.]

[Warning countdown: 5...]

Naruto: "...Can't I just admit I was wrong?!"

Furthermore.

Naruto discovered that the ability of the [Knowledge Absorption] trait was not limited to academic subjects.

It could even be applied to his understanding of ninjutsu!

This class was on the Clone Technique, Naruto's weakest subject.

The so-called Clone Technique was one of the Three Basic Techniques taught at the Ninja Academy.

Relatively speaking, it was not particularly difficult.

Because the clones created had no physical form and were merely illusions, they could not be used for offense or defense, serving only to distract the enemy.

Of course, precisely because they lacked a physical form and realism, they were easily seen through by ninjas with keen perception.

Naruto's Clone Technique had always been the weakest of his Three Basic Techniques.

His Transformation Technique was relatively stronger; he had even developed his own unique ninjutsu for it.

That was the number one divine technique of the ninja world that defeated the progenitor of chakra, Kaguya Otsutsuki...

The Sexy Technique!

But the Clone Technique was something Naruto had never been able to master perfectly.

On the podium, Iruka was speaking eloquently.

"The Clone Technique is a basic ninjutsu used to refine and control a specific amount of chakra to create an illusion identical to the user, intended to confuse the enemy."

"The hand seal sequence for the Clone Technique is: Ram-Snake-Tiger."

"While forming the seals, manipulate and control your chakra, visualizing your own image in your mind, and manifest it as if you were pulling yourself out of a mirror."

"Alright, everyone, start practicing now!"

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask me at any time."

Under the influence of [Knowledge Absorption], for the first time, Naruto truly listened to and internalized every word Iruka said about the Clone Technique.

"Hand seal sequence Ram-Snake-Tiger, visualize my own image in my mind, control the chakra to manifest it..."

"Aha! I get it!"

Naruto immediately began forming the hand seals, visualizing his own image in his mind while refining his chakra and guiding it to manifest an identical illusion.

"Clone Technique!"

He shouted, releasing his chakra, and a clone instantly appeared in the classroom!

However, his clone collapsed limply onto the floor, looking like it had downed three pounds of bad liquor, rolling its eyes and sticking out its tongue—it was nothing more than a pile of mush.

"Hahahahaha!"

The room erupted in laughter, filled with jeers and mockery.

In the past, Naruto would have definitely retorted.

But this time, he didn't even have the chance.

[Host's Clone Technique detected as too weak. Please immediately devote yourself entirely to practicing the Clone Technique. Today's goal is... to practice the Clone Technique three hundred times!]

Naruto: "???"

"H-how many?!"

[Three hundred times.]

"Just say you want me dead!"

"Three hundred times? Forget whether I have enough chakra—even if I did, my body wouldn't be able to take it!"

[Warning: Lightning Style baptism countdown, 5... 4...]

"..."

"If you had just said so earlier, I would have understood!"

Naruto, having no strength left to resist, could only silently accept his fate.

"Ram-Snake-Tiger, visualize my own shadow in my mind, while simultaneously manipulating the refined chakra..."

"Clone Technique!"

Poof—

With another soft sound, Naruto's limp clone descended onto the ground once again.

"Aha! That's amazing!"

Iruka approached, staring at the clone still sprawled weakly on the floor, and couldn't help but have a vein pop on his forehead.

"Naruto, what exactly is amazing about that!"

Naruto pointed vigorously at his clone.

"Iruka-sensei, look closely!"

"Even though he's still lying on the ground, at least he isn't sticking his tongue out anymore!"

Iruka: "..."

"Get back to practicing!"

"...Oh."

Even if Iruka hadn't said so, Naruto didn't have any time to stop.

Three hundred Clone Technique attempts!

If he didn't hurry, tonight was destined to be a sleepless one!

"Clone Technique!"

"Clone Technique—"

"Clone Technique..."

[Host has completed ten Clone Technique training sessions, mastery has increased, proficiency +1!]

"Oh! There's hope!"