Naruto, if I don't roll you, what Hokage will I be!

"Clone Technique x10!"

Throughout the entire basic ninjutsu lesson, Naruto practiced the Clone Technique incessantly.

"Clone Technique!"

"Damn it..."

"Clone Technique!"

Soon, Naruto was drenched in sweat, feeling physically and mentally exhausted.

Practicing ninjutsu was no easy feat; it demanded not only high levels of chakra and stamina but also significant mental fortitude and endurance.

Naruto's chakra and stamina were considered excellent.

His mental focus and endurance, however, were originally far from sufficient.

But under the system's "gentle reminder," and thinking of the little punishment awaiting him in a month, Naruto had to push himself to the limit to train.

[Host has completed fifty repetitions of Clone Technique training. Mastery has increased, proficiency +1!]

"Yes!"

Naruto looked at his newly created clone, throwing his hands high into the air and shouting with inexplicable excitement.

Sasuke, Sakura, and the others couldn't help but look over.

Iruka also walked up to him.

"...Naruto, your clone is still lying on the ground!"

Naruto pointed at his clone with full confidence and indignation.

"Look closely, Iruka-sensei!"

"Although it is indeed still lying on the ground, it's no longer sticking its tongue out or rolling its eyes!"

"It looks just like it's sleeping!"

It was true.

If Naruto's previous Clone Technique looked like it had been drinking fake booze, now it simply looked like it was asleep.

It had to be said, this was indeed a huge improvement.

Iruka: "..."

"The Clone Technique is used to lure enemies; what is the point of it lying on the ground!"

However, he also saw Naruto's effort.

By the end of the class, the other students had already scattered, having basically given up on continuing their practice.

Those who remained were just going through the motions.

But Naruto had persisted until the very end.

He couldn't help but curiously ask: "Naruto, you... you've been working so hard lately, is there some goal you're trying to reach?"

Naruto blurted out, his face covered in snot and tears.

"Iruka-sensei, I must reach the top ten in the class during the assessment in one month!"

Iruka's eyes widened instantly.

"Huh?"

The entire classroom fell into a sudden, deathly silence.

Then, a thunderous roar of laughter erupted.

"Hahahaha!"

"Has that guy Naruto gone crazy? What kind of nonsense is he dreaming about?"

"He's clearly the dead last; he wants to reach the top ten in the class in one month?"

"How is that even possible!"

"I'm dying of laughter!"

Sasuke looked at the earnest-faced Naruto and frowned.

Although he also found it ridiculous, seeing Naruto's expression made him feel that he wasn't telling a joke.

What is that dead last thinking?

Why does it feel like he's become a completely different person these past two days...

Hinata, however, had a flushed face, her lips curling up into a gentle smile.

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

"I believe you can definitely do it..."

Facing the laughter of the entire class, Iruka-sensei did not laugh.

He patted Naruto on the shoulder, his tone earnest and sincere.

"Naruto, I have seen your determination to become stronger."

"I have also witnessed your hard work over these past two days, but..."

"Haste makes waste. We should certainly strive for progress, but we cannot be too ambitious. We must take it one step at a time, alright?"

"Aiming for the top ten in the class within a month is simply too much of a stretch for you..."

"If you want to set a goal, there is no need to compare yourself to others; comparing yourself to who you were yesterday is enough..."

Naruto listened to Iruka, knowing that he truly had his best interests at heart.

However, he had his own unavoidable reasons!

"Iruka-sensei, I understand what you mean, but, but I..."

"I must still reach the top ten in a month!"

"Pfft—"

The other students in the class couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Iruka, however, asked seriously: "Why, Naruto?"

"Why are you so insistent on reaching the top ten?"

Naruto: "Because..."

"Ahhh, I can't say it!"

Iruka did not laugh.

He nodded and ruffled Naruto's hair.

"Fine, it's okay if you don't want to say it. Since you have such ambition, it is a good thing regardless. Even if you don't reach the goal in the end, you will surely have improved much more than you are now."

"Well done, Naruto. If there is anything you don't understand, just ask me anytime."

Naruto felt immense gratitude in his heart.

Only Iruka-sensei treated him with such sincerity instead of viewing him as a joke...

"Yes, I understand, Iruka-sensei!"

At dusk, the final bell of the Ninja Academy finally rang.

Soon, the entire Ninja Academy was filled with groups of students, their cheerful laughter permeating the twilight.

"Dad!"

"Time to go home, Santai."

"Mom, I want ice cream!"

"Alright, alright, I'll buy you some on the way."

"Awesome!"

Naruto walked through the crowd, exhausted, a sense of loneliness inevitably rising in his heart.

"Hmph, dead-last, you think you can reach the top ten in the class in just one month?"

"Too naive."

Sasuke walked past with his hands in his pockets, followed as always by a large crowd of infatuated girls.

This time, Naruto didn't get angry; instead, he grinned and teased Sasuke.

"Sasuke, you don't have to pay so much attention to me, do you?"

Sasuke's expression changed instantly: "What did you say, dead-last?!"

"I'm saying, for someone called a genius, you're always watching me so closely. I'm sure it's because you're afraid of being surpassed by me, isn't it?"

Sasuke immediately retorted angrily: "Don't make me laugh!"

"Do you really think a dead-last like you can be mentioned in the same breath as me?"

Naruto crossed his arms, full of confidence: "Yeah, that's exactly what I think."

"I have never felt that I am inferior to you!"

Sasuke clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Hmph, you clueless fool, I will make you realize the gap between us!"

With that, he stormed off, his face full of rage.

However, the inexplicable pressure Naruto had placed on him made Sasuke resolve to train ten, even a hundred times harder than before once he got home!

"What's wrong with Sasuke-kun?"

"It seems he was angered by that guy Naruto..."

"That bastard Naruto, he just loves picking fights with Sasuke!"

"Though, Sasuke seems to really care about that guy, I wonder why..."

"Who knows..."

Naruto made a face at Sasuke's back, pulling down his eyelids and sticking out his tongue, bleh...

"N-Naruto-kun, see you tomorrow."

Naruto hurriedly dropped the face, and upon seeing it was Hinata, he scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Aha, it's Hinata. Right, the tutoring, I almost forgot..."

"See you tomorrow!"

Naruto flashed a brilliant smile and waved at Hinata, then began his weighted frog jumps, heading toward his home step by step.

Hinata gently twiddled her fingers, her face flushed red. Thinking of tomorrow's tutoring, her heart couldn't help but thump wildly, fluttering like a trapped bird...

"Tomorrow, I'll be able to be with Naruto-kun..."

Hinata covered her burning, crimson cheeks with her small hands.

"Ah..."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight..."

Peaceful Konoha.

Another night of ten thousand lights.

Naruto returned home with his weighted frog jumps, cooked dinner with the ease of practice, and without even needing a system reminder, decisively continued his training in the Clone Technique.