"Three hundred times!"
"I only managed to practice eighty-some times during the entire class!"
"If I don't hurry, I won't get any sleep tonight!"
In the Mental Space, Kurama's ears twitched in satisfaction.
"Hmph, looks like the kid isn't completely hopeless after all..."
"You might not be able to sleep, but I can..."
Kurama grinned, yawned, twitched his ears again, then curled up and went back to sleep.
"Clone Technique—"
"Clone Technique!"
"I'll do it!"
[Host has completed one hundred Clone Technique practice attempts. Mastery has increased. Proficiency +1!]
Though Naruto was drenched in sweat and panting, a hint of smugness tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Ah-ha, I've definitely improved a lot..."
"Now my clones can almost open their eyes!"
"But why does it still feel like something's not quite right..."
Naruto pondered, remembering the analogy Iruka-sensei had used.
"It's like pulling your reflection out of a mirror."
Naruto smacked his fist into his palm. "Ha! I've got it!"
He immediately went to the mirror and carefully looked himself up and down.
"The reason I can't get the Clone Technique right is probably that I can't concentrate on several things at once."
"I have to form Hand Seals, picture my own reflection in my head, and control my chakra all at once. It's too much trouble!"
"If I can see my reflection directly, I won't have to picture it myself, right?"
"I'm a genius!"
Naruto immediately tried again.
"Mi, Si, Yin..."
"Clone Technique!"
Sure enough, this time the clone was still sprawled on the ground, but its eyes were wide open!
Even more surprising, its face finally looked exactly like Naruto's.
"It really worked!"
Naruto wiped the sweat from his brow, overjoyed, and immediately threw himself back into training.
[Host has completed three hundred Clone Technique practice attempts. Mastery has increased. Proficiency +3!] [Current Clone Technique proficiency: 36!]
It was still only 36, but before, it had been just 16!
A single day of hard training had raised his proficiency by a full 20 points!
If things kept going like this...
Naruto couldn't help stroking his chin smugly, already letting his imagination run wild...
He'd take first place in class, crush Sasuke, have Sakura hug him and give him a passionate kiss, and see all the girls gazing at him with hearts in their eyes while all the boys looked on with envy and jealousy...
Unfortunately, that vision didn't last long. Exhausted, he soon drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning.
It was the third day since he'd gotten the system, and Naruto's first weekend.
The system woke him promptly at six. He stretched languidly, then reluctantly got out of bed to wash up and make breakfast.
He went to the window and absentmindedly glanced down.
"Hm?"
"Is that..."
The morning sunlight filtered through the shadows, falling across the girl's white dress and cheeks.
A gentle breeze fluttered her skirt.
The girl wore a white sunhat, which the wind nearly blew right off. She hurriedly steadied it with one small hand, revealing a pretty, delicate face, youthful and flushed with shyness.
Naruto couldn't help feeling his heart stir.
"Hinata?"
Only then did he suddenly remember that he'd arranged to tutor Hinata today.
But...
Hinata seemed different today from how she usually felt...
Wasn't she?
The question flickered through Naruto's mind, and he immediately perked up, gripping the windowsill and waving both hands vigorously at Hinata below.
"Hey! Hinata! Over here!"
At Naruto's call, Hinata's heart gave a jolt. Holding onto her white sunhat, she looked up and saw the face she knew best.
"N-Naruto-kun?"
Her heart began pounding, and her face turned bright red.
Naruto was oblivious, of course, and didn't understand a thing about a girl's feelings.
He called down, "Hinata, why don't you come up?"
Hinata lowered her head.
"I-I'm a little scared to..."
"Why?"
Hinata crossed her fingers, at a loss for words.
How could she tell him she was just too embarrassed...
Naruto grinned. "Then I'll come get you!"
"Wait right there!"
Naruto immediately thundered downstairs, pushed open the door, and dashed over to Hinata.
"Come on."
He took Hinata by the hand.
Hinata's whole body trembled.
But she couldn't refuse. She followed Naruto's lead, step by step, toward his home on the second floor.
"Naruto-kun is holding my hand..."
Hinata's thoughts were in a complete muddle.
"Ta-da!"
"This is my home!"
"What do you think? Not bad, right?"
Naruto let go of Hinata's hand and casually picked up a watering can to water his plants.
Aside from ramen, it was one of the few things he enjoyed.
Hinata looked down at her hand, feeling a little disappointed.
"What's wrong, Hinata?"
"N-Nothing..."
She watched Naruto water the plants, a smile appearing on her flushed face.
"I-I didn't know Naruto-kun had a hobby like this."
"This? Haha, I guess you could say that!"
Naruto set the watering can down without a care.
"Have you eaten?"
"Yes."
"Oh, then should we get started?"
Hinata nervously pinched the edge of her clothes.
"O-Okay..."
Naruto led her to his "Cultivation Room," which was a complete mess.
Even he, usually so carefree, couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.
"Ah-ha, it's a bit messy..."
Hinata giggled quietly.
"It's... it's all right."
Naruto swept a pile of odds and ends off the table in one go.
"Come on, Hinata. Sit next to me."
Hinata had only just managed to calm down a little, but her heart started pounding again, as if a little rabbit were jumping around inside her chest.
"S-Sit next to Naruto-kun?"
Naruto said, "Of course. How else are we going to study?"
Hinata fidgeted. "Y-You're right, but..."
She lowered her head, her cheeks red, and edged closer, carefully taking the chair beside Naruto.
"Hinata, you seem a little different today..."
"Um... how should I put it..."
Hinata's heart gave a jolt.
She'd put a lot of thought into today's "date." Instead of wearing her usual somewhat bulky clothes, she'd chosen a white dress and a sunhat, hoping Naruto would notice her a little more.
Had he noticed how she felt about him?
Naruto thought it over for a while before reaching a conclusion.
"Hmm... Maybe it's because we're not at school."
"You seem a lot less gloomy!"
Hinata: "..."
Although she was a little disappointed, Hinata still smiled shyly.
"Yes, I'll do my best not to be gloomy anymore..."
"N-Naruto-kun, let's get started."
Naruto clenched his fists too.
"All right! You're counting on helping me make the top ten and beat Sasuke, Hinata!"
Hinata nodded gently, opened her textbook and notes, and began carefully explaining everything to Naruto from the beginning.
By then, the sun was gradually rising. Its light streamed through the window and fell across the two of them, sitting side by side.
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