Naruto, What's the point of being Hokage without you!

"Three hundred times!"

"I only managed to practice it eighty-some times during the entire class!"

"If I don't hurry, I won't be getting any sleep tonight!"

Inside the mental space, Kurama twitched his ears in satisfaction.

"Hmph, this brat, it seems he isn't completely beyond saving after all..."

"You might not be able to sleep, but I certainly can..."

Kurama curled his lips into a grin, let out a yawn, and then twitched his ears again before lying back down to sleep.

"Clone Technique—"

"Clone Technique!"

"Split!"

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

Although Naruto was drenched in sweat and panting heavily, a smug smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Aha, there's definitely been a huge improvement..."

"My clones are almost opening their eyes now!"

"But, why do I still feel like something is a bit off..."

Naruto pondered, recalling the analogy Iruka had used.

"It's like pulling your own reflection out of a mirror."

Naruto slammed his fist into his palm: "Ha! I've got it!"

He immediately went to the mirror, staring at his own reflection, and examined it carefully from top to bottom.

"The reason I can't do the Clone Technique well is probably because I can't multitask."

"Performing hand seals, thinking about my own shadow in my head, and controlling chakra all at the same time—it's too much of a hassle!"

"If I can look directly at my reflection, I won't have to imagine it myself anymore!"

"I really am a genius!"

Naruto immediately began to experiment again.

"Ram, Snake, Tiger..."

"Clone Technique!"

Sure enough, although this clone was still lying on the ground, it had completely opened its eyes!

Even more surprisingly, its face was finally identical to Naruto's.

"It really works!"

Naruto wiped away his sweat, overjoyed, and immediately threw himself back into his training.

[Host has completed three hundred repetitions of Clone Technique training. Mastery has increased, proficiency +3!]

[Current Clone Technique proficiency: 36!]

Although it was still only 36, it had been a mere 16 before!

In just one day of grueling practice, he had increased his proficiency by a full 20 points!

If things kept going like this...

Naruto couldn't help but stroke his chin smugly, his imagination starting to run wild...

The image of him taking first place in the class, stepping on Sasuke, being hugged by Sakura as she planted a sweet kiss on him, all the girls looking at him with hearts in their eyes, and all the boys filled with envy and jealousy...

Unfortunately, this vision didn't last long; exhausted, he soon drifted off into dreamland.

The next day, early in the morning.

This was the third day since receiving the system, and also Naruto's first weekend.

He was woken up by the system right on time at six o'clock. After a big stretch, he reluctantly got out of bed to wash up and make breakfast.

He walked to the window and glanced down at the street below without thinking.

"Hm?"

"That is..."

The morning sunlight, dappled and bright, fell upon the girl's white dress and cheeks.

A gentle breeze blew, causing her long skirt to ripple.

The girl was wearing a white sun hat that nearly blew away; she hurriedly reached up with a small hand to steady it, revealing a delicate, cute, and shyly blushing face.

Naruto couldn't help but feel a slight stir in his heart.

"Hinata?"

Only then did he suddenly remember that he had an appointment to tutor Hinata today.

However...

Hinata seemed to feel a bit different today...

Wasn't she?

The doubt in Naruto's mind flashed and vanished, and he immediately grew excited, gripping the window frame and waving his hands vigorously at Hinata downstairs.

"Hey! Hinata! Up here!"

Hearing Naruto's call, Hinata felt a jolt in her heart. She steadied her white sun hat, looked up, and saw that most familiar face.

"Na... Naruto-kun?"

Her heart began to race, and her face flushed a deep, shy red.

Naruto was thick-skinned and naturally had no understanding of a young girl's heart.

He shouted loudly, "Hinata, why aren't you coming up?"

Hinata lowered her head.

"I, I'm a little afraid..."

"Why is that!"

Hinata interlaced her fingers, momentarily at a loss for words.

How could she tell him that it was because she was shy...

Naruto laughed, "Then I'll come down and get you!"

"Wait for me!"

Naruto immediately thundered down the stairs, pushed the door open, and sprinted until he stood right in front of Hinata.

"Come on."

He grabbed Hinata's hand.

Hinata's body trembled instantly.

But she couldn't refuse, and following Naruto's lead, she walked step by step toward his home on the second floor.

Naruto-kun is holding my hand...

Hinata's mind was in a state of utter chaos.

"Ta-da!"

"This is my place!"

"What do you think? Not bad, right?"

Naruto let go of Hinata's hand and casually picked up a watering can to tend to the plants he kept.

Aside from ramen, this was one of his few hobbies.

Hinata looked at her small hand, feeling a bit disappointed.

"What's wrong, Hinata?"

"No, nothing at all..."

She watched Naruto watering the plants, a smile appearing on her flushed, shy face.

"I... I didn't expect Naruto-kun to have such a hobby."

"This? Hahaha, I suppose so!"

Naruto carelessly set the watering can down.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"I have."

"Oh, then should we start right away?"

Hinata nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.

"O-okay..."

Naruto led the way to his Cultivation Room, which was in a state of complete disarray.

Even as thick-skinned as he was, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

"Aha, it's a bit messy..."

Hinata giggled secretly.

"It's... it's alright."

Naruto swept a pile of miscellaneous items off the table in one go.

"Come on, Hinata, sit next to me."

Hinata, who had just managed to calm herself down, felt her heart start pounding wildly again, as if a little rabbit were jumping around inside her chest.

"S-sit, sit next to Naruto?"

Naruto said, "Yeah, of course. How else are we supposed to study?"

Hinata fidgeted, saying, "T-that's true, I suppose..."

She lowered her head, her face flushing red as she leaned in and carefully sat on the chair beside Naruto.

"Hinata, I get the feeling you seem a bit different today..."

"Um... how should I put it..."

Hinata's heart skipped a beat.

She had put a lot of effort into today's "date." Instead of her usual baggy clothes, she had worn a white dress and a sun hat, all in the hopes that Naruto would pay a little more attention to her.

Had he noticed her feelings?

Naruto thought for a long time before reaching a conclusion.

"Hmm... it's probably because we aren't at school."

"You don't seem as gloomy as usual!"

Hinata: "..."

Although she felt a bit disappointed, Hinata still offered a shy, gentle smile.

"Yeah, I'll do my best not to be so gloomy anymore..."

"N-Naruto, let's get started."

Naruto clenched his fists as well.

"Right! Getting into the top ten and beating Sasuke all depends on you, Hinata!"

Hinata nodded softly, opened the textbooks and notebooks, and began to carefully explain the material to Naruto from the very beginning.

At that moment, the sun gradually rose, casting its light through the window and onto the two of them as they sat close together.