Hinata and Sakura, a War Between Women! Please Vote!!!

"Still no good!"

"The Stamina Monster trait is useful, but once Knowledge Absorption activates and I enter a state of total concentration, I can only focus on the textbook. I can't keep doing handstands with weights at the same time!"

"I have to... learn to Dual-Task!"

There was no turning back now.

I had to do it!

Naruto gritted his teeth, struggled back to his feet, and began this seemingly impossible challenge once more.

"What the heck is Naruto up to?"

"Nom, nom, nom..."

Choji Akimichi munched on potato chips, gazing at Naruto's back as he mumbled through a full mouth.

Shikamaru Nara yawned over and over beneath the rising sun, looking utterly listless.

"Who knows..."

Choji shook his head. "Even if something got him all fired up, isn't he taking this a little too far?"

"He's practically making a spectacle of himself... Nom, nom, nom..."

"Hey, Shikamaru, do you think we should start trying harder too?"

Shikamaru gazed at the clouds overhead, his eyelids drooping.

"Why?"

Choji froze, his hand pausing as he reached for another chip.

"After all, even Naruto's working so hard. And it seems like everyone else in class has been influenced by him too..."

"Lately Naruto hasn't been standing with us during punishment. I'm actually starting to feel a little lonely..."

Shikamaru yawned again.

"Choji, Naruto working hard might be a good thing for him."

"But everyone has different goals. Even though that guy's a dead-last like us, he dreams of becoming Hokage. He wants to catch up with everyone else and earn their recognition."

"But I'm different."

"I just want to live a quiet, ordinary life..."

Choji stuffed another chip into his mouth.

"I-I know what you mean, but it still feels like I'm wasting my time..."

Shikamaru patted him on the shoulder and smiled.

"Are you happy every day?"

"Um... How should I put it? I guess I'm pretty happy..."

"Then you're not wasting your time."

"Well, even if you're not happy, that's fine too. I don't really care either way..."

With that, he clasped his hands behind his head and strolled off lazily.

Choji didn't quite understand, but he trusted Shikamaru completely, so he stopped dwelling on it. He stuffed a huge mouthful of chips into his mouth and hurried after him.

"Naru—"

Up ahead, Rock Lee was also greeting the sunrise with sweat and passion. When he spotted Naruto, his face lit up. He was just about to wave hello when he suddenly froze.

"Naruto?"

The terrifying training method left even Lee staring in disbelief!

"H-how can you even do that?!"

"That guy Naruto complains all the time, but he's actually working even harder than I am!"

"I see! I can't let him beat me. A one-handed handstand with weights, while studying at the same time?!"

"Okay, I'll do it too!"

Rock Lee copied Naruto, but just like Naruto, he quickly learned it was no easy task...

He lasted three seconds before crashing heavily to the ground.

"Damn it..."

"Again!"

Elsewhere.

Hinata had also spotted Naruto. Remembering their "date" at Ichiraku Ramen the day before, she couldn't help blushing, a faint sweetness stirring in her heart.

"Naruto-kun... Is he training even harder again?"

"I... I shouldn't disturb him..."

"And I have to work harder too. Otherwise, I won't deserve to stand by his side..."

Hinata gazed silently at Naruto. She didn't interrupt him, but cheered him on in her heart.

By the time he finally reached school, Naruto was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.

This time, the strain had been both mental and physical!

It was far more grueling than before.

At last, he could put down the weights and toss aside that damned textbook. He slumped onto the ground and gasped for breath.

But...

[Congratulations, host, on completing a more difficult training challenge. Your Dual-Tasking ability has improved. Proficiency +3. Current proficiency: 51!]

Naruto froze, then his heart leaped with joy.

"So Dual-Tasking can improve too?"

"That's great!"

Just then, a figure blocked the morning sunlight, casting a shadow over Naruto where he sat slumped on the ground.

Naruto looked up and saw a cold face, hands tucked into its pockets.

"Hmph, dead—"

Before Sasuke could finish speaking, Naruto reacted instinctively.

"Sa! Su! Ke!"

"Let's fight again!"

He shot to his feet and lunged at Sasuke!

Sasuke's expression changed in shock.

"What are you doing?!"

Naruto had clearly been worked up the night before. Just seeing Sasuke's face made him want to beat him up.

And really, who wouldn't feel that way after thirty-seven consecutive fights—three wins and thirty-four losses?

Though taken by surprise, Sasuke still dodged the attack on instinct.

Suddenly, someone stepped between Naruto and Sasuke, spreading her arms and glaring furiously.

"Stop it, you idiot Naruto!"

It was Sakura Haruno.

But Naruto was seeing red by now. He didn't even notice who had stepped in front of him.

His body moved faster than his mind.

In an instant, Naruto's fist slammed forward!

Thud—

It struck Sakura squarely in the face!

Chapter 27: Hinata and Sakura, a War Between Women! Please Vote!!!

Naruto's fist struck Sakura Haruno squarely in the face!

Blood burst from Sakura's nose. Her features twisted with pain that seemed to reach her very bones, and the blow sent her flying. She crashed heavily to the ground!

For a moment, the entire Ninja Academy playground fell silent. Not a sound could be heard.

"N-Naruto! What did that guy just do?!"

"He knocked Sakura Haruno flying!"

"What was he thinking?!"

"N-no, wait. Hasn't he always been Sakura Haruno's admirer and biggest lackey?!"

"How could he...?"

"He actually did something like that..."

"No, he was probably trying to hit Sasuke, but Sakura ran in front of him and Naruto couldn't stop himself in time..."

"Even so, that's just..."

It wasn't just everyone else. Naruto himself was completely dumbfounded. He stared at his fist, then at Sakura Haruno lying on the ground, not knowing what to do...

"S-Sakura-chan..."

"W-what did I do?"

Uchiha Sasuke frowned too.

He had seen it clearly. Naruto's punch hadn't been aimed at Sakura Haruno.

It had been aimed at him.

But why had this dead-last suddenly attacked him?

Had all the hatred Naruto had bottled up finally become too much to bear?

Of course, Sasuke had no idea that just seeing his face now made Naruto react on instinct...

If Naruto didn't strike first, he'd be the one who "died"!

In that moment, Naruto had almost acted without thinking.

And he'd still been riding the same fighting spirit he'd felt in his dream.

Sakura Haruno never stood a chance against a blow like that.

Besides, she'd never imagined that Naruto would actually attack her...

It was completely backward!

More and more students gathered around them. The crowd erupted into commotion, with everyone talking at once.

Even Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba Inuzuka stood there with their mouths agape.

When Ino Yamanaka saw what had happened, she cried out and hurried over to check on Sakura Haruno.

"Sakura, a-are you okay?"

Although they were rivals in love these days and seemed to fight constantly, deep down, they still thought of each other as best friends.

Ino would never simply stand by and do nothing.

Sakura Haruno struggled into a sitting position and dazedly wiped away the blood pouring from her nose. She still hadn't come to her senses and had no idea what had happened.

"W-what happened to me...?"

Ino said, "Naruto was about to fight Sasuke. You suddenly rushed over, and Naruto punched you and sent you flying..."

Sakura Haruno's ears were still ringing. Hearing Ino's explanation helped her regain her senses a little.