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

"[Knowledge Absorption]!"

"Activating trait ability..."

"[Distraction-Dual-Use]!"

Naruto activated both traits simultaneously. In an instant, it was as if he had split into two, with his left and right brain hemispheres dividing labor with absolute clarity. Not only could he see the textbook before him with thorough understanding, but his Chakra Refinement Technique remained almost entirely unaffected!

"This... this is too amazing!"

Naruto's eyes shone with excitement, his joy irrepressible.

In this way, it was equivalent to having twice as much time as everyone else!

My future is no dream!

Only then did Naruto stand up, feeling pleased with himself, and prepare to head home.

The system's requirements for the road—weighted frog jumps and academic studies—were no longer difficult tasks for Naruto.

However, just as he was preparing to set off with unprecedented enthusiasm...

"Naruto."

"Ah--!"

Startled by the sudden interruption, Naruto jumped and nearly fell to the ground.

He turned back to see a face that was incredibly familiar, yet felt somewhat strange.

"Sa... Sakura-chan?!"

Although Sakura Haruno's face was full of smiles, Naruto felt a sense of dread.

What was even stranger was...

Previously, he had punched Sakura. If it were the old him, he would likely be terrified and desperately trying to apologize and beg for her forgiveness...

But now, he had completely forgotten about the incident...

However, seeing that face again now, Naruto suddenly recalled it.

"W-what do you want? Didn't I already apologize, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura Haruno leaned in close, as if she wanted to see right through Naruto.

"I didn't come here for that."

"Th-then why..."

"I want you to tell me, what on your body..."

"What exactly happened to you!"

"...Eh?!"

Sakura Haruno was curious about Naruto like never before.

Because...

This guy she used to look down upon had, for some unknown reason, become the focus of the entire class!

Hinata was one thing, but now even Ino and even Sasuke valued him so much...

There must be a reason for this!

She pressed forward, her eyes closing in on Naruto's face.

Under her interrogation, Naruto's expression shifted instantly.

"Sakura-chan..."

"She's actually this close to me..."

No, but... I can't possibly tell her what happened to me!

Never mind whether I want to say it or not, Brother System wouldn't even allow me to speak of it!

He hurriedly waved his hands frantically with a plastered-on smile, his head instinctively pulling back.

"Sakura-chan, I... nothing has happened to me..."

Sakura Haruno, of course, did not believe him.

She put her hands on her hips and continued to press forward, scrutinizing Naruto from top to bottom, left to right.

"Don't think you can lie to me."

"Naruto, I know exactly what you were like before. Even if a person can change, it wouldn't be this sudden, and the change wouldn't be this drastic!"

"Tell me, what exactly did you do?"

"Why are Hinata, Ino, and even Sasuke-kun paying so much attention to you?"

"Hmm?!"

Naruto's heart skipped a beat; he scratched his head and looked around subconsciously.

"Is... is that so?"

"Hinata, Ino, and even... that guy Sasuke?"

"Are they all paying attention to me?"

"How come I didn't know..."

Sakura Haruno raged, "Cut the crap! What kind of secret are you hiding?"

"Tell me, now!"

If this were before, Naruto would have been over the moon if Sakura were this interested in him.

However, not only was he unable to reveal his secret, but more importantly...

The system had already begun to issue warnings.

[Host detected as having left school. Please continue your post-school training immediately, or face the Baptism of Lightning Release!]

[Warning, countdown 5... 4...]

Recalling the terror of the lightning, Naruto scrambled backward, putting distance between himself and Sakura Haruno.

"Ahhh—"

"Sakura, I really can't tell you, and I... I have an urgent matter right now!"

"Bye-bye!"

Naruto bolted, but Sakura Haruno refused to give up.

"Stop right there, Naruto! Explain yourself!"

She reached out, trying to grab him by the collar.

However...

[Countdown 3...]

Naruto was already drenched in cold sweat; the terrifying Baptism of Lightning Release could descend at any moment.

Even though he truly wanted to stay and talk to Sakura a little longer...

He knew what was more important.

[2...]

"Sa, Sakura... can we talk next time?"

"I, I really don't have time!"

[1...]

"No way!"

Sakura Haruno lunged, reaching for Naruto's arm...

At this Thousand Jun moment, Naruto had no other choice.

"Let go!"

In his desperation, Naruto couldn't help but roar, his palm lashing out violently.

Slap—

A crisp sound rang out. Not only did he swat Sakura Haruno's arm away, but the momentum carried through, landing squarely on her face!

Instantly, five finger marks appeared on her fair cheek, and a searing, stinging pain washed over her!

"Ah—"

She let out a cry, clutching her pained face as tears welled up in her eyes.

But Naruto seemed completely oblivious.

Without a moment's hesitation, he crouched down and began frog-jumping toward the road home...

[0.]

Fortunately, Naruto had managed to make it at the very last second, narrowly escaping a life-or-death crisis.

He let out a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling a slight ache in his fingers.

"I think I hit something just now..."

Naruto looked back to see Sakura clutching her cheek, standing frozen in place as two trails of tears rolled down her face...

"No, no way?!"

"Did I hit Sakura again?!"

Naruto's expression was incredibly conflicted; he wanted to turn back, but the system's warnings showed no mercy.

"Sa, Sakura-chan..."

He gritted his teeth and finally turned his head away to continue his training.

"I'll just have to apologize next time..."

"Ahhh, what a disaster!"

At this moment, the weeping Sakura suddenly felt a hand gently pat her shoulder.

With her heart in turmoil, she whipped her head around.

"Sasuke... kun..."

"Iruka sensei?"

The scene she had imagined did not appear.

What she saw upon turning back was the stern gaze of Iruka.

"Sakura, come with me for a moment."

Sakura Haruno wiped away her tears and nodded, following behind him, though her cheek still throbbed with a dull ache.

"That idiot Naruto..."

She cursed in her heart as she followed Iruka into the office.

Iruka had her sit across from him, observing her with a scrutinizing look.

"What is going on, Sakura?"

"You have been absent-minded lately; you even skipped class yesterday, and your grades have dropped..."

"Has something happened?"

Sakura Haruno was, after all, the top student in the class, and Iruka could see her changes clearly.

"Iruka sensei, I..."

She shook her head and kept her mouth shut.