A Girl's Blushing Face Says It All

Naruto kept practicing the Chakra Refinement Technique, pushing himself until midnight before he finally heard the system's notification...

[Today's eight-hour Chakra Refinement Technique training is complete.]

[Today's chakra increase: 9 points. Current total chakra: 23 points.]

Phew—

Naruto collapsed onto his bed, too exhausted even to complain.

"Only 23 points?"

Hearing the system's notification, Naruto felt utterly hopeless.

[The host is only a student at the Ninja Academy. A chakra level of 23 points is already quite impressive.]

[An ordinary Ninja Academy student has around 10 points of chakra.]

[A Genin has at most 100 points.]

[A Chunin has anywhere from several hundred to 1,000 points.]

[Only a Jonin can exceed 1,000 points.]

[Of course, this is only the most common range. Those with exceptional talent are not included.]

Naruto's heart stirred.

So that was how it worked...

That meant his 23 points of chakra already surpassed most Ninja Academy students!

That had to count as talent, right?!

[The host's training for today is complete.]

[Current attributes...]

Host: Naruto Uzumaki

Age: 10

Identity: Student at the Konoha Ninja Academy

Chakra: 23 points

Ninjutsu:

Clone Technique (16/100)

Transformation Technique (59/100)

Substitution Technique (31/100)

Chakra Refinement Technique (61/100)

Taijutsu:

Basic Taijutsu (43/100)

Shurikenjutsu (41/100)

Academic Subjects:

Physics (28/100)

Chemistry (19/100)

Mathematics (20/100)

Chinese (42/100)

History (36/100)

English (49/100)

Biology (44/100)

Moral Education (26/100)

Ninja Insights (45/100)

Even a dog would shake its head at these stats.

"Hmm..."

"Other than having a little more chakra than everyone else, the only thing I've passed is the Chakra Refinement Technique..."

"And the system forced me to improve that today."

"Looks like I really am the dead last after all!"

Just then—

[Good sleep is the foundation of everything. Host, go to sleep immediately, or you will undergo Baptism of Lightning Release!]

Naruto: "..."

"Ahhh! How am I supposed to sleep when I keep thinking I'm going to get electrocuted?!"

"Could you at least be a little reasonable?!"

[Host, at least get ready to sleep. Stop overthinking and clear your mind...]

Well, that was at least more reasonable than forcing him to fall asleep...

Naruto immediately closed his eyes and forced himself to think about nothing.

Believe it or not, after such an exhausting day, he really did drift off quickly.

Naruto slept more soundly than ever before.

Every so often, though, he would suddenly jerk as if he were dreaming about Baptism of Lightning Release...

The next morning.

Six o'clock sharp.

The system's voice rang through Naruto's mind right on time, like an alarm clock.

[You have now slept for six hours. Host, get up immediately and prepare to begin today's training!]

Naruto: "...Ah, it's only six?"

"Please, just let me sleep a little longer..."

[Warning! Baptism of Lightning Release countdown...]

"...I'm up, I'm up!"

Left with no choice, Naruto rubbed his bleary eyes, stretched at length, threw off his covers, and got out of bed.

[Host, wash up immediately, prepare and eat a nutritious, balanced breakfast, and finish within half an hour!]

Naruto: "..."

He'd learned his lesson and didn't dare talk back to System Bro. He obediently did as told.

Fortunately, he'd prepared everything the night before, and he had a little experience now, so he wasn't quite as frantic.

After wolfing everything down, he managed to finish it all within half an hour.

Naruto was ready to head to the Ninja Academy and begin another day of classes.

[A new day, a fresh start.]

[Today is another day full of hope.]

[Keep it up, host! Continue working hard! After evaluating your first day, I have set your first small goal...]

[Place in the top ten out of fifty students in your class evaluation one month from now.]

[If you fail, you will face a tiny little punishment!]

Naruto nearly choked.

"T-top ten?!"

"You might as well just electrocute me to death!"

"How is that even possible, dattebayo?!"

Chapter 8: A Girl's Blushing Face Says It All

Naruto's outburst was completely understandable.

Going from the bottom of his class to the top ten in just one month...

It was nothing short of a fantasy!

But the system remained as cold as ever.

[Detected that it is time for the host to go to school. Proceed to the Ninja Academy immediately. Travel by walking on your hands!]

Naruto: "..."

"So after-school frog jumps with weights, and handstand walking on the way to school, huh?"

"You're pretty considerate, aren't you? Worried my legs couldn't take it, so you decided to work my arms instead?!"

He grumbled furiously to himself, but there was nothing he could do except obey.

He kicked himself up into a handstand, clenched his teeth, and headed for the Ninja Academy.

"Hmph! It's just a handstand!"

"What's so impressive about that?"

"This is nothing for someone like me, who wants to become Hokage!"

[The host's handstand walking form is incorrect. Immediately switch to walking on one hand!]

Naruto: "...Huh?!"

[Warning! Baptism of Lightning Release countdown...]

"...I'll switch, I'll switch right now!"

Gritting his teeth, Naruto struggled to shift his weight to one side. Then, cautiously, he lifted one hand, swaying and trembling...

He could just about keep his balance, but walking all the way to the Ninja Academy on one hand was another matter entirely...

Thud—

Thud!

His bizarre antics naturally sparked another round of gossip. Passersby pointed at him as they steered clear.

"That kid really has gone crazy..."

"What's he doing? Trying to get attention?"

"Hmph, what a weird little weirdo!"

Naruto didn't have the slightest interest in listening to them.

His face was flushed red, his teeth bared. He focused every bit of his strength and concentration on his right arm, struggling with all his might to keep himself from toppling over.

Sweat poured from him.

It dripped onto the soil of Konoha.

Phew—

He finally reached the Ninja Academy.

Naruto no longer cared about the strange looks everyone was giving him.

He got back to his feet, feeling as if his entire right arm no longer belonged to him.

[The host has completed his first training session of walking to the Ninja Academy on one hand. Stamina +1.]