"Knowledge Absorption!"
"Activate ability..."
"Dual-tasking!"
Naruto activated two abilities simultaneously, instantly seeming to split into two clones. His left and right brains worked with incredible clarity; not only did he understand the textbook in front of him thoroughly, but his Chakra Refining Technique was also almost unaffected!
"This... this is too amazing!"
Naruto's eyes gleamed, overjoyed.
This way, he essentially had double the time compared to others!
My future is not a dream!
Naruto then stood up happily, preparing to go home.
On the way, the system's requirement was weighted frog jumps plus academic lessons, which was no longer a difficult task for Naruto.
However, just as he was preparing to set off with unprecedented enthusiasm...
"Naruto."
"Ah--"
Naruto, startled by the sudden interruption, almost fell to the ground.
He looked back and saw an incredibly familiar yet somewhat strange face.
"Sa... Sakura-chan?!"
Sakura Haruno's face was clearly full of smiles, but Naruto felt a little terrified.
Even stranger was... he had punched Sakura earlier. If it were his old self, he would probably be terrified and try every means to apologize and beg for her forgiveness... But now, he had already forgotten about it...
However, seeing that face again now, Naruto suddenly remembered.
"You, what do you want? Didn't I already apologize, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura Haruno's face drew closer, as if she wanted to see right through Naruto.
"I'm not here for that."
"Then, then what is it for..."
"I want you to tell me, what happened to you..."
"What exactly happened?!"
"...Eh?!"
Chapter 39: That Resounding Slap! Please give me monthly votes!!!
Sakura Haruno was more curious about Naruto than ever before.
Because... this guy she used to look down on, for some unknown reason, had now become the focus of the entire class!
Hinata was one thing, but now even Ino and Sasuke were paying so much attention to him... There must be a reason for this!
She leaned in, her eyes almost touching Naruto's face.
Naruto's expression immediately changed under her interrogation.
"Sakura-chan..."
"So 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, system big brother simply won't allow me to speak of it!"
He quickly waved his hands frantically with a forced smile, his head involuntarily retreating backward.
"Sakura-chan, I, nothing happened to me..."
Sakura Haruno, of course, didn't believe him.
She put her hands on her hips, pressing closer, scrutinizing Naruto from top to bottom, left to right, very carefully.
"Don't try to fool me."
"Naruto, I know very well what you used to be like. Even if a person can change, it wouldn't be so sudden, and the change wouldn't be so 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 stirred. He scratched his head, subconsciously looking around.
"Is... is there?"
"Hinata, Ino, and... that guy Sasuke?"
"Are they all paying attention to me?"
"How come I didn't know..."
Sakura Haruno angrily said, "Stop talking nonsense, what secret are you hiding?!"
"Tell me quickly!"
If it were before, if Sakura was so interested in him, Naruto would probably have been overjoyed.
However, now, not only was he unable to reveal his secret, but more importantly... the system had already started issuing warnings.
"[Detection: Host has finished school. Please immediately continue your training on the way home, otherwise you will be subjected to the system's Lightning Release purification!]"
"[Warning, countdown 5... 4...]"
Naruto thought of the horror of Lightning Release and hastily retreated away from Sakura Haruno.
"Ah ah ah--"
"Sakura, I really can't tell you, and I... I have something urgent right now!"
"Bye bye!"
Naruto tried to run, but Sakura Haruno wouldn't give up.
"Stop, Naruto! Explain yourself!"
She tried to grab Naruto's collar.
However... "[Countdown 3...]"
Naruto was already sweating profusely, and the terrifying Lightning Release purification could descend at any moment.
Even if he secretly wanted to talk to Sakura a few more words... he knew what was more important.
"[2...]"
"Sa, Sakura... can we talk next time, okay?"
"I, I really don't have time!"
"[1...]"
"No!"
Sakura Haruno suddenly reached out to grab Naruto's arm... In this critical moment, Naruto had no other choice.
"Let go!"
In his urgency, Naruto couldn't help but shout loudly, his palm suddenly slapping out.
Slap--
A crisp sound. It not only slapped away Sakura Haruno's arm but also, with unstoppable force, slapped her face!
Immediately, five finger marks appeared on her fair cheek, and a stinging pain instantly struck!
"Ah--"
She screamed, covering her aching face, tears already welling up in her eyes.
But Naruto seemed to have not noticed at all.
He immediately squatted down without hesitation and began frog-jumping towards his home... "[0.]"
Fortunately, Naruto managed to make it at the very last second, escaping a close call with death.
He finally let out a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling a slight pain in his fingers.
"I think I hit something just now..."
Naruto looked back and saw Sakura covering her cheek, standing dazed in place, two lines of tears rolling down...
"No, no way?!"
"Did I hit Sakura again?!"
Naruto's expression was extremely complex. He wanted to turn back, but the system's warning would not be merciful.
"Sa, Sakura-chan..."
He gritted his teeth and finally turned back to continue his training.
"I can only apologize next time..."
"Ah ah ah, what a sin!"
...At this moment, the crying Sakura suddenly felt a hand gently pat her shoulder.
Her mind in turmoil, she sharply turned her head.
"Sasuke...-kun..."
"Iruka-sensei?"
The imagined scene did not appear.
What she saw when she turned back was Iruka-sensei's stern gaze.
"Sakura, come with me."
Sakura Haruno wiped her tears and nodded, following him, but her cheek still throbbed faintly.
"Damn Naruto..."
She cursed in her heart, following Iruka-sensei to the office.
Iruka-sensei had her sit opposite him, observing her with a scrutinizing gaze.
"What's wrong, Sakura?"
"Lately, you've been distracted. Yesterday, you even skipped class, and your grades have dropped..."
"Did something happen?"
Sakura Haruno was, after all, the top student in the class, so Iruka was very clear about her changes.
"Iruka-sensei, I..."
She shook her head and closed her mouth again.