Chapter 12: First Da... (Tutoring) with Hinata!
Peaceful and quiet Konoha Village.
Another night with lights from thousands of homes.
Naruto did weighted frog leaps back home. Having done it once, the second time was easier. He made dinner, and without even needing a system reminder, he decisively continued practicing the Clone Technique.
"Three hundred times!"
"I only practiced eighty-something times during the whole class!"
"If I don't hurry, I won't get to sleep tonight!"
In the mental space, Kurama twitched his ears in relief.
"Hmph, this brat, seems he's not completely hopeless..."
"You can't sleep, but I can sleep..."
Kurama grinned, yawned, twitched his ears again, lay down, and fell asleep.
"Clone Technique—"
"Clone Technique!"
"Clone!"
[Host completed one hundred times of Clone Technique cultivation. Mastery increased. Proficiency +1!]
Although Naruto was sweating profusely and panting, a smug smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Aha, indeed great progress..."
"Now my clone is almost opening its eyes!"
"But, why do I always feel something is still not quite right..."
Naruto pondered, thinking of the analogy Iruka-sensei mentioned.
"Like pulling your own reflection out of a mirror."
Naruto punched his palm: "Ha! I got it!"
He immediately went to the mirror, looked at himself in the mirror, and examined himself carefully from top to bottom.
"The reason I can't do the Clone Technique well is probably because I can't distract myself."
"Making hand seals while thinking of my own shadow in my mind, and controlling chakra at the same time, it's too troublesome!"
"If I can see the reflection directly, I don't need to think about it myself, right!"
"I really am a genius!"
Naruto immediately experimented again.
"Ram, Snake, Tiger..."
"Clone Technique!"
Sure enough, although this clone was still lying on the ground, its eyes were completely open!
Even more pleasantly surprising, that face was finally exactly the same as Naruto's.
"It really works!"
Naruto wiped his sweat, overjoyed, and immediately threw himself into cultivation again.
[Host completed three hundred times of Clone Technique cultivation. Mastery increased. Proficiency +3!]
[Current Clone Technique Proficiency: 36!]
Although it was still only 36, it was only 16 before!
Just one day of hard cultivation increased proficiency by a full 20 points!
If this continues...
Naruto couldn't help but rub his chin smugly, already letting his imagination run wild...
Him getting first in the class, stepping on Sasuke, being hugged and kissed by Sakura, all the girls looking at him with admiration and hearts in their eyes, all the boys looking envious and jealous...
Unfortunately, this scene didn't last long. Exhausted, he soon fell asleep.
...
The next day, early morning.
This was the third day since getting the system, and also Naruto's first weekend.
He was woken up by the system at six o'clock sharp. Stretching greatly, he got out of bed helplessly and started washing up and cooking.
He walked to the window and unconsciously glanced downstairs.
"Hmm?"
"That is..."
The morning sunlight, dappled with light and shadow, fell on the girl's white dress and cheeks.
The breeze blew gently, causing ripples in the long dress.
The girl was wearing a white sun hat which was almost blown away by the wind. She hurriedly held it with her small hand, revealing a delicate, cute, yet shyly blushing face.
Naruto couldn't help but feel slightly moved in his heart.
"Hinata?"
Only then did he suddenly remember that he had agreed to tutor with Hinata today.
However...
Today's Hinata seemed to feel...
Not quite the same as usual?
The doubt in Naruto's heart flashed by. He immediately got excited, holding the window railing and waving his hands vigorously at Hinata downstairs.
"Hey! Hinata! Over here!"
Hearing Naruto's call, Hinata's heart trembled. Holding her white sun hat, she looked up and saw that most familiar face.
"Na... Naruto-kun?"
Her heart immediately raced like a little deer, and her face turned completely red.
Naruto was dense, so naturally, he didn't understand a girl's thoughts at all.
He shouted: "Hinata, why don't you come up?"
Hinata lowered her head.
"I, I don't dare..."
"Why!"
Hinata touched her fingers together, speechless for a moment.
How could she tell him that she was shy...
Naruto laughed: "Then I'll come down to get you!"
"Wait for me!"
Naruto immediately ran down the stairs, pushed the door open, rushed out, and ran to Hinata.
"Come on."
He grabbed Hinata's hand.
Hinata's body trembled instantly.
But she couldn't refuse, following Naruto's footsteps, walking step by step towards Naruto's home on the second floor.
"Naruto-kun, is holding my hand..."
Hinata's mind was in turmoil for a moment.
"Ta-da!"
"This is my home!"
"How is it, not bad, right?"
Naruto let go of Hinata's hand and casually picked up the watering can to water the plants he was raising.
This was one of his few hobbies besides ramen.
Hinata looked at her small hand, feeling a bit lost.
"What's wrong, Hinata?"
"N-Nothing..."
Looking at Naruto watering the flowers, a smile appeared on her blushing face.
"I... I didn't expect Naruto-kun to have such a hobby."
"This? Hahaha, I guess so!"
Naruto put down the watering can carelessly.
"Have you eaten?"
"Yes, I have."
"Oh, then shall we start right away?"
Hinata nervously pinched the corner of her clothes.
"O-Okay..."
Naruto came to his "cultivation room," which was completely messy.
Even the dense him couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.
"Aha, it's a bit messy..."
Hinata smiled secretly.
"It... It's okay."
Naruto pushed a pile of messy things off the table in one go.
"Come on, Hinata, sit next to me."
Hinata, who had just calmed down a bit, instantly felt her heart pounding wildly again, as if there was a little rabbit jumping up and down in her heart.
"Sit, sit next to Naruto-kun?"
Naruto said: "Yeah, of course. Otherwise, how can we do tutoring?"
Hinata said bashfully: "Th-That's true..."
She lowered her head, blushing, leaned closer, and carefully sat on the chair next to Naruto.
"Hinata, I feel like you seem a bit different today..."
"Hmm... how should I put it..."
Hinata's heart trembled.
For today's "date," she had spent a lot of thought. She didn't wear somewhat bulky clothes like usual, but wore a white long dress and a sun hat, naturally wanting Naruto to pay more attention to her.
Did he notice my feelings?
Naruto thought for a long time and came to a conclusion.
"Hmm... probably because we're not at school."
"You don't seem so gloomy!"
Hinata: "..."
Although a bit disappointed, Hinata still smiled shyly.
"Mm, I will do my best not to be gloomy anymore..."
"Na, Naruto-kun, let's start."
Naruto also clenched his fist.
"Okay! Getting into the top ten, defeating Sasuke, it all depends on you, Hinata!"
Hinata nodded gently, opened the textbooks and notes, and began to explain carefully to Naruto from beginning to end.
At this moment, the sun gradually rose, shining through the window, falling on the two of them sitting close together.
The room became brighter and brighter.
Outside the window, cicadas chirped and sparrows called.
Summer has arrived.