Naruto's success in the Clone Jutsu was not just luck—it was the result of relentless training.
Due to the Nine Tails' influence, Naruto had always struggled with precise chakra control. But he never gave up. He experimented tirelessly, searching for a way to overcome this obstacle.
While the system played a role in his breakthrough, his achievements were built on years of effort. Success never comes overnight; behind every triumph lies countless hours of hard work.
"Uzumaki Naruto! A perfect score of 100."
Iruka's announcement sent shockwaves through the classroom.
Since the founding of the Ninja Academy, no student had ever displayed such mastery over the Clone Jutsu. A perfect score was well deserved.
Naruto returned to his seat, still in disbelief, while the graduation exams continued.
The classroom buzzed with whispers. This time, the topic wasn't Uchiha Sasuke—it was Uzumaki Naruto, who had stolen the spotlight from everyone.
Ignoring the murmurs, Naruto checked his Anger Points. His total had already reached 303.
"System, start the lottery."
A virtual panel appeared before his eyes as he gave the command in his mind.
[Anger Points -100]
As Naruto pressed the lottery button, the red pointer began to spin.
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Fire Release Affinity.]
A fiery red light shot out from the virtual panel, enveloping Naruto's body. The energy surged through his chakra pathways, eventually settling in his lower abdomen.
Naruto felt a strange warmth coursing through him. His body was changing.
[Anger Points -100]
He tapped the lottery button again. The red pointer spun rapidly before stopping.
[Congratulations! You have obtained Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.]
A dark red scroll with intricate patterns materialized in Naruto's hands. As he injected his chakra into it, the scroll disintegrated into motes of light, merging with his body.
Instantly, the sealing formula, hand signs, and combat experience for the Great Fireball Jutsu became clear in his mind. It was as if he had practiced it countless times before—every advantage and drawback of the technique now felt instinctual.
The third lottery attempt, however, yielded nothing but the system's message: "Thank you for your patronage."
Still, Naruto was satisfied.
For twelve years, his life had been filled with misfortune. Perhaps all his accumulated luck had finally paid off, granting him these newfound abilities.
After the exams, Iruka and Mizuki sat behind the podium, distributing forehead protectors to the graduates.
When Naruto stepped forward to receive his, a figure suddenly blocked his path.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I challenge you. Do you accept?"
Sasuke Uchiha stood before him, his expression dark and serious.
Naruto blinked. "Challenge? Why should I accept?"
[Uchiha Sasuke Anger Points +20]
Sasuke's scowl deepened. A direct challenge meant acknowledging an opponent's strength, but Naruto's response made it seem like he wasn't even worth considering.
"Are you afraid to fight?" Sasuke taunted.
A commotion broke out as students gathered around.
"What's going on? Is the dead last really challenging Sasuke?"
"Watch what you say—Naruto isn't the class loser anymore."
The atmosphere grew tense, the chatter escalating.
BANG!
Iruka slammed his hands on the table. "What are you all doing? Get back to your seats!"
"Iruka-sensei! Sasuke challenged me to a duel after we receive our forehead protectors!" Naruto declared, raising his hands innocently.
His words drew death glares from Sasuke's female admirers.
[Akimichi Sumire Anger Points +20]
[Yamanaka Ino Anger Points +20]
[Haruno Sakura Anger Points +60]
Naruto's sudden rise in strength baffled even Iruka. In six years at the academy, Naruto had never shown any exceptional talent. Now, it was as if he had become a completely different person.
Suspicion crept into Iruka's mind. Testing Naruto's abilities might be a good idea.
"Naruto," Iruka said, clearing his throat. "It's normal for ninjas to compete. Sparring is a great way to improve your strength and identify weaknesses."
It was clear that Iruka wanted Naruto to accept Sasuke's challenge.
Naruto pretended to hesitate, then glanced at the eager students before grinning. "Alright, I accept Sasuke's challenge."
Then, he smirked and added, "In fact, if anyone else wants to challenge me, I'll take them on anytime."
[Uchiha Sasuke Anger Points +16]
[Inuzuka Kiba Anger Points +28]
[Aburame Shino Anger Points +32]
The students' fury erupted. They wanted nothing more than to pummel Naruto into the ground.
How could he be this arrogant?!
Once all the forehead protectors were distributed, Iruka and Mizuki led the students to the academy's training grounds.
The reason? To witness the showdown between Naruto and Sasuke.
"Sasuke, go beat that cocky bastard!" someone shouted.
"Sasuke-kun, you're the best! Crush him!"
As Naruto and Sasuke faced off, cheers for Sasuke filled the air.
Sasuke stood tall, his determination unwavering. He was confident in his victory.
But what he didn't realize was that Naruto was no longer the same person he had always looked down upon.
With wind and fire chakra coursing through his pathways and an immense chakra reserve, Naruto was no longer just another academy student.
Even many chunin in the village couldn't match his level.
(End of Chapter)