“I believe that a person’s potential consists of two aspects: talent and willpower.
Talent encompasses many things, such as intelligence or aptitude in other areas.
The test just now could only roughly measure your basic physical abilities.
Willpower, however, is the truest measure of a person’s potential.
“There were two criteria for evaluating the test.
Sasuke’s talent is beyond question, so I gave him full marks.
As for Naruto…”
Iruka paused and glanced at Naruto, his tone becoming somewhat strange.
“Although I don’t really want to admit it, he does possess the strongest willpower among all of you.
In other words, he has the same potential for growth as Sasuke.”
The moment Iruka finished speaking, Naruto happily jumped to his feet.
“Awesome!
So I’m actually that strong!
This is great!
Iruka-sensei, you’re a really good teacher after all!”
Iruka’s mouth immediately twitched.
Even if children were innocent, wasn’t Naruto getting a little too carried away after being praised once or twice?
Who was the little brat that had been calling him a “violent teacher” earlier?
The others stared at Iruka in disbelief.
Sakura and Ino exchanged glances before speaking in unison.
“No way!
That idiot Naruto can actually be mentioned in the same breath as Sasuke?”
Even Sasuke looked at the jubilant Naruto with a complicated expression.
He had always been the number one student in the class, while Naruto had always played the role of the dead last.
Because Naruto had constantly picked fights with him for no apparent reason, Sasuke’s impression of Naruto was perhaps the deepest of anyone in the class.
He had never expected that one day he would be placed on equal footing with someone like him.
Still, Sasuke didn’t doubt Iruka’s words.
The reason was simple: he could tell that Iruka was an incredibly powerful shinobi.
At the very least, Sasuke had never heard of any shinobi in Konoha who could walk through the air, let alone use that bizarre ninjutsu capable of making people suddenly become incredibly heavy.
Iruka was undoubtedly a formidable shinobi, and as both a powerful shinobi and a teacher, his words naturally carried considerable credibility.
More importantly, Iruka had absolutely no reason to favor Naruto.
“That’s wonderful, Naruto…”
Hinata remained as inconspicuous as ever.
Naruto, caught up in his excitement, failed to notice that a girl was quietly watching him.
In the end, Iruka simply grew tired of Naruto’s smug expression.
He casually waved a hand, and his ability activated instantly.
The next moment, Naruto suddenly collapsed to the floor.
Just like during the earlier test, it felt as though his body had been glued to the ground.
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t get back up.
“Alright, I’ve already said this was only a small test.
Your scores don’t represent everything, and it’s not as if this will be the only test I ever give you.
Don’t get carried away just because I’ve taken an interest in you—especially a certain idiot who got full marks on one little test and has already forgotten that he’s still the dead last.
“Remember this: I’ll only say it once.
If I decide that you don’t have any potential, I’ll kick you out immediately.
Don’t count on getting lucky.
I’m a man of my word.”
So strong!
That was the only thought shared by everyone in the room.
Naruto had been standing at the very back of the classroom, at least seven meters away from the podium.
Yet Iruka had merely waved his hand and rendered him completely immobile.
Even an ordinary jōnin probably couldn’t accomplish something like that so effortlessly, could they?
At the same time, however, they were beginning to realize that Iruka seemed to have an exceptionally terrible personality.
Naruto was his student—and just a child at that!
Yet Iruka, a grown adult and supposedly a teacher who should set an example, had attacked a child without so much as a warning.
Was that really something a responsible teacher would do?
Iruka couldn’t care less about what the little brats below him were thinking.
He opened the bag and took out a silver-white ring.
“This is a training ring I specially made.
I’ve sealed a portion of my power inside it.
As long as you wear it, a small force field will automatically form around your body, keeping you under 1.3 times normal gravity at all times.
“You’re still too weak right now, so I don’t even know whether you can handle 1.3 times gravity.
When you get home, you’d better discuss it with your families.
If you find that you can’t endure it, come see me and I’ll replace it with a ring better suited to you.”
1.3 times gravity?
Even Sakura, one of the top students in the class, didn’t fully understand what that meant in practical terms.
However, having just experienced three times normal gravity, they at least had a rough idea.
In other words, as long as they wore the ring, they would constantly feel significantly heavier, as though they were wearing training weights.
“Sensei, are you saying that we’ll have to wear those rings whenever we’re at school from now on?”
Sakura asked uncertainly.
Just imagining herself having to spend every day at the Academy under abnormal gravity made her feel as though her future was bleak.
Who trained every waking moment of the day?
Iruka shook his head.
Sakura and Ino immediately breathed sighs of relief.
Unfortunately for them, they had relaxed far too soon.
The corners of Iruka’s mouth curled upward, revealing a sinister smile.
“Not just at school.
After you go home—no, I should say that as long as you’re still my students, you’re obligated to wear the rings at all times.
Unless there are special circumstances, you’re not allowed to take them off without permission.”
Iruka paused, and his gaze suddenly sharpened.
A chilling presence gradually spread throughout the classroom.
“Of course, I can’t watch you every second of the day.
You can secretly take your rings off whenever I’m not looking.
I guarantee that as long as I don’t find out, I won’t punish you.
“But if I do find out… heh heh…”
Iruka didn’t explain what would happen if he caught them.
Yet somehow, that was far more frightening than openly stating the consequences.
After all, the unknown was always the most terrifying.
With Iruka’s twisted personality—and his ability to attack a child without batting an eye or feeling the slightest guilt—who knew what methods he might use?
Damn it.
How did they end up with a teacher with such a terrible personality?
“Sensei, could we—”
“No!”
Before Sakura could finish, Iruka cut her off without hesitation.
“I know what you want to say.
I also know that most of you don’t want to wear these things.
But I can tell you very clearly: that’s not going to happen.”
As he spoke, Iruka stepped down from the podium and walked toward the students.
“The shinobi world is cruel.
Countless shinobi have died because their missions failed.
If you aren’t strong enough to stand on your own, then one day, you’ll become one of them.
“As your teacher, I have a responsibility to your future.
No matter what path you choose after graduation, I’ll do everything I can to prepare you for it.
“So whether you like me, hate me, or even resent me, it doesn’t matter.
I’m not looking for your gratitude.
What I want is an outstanding student—an outstanding shinobi trained by my own hands.”
The weight in Iruka’s voice was completely different from his earlier casual manner.
It was as if he had become an entirely different person.
Every word struck deep into their hearts like a hammer, leaving them almost breathless.
Even Naruto, who was usually the loudest among them, fell completely silent as he carefully considered Iruka’s words.
“Alright, that’s all I have to say.
I’ll leave the training rings on the podium.
Same as before, participation is voluntary.
If you don’t want to become stronger, I won’t force you.
“Tomorrow, I’ll hold a short group training session during our free time.
Anyone who isn’t wearing a training ring doesn’t need to come.”