Naruto: SSS-Rank Romance System

"Full marks? That's amazing," Sakura murmured in surprise. "Naruto seems a bit different from before." 

Ino stood frozen, thinking to herself that today seemed like a strange day. How did the bottom-ranking student suddenly become so capable? 

"Tch, that guy..." Kiba, with his white dog on his head, turned and walked away. 

As a member of the "skip class" trio, Kiba had been saved from failing his theory exam thanks to Naruto's bottom ranking. 

Sasuke watched for a while before turning to leave, his eyes filled with the usual indifference. In the reflection of his eyes, the lush greenery at the end of the corridor could be seen. 

"Sasuke-kun, after graduation, would you have a meal with me?" A girl who had just walked around the corner of the corridor nervously clutched her headband, clearly also having passed the exam. 

"I have something to do. Go ask someone else," Sasuke said with pride. He wouldn't allow himself to stand still, planning to go back to his intense training. 

The hatred for his clan's extermination drove him to live. He had no interest in anything other than that. Without hesitation, he rejected her. 

Sakura stood in the crowd, watching the unfamiliar girl being rejected by Sasuke, feeling a mixture of emotions. Suddenly, a hand patted her on the shoulder, startling her. 

"Ino, what are you doing?" 

"Heh heh, stop looking. Sasuke-kun wouldn't go out on a date with you," Ino said smugly as she looked at Sakura. 

For some reason, Naruto's annoying face flashed in her mind, and his arrogant voice echoed in her ears: 

"Sasuke doesn't like women! Women! Women!" 

"Ah!!!! How infuriating!" Ino suddenly crouched down, holding her head, with a painful expression on her face. 

After passing the graduation exam smoothly, Naruto's life returned to its normal pace. He spent two days of the three-day holiday lying at home. 

Naturally, he didn't encounter Konohamaru. 

On the last day of the holiday, as Naruto lay sleepily, sunlight filtered through the window and warmed his body. 

Suddenly, a sharp light made Naruto frown and open his eyes. 

An ANBU member, wearing an animal mask, was squatting on a tree branch outside the window. Two holes in the mask allowed cold, emotionless eyes to peer through. His voice had no expression. 

"Lord Hokage is looking for you." 

Without waiting for Naruto to react, the ANBU ninja vanished instantly. 

Naruto stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, then confirmed that someone had indeed been there. But... where did they come from? 

"To..." 

"The sun is really warm, so comfortable, just... like soaking in hot springs." 

"Hot springs..." 

Even breathing sounds could be heard as Naruto fell back asleep. 

When he woke up, it was already dark outside. 

The room was unlit, but a dark figure sat at his desk, flipping through Naruto's training plans. The sound of pages turning faintly echoed in the dim light until it abruptly stopped. 

"You're awake, Naruto," an old, familiar voice said, carrying a tone of warmth and kindness. 

When the lights turned on, the entire room was illuminated. 

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was sitting at the desk, smiling and turning to look at Naruto. On the desk were Naruto's new headband, diary, and recipe book. 

"Lord Hokage," Naruto mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eyes. 

"Didn't you used to call me Hokage Grandpa?" Sarutobi chuckled, laughing loudly. "What's the matter? You've become a ninja, and now you're too formal?" 

"Heh heh," Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. "I'm already a qualified ninja now. It's not appropriate to keep calling you that." 

Sarutobi smiled and didn't say more. He then asked, 

"Did you forget something today?" 

"Something?" Naruto looked confused. After thinking for a while, he remembered that the ANBU ninja had come earlier and said he should find the Hokage. 

"Ah! I forgot!" 

"You little brat... Really!" Sarutobi sighed helplessly. "Well, it's normal for you to rest." 

"Lord Hokage, what is it that you need me for?" Naruto asked. 

"Well, it's not exactly urgent," Sarutobi replied. "I just wanted to ask about your future dreams." 

"My dream is to lie flat," Naruto said without thinking. 

"Lie flat?" Sarutobi didn't understand. 

"It means to live a stable and easy life," Naruto explained. 

"Has this what young people are like now? I really can't keep up with the times," Sarutobi said self-deprecatingly. 

"But Naruto, wasn't your dream to become Hokage?" 

"After becoming Hokage, what's life like? Is it happy?" Naruto asked. 

"Well..." Sarutobi coughed a bit. "It's busy at times, and sometimes Konohamaru complains that I can't spend time with him." 

"But to protect the village and the people in it, this responsibility pushes me forward, even willing to give my life for the village. I think I'm probably happy." 

"Ah, this is the life of a Hokage. It really is hard." Naruto sat cross-legged on the bed. "But I don't want to live like that, I don't want to be looked at with those strange eyes anymore." 

"People like me, I even have to worry if the shopkeeper will sell me good vegetables when I want to have a fresh meal. Even if I become Hokage, nothing will change." 

"If Naruto becomes Hokage, the people of the village will surely adore you," Sarutobi tried to persuade him. 

"But Hokage-sama, I'm fine as I am now," Naruto hugged his head. "I don't make mistakes. Slowly becoming an ordinary person, everyone will forget about their hatred toward me." 

"Though I don't know why so many people hate me, but now that I'm a ninja, I probably won't face those kinds of looks anymore." 

Sarutobi wanted to say something else but couldn't find the right words. He realized that his neglect had led to Naruto becoming this way. 

The coldness he had suffered was not caused in a single day. Naruto, by nature an optimistic person, had become like this due to years of being looked down on. 

Changing Naruto's mindset would probably require a slow process. 

"Naruto, if enemies invade the village and try to harm the people you care about, what would you do?" Sarutobi asked. 

Naruto thought for a moment, then replied seriously, 

"I don't know." 

Sarutobi left without saying much more. 

Naruto sat at the desk where the Third Hokage had been, stroking his headband, his eyes becoming distant. This system, though called the "Lie Flat System," was in fact a system of competition. 

Naruto could "lie flat," but his strength would constantly increase. There was an easier way to grow stronger—why not just lie flat? 

Lie flat for yourself, and outcompete others. 

In this world, where strength is everything, without power, one could only be at the mercy of others. 

Tomorrow is the day for distributing team leaders. Kakashi, I'll see you soon. 

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