Chapter 10

The boy standing before Naruto had thick eyebrows and wore a plain black vest. His appearance was unremarkable, the kind of person who would easily blend into a crowd.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spy on you. I saw you training earlier, and it was really impressive," the boy said, scratching his head sheepishly.

Naruto noticed the bandages wrapped around the boy's hands, the slight limp in his walk, and the small cuts on his face. His black vest was faded, his ninja shoes worn, and calluses covered his bare toes.

It was clear that this boy was a commoner, someone striving to become a ninja and change his fate.

"No need to apologize. It's just my daily training. If you want to change your destiny, you have to put in the effort," Naruto replied with a gentle smile, nodding warmly at the boy.

"Yes! Only through hard work can you become an excellent ninja," the boy agreed enthusiastically, nodding vigorously.

"I used to think the same way."

With that initial connection, the two began to talk.

Through their conversation, Naruto learned that the boy's name was Rock Lee. He came from an ordinary family and would be entering the ninja academy next year. Lee dreamed of becoming a great ninja, but his training methods were rough and unrefined, leaving him with numerous injuries.

While Lee's background was unremarkable, Naruto was impressed by his determination and effort.

"Lee, you're one of the hardest-working people I've ever met," Naruto said, praising him sincerely before shifting the topic.

"But did you know that the direction and method of your effort are just as important as the effort itself?"

"Direction and method?" Lee tilted his head, confused.

"Finding the right approach can make your training twice as effective. Right now, you're still growing, but I can see you're covered in injuries. You're not protecting yourself properly, and overtraining can drain your body's potential."

"Naruto, you're right. My arms often hurt so much that I can't sleep at night," Lee admitted, his expression earnest.

Lee's training was haphazard—throwing punches and mimicking physical techniques he'd seen others use. As for ninjutsu, he had no opportunity to learn it; his family couldn't afford to teach him chakra control.

As they delved deeper into training methods, Lee grew more and more impressed by Naruto's knowledge and demeanor. Naruto explained every detail of proper training—strength exercises, endurance drills, and how to avoid injury.

Lee's eyes lit up as the confusion surrounding his training cleared. For the first time, he understood what it meant to train scientifically.

"No one's success happens overnight. Talent is meaningless without time and effort. But if you're working in the wrong direction, you'll only hold yourself back," Naruto said, paraphrasing a lesson Aizen had taught him.

"Thank you, Naruto," Lee said, his voice filled with gratitude.

For as long as he could remember, Lee's thick eyebrows and clumsy training methods had made him the target of ridicule. Children threw stones at him, and adults sneered. He had doubted himself many times but always pushed through.

Naruto was the first person to take his training seriously and share valuable advice. Though the methods might not be perfect, Lee felt seen and understood for the first time.

Lee bowed deeply to Naruto, his eyes burning with determination. "Please, let me train with you!"

"I'd be honored," Naruto replied with a warm smile.

A strong person is destined to walk a lonely path, but on the journey to strength, allies are essential.

On the training ground, Naruto quietly observed Rock Lee as he ran tirelessly under the blazing sun. Sweat poured down Lee's face, his lips were dry, and his chest heaved like a broken bellows. Yet, his eyes remained resolute, and his feet never stopped.

Naruto's expression was calm as he evaluated Lee.

He's ordinary-looking, passionate, and pure-hearted—easy to trust. His talent is unclear, but his work ethic is undeniable. He's a hardworking genius.

"Naruto, I'm done running," Lee's voice broke through Naruto's thoughts.

Naruto looked up to see Lee sitting across from him, panting heavily.

"Good job. Let's call it a day. Your body needs rest," Naruto said, patting Lee on the shoulder.

"I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen," he added with a smile.

On the way to Ichiraku Ramen, Lee and Naruto were met with harsh words from passing villagers.

"Look, that thick-browed kid is walking with the Nine-Tails demon fox."

"How disgusting."

"Ugly and stupid."

Naruto was used to such vitriol and maintained his composure, but this was Lee's first time hearing such comments. He remembered his parents' stories about the Nine-Tails—a monstrous beast that had brought destruction to the village.

But the Naruto he knew was gentle, elegant, and kind. How could this boy be the same demon fox everyone hated?

Lee turned to Naruto, his heart heavy with confusion and anger.

Facing the villagers' cruel words, Naruto simply smiled and apologized to Lee.

"I'm sorry, Lee. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be getting cursed at. Maybe we should split up and meet at Ichiraku Ramen."

Lee felt a surge of empathy and frustration. Like Naruto, he was often mocked by others. But while children teased him, adults hurled their hatred at Naruto.

Despite it all, Naruto remained composed and considerate. How could someone like him be the monster everyone claimed he was?

Lee's fists clenched, and he stepped forward, his voice ringing out.

"Listen up! Naruto hasn't done anything wrong! He's kind and hardworking, and you—"

Before he could finish, a rotten egg splattered across his face.

Lee wiped the egg off, stunned.

Seeing this, Naruto stepped in front of Lee, shielding him.

"Go ahead without me," Naruto said firmly.

Naruto had hoped that by changing his demeanor and approach, he could stop the villagers from venting their anger on him. And for a while, it had worked.

But Lee's outburst had reignited the villagers' deep-seated resentment.

They all knew Naruto had never harmed anyone. But he was the Nine-Tails' vessel, and that was enough to justify their hatred.

To them, Naruto deserved their curses. He didn't deserve to stand up for himself—or for others.

And now, even Rock Lee had become a target of their anger.