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The next day came quicker than Naruto expected. The sun rose in the sky, casting warm, golden light across the village of Konoha. It was a new day, and for Naruto, that meant another chance to prove himself. The Clone Jutsu still weighed heavily on his mind. Yesterday had been a small victory, but the shadow of his past failures still loomed. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was just one step behind everyone else.
Despite his pride, Naruto felt a little self-doubt creeping in. He had accomplished the jutsu with Shiina's encouragement, but what if it was just a fluke? What if he couldn't do it again?
Naruto took a deep breath as he stood in front of the Academy building. His eyes narrowed with determination. He wouldn't let himself fail again. Today, he was going to master it once and for all. No more mistakes.
As he entered the classroom, he was greeted by the familiar sounds of chatter and laughter from his classmates. Sasuke Uchiha sat in his usual spot near the back, looking as aloof as ever, while Sakura Haruno sat at her desk, scribbling notes in a notebook. Iruka-sensei, the ever-kind teacher, was standing at the front, preparing for the day's lesson.
Naruto grinned and rushed to his seat. "Good morning, Iruka-sensei!" he called out, as loud as ever.
Iruka-sensei smiled at him, his expression warm but tired. "Good morning, Naruto. I'm glad to see you're in high spirits today."
Naruto puffed out his chest, feeling a surge of energy. "Of course! Today's the day I'm going to master the Clone Jutsu!"
Iruka chuckled softly, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes. "That's great, Naruto. But remember, learning is about progress, not perfection. Don't rush yourself too much."
Naruto's grin faltered slightly. He knew Iruka meant well, but it didn't help the frustration that was constantly building up inside him. He didn't want progress—he wanted results. He wanted to be the best.
"Alright, everyone, gather around," Iruka called out, breaking through Naruto's thoughts. "Today, we're going to practice the Clone Jutsu again. I want to see improvement from everyone. And remember, it's not about doing it perfectly every time. Focus on consistency."
Naruto was already on his feet, eager to start. He couldn't afford to wait. He rushed outside with the rest of the class, his mind focused solely on mastering the technique.
The air was warm as they stood in a training field just outside the Academy. Iruka-sensei gave a quick demonstration, summoning a group of clones that mirrored his movements with perfect precision. Naruto watched, his hands clenched in determination. He had to get this right.
"Alright, now it's your turn," Iruka instructed, nodding to the students.
One by one, the students tried their hand at the Clone Jutsu. Sasuke's clones appeared in a perfect line, flawlessly mimicking his every move. Sakura's clones were more unsteady but still solid. Naruto's turn came up, and he didn't hesitate. He began the hand seals with confidence, but as soon as he completed the final gesture and shouted, "Clone Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke erupted in front of him. When it cleared, Naruto blinked in disbelief. Instead of the expected number of clones, there was only one—a very poorly formed one that looked more like a crumpled version of him than an actual clone.
A chorus of laughs erupted from his classmates. Sakura giggled, Sasuke smirked, and even Iruka-sensei looked a little disappointed. Naruto's face turned red with embarrassment. Not again, he thought. Why can't I do this right?
Iruka took a deep breath and walked over to him. "Naruto, it's okay. It's progress, not perfection. Remember, we talked about this."
Naruto clenched his fists, frustration surging in his chest. "But it's not enough! I want to be perfect! I can't be Hokage if I can't even do something this simple!"
Iruka paused, looking at Naruto with understanding. "Perfection takes time, Naruto. You can't rush it. The road to becoming Hokage isn't about how fast you can do things—it's about how you grow along the way."
Naruto didn't respond. He just stared at the ground, his fists still clenched. It was hard to hear that, especially when the other students made it look so easy.
As the lesson continued, Naruto couldn't focus. His mind kept drifting back to Shiina. She had believed in him when no one else had, and that simple act of kindness had made all the difference. He hadn't been able to get her out of his head since yesterday. Shiina's calm demeanor and thoughtful words had been a stark contrast to the loud, boisterous world Naruto often found himself in. She wasn't like the other villagers who treated him with disdain or pity. She had simply... understood.
After the lesson was finished, Naruto was the last one to leave the training field. He had stayed behind to try again, but his efforts were still unsuccessful. He let out a deep sigh as he walked out of the Academy, shoulders slumped.
Just as he was about to leave the grounds, he heard a voice call out to him.
"Hey, Naruto!" It was Shiina.
Naruto turned, surprised to see her standing by the gates. She was smiling at him, but there was a gentle concern in her eyes. She wasn't the type to offer words of pity, so Naruto figured she probably had something to say.
"Hey, Shiina," he replied, walking toward her. "What's up?"
Shiina walked beside him, keeping a relaxed pace. "I saw your practice today. How's it going?"
Naruto huffed. "Not great... I messed up again. I can't even do something simple like this Clone Jutsu. How am I supposed to become Hokage if I can't do basic stuff?"
Shiina didn't immediately respond. She simply walked alongside him, her presence calming. Naruto had expected her to offer comforting words or advice, but instead, she was silent. It wasn't uncomfortable, though. Her quietness gave him space to think.
After a few moments, Shiina spoke up. "You know, everyone starts somewhere. Even the strongest ninja had to struggle to get where they are. It's the struggles that shape who we become."
Naruto glanced at her, his curiosity piqued. "But I'm always struggling. It feels like I'm always behind."
"That's just the way things are sometimes," she said softly. "But you'll get there. It's okay to not be perfect right now."
"I don't want to be okay with failing," Naruto admitted, his voice cracking slightly. "I want to be better. I want to be strong. I want everyone to see me as someone important."
Shiina stopped walking and turned to face him, her eyes meeting his with a softness that Naruto wasn't used to seeing. "You are important, Naruto. Whether or not anyone else sees it, you have value. You just need to find your own path. And sometimes, that means taking it slow. It's not about rushing to the top. It's about knowing who you are along the way."
Naruto stared at her for a long moment. No one had ever spoken to him like that. There was something in her words that made him feel like, maybe, it was okay not to have everything figured out. Maybe it was okay to fail... as long as he kept trying.
"Thanks, Shiina," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I think I needed to hear that."
Shiina smiled. "You'll get there, Naruto. Just believe in yourself."
---
The sun dipped lower in the sky as they walked in comfortable silence, and Naruto felt a small but significant change inside him. For the first time in a while, he felt a little lighter, like he could breathe easier. The weight of his expectations wasn't so crushing anymore. Maybe he wasn't perfect, but that didn't mean he was weak.
As they reached the edge of the village, Naruto looked up at the setting sun. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink. It was a beautiful sight, and for the first time, he felt like maybe there was a place for him in this world. Maybe, just maybe, becoming Hokage wasn't about being perfect. Maybe it was about the journey, the growth, and the people who believed in him along the way.
And with Shiina beside him, he didn't feel so alone.
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