Disclaimer:
Naruto and all of its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
“Dialogue”
‘Thoughts’
-Author notes-
Chapter 06: The Power of Hard Work
Sho woke before dawn on a Saturday morning, his heart pounding with excitement for what he had planned.
Today was the day.
Today, he would finally learn the Clone Technique.
He dressed quickly, packing the scroll into his pack.
The compound was still quiet, the other members of the Hyuga clan still asleep.
He moved silently through the corridors, avoiding the patrol routes he’d memorized over years of observation.
The gate was unguarded at this hour…the night watch had just changed, and there was a brief window of opportunity.
Sho slipped through, held his breath, and disappeared into the pre-dawn darkness.
The forest in the northern area of the village was usually very quiet.
Birds were just beginning to stir, their calls echoing through the trees.
Sho followed a narrow path he’d discovered during one of his rare excursions, pushing through underbrush until he found it.
A secluded clearing, hidden from view by a thick ring of trees.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the ground in gold and green.
It was peaceful.
Hidden.
It was Perfect.
‘This is it.
This is where I’ll train.’
He unrolled the Clone Technique scroll, his hands trembling with anticipation.
[Skill Scroll Detected: Clone Technique (Bunshin no Jutsu)]
Analyzing technique requirements…
Chakra Control: 5 (Required: 5) – PASS
Chakra Capacity: 4 (Required: 3) – PASS
Technique integration successful!
Clone Technique (Bunshin no Jutsu): Novice (Level 1)
Description: Creates a tangible illusion of the user.
Clones are visually identical but have no substance.
Can be used for misdirection and basic tactical purposes.
Maximum clones: 1
Sho felt the knowledge settle into his mind.
It was as if he’d always known the technique, as if the instructions were part of his memory.
He understood how the chakra needed to flow, how to shape it, how to release it.
‘Now I just need actually to do it.’
He made the hand seal and focused his chakra.
A puff of smoke.
And there, standing beside him, was a…
blob.
A vaguely human-shaped blob that immediately collapsed into a puddle of chakra.
Sho groaned.
“Okay.
That was terrible.”
Despite mentally knowing what he had to do, his body still needed to learn the moves properly.
He tried again.
This time, the shape was more human, but it was translucent and flickering, like a candle about to go out.
It lasted three seconds before dissipating.
“Better.
But not good enough.”
He tried again.
And again.
And again.
Each attempt was slightly better than the last.
The clone became more solid, more detailed.
It started moving, though stiffly, like a puppet with tangled strings.
Then, on his seventh attempt, it worked.
A perfect copy of himself stood beside him.
It moved naturally, mirroring his posture.
Sho reached out to touch it, and his hand passed through its shoulder.
‘It’s just an illusion.
No substance.
But it looks completely real.’
The clone lasted for fifteen seconds before fading.
Sho collapsed to his knees, gasping.
“Why…
why am I so tired?”
He’d only used the technique a few times.
His Chakra Capacity was 4 now…not great, but not terrible.
He should have been able to handle this.
“What’s wrong with me?”
He called up his status screen, scanning for answers.
[Status Update]
Name: Hyuga Shokuhi
Level: 2
Title: The Eclipsed Spare
Stats:
Strength: 4
Agility: 4
Vitality: 4
Perception: 6
Chakra Capacity: 4
Chakra Control: 5
Status Effects:
Chakra Vein Constriction (Mild) – Permanent
Chronic Fatigue (Moderate) – Permanent
Brittle Bones (Mild) – Permanent
Byakugan Inefficiency – Permanent
Skills:
Endurance: Novice (Level 1)
Shuriken Throw: Novice (Level 5)
Clone Technique: Novice (Level 1)
Quests Active:
Eyes of the Clan – Progress: 0/1
Sho stared at the status screen.
“Chronic Fatigue…that must be it.
That’s what’s doing it.
Even though my Vitality is average, I’m still suffering from chronic fatigue.
No wonder I get tired so quickly.”
He thought about what the system had told him.
‘Status Effects: Permanent.’
“But permanent doesn’t mean incurable, right?…
It just means it won’t go away on its own.
I have to find a way to remove it.”
<><>
Sho was resting against a tree, catching his breath, when he heard it.
Footsteps.
Crunching through the underbrush.
He tensed, ready to flee.
But the footsteps were too close… whoever it was, they were already entering the clearing.
‘Who could it be?.
No one knows I came here.’ Sho thought.
A young man stepped through the trees.
He had a bowl cut, thick eyebrows, and a green jumpsuit that was frankly ridiculous.
Training weights were strapped to his arms and legs, and his posture radiated enthusiasm.
“Ah!
A fellow shinobi!
I did not expect to find anyone else training here this early!” The young man’s voice was loud, almost painfully enthusiastic.
“Ehm…who are you?” Sho stared with shock at the strange young man.
“I am Rock Lee!
What is your name?”
Sho blinked, caught off guard.
“I’m…
Hyuga Shokuhi.
I was just practicing.”
Lee’s eyes widened.
“Hyuga?
As in the Hyuga clan?” He looked Sho over with renewed interest.
“I rarely see Hyuga outside their compound!
My teammate is a Hyuga!”
Sho’s expression flickered.
“Your teammate?”
“Yes!” Lee nodded vigorously.
“He is my rival and my friend!
We push each other to become stronger!”
‘No.
It can’t be.’ He had a bad feeling.
He only knew of one Hyuga who graduated last year.
“What’s his name?” Sho asked, though he already knew the answer.
Lee’s grin was blinding.
“Neji!
Hyuga Neji!
He is a prodigy, a master of the Gentle Fist!
But one day, I will surpass him through the power of hard work!”
Sho stared at Lee in disbelief.
‘This…
this lunatic wants to surpass Neji?
Neji, the genius of the clan?
With hard work alone?’
“You want to surpass Neji?” Sho’s voice was flat, incredulous.
“Do you know how talented he is?
He’s been training since he could walk.
He’s the pure definition of a prodigy.
You will never beat him with hard work alone.
You also need to have been born with some incredible talent.” He looked at Rock Lee up and down but couldn’t feel anything special about him.
Now he wondered if he was even telling him the truth.
Lee’s expression didn’t waver.
“I know it won’t be easy!
I also know that I cannot use ninjutsu or genjutsu.
I have no talent for them.
But I believe that hard work can surpass genius!
That is my ninja way!”
“Wait…did you just say that you cannot use ninjutsu or genjutsu?…are you really a ninja?”
“I am a genin, yes.” Lee nodded.
“But…how did you graduate?.
Dont you need to use at least the three basic nin-”
“I graduated because I am a master of taijutsu!” Lee shouted while making a ridiculous pose.
“Right…” Sho didn’t look too convinced.
“Well, regardless of that…you should forget about surpassing Neji.
Some people are just born superior while others are… anyways, that’s what I’ve always been told.”
Lee’s smile softened.
“Who told you that?”
Sho looked away.
“My father.
And the clan elders.”
Lee stepped closer, his eyes serious.
“Hyuga Shokuhi, I do not know your circumstances, but I know that talent is not everything.
Besides, I have seen Neji train.
He works hard.
Very hard.
But I work harder!
That is the only way I can close the gap between us!”
Sho was silent for a moment.
Then he let out a small, reluctant laugh.
“You’re insane, you know that?”
Lee beamed.
“Yes!
That is what Guy-sensei says too!”
Sho shook his head again, but there was no malice in it.
Despite his disbelief, he found himself respecting Lee’s determination.
‘He has no talent for ninjutsu or genjutsu.
Just like me, he was born with a disadvantage.
But unlike me…
he never gave up.’
“What kind of training were you doing?” Lee asked, peering at the scroll in Sho’s hands.
“I was practicing the Clone Technique,” Sho admitted.
“But even a few attempts left me exhausted.
I was trying to think of ways to remedy that.”
Lee nodded sagely.
“I do not know much about jutsu, since I cannot use them myself.
But if you want to improve your stamina, the best exercise for that is running!”
“Running?”
“Running!” Lee repeated enthusiastically.
“You must build your endurance!
Your body must learn to push past its limits!
If you cannot run, you cannot fight!
If you cannot fight, you cannot be a shinobi!”
He demonstrated, jogging in place with his weights strapped on.
The ground shook slightly with each footfall.
“See?
I run every day!
I run with weights!
I run up hills!
I run through rivers!
Running is the foundation of all training!”
Sho watched Lee bounce around the clearing, his energy seemingly boundless.
‘He’s…
actually making sense.
If I can build up my endurance, maybe I can overcome the chronic fatigue.
Perhaps…if I can raise my vitality high enough, it would cancel that negative status.
‘
“Would you like to join me?” Lee offered, his grin bright.
“We could run together!
It is always more fun with a partner!”
Sho hesitated.
Running with Lee…an active shinobi who trained obsessively, sounded like a recipe for humiliation.
“I appreciate the offer,” he said carefully, “but I don’t think I could keep up with you.
You’re…
really fast.”
Lee’s grin didn’t waver.
“That is why you must keep trying!
You will not improve if you only do things you are already good at!
You must push yourself beyond your limits!”
Sho considered it.
But still, he shook his head.
“Maybe next time.
I need to practice my technique first.”
Lee nodded, accepting the answer without disappointment.
“Then I will run ahead!
If you change your mind, I will be training in this area every morning!
You are welcome to join me anytime!”
He turned and took off into the forest, his legs pumping, his weights clanking.
In seconds, he was out of sight.
Sho watched him go, a strange feeling in his chest.
‘He has a condition that prevents him from using jutsu.
Just like I have been born with conditions that limit me.
But he still trains.
He still pushes himself.
He still believes he can surpass a genius.’
He looked down at his own hands.
They were still small and pale, but felt much stronger now.
‘If Lee can overcome his limits with hard work, why can’t I?’
He thought about the chronic fatigue.
The brittle bones.
The narrow chakra veins.
All of them were obstacles, but…obstacles can be overcome.
One way or another, he will surpass them and become stronger.
He wants to become someone who doesnt bring shame to his family.
A brother that Hinata can be proud of.
‘Running.
That’s where I’ll start.
Every morning, I’ll run.
I’ll build up my stamina.
I’ll push through the fatigue.’
He looked at the status screen again, at the words “Chronic Fatigue – Permanent”.
‘Permanent doesn’t mean forever.
It just means I have to earn my improvement.’
He pocketed the scroll and stood up, feeling a new determination settle in his chest.
‘I’ll start tomorrow.
I’ll run until I can’t run anymore.
And then I’ll run some more.’
<><><>
Sho returned to the compound as the sun rose, slipping through the gate and into his room before anyone noticed he was gone.
His body ached from the training.
His chakra was depleted.
But for the first time, he felt like he was making real progress.
‘Clone Technique: Novice Level 1.
I can create one perfect clone.
It’s not much, but it’s a start.’
He collapsed onto his futon, exhausted but happy.
‘One step at a time.
One step at a time.’
[Status Update – End of Chapter 6]
Name: Hyuga Shokuhi
Level: 2
Title: The Eclipsed Spare
Stats:
Strength: 4
Agility: 4
Vitality: 4
Perception: 6
Chakra Capacity: 4
Chakra Control: 5
Status Effects:
Chakra Vein Constriction (Mild) – Permanent
Chronic Fatigue (Moderate) – Permanent
Brittle Bones (Mild) – Permanent
Byakugan Inefficiency – Permanent
Passive Skills:
Endurance: Novice (Level 1) – Passive.
Allows the user to push the body past its normal limits for a short period of time.
Shuriken Throw: Novice (Level 5) – Passive.
Increases accuracy when throwing shuriken and kunai by 30%.
Active Skills:
Clone Technique: Novice (Level 1) – Creates one tangible illusion of the user.
Clones have no substance but are visually identical.
Quests Active:
Eyes of the Clan – Objective: Perform well in the next clan tournament to demonstrate your growth.
(Progress: 0/1)
A.N: