Rock Lee

This was a thick-browed boy in a black vest, with an utterly ordinary appearance.

If his eyebrows had been a little more normal, he would have disappeared into any crowd.

"Sorry, I wasn't trying to spy on you. I saw you training earlier, and you were really amazing." Exposed, Rock Lee scratched his head sheepishly before speaking with excitement.

Naruto noticed that Rock Lee's hands were wrapped in bandages. Even his gait was somewhat unsteady, and there were small cuts on his face from sharp objects.

Rock Lee's black vest had faded from washing, while his ninja shoes were old and worn. Calluses could even be seen on his exposed toes.

It was not hard to see that he was perhaps a commoner who longed to become a ninja and change his fate.

"No, it was just routine training. If you want to change your fate, you can only put in the effort." Naruto revealed a gentle smile and nodded amicably at Rock Lee.

"Yeah, only through hard work can one become an outstanding ninja." Rock Lee nodded forcefully, deeply agreeing.

"I think so too."

With an initial topic to talk about, the two began chatting.

During their conversation, Naruto learned about Rock Lee's background.

He had been born into an ordinary family and would be able to enter the Ninja Academy next year to become a ninja.

Rock Lee longed to become an outstanding ninja, so he had always done some crude training.

However, most of his training had been aimless, leaving many hidden injuries in his body.

Rock Lee's background was far too ordinary in Naruto's eyes, but his desire to grow stronger and his diligence pleased Naruto greatly.

"Rock Lee, you're the hardest-working person I've ever met." Naruto praised Rock Lee first, then changed the subject.

"But do you know that the direction and method of your efforts are even more important?"

"Direction and method? Naruto, you mean..."

"If you find the right direction, your training can yield twice the result with half the effort. You're at an age when you're still growing, but I can see that you're covered in injuries. Clearly, you haven't protected yourself well during your daily training. Excessive training will also drain your body's potential."

"You're right, Naruto. My arms often hurt so much that I can't sleep." Rock Lee spoke with complete conviction.

Rock Lee, who knew nothing about training, could only throw punches and learn Taijutsu through trial and error.

As for ninjutsu, there was no need to even consider it. His family had no way to let him come into contact with Chakra beforehand.

Through their in-depth discussion of training, Rock Lee became even more captivated by Naruto's bearing and elegance.

No matter what detail of training it was, Naruto shared everything he knew without holding back.

Strength training, endurance training—many details that had once left Rock Lee utterly confused suddenly became clear at that moment.

He also came to understand what a scientific training method was.

"No one succeeds overnight. This world never lacks talent, but without the accumulation of time, talent will only go to waste. Yet if you choose the wrong direction for your efforts, it will instead have the opposite effect." At last, Naruto repeated a famous saying someone had taught him just yesterday, adding a small embellishment of his own.

"Thank you, Naruto." Rock Lee looked deeply moved.

All this time, his thick eyebrows and foolish-looking training methods had been the target of ridicule from the village children. Whenever he went out, he would be pelted with stones.

He had doubted himself before, but in the end, he had still gritted his teeth and persevered.

Naruto was the first person to share his training methods with him so seriously.

They might not have been absolutely correct, but he could feel the sincerity behind them.

Rock Lee suddenly bowed deeply to Naruto, his eyes full of blazing enthusiasm. "Please let me train alongside you."

"I'd be delighted." Naruto immediately smiled.

The strong were destined to be lonely, but on the path to becoming strong, he would need many subordinates.

At the training ground, Naruto quietly watched Rock Lee run without stopping.

Under the blazing sun, Rock Lee was drenched in sweat and exhausted. His lips were dry, and his chest heaved heavily like a broken bellows.

Yet even so, his gaze remained resolute, and his footsteps never stopped.

Naruto lowered his head with a calm expression, carefully assessing Rock Lee in his heart.

Ordinary-looking, hot-blooded and simple-minded, seemingly easy to fool. His talent was unknown, but he was definitely the hardworking type of genius.

"Naruto, I'm done running." Rock Lee's voice suddenly sounded beside Naruto's ear.

Naruto raised his head and saw Rock Lee sitting weakly across from him, gasping for breath.

He immediately broke into a gentle smile.

"Well done. Let's stop here for today. Rest properly; your body needs it."

"I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen." Naruto patted Rock Lee on the shoulder.

Rock Lee was a guy whose diligence was terrifying.

On the way to Ichiraku Ramen, Rock Lee, walking alongside Naruto, also received the pointing and mocking of some vicious villagers.

"Look, that thick-browed brat is walking with the Nine-Tails Fox Demon."

"Disgusting."

"Being ugly is one thing, but he's brainless too."

Naruto had grown used to such malicious words, so he maintained his grace and composure. But it was the first time Rock Lee had heard such remarks.

He remembered his parents mentioning the Nine-Tails Fox Demon before.

The Nine-Tails Fox Demon was guilty of monstrous crimes, twisted by nature, and loved eating children.

But he simply could not connect the refined and gentle Naruto with the Nine-Tails Fox Demon.

He turned to look at Naruto.

Faced with curses so vicious that even he felt angered by them, Naruto merely responded with a faint smile and instead apologized to him.

"Sorry, Rock Lee. If it weren't for me, they wouldn't be insulting you either. How about we split up and meet at Ichiraku Ramen?"

Rock Lee felt anger and confusion brewing within him.

He even felt a sense of kinship.

Like Naruto, he was a target for the brats' ridicule. The difference was that even adult villagers mocked and sneered at Naruto.

Even under such circumstances, Naruto still remained graceful and even considered his feelings.

How could someone like that possibly be the Nine-Tails Fox Demon people claimed had destroyed the village and committed unforgivable crimes?

So he stepped forward, fire burning in his eyes as he raised his fist and roared, "Listen up, all of you! Naruto has never done anything wrong from beginning to end. On the contrary, it's you, you people—"

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

He wiped the egg liquid from his face in a daze.

Seeing this, Naruto stepped in front of Rock Lee and shouted at him.

"Go first."

Naruto had thought that changing his temperament and the way he treated people would stop the villagers from venting their resentment on him.

At first, it had indeed worked.

But when Rock Lee stepped forward to voice his dissatisfaction, it stirred the resentment buried deep in the villagers' hearts.

We all know Naruto had never done anything evil since his birth.

But he was the Nine-Tails Fox Demon. He deserved to be cursed. He deserved to die.

You should have condemned him with us instead of stepping forward to play the hero.

And so, Rock Lee also became the target of the villagers' fury.