Chapter 17: People in the Same Situation
No one makes enemies without a reason. And no one truly hates someone without cause.
In the Ninja Academy, Rock Lee's classmates had only been studying for a year, yet a clear divide had already formed between them and ordinary children. They had lost the freedom to play and act recklessly as they once did. The academy's rules kept them in line, and the knowledge they absorbed was gradually shaping and changing them.
There were many students in the academy who, like Rock Lee, struggled with ninjutsu and genjutsu. Almost every class had someone like him. But those who persisted—those who refused to give up despite knowing how slim their chances were of ever becoming a ninja—were extremely rare.
A person like Rock Lee, with unwavering resolve, often drew feelings of sympathy from others. But few could understand his true determination.
The sparring session at the third training ground lasted a while. Ryosuke didn't join the fight. He just stood quietly at the side, observing everything.
Compared to his opponent from the Inuzuka Clan, Rock Lee had far superior physical strength. In terms of speed and power, he was clearly on another level.
Though he only used basic taijutsu techniques taught at the academy—standard Konoha fluid-style moves—his mastery of them was impressive. Even without ninjutsu, his taijutsu and physical fitness gave him a solid edge.
But… it still wasn't enough.
"I lost," Rock Lee finally admitted.
Despite his endurance and willpower, he could only hold out until his opponent's chakra was nearly drained. But by then, he himself was at his limit too. While the Inuzuka had almost no chakra left, he still had enough physical strength to continue.
"You're already pretty good," the Inuzuka student said, forming the seal of reconciliation with a satisfied smile. "But maybe… think twice about becoming a ninja."
Then he turned and left the training ground.
Rock Lee didn't say a word. He simply stepped aside and walked off in silence.
"Lee, want to keep sparring? Or should we call it a day?" a few nearby students asked, unable to hide their eagerness.
"Sorry," Rock Lee said, bowing his head slightly. "That's all I've got in me today. I'm exhausted."
Some of the students looked disappointed. Rock Lee's physical skills made him the perfect sparring partner—his lack of ninjutsu meant he posed little risk, but his taijutsu was strong enough to offer good training.
Ironically, that made him quite popular at school. Many students liked to train with him after class.
As the sky darkened, Rock Lee stood alone on the training ground, recovering his breath. When he finally felt a bit of strength return, he turned and began the walk home, another long day behind him.
Ryosuke didn't approach right away. He followed quietly at a leisurely pace, not hiding his presence but not announcing it either.
Only when they reached the school gate did he finally catch up.
"That was a great fight back there," Ryosuke said as he walked up beside him.
Rock Lee glanced over. His expression was dark, weighed down by the sting of defeat. He clearly hadn't moved past the loss.
He wasn't yet the Rock Lee who smiled through adversity and charged ahead despite failure. He hadn't met the greatest turning point in his life yet—his future mentor, Might Guy.
"You're… Hyuga?" Rock Lee asked, blinking in surprise.
"My name is Hyuga Ryosuke," he replied with a warm smile. "And you're Rock Lee, right? I remembered your name. After watching that fight, I honestly believe you have the potential to become a powerful ninja someday."
His tone was sincere and calm.
Rock Lee looked flustered. "You… saw the whole match?"
"I did," Ryosuke nodded. "From the very start."
"Are you heading home? I was thinking I could treat you to a meal. You earned it—your fight was incredible. And you could probably use something to refuel."
"N-no, that's really not necessary!" Rock Lee waved his hands frantically. "If you saw the whole thing, then you should know… I'm not even qualified to be a ninja. I can't use ninjutsu at all…"
He wasn't used to this kind of attention.
Especially not praise. It made him uncomfortable—like it was all a mistake.
"I know," Ryosuke said gently. "You're still struggling with the Three Basic Techniques, and even chakra refinement is difficult for you. But your talent in taijutsu is real. Even with just the standard Konoha moves, you've developed your own rhythm. That's something I value a lot."
"In that match, you almost won several times. You just needed a bit more speed… a little more strength. If you'd had that, your opponent wouldn't even have had time to use a Substitution Technique."
"If you keep training hard, I believe you'll win next time."
Rock Lee didn't say anything, but his footsteps, which had slowed, gradually picked up again. He walked alongside Ryosuke now, silently.
"But… if I can only use taijutsu," he murmured, "there's no way I can become a ninja. I can't even graduate…"
He didn't know why he was opening up like this. Maybe because people usually told him to give up—so having someone say "you can do it" instead struck a chord.
Maybe it was Ryosuke's calm voice… or his friendly smile… or just the fact that they were around the same age.
"The academy's graduation exam isn't that rigid," Ryosuke replied. "There are special paths for people with unique strengths."
He looked ahead as they walked.
"And besides… you're not the only one who's like this. There are others—ninja who are incredible at taijutsu and… less impressive in other areas."
"…Huh?!"
Rock Lee came to a sudden stop, eyes wide.
Ryosuke paused too but didn't say anything more.
Instead, he pointed at the noodle shop up ahead.
"Let's eat here—Ichiraku Ramen. I've heard it's pretty famous."
The small stand was lively, filled with the aroma of broth and chatter. Ryosuke lifted the curtain and stepped inside.
He'd always wanted to try Ichiraku Ramen. It was well-known in the ninja world, but with his training schedule, he hadn't had many chances to eat out.
This seemed like the perfect opportunity—not just to enjoy some food, but maybe to run into that little yellow-haired kid he'd heard about.
"W-wait! Wait up!" Rock Lee hurried after him, flustered. "You didn't finish! What did you mean? Is there really someone like me?!"
He didn't care anymore that he'd just met Ryosuke. Or that someone else was paying. He just wanted answers.
"Of course," Ryosuke said easily, sitting down at the counter. "The world's a big place. There are all kinds of people. Maybe not exactly the same, but not so different either."
Then he smiled at the old man behind the counter.
"I'll have a large tonkotsu ramen, please."
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