What if Naruto was Trained by Sosuke Aizen

Sensing the change in Rock Lee's mood, Naruto gave Sasuke an apologetic glance before walking over to Lee. He placed a hand on Lee's shoulder, waiting until the boy looked up to meet his gaze. Naruto's voice was gentle but firm.

"The Rock Lee I know is always passionate, full of enthusiasm for training, and eager to become an excellent ninja. This kind of dejected expression doesn't suit you. It's ugly."

Passionate? Enthusiastic? Eager to become a ninja?

Tears welled up in Lee's eyes. Naruto was still the same kind, understanding friend he had always been. But Lee? He felt like he was no longer worthy of being called a ninja.

He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling. "I'm the last one in the class to refine chakra. I don't have any talent for ninjutsu. I can't even master the Three Basic Techniques." His voice cracked, and tears streamed down his face. "I'm useless."

Becoming a ninja had always been Lee's dream. But the blows of the past few days had crushed his spirit. No matter how optimistic or passionate he tried to be, he couldn't bring himself to smile anymore.

His best friend, Naruto, was a perfect genius—skilled in martial arts, kind, and always willing to share his training experiences. Lee was sure that once Naruto found out how worthless he was, he'd abandon him.

"If you don't have talent for ninjutsu, then focus on taijutsu," Naruto said, his voice steady and reassuring. "Who said ninjas have to know ninjutsu? Don't let the world's prejudices define you, Lee."

Lee looked up, stunned. The sunlight illuminated Naruto's face, highlighting his gentle smile. There was a warmth in his eyes, a sense of unwavering belief that reminded Lee of his parents.

"Focus on taijutsu?" Lee repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can I really do that?"

"Lee, if your ninjutsu talent isn't as strong as others', then make up for it with hard work. Put in a hundred times, a thousand times, even ten thousand times the effort. Haven't you always believed that you're a genius of hard work?" Naruto's words were like a lifeline, pulling Lee out of his despair.

Tears streamed down Lee's face as he nodded vigorously. "Naruto, thank you. Thank you so much. I'm so lucky to have you as a friend. I'll work hard. I won't disappoint you. I'll definitely become a ninja!"

He wiped his tears clumsily and bowed deeply to Naruto.

"Fool, we're best friends," Naruto said, pulling Lee up. "Now, tell me—you're still the passionate, fearless Rock Lee, right? You'll definitely become an excellent ninja."

"Yes! I will! I'll prove myself through hard work!" Lee shouted, his voice filled with renewed determination. The spark in his eyes, which had been missing for days, reignited.

"I'm going to start training right now! As long as I work hard, I can become an excellent ninja. I'll keep getting stronger so I can stand by Naruto's side!" Lee thought to himself.

Without wasting another moment, Lee began running laps around the training ground. His movements were fueled by a newfound resolve.

"First lap, second lap, third lap... It's not enough. To defeat ninjas who are good at ninjutsu, I need speed that's impossible to catch with the naked eye and stamina that never runs out. I need to push myself harder!"

"The weights aren't enough. I'll double them tomorrow!"

Under the setting sun, Lee ran tirelessly, his simple clothes soaked with sweat. The heavy weights he wore clinked with every step, leaving deep imprints in the dirt. Even when his body screamed for rest, he pushed on, driven by an inner fire.

Sasuke watched in stunned silence. His mouth hung slightly open as he tried to process what he was seeing. "Is this guy... insane? Can this kind of training really close the gap with a genius?"

He glanced at Naruto, expecting to see disbelief or mockery. Instead, Naruto's expression was one of quiet pride.

"Are you surprised that there are people as 'stupid' as Lee in this world?" Naruto asked, his tone light but meaningful.

Sasuke shook his head quickly. "No, I—"

"He's really stupid," Naruto interrupted, his voice softening. "So stupid that he knows his ninjutsu talent is lacking but still chases his dream of becoming a ninja. So stupid that he knows this training is grueling but throws himself into it without hesitation."

"Konoha is known as the cradle of geniuses, but people forget about the ones like Lee—ordinary people who work harder than anyone else to catch up."

"You and I are lucky. We were born with talent. With the same effort, we can achieve far more than Lee. But that doesn't make him mediocre."

"His perseverance, his relentless effort—it's like raindrops gathering into a flood. One day, it'll burst forth like a tsunami, surpassing everyone and shocking the world."

"In my eyes, Lee is a genius of hard work."

Sasuke's eyes widened. He looked at Lee, who was now doing leapfrogs to build leg strength, and felt a pang of guilt. Could he endure that kind of training? The answer was no. It was beyond anything he had ever imagined.

"Is this why you're so strong?" Sasuke asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Partly," Naruto admitted. He pulled off his coat, revealing the dense weights strapped to his body. "I wear these even during spars."

Sasuke's jaw dropped. "You were wearing weights while fighting me?"

Naruto nodded. "The world doesn't remember losers. Only hard work can make you the best."

Sasuke felt a wave of shame wash over him. He had been wasting his talent, coasting on his natural abilities. Compared to Naruto and Lee, he realized how mediocre he had been.

Naruto placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, his voice warm but firm. "Sasuke, you have the blood of the Uchiha. You've already surpassed most people just by being born into that clan. But don't let your talent make you complacent. Everyone is moving forward. If you stop, you'll be left behind."

Naruto turned to gaze at the setting sun, his eyes filled with determination. "That's why I keep pushing myself. I want to surpass everything and stand at the top."

On the way home, Sasuke's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The image of Lee's relentless training and Naruto's unwavering resolve lingered in his mind.

"Naruto, who has terrifying talent but still works harder than anyone. Lee, who pushes himself beyond human limits. And me... what have I been doing?"

For the first time, Sasuke felt a fire ignite within him. Naruto's words echoed in his mind: "I want to transcend everything and stand in the sky."

Standing in the sky... Sasuke clenched his fists. Maybe it was time to stop relying on his bloodline and start earning his place.