Cornerman - Chapter 1 (Patreon)

Chapter 1.

It was getting dark.

Konohagakure was cast in the long shadow of hokage mountain, the clouds above reflecting the dim orange hue of a setting sun.

The lively village was quieting down. Now and then, a cheerful voice could be heard as inhabitants made their final rounds before heading home for the night.

On the outskirts, but still within the town's walls, lay a forested area - free from any roads or buildings. However, one stretch of ground was a little bit different. It had been mostly cleared of vegetation and wooden constructs now dotted the grassy forest floor.

It was a training ground.

Every day, the academy's students would come here to practice their ninja arts. However, it being almost dark, the place was now empty.

Empty, except for one child.

He seemed to be around seven or eight years old, his skin still soft and his cheeks still chubby. He had medium-length black hair, except for a braided tail that fell down his back.

His name was Rock Lee.

Every single day, long after every other student had gone home, he could still be found at this training ground. Despite the cool evening breeze, he was completely soaked in sweat. He performed the same motions over and over: a series of kicks, punches and dodges. Now and then he would sprint around the training ground as fast as he could or perform muscle-strengthening exercises.

A spectator would be able to tell that he was beyond exhausted. His kicks were sloppy, his punches lacked strength and his dodges were too slow, yet he continued.

The same spectator, had they not known the boy, would marvel at his dedication and surmise that he must be a very prestigious ninja for being so hardworking.

That was not the case.

He was practically talentless, having next to no ability or achievement in any of the ninja arts. He wasn't good at academics either and barely managed to receive a passing grade.

His only notable achievement was and above average ability in taijutsu - the physical combat arts and most lowly regarded of all the jutsus.

He would never become a ninja.

Even if he somehow managed to graduate from the academy, he would have no place on the battlefield. His ineptitude would be a danger to himself and to his teammates. He was like an amputee fighting against someone completely healthy. For a ninja, having more jutsus at their disposal was indeed like having extra limbs – it provided them with more options. More ways to attack, to defend and to support their comrades.

However, what if, despite his disadvantages, he still managed to obtain a measure of strength?

If that impossibility did indeed occur, he would soon find himself outstripped in power by those more naturally gifted than himself. He would reach the peak of what was possible with taijutsu alone, while others would still be able to grow outside their specializations.

No matter what, he was doomed to fail.

He had been told these things over and over by his fellow villagers – some with good intentions, not wanting a boy to waste his life only to inevitably be disappointed. Others were not so well-intended. They saw him as an eyesore, someone with no regard for the elite way of the ninja.

They were not wrong. Not everyone could become a ninja and it was insulting to insinuate that those who could not become ninja had simply not tried hard enough.

However, he would not stop. You see, Rock Lee had a simple dream. His dream was thus: he wanted to live in a world where the impossible could become possible. A world where the most talentless person could become a great ninja.

If it turned out that the world in his dreams was different from the world he lived in… Well, then he would rather not to live. That was why, to keep on living, he chose to believe.

The sun had completely set and it had become too dark for him to continue. It was time for him to return to the dorms provided for ninja-in-training, but before that he would finish his chakra meditations. He still held some hope that he would succeed, although that hope had become more and more frail as time went by.

However, not long after he had closed his eyes in meditation, he heard a cold voice.

"It's useless."

His eyes snapped open. He had become used to being the only person occupying the training ground at this hour. To suddenly hear a voice was honestly startling.

Not too far from him, illuminated by the light of the full moon, stood a boy. His pale, flawless skin practically shone in the moonlight. His midnight hair was swept back with one bang half covering the side of his face. For a moment it seemed as if his eyes glowed red in the darkness, but he blinked and it was gone. His stance was confident, competent.

Sasuke Uchiha.

Rock Lee knew who he was despite not being in the same group. He was the last remaining member of the Uchiha clan, after all.

That wasn't the only reason for his fame, however. Sasuke Uchiha was a genius. The teachers would often brag about him within academy grounds. He mastered the jutsu taught to him within one or two lessons and his academic scores were the highest in his age group. He accomplished all this without seemingly putting in any effort.

The girls were crazy about him as well – he was just that good looking. Only Neji Hyuga could be half-compared to him.

Rock Lee wasn't jealous of him, though. They lived in different worlds. Even his specialty taijutsu couldn't compare to Sasuke's. He knew, since he had seen Sasuke winning against a real genin before. It was crazy.

The taller boy leasurely made his way over to where Rock Lee was sitting.

"You have no hope of mastering chakra-manipulation. At best, you'll be able to learn a trick or two." He ran his fingers through his hair as he was speaking and glanced up at the moon. "Your taijutsu sucks too. You don't have any talent. Well, I suppose that's not true. You have a tiny bit, but it's honestly so insignificant that a random beggar off the street would have a better chance at graduating from the academy than you." He said it the same way someone would say the sky was blue. There wasn't a hint of mocking or malice in his tone, he was simply stating facts.

And honestly? It was a lot harder for Rock Lee to hear than the normal insults. He had grown used to those by now. Neji in particular had become fond of picking on him for his lack of talent. However, he could tell Sasuke Uchiha was being 100% honest with him without with intending to insult him. Maybe that's why the words hit him so hard, his chest clenching painfully.

A hand reflexively went up to grasp at the spot, making him lose his balance.

At the last moment, he caught himself - his shaking, exhausted hands barely able to keep him from falling flat on the ground. Hee swept his gaze upward to meet Sasuke's. For a moment, his mouth opened and closed, unable to say a word. Was all of this… really for nothing? He tried so hard, so very, very hard. Every spare moment was sacrificed for even the smallest chance at success. He did everything he could, everything he could think of, to become a strong ninja.

However, he knew that he wouldn't be able to harm a single hair on the head of the boy in front of him. He felt worthless in a way Neji had never made him feel. He felt like he could fall asleep and never wake up again.

Rock Lee's eyes dimmed, his will visibly leaving him.

A large cloud covered the moon, submerging the two boys in darkness.

Sasuke Uchiha loomed over Rock Lee's slumped form. His face cast in shadow, his expression unreadable.

The moment stretched on…

Suddenly, clarity returned to Rock Lee's eyes.

"No..." He said, feverishly shaking his head left to right. "…I believe in my dream. It's real! I still want to live! I'll accomplish my dream!" Tears started running down his cheeks. He sobbed and sniffed, but resolve had returned to his gaze.

The full moon, hidden behind a cloud, revealed itself once more.

Sasuke Uchiha looked at the crying young boy in front of him for a moment longer before the corner of his mouth curled into an almost imperceptible smile.

"You really want to be a ninja that badly, huh?" He questioned, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.

"I will become a ninja!" The boy practically shouted those words, his throat almost hoarse from crying. He seemed as if he wanted to say something else, but ended up choking on his own snot and tears.

Sasuke Uchiha moved to hold his chin in an ivory hand, an index finger tapping against his lower lip.

"Hmm…" He hummed thoughtfully. "But I already said it was impossible for you, didn't I?"

Rock Lee cleared his throat and spoke with determination. "It's not impossible! I'll prove it to you! It doesn't matter how hard I have to train, I'll do it! Every morning before school and every evening after I come home! I'll train and train and I won't stop no matter how much it hurts!"

Sasuke Uchiha raised a fine eyebrow in response to his last sentence. "You really won't give up no matter how much it hurts. Even if you feel like dying?" He sounded intrigued by the idea.

"Even then." Rock Lee replied, his voice unshakable.

The Uchiha seemed to consider it for a moment, his gaze having returned to the moon in the meantime. "In that case, if what you said is really true…" he said, glancing at Rock Lee once again "Then I suppose, it's technically not impossible."

Rock Lee couldn't believe his ears. Did someone just say his dream… could be real? He gaped unbelievingly at the young genius in front of him. "What… did you just say?"

The Uchiha nodded his head. "It's not impossible for you to become a ninja. It's just…" his voice trailed off.

Rock Lee was ecstatically hanging on to his every word. The fire in his chest that had once been doused had now reignited into an unstoppable inferno! He could feel the heat flooding him, as if his whole body was boiling. He needed to know what Sasuke was going to say next! "Just… just what?!"

Sasuke didn't keep him in suspense. "You just need to not go back on your words. Even if you feel like dying, you can't quit."

Rock Lee felt strangely disappointed. He was hoping for some knowledge, a secret technique or something to push him beyond his limits! "Is there… anything else?"

"No." Sasuke said, shaking his head. "Just keep training as you have been." He turned around, both hands now deep in his pockets. He started walking away.

Rock Lee couldn't help but question the boy's retreating form. "Really? If I keep training, I can become a ninja?" A hint of desperation slipping into his tone.

Sasuke's retreating form nodded. "You'll see. Just trust me."

Rock Lee didn't look away until Sasuke Uchiha disappeared, slipping behind the thick foliage of the nighttime forest. He couldn't describe what he was feeling at this exact moment. It was all so overwhelming.

Like that, underneath the light of a full moon, young Rock Lee's eyes closed and, finally overcome by his exhaustion, he fell into unconsciousness.


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Maito Gai stared at the unconscious form of the young boy in front of him. Ever since he had stumbled across the crazy kid, he had made it a habit to watch over his training sessions. He hadn't introduced himself to the boy yet but he was planning to do so, soon. Watching him was like seeing his young self or… his late father. They had both dedicated themselves to becoming the best ninja they could be, despite the fact that they were both equally talentless.

And… this kid was doing the same. It both inspired and motivated him become a stronger ninja. But, more than anything, he felt a powerful desire to guide this boy down the path to achieve his impossible dream.

He had listened to the conversation between young Lee and young Sasuke.

Initially, he had not interfered because he knew that this type of bullying was something Rock Lee would never be able to avoid. It was an inner hurdle he would have to overcome himself. Maito Gai had been a similar situation with Kakashi, back when they were boys. Kakashi may never have been a bully, but he was always an insurmountable obstacle to a young Maito Gai.

However, when he saw how powerfully Sasuke's words had hit young Lee, he couldn't help but curse his inaction. It would all be for nothing if the boy's spirit had been completely broken. He had even started to make his way over to support Lee, but in the end his interference was unnecessary. Lee had rebounded back stronger than ever!

But it seems that had not been the last surprise for the day. Young Sasuke… actually motivated young Lee, completely upturning his impression of the boy!

He had felt equal parts guilty and relieved about what had happened to the Uchihas … After all, he couldn't condone the slaughter of a whole clan. He was relieved to find out at least one child had been spared, but he was concerned about if the boy would be any different from his clan members. His hopes had been dashed as Sasuke Uchiha had refused to offer even a smidgen of respect for his peers… until today! It made him even prouder of young Lee, that he was able to move Sasuke's stone-cold heart.

And he had confirmed that was indeed the case, as Sasuke's expression had wavered when it seemed as if Lee's will would be destroyed for good. He hoped that the Uchiha would become a rival for young Lee, the same way Kakashi had been for him. Perhaps they would even forge a genuine friendship, one day.

Maito Gai let out a long sigh, before gently picking up the small body of the unconscious boy. They may be inside the Hidden Leaf's walls, but it still wasn't safe for a child to sleep out in the open like this.

He would be taking a more active role in Lee's training from tomorrow on, he decided. Lee would need all the training he could get if he ever wanted to live up to young Sasuke's expectations… and more importantly, his own.

With a flash, he disappeared from where he had stood a moment before – a gust of wind the only thing to mark his passing.