The Uchiha clan worked together with the Fourth Hokage to develop a rare and powerful ninjutsu. Unfortunately, something went wrong and the laboratory they were working in was destroyed. Many ninja died that day, including most of the Uchiha clan.
Eight months later, Uzumaki Naruto was born.
"Naruto!"
Naruto's head jerked up. "Yes, Umino-sensei?"
Iruka was standing in front of him with a disapproving scowl on his face. "Perhaps you could show us the seals?"
Naruto was still disoriented. Several seconds ago his head had been laying on the desk, his arms used as a makeshift pillow. A few people were giggling at the situation.
"The seals for what?" he asked, stalling for the time needed to clear his head.
"Bunshin no jutsu."
Naruto nodded and made the seals with his hands: ram, snake, tiger.
"Very good. Next time though, do try to stay awake."
Naruto flushed. He had stayed up late the night before trying to successfully execute a ninjutsu technique, any ninjutsu technique, but nothing had happened. No matter how many times he followed the steps, nothing ever happened.
Well, at least he was decent at traps and sparring. The last two times he'd gone through the exam, they'd been on ninjutsu techniques. Iruka asked him why he disappeared before he could take the test, but it was too humiliating to tell him. Hopefully the final exam this year would be something he could work with. A written test, perhaps. Or maybe an obstacle course.
If he didn't get lucky this time, his dream of becoming a ninja would be forever barred to him. Naruto didn't even want to think about the consequences of that.
"Okay everybody, time for sparring practice. Grab a partner and meet me outside."
Naruto walked to the door, waiting to see who he could match up with. Nobody seemed to mind sparring with him, but nobody was clamoring to partner up with him either. Unlike his classmate Sasuke Uchiha, who everybody wanted to spend time with. Naruto couldn't blame them: Sasuke was outgoing and friendly, with a kind word for everybody.
And he was walking straight towards Naruto.
"Hey, Naruto! I hadn't sparred with you in a while, so I thought we could partner up." Sasuke put his arm around Naruto's shoulders and started walking with him to the sparring grounds outside.
"I guess that would be fine," Naruto mumbled, not entirely comfortable with the physical contact.
"Great!"
On the other side of the yard, Hinata stared at Sasuke and Naruto sparring. A recent conversation she had was running through her head.
"I don't know what to do," Hinata said softly. "Even when I do my best, I still fail. I'd give up, but then father would be even more upset. I'm just a disgrace to the Hyuuga name."
"Hey!"
Hinata's head snapped up.
"Are you going to just sit there and mope? You're an awesome person, and you're going to be a great kunoichi when you grow up."
Hinata blushed furiously.
"So what if they don't think you're very good?" the boy continued. "Practice a hundred times harder and show them all just how awesome you are!"
"I don't think it's that easy-" she started.
"It doesn't matter if it's easy or not! I believe in you!"
"th- thank you."
The boy grinned and put his arm across her shoulders behind her, drawing her into a sort of sideways hug.
"...Sasuke."
Hinata blushed, remembering the conversation she had with Sasuke. He believed in her, and that was all that mattered.