…To Be Loved
Naruto watched from his swing as the other students were picked up by their parents or older siblings and celebrated becoming a genin, an official ninja of Konoha. They didn't know how lucky they were to be loved. To have someone who cared if they succeeded. Naruto would give anything to be loved. To have family. To have someone who cared. It was the real reason he wanted to be a ninja. If he became a ninja, they would see he meant no harm to the village, that he only wanted to protect Konoha and its citizens. That he wasn't a monster.
Maybe then they wouldn't hate him so much, maybe then he would be able to go into a shop and not get kicked out, maybe then he could go into the library and not get kicked out for 'disturbing the others', maybe then he could go out on his birthday and not start a riot, maybe his existence would finally be acknowledged.
Maybe.
But now his dream was in tatters, all because of his inability to do a 'simple' bunshin. All he had ever wanted was to be loved but now that would be beyond his grasp. He was a failure and would always be seen as one.
Despite his senses going haywire, he listened to Mizuki-sensei, despite his misgivings, he listened. He was so desperate. Surely Mizuki-sensei wouldn't try to get him into trouble? What could go wrong?
All he wanted was to be loved.