"It's not important to be the best. What's important is to be better than yesterday. Be better than an hour ago. Be better than the last minute."
For the first time in a very long time Hinata sleeps through the night.
She's too exhausted to do otherwise.
But it's a good kind of tired. The kind she hasn't felt in a long time.
Might Guy is as grueling as he is inspirational.
It doesn't hurt that she actually really likes Baguazhang. She practices her 4 step, 8 step, and 16 step circles at every opportunity. She's kind of thankful she never bought a couch because with just her loveseat and recliner she has room to do it at home, too.
She feels better.
She has more energy.
More focus.
And she's good at it.
Like...really good at it.
"You flow beautifully."
Hinata doesn't break her circle or pause. She was used to Lee's praise. She smiles at him and he shoves a thumbs up her way before moving on to one of the other students.
At first she thought Sensei's assistant was flirting with her with his constant earnest praise, but once she got to know him she realized that Lee was simply like that. He encouraged everyone to do their best.
She hasn't dared a spar yet, but...she's not ruling it out either.
Which is new.
She's always sort of let things happen to her.
Now she's doing. Now she's chasing goals.
She likes this part of herself.
She wishes she could share it with Naruto.
Maybe someday she will.
Just like the spar...she's not ruling him out either.
She continues to smile and repeats her circle.