(Here is Part 2. I hope you enjoy! I own nothing but my OC.)
...
"Transform Jutsu!...Substitution Jutsu!...Transform Jutsu!"
"Ha! What a hopeless case. You'd think he'd have realized by now that he'll never able to pull off any ninjutsu. Let alone genjutsu techniques."
"Yeah what a loser. He'll never be a shinobi with the little chakra he has." The two boys scoffed as they passed Lee futilely attempting to practice using ninjutsu in the training court.
His long braid swung furiously as he tried to focus on pulling together his chakra whilst performing the correct gestures and hand formations. Though the taunting remarks of his fellow schoolmates stung, he paid them no heed and forced himself to focus instead on the work that needed to be done if he was going to graduate and finally attain his dream of becoming a shinobi.
"Transform Jutsu!" He tried again to no effect.
"Stop it!" The familiar yet piercing voice made Lee pause halfway through forming one of the hand symbols required for the Cloning Jutsu.
"Lee...may not be able to successfully use ninjutsu or genjutsu! But his taijutsu is getting much better! I...I bet it's better than yours by now, Jun!"
Lee felt his eyes widen in shock when he recognized the voice. "Na...Naomi-chan?"
"Pfft! Yeah right. I'm not sure why you're wasting so much of your time on old bush brows, Naomi. You could probably fight circles around him. Then again, all of us can really. Face it. No one can become a ninja without ninjutsu. It's just fact." Jun chuckled jeeringly.
Lee heaved a sigh then furrowed his brow again in concentration before resuming his practice drills.
"Substitution-!"
"You're wrong! Lee can become a shinobi! I know he can! Even without ninjutsu or genjutsu!" Naomi shouted back with determination, making Lee pause again as Jun and Isamu laughed harder at these words.
This time he turned his head until his eyes fell on his only friend at the academy. "Yeah sure! Believe what you want." The boys ran off and after glaring after them for a few minutes, Naomi turned to leave as well, still looking irritated.
"Oh! Oi! Naomi chan! Wait!" Lee ran across the court calling after Naomi, stopping just in front of the fence as his friend stopped and turned her head upon hearing him call.
"Oh, Lee! H-how's your training going?" A soft smile lit the side of her face as Naomi met her friend's gaze.
Lee popped a thumb up into the air. "Great! Well almost. I mean...I am still having trouble with using the new techniques we learned today." His shoulders sagged as he sighed.
"I am beginning to think that the others are right. Perhaps I am no good as a shinobi." He frowned.
Naomi's expression suddenly darkened. "Don't you dare ever say that again! Of course you will be a shinobi! You work so hard at it everyday! If anyone deserves to become a ninja and should become one, it is you Lee!" She clenched her fists at her side.
Lee's eyes widened again, surprised at how firm, unwavering and assured his friend sounded. "R-really? You really believe that, Naomi? You aren't just saying it to make me feel better?"
With a bite of her lower lip, Naomi nodded. "Yes Lee...I truly believe in you." Her expression softened again almost instantly and Lee felt the blood rush up into his cheeks.
"You are a true friend, Naomi-chan. Thank you!" He suddenly sprang forward and wrapped Naomi in a tight enthusiastic hug, startling her a bit both with the hug and the volume of his voice.
"Oh! Uh...You're welcome. Would you uh...mind if I trained with you?" Naomi asked, as a light smell of sweat, chalk dust and dirt wafted up her nostrils from Lee's clothes.
Lee sprang back almost as eagerly as he had sprung forward into the hug. "I never mind! But...are you sure you want to? I mean...I'm sure someone else could give you a better challenge."
Naomi softly lifted her chin, a smile still on her face. "I want to train with you, Lee. Besides our Taijutsu examination is coming up first and...ever since you started meeting with your new tutor, I can see you've been getting better at it. Maybe...maybe you could teach me some?" She asked shyly and uncertainly.
Lee's grin widened so much that it nearly split his cheeks. "I would love to! Let's get started right away, Naomi-chan!" Lunging forward he clapped the fence surrounding the training area enthusiastically with his hands, causing Naomi to jump a bit before a bashful smile lit her face and she moved to head towards the gate.