Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Summary: If you don't try, you will hit it. They all believe they will hit it, but it doesn't mean they don't try. ( Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto )
Naruto sits.
He can feel the cool water hit his back hard, but gently. When he opens his eyes, it's hard to tell if his eyes are also from the water too. They're blue and most of the time, they shine with determination and strength.
He was determined to withstand his body against the rushing water, but he really wanted to hurt that perverted hermit for making him do a weird training such as this. He was strong enough to stick with it anyway.
But his eyes shone with contemplation now.
Everyday he made himself survive the training.
Everyday he trains with them in his mind.
Everyday he sought out his dream.
If Naruto did not have motivation, he would not survive this type of training. The perverted hermit had told him that once, and he grudgingly admits it that the man is right and that he knows something else besides picking up chicks.
He thinks of Team 7 a lot when he trains – that's his motivation. When he thinks of them, he also thinks of the road of life, a brother, and a girl's tears of sorrow.
And with that he thinks of the promise he had made to Sakura – a girl who he knew was as strong as her punches. The promise to bring back a boy named Sasuke – who he knew was more than the secluded person he made everyone believe.
Deep down inside he knew he envied the guy. Some part of him probably hated him too. Of course, being called "dead-last" and "idiot" didn't really hold up his strong reputation for the Uchiha.
But as rivalry went on, it slowly turned into a friendship that Naruto never thought possible. A friendship that he knew even the great Uchiha prodigy couldn't deny either.
Sakura was the most loyalist person he ever knew. And Naruto somehow knows that hasn't changed since their genin days. Despite her hot tempers, Sakura was a model on what a friend should be. She was upset when he had come back on that day empty-handed, but he believes that's when she saw him as someone. He had no doubt in his mind that he was pushed into the background more in her eyes because of Sasuke, but he now knows that she has seen him. And he knows that she still sees him.
Maybe that's why he wants to fulfill that promise to her. He knows how she feels when Sasuke is gone. They lost a friend and a family. A part of their heart was lost there too. He's not only fulfilling it for her, but for him as well.
Two years later, he returns to the village of Konoha.
What he sees is strength. He sees people moving and getting stronger as the time goes by. He knew that he was going to come back one day, but he never thought that this is what he'd return to. Orochimaru had definitely doubted the strength of the village he thinks.
Orochimaru. Every time anyone would speak his name he'd choke on his ramen (if he was eating - which was most of the time) and start rambling on how he was an old snake that was destined to get eaten by an eagle one day and how he was going to be that eagle.
He stands there at the gate of the village for awhile. Naruto grins as he thinks of the best way to make his entrance known. A part of him wants that, but a part of him believes he will receive it one day without thinking.
His grin becomes wider as he thinks of his dream: Hokage. He remembers when he shouted that dream out to the world and only received comments of "You wish" or "You think someone like you can become one?"
But he knows that they're wrong. Every moment of his life he grows closer to his dream. Some people are unaware of it, but Naruto sees it.
Completing his first C class mission. Beating Neji in the chuunin exams. Going to rescue Sasuke. He knows now that he is a new person by going after his friend. He admits that it's probably his first time doing so. Even if Sasuke had cut away the ties that had held them together, he knew that he was not lost.
Naruto's eyes never stray from his goal. Always move forward, because it's useless to turn back. But yet, he stills turn back even though he knows that he will probably not find something there that can bring Sasuke back.
All he has is himself. But he stops at that thought and shakes his head, the smile still on his face.
He has himself and his friends – his friends that he knew were more like family to him now.
And he knows that will be enough.
Time passes, people move...
Like a river's flow, it never ends...
A childish mind will turn to noble ambition...
Young love will become deep affection...
The clear water's surface reflects growth...
- Serenade of Water, Zelda: Ocarina of Time -