The scarred Chūnin wasn't convinced. "Naruto, I saw and heard everything."
Naruto stiffened. His mask crumbled, revealing his desolate expression to one of the few people who really cared about him. "Ne, Iruka-sensei… Is she right? Am I really that terrible a shinobi? Do you think I'm… ugly?"
Iruka's heart cried out upon hearing the misery in his favorite student's voice. He immediately crouched down so that they were eye to eye and spoke in a soothing tone. "I am going to be totally honest with you, Naruto. What Sakura said and how she said it was unforgivable. I believe that you are a great person and that anyone would be lucky to have you in their life. I also think you have the potential to be a fantastic shinobi. After all, you saved me last night, didn't you?" Naruto smiled hesitantly. "But can you be better? Are there things you should work on? Absolutely."
"What do you mean?"
"How do you think the Hokage got to where he is today? He trained. He never stopped learning."
"But, Iruka-sensei," Naruto protested. "I do train! And I learned the Kage Bunshin last night!"
"Yes, you did. But how well do you know your new jutsu? Do you know all its strengths and weaknesses? What about its limits? Its variations and uses? Did you know that a Kage Bunshin can be dispelled after one good hit?"
Naruto's eyes widened. He had not known that. After all, the only time he had used the technique was back in his fight against Mizuki and the traitor never got the chance to fight back, let alone disperse one of his clones.
"Did you know that whenever a clone dispels, anything it learns mentally will be transferred back to you?"
That surprised the Jinchūriki even more.
"There's a lot more about that technique, or any technique for that matter, that you need to know before you can really say you've mastered it. This is just one of the reasons why you must never stop training or learning if you want to get stronger."
"I-I think I understand, Iruka-sensei."
"Good. That's all I ask."
"Ano, is there anything else I should work on?"
Iruka smiled. "No matter how strong a shinobi becomes, there is always something that can be improved on. For you, I'd recommend working on your Bukijutsu, your chakra control, and especially your Taijutsu. I don't know why you chose not to learn the Academy style, but your own fighting style looks more suited for a brawler and that won't cut it in a fight with a shinobi."
Naruto made a face. "But the Academy style is so boring! And it always felt uncomfortable to me."
Now there was a head scratcher. As far as Iruka knew, there weren't many Taijutsu styles available at the Shinobi Library, at least none he could think would fit the blond. "Well, perhaps you can go ask the Hokage. I'm sure he has a couple scrolls on Taijutsu styles you can learn."
Naruto nodded. It was worth a shot at least.
"I would also recommend you getting a different uniform."
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" the boy asked, looking down at his clothes.
"A professional should have a uniform that's more practical and not… orange."
"B-B-But orange is awesome!"
Dear Kami, he actually looked offended.
"Orange isn't practical for a shinobi, at least not for one in Hi no Kuni. You would easily be spotted in the forests here and shinobi are supposed to be able to remain unseen. Maybe in Tsuchi no Kuni, it could work, but certainly not here." A dark cloud formed over Naruto's bowed head at the diss toward the awesomeness that is orange, much to Iruka's amusement. "Just think about it, Naruto. And think about all the shinobi you've seen in Konoha, the ones you thought were strong, and ask yourself what are they doing that you aren't right now?"
Now that was an interesting question, one that Naruto couldn't help but mull over his head.
Seeing this and feeling satisfied that he had not only helped someone he thought of as a little brother deal with an extremely harsh rejection, but that he had also helped set Naruto on a path that would only make him stronger, the Academy Instructor stood with a smile. "Now, I have to go, but promise me you won't let what Sakura said bother you anymore, okay?"
The Jinchūriki frowned, but nodded nonetheless as he waved goodbye to the scarred Chūnin. Sighing, he turned on the spot and began walking toward the Hokage Monument. It was his favorite spot to relax and reflect on his life. One thing was for sure, he had a lot to think about.
~ Scene Break ~
'It's strange,' Naruto thought, sitting atop the Yondaime Hokage's head as he looked over the village that hated him. 'Even after everything this village has done to me, I still want to protect it.'
He didn't really understand why he felt this way. On some level, Naruto believed that he could actually feel the pain and suffering the villagers felt whenever catastrophe struck… Like the night of the Uchiha Massacre or the attempted Hyūga Kidnapping. And especially on the days of his birthday, the anniversary of the Kyūbi Attack… On those days/nights, when the emotions of the villagers ran high with tears and sorrow, the desire to protect them from harm, from the forces that would inflict such sorrow and misery upon them, shined brightest in him.
He also wanted their recognition and acknowledgment. He did not want to be scorned anymore, he wanted to be seen as a valued member of Konoha, not as hated vermin. Perhaps… Perhaps that was why he had initially pursued Sakura with such fervor. Looking back through his memories, Naruto realized that somewhere along the line, he had reasoned with himself that if a girl as smart and pretty as Sakura could learn to like him, then he would eventually gain the villagers' respect and interest. She had also been the first person his age to be nice to him, even if that did disappear rather quickly. That, and the frustratingly stubborn part of him simply would not accept defeat, especially against Sasuke.