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Soon, Rock Lee, a third Year Academy student, joined them in their morning routine. Lee had malformed chakra coils, and could not mold chakra for jutsu. But he was still determined to become a ninja; it was his dream. In many ways, his refusal to give up on his dream reminded Hinata of Naruto. He took to Goken like a fish to water. Gai-sensei was his idol. Lee and Naruto quickly became good friends and a friendly rivalry sprang up between them. Both boys were determined to out do each other – whether it was who could run the most laps or do the most push-ups or eat the most ramen in one sitting. (Naruto won that last one.) If they could compete over it they would.

Hinata found it impossible to keep up with the boys – stamina freaks that they were – in their morning workouts. Before Hinata could despair, Gai-sensei – who was much more intuitive than most people gave him credit for – pulled her aside and told her not to compare herself to the boys.

Flashback

"You are Hinata," Gai-sensei said seriously.

"Hai, Gai-sensei." Hinata wondered if he was going to give her another speech about fanning the flames of youth.

"No. I do not think you understand. You are Hinata. You are not Naruto. And you are not Lee. You should not compare yourself to either of them – just as they should not compare themselves to you. We each have our strengths and weaknesses – which is why most ninja are placed on teams, so that their teammates will support them, just as they support their teammates. No one is without weaknesses. Naruto and Lee will always have more stamina than you. They will always be physically stronger, as well. This is fact."

Hinata shrank into herself, ashamed. Was her new teacher telling her she was weak? But… She tried so hard! Was it not enough? Before she could despair further, Gai-sensei continued.

"But… and listen to me carefully, Hinata… Naruto will also never have your chakra control and Lee will never have your flexibility. You are all unique. If you must compare yourself to someone, as a gauge of your progress, then you should compare yourself to you

"I d-d-don't understand, Gai-sensei," Hinata confessed.

"You should compare yourself to the Hinata of yesterday. If you can run one more step than you ran yesterday… If your chakra control is just a little bit better than it was yesterday… If you can fight harder and faster than you fought yesterday… If you can dodge today what you could not dodge yesterday – and block what you could not block yesterday… Then the Hinata you are today is a better, stronger person than the Hinata you were. If you do this… then I am proud to call you my precious student!"

Gai-sensei is proud of me? Hinata was almost overwhelmed. The last person to be proud of her had been her mother. But it had been so long since her passing that the memory was fuzzy and indistinct. Could she do all that? Could she be better than she was yesterday? Could she win against the person she was yesterday? Yes.

"Hai! Gai-sensei!"

In true Maito Gai fashion, Gai smiled (showing gleaming white teeth) and gave her a thumbs-up.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4139575/4/