NARUTO: In the Shadow of the Clans

The morning sun pierced through the slightly parted curtains, casting beams of light across the walls of the small room. Naruto lay on his bed, hands folded behind his head. His blue eyes stared at the ceiling, but his mind was elsewhere, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts and memories of the previous evening.

Sakura's words still echoed in his head, heavy as an anvil. "You're not good enough for me, Naruto." They replayed over and over, a cruel refrain he couldn't silence. He had believed that their relationship, though sometimes complicated, had potential—that all it took was perseverance for her to finally see him for who he truly was. But those words had shattered something inside him, a dream he had nurtured since childhood.

He sighed deeply, feeling an immense weight pressing down on his chest. Why could he never measure up? Why, despite all his efforts, his dreams, and his devotion, did he always feel insufficient? Part of him wanted to scream, to get up and train even harder, to prove he was better than what she thought. But another, darker part wondered if it was even worth it.

The silence in the room was deafening. Only the ticking of an old clock on the wall punctuated his thoughts. Naruto turned on his side, gazing at the nightstand where his forehead protector rested. He thought about the promises he had made to himself, the ones he had made to others. Was he betraying them simply because he felt broken?

Suddenly, three soft knocks broke the oppressive silence. Naruto didn't respond immediately. The knocks came again, this time a little louder.

"Naruto? It's me, Shikamaru. You in there?"

Naruto groaned faintly, reluctantly getting up. When he opened the door, he came face-to-face with the laid-back ninja, hands in his pockets.

"Yo. We were waiting for you at the gathering, but judging by your face, I guess you're not in the mood."

Naruto forced a smile. "Not really, Shikamaru. Sorry, but I think I'll sit this one out today."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, ready to leave without pressing further. After all, prying into other people's business wasn't his style. But as he turned to go, Naruto stopped him.

"Wait, Shikamaru."

There was something different in Naruto's tone—graver, almost desperate. It made the strategist hesitate, turning back with curiosity.

"What?"

Naruto took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "Do you… do you think I should change?"

Shikamaru frowned, visibly surprised. "Change? What are you talking about?"

Naruto lowered his eyes, embarrassed, and went to sit on the edge of his bed. "I mean… my personality, the way I am. I'm wondering if I'm just… too much, you know? Too loud, too naïve, too… annoying."

Shikamaru leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Where's this coming from? What's going on, Naruto?"

Naruto hesitated for a moment before spilling everything. He recounted his evening with Sakura, every word she had said and how it had affected him. His voice trembled at times, but he didn't stop. Shikamaru listened intently, not commenting until Naruto finished.

"So… do you think she's right? Should I really change to be better?" Naruto asked, his gaze pleading.

Shikamaru let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as if searching for the right words. "You said you wanted me to be honest, so here it is: yeah, maybe she's right about some things."

Naruto stared at him, wide-eyed. Even though he had expected this answer, hearing it still hurt.

"Want to know why?" Shikamaru continued. "It's not because you're loud or annoying. It's because you lose yourself trying to be what you think others want you to be. You're so busy proving your worth to everyone else that you forget to ask yourself what you really want."

Naruto lowered his eyes, unable to respond.

"Look at you," Shikamaru went on. "You woke up this morning wondering if you were good enough for her. But did you ever ask yourself if she deserves you? Maybe the problem isn't you but the expectations you set for yourself. You're not perfect—nobody is. But you're Naruto, and that's already something."

A heavy silence filled the room. Naruto, though still troubled, was reflecting on his friend's words.

"So… you're saying I shouldn't change?" he asked at last, his voice hesitant.

"I'm saying that if you change, do it for yourself, not for someone else." Shikamaru straightened up, hands in his pockets. "Sakura might've been harsh, but she gave you a chance to think about who you want to be. So take it. But remember this: the people who truly matter will accept you for who you are, not who you're trying to be."

Naruto nodded slowly, absorbing Shikamaru's words.

"Well, I'll leave you now. If you feel like coming to the gathering, you know where to find us," Shikamaru said as he headed for the door.

"Shikamaru…" Naruto called out before he left.

"Hm?"

"Thanks."

Shikamaru shrugged, a small smile on his lips. "Don't mention it. Helping a friend isn't that troublesome… most of the time."

When the door closed, Naruto found himself alone again. But this time, his mind was less restless. He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, but with a different feeling. Shikamaru's words echoed in his mind, illuminating a path he hadn't considered before.

He didn't know yet what he was going to do, but one thing was certain: he wouldn't let others' words entirely define his worth anymore.

The sunlight streamed more brightly through the curtains. Perhaps a change was coming, but for the first time in a long while, Naruto asked himself: What kind of Naruto do I really want to be?

[...]

In the Hokage's office, the silence was briefly interrupted by the sound of casual footsteps. Jiraiya, the legendary Sannin, entered with his usual mischievous grin, one hand resting on his hip.

"Tsunade-hime! Still as radiant as ever, even stuck in this dreary office," he said, plopping down uninvited into a chair.

Tsunade looked up from the pile of reports she was reading, her expression wavering between exasperation and amusement. "Jiraiya… How many times do I have to tell you to stop flattering me? I know you're just trying to dodge giving your report."

"Me? Dodge? Never," he replied with a sly smile. "But honestly, you could admit you're stunning today. Who knows, maybe I came back just to see you."

Tsunade sighed, resting an elbow on her desk and propping her cheek on her fist. "You'd better tell me what you found out in Kumo before I decide to throw you out the window."

Jiraiya burst into laughter. "Ah, still as charming as ever when you're threatening violence." Straightening up, he adopted a slightly more serious tone. "Alright, alright. Let's talk about Kumo. The tensions seem to be easing, but there's an underground group stirring up trouble. They're not too keen on the idea of an agreement with Konoha. I've gathered some intel, but it'll need ongoing monitoring."

Tsunade nodded, her expression growing more focused. "Go on."

But before Jiraiya could continue, he allowed himself one last remark. "I must say, even in the middle of a crisis, your allure is unshakable."

Tsunade grabbed a book within arm's reach and hurled it at him. "Finish your report or you're sleeping outside!"