Shinji's hard knock life

It was a sunny day as usual in Konoha and like always Shinji was training but unlike other times he was alone by himself. The only ones who he saw train or as long as him are Lee and Guy, and the only reason he knew that was that he could see them running around the village doing weird training exercises and sometimes he would join them to fight the boredom of the necessary training for his dream.

Right fist, Left kick, Dodge!

Left fist, Right elbow, Block!

Shinji went through the entire Strong fist kata and made some more progress than usual but he desperately was hoping for enlightenment and still didn't feel comfortable with how weak he was alongside his teammates who didn't work as hard as him to try to reach their goals.

Right fist, Left kick, Dodge! With each strike he vented his anger using his full strength.

Right fist, Left kick, Dodge! With each Strike he vented his frustrations going at full speed.

Shinji's pace didn't last long and felt a jolt of pain in his shoulders and ankle nearly causing him to collapse.

"No, I can't fall down now!" With a resounding will power full of envy, hate, and drive he stood up on his feet.

But it wasn't long before falling down in pain again, fighting through exhaustion Shinji kept himself awake as he lay down in the grass, thoughts of his life before now flashing through his mind.

He had a decent life so far and his needs were met by the village. Luckily instead of going into some old orphanages he was luckily able to get into the newer ones with all the needed facilities.

As a small child Shinji was content with what he had. He was not the type to complain, be envious, or stare at others until one day while playing with a few fellow orphans saw a ninja in action using ninjutsu to entertain him and some of the other children there.

The previously wooden heart burned with great mirth and excitement as the ninja performed tricks with the shuriken and fire style jutsu he had.

The tricks the ninja performed despite causing Shinji joyous laughter instead brought him curiosity on how in the world the ninja was able to make fire into a bunch of strange shapes.

"Big brother?" Shinji asked while screaming in excitement. "How did you make the fire go into those strange and different shapes?" He said while staring at the flames.

"If you want to be able to do this just practice hard enough and you can enter the academy where you can learn to do cool tricks like me and become a ninja!"

Than from then on Shinji trained just like everyone else did to one day become a ninja, whenever it was asking the Genin that would come over about the academy or their ninja life to even trying to unsuccessfully bribe a Jounin to teach himself ninjutsu Shinji did his best and fortunately despite the struggle managed to get into academy classes.

Shinji was stoked for the first day and like a few others got there early ready to learn how to use ninjutsu. After picking his spot Shinji decided to close his eyes for a bit and listen around the room since he wasn't all that fond of talking to others and was more interested in the ninjutsu the teacher would show and explain how to do.

"I wonder if sasuke is going to be in our class?"

"The Uchiha kid, I think he will be a genius. My older brother has a hyuga in his class and no one can beat him."

"I hope he's cute!"

"Handsome and a genius is just perfect for me!"

Greatly annoyed Shinji decided to just doze off a bit until the teacher came in and despite the initial fanfare when the uchiha came in it eventually quieted down and Shinji was able to start listening to the teacher once more but suddenly the door slammed open in the teachers explanation and a blond haired kid walks in.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I will become Hokage believe it!"

One month later.

Shinji Failed again despite all the hard work and studying he made little progress in learning how to mold chakra and use jutsu compared to what he desired. This was after doubling down on his seclusive ninja training.

"This is difficult but I believe I can do it!" Again Shinji redoubled his effort's and began thinking why he couldn't mold his chakra correctly.

During this past month he saw the slightly talented and clan children use chakra within this first month and he still wasn't able to do that. He wasn't the only one however and a lot of other orphans and children from civilian families were unable to mold and create chakra properly either for the first three months.

But he hated that fact.

He hated that despite all the hard work he was doing the gap was getting bigger and bigger so after going home from the academy he further stayed to himself and didn;t go outside very much.

One month later.

"51…52…53" Shinji managed 53 pushups before he fell 4 more than last time but he was unsatisfied with his progress. Since chakra was a combination of physical and mental stamina he figured by getting acquainted with these things more he would theoretically be better at using and molding chakra. He was desperate after using his young mind to try and forcefully come up with a way.

Even the teachers couldn't help much since this mainly depended on one thing and that was talent.

Another thing besides his parents he didn't have.

Taking a break he walked slowly around the busy Konoha village keeping to himself since he wasn't able to find similar minded children his age. It was when he saw a familiar looking blond kid being abused his eyes birthed some confusion.

"Demon, get away from my shop!" The owner of the shop was a regular visitor at the orphanage Shinji attend so he was surprise such a kind old man hate the most vicious and disgusted face he had ever seen outside the matron when the kid with diarrhea problems refused to shower for 3 months straight and managed to avoid capture until a group of Genin tracked him down and bathed him as a D rank mission.

Shinji watched as a dejected Naruto left the stall of the toys that were sometimes donated to the orphanage.

Curious he decided to follow Naruto a bit while he was on the way back home , he noticed the strange and weird stares they would give Naruto but decided to not confront the adults about it as it didn't seem like a good idea.

Three days later he had finally done it. Shinji was able to use chakra! He still struggled controlling it but it was better than nothing and luckily managed to be among the first group of civilians that were able to control and use their chakra.

"Yes! Yes! I did it! I did it! I did it! I'm finally able to use chakra!" This was one of the happiest moments of his life so far but what continued to greet him in the classroom was more frustration.

Stealth practice, leaf focus training, physical exercise, intense studying, shuriken training and other subjects slowed him down to what he felt was slower than before.

"Naruto Uzumaki vs Shinji begin!"

"Okay, like practiced right feint, left leg sweep then tackle him to the ground." Shinji thought in his mind before his world was turned upside down with a kick in the chin from Naruto before being tackled and losing the match.

"Winner Naruto Uzumaki!"

"Shinji vs Kiba Inuzuka!"

Lost

"Shinji vs Shikamaru Nara."

Tied.

"Shinji vs Hikaru genji"

Won.

"Shinji vs Udame Naru"

Lost

"Shinji vs Do Koji"

Lost.

One week later on a hot afternoon with fangirls shrieks that could be heard from the other side of konoha.

"Shinji vs Sasuke Uchiha."

During this week Shinji learned that making a plan before battle without knowing the opponents strengths in combat was foolish and building a plan based off actual combat was more of a dance between two people that required the ability to focus, read the opponent for openings or signs of attack and even taunt in order to weaken the opponent's mind.

"Perform the Seal of Confrontation."

Sasuke and Shiji proceed to perform the seal to each other before politely greeting each other.

"Begin."

This time Shinji performed better, as Sasuke uchiha luckily distracted by the thought of having fun playing with big brother when he got home was unintentionally going easy on Shinji and it looked like Shinji was going to win.

That was before he said something he shouldn't in the heat of his excitement beating a genius.

"Do you wish to dance, Uchiha Sasuke!" Shinji roared with excitement as he sped up before being quickly blindsided and laid out on the ground with a kunai near his neck.

"Sasuke Uchiha wins."

One year later near a waterfall.

"Why, why is it so unfair! Why can't I have good talent! Why must I be stuck with being average! Why doesn't my hard work matter when I'm barely beating Naruto, someone who doesn't train or practice hard? Why why why!"

"Answer me!" Shinji said with a final roar field with anger, hatred and bitterness at himself and the world.

"Answer me" he said a little quietly before he began crying silently to himself the sound of a gushing waterfall drawing out any of the noises.

"I'm alone." he thought to himself.

"I am the only one fighting to be better, the only one who wants to improve, they don't deserve it! They don't deserve that talent, they can't understand what jutsu means to me!" Shinji spoke rambling to himself in shambles at the realization that he would never be as good as them, especially if they worked as hard as he did.

So he started to laugh!

"Huh huh."

"Huhuhuh."

So he started to laugh again!

"Huhauhauahuahhahahauahua!"

And again.

"HAHAHAHAHaHAHaha!"

And again and again and again.

"HuhauhauahuahhahahauahuaHuhauhauahuahhahahauahuaHuhauhauahuahhahahauahua!"

"HAHAHAHA!"

Before he fell to the stone ground laughing in tears at the joke of himself he made.

A few years later and he graduated with a new found goal, if he couldn't beat a genius with his hard work then he would just become a genius with hard work he would surpass Senju Tobirama!

One month later he faced a decision.

How badly should he torture the person who attempted to kill him?