The Green Phantom

A Lee Love Story

Part One

I Meet Bushy Brows

"And that class is why we don't play with shurikin understood?" I said wrapping up my students arm. He blushed in embarrassment and with a quiet thank you returned to his seat. I sighed wondering why it was I became a teacher again. Then I looked out at all the smiling eager faces looking back at me and I remembered. As much of a pain as these kids were I still loved them with all my heart.

As I went on with my lesson I saw one tiny little hand in the back waving furiously. I tried to ignore her but as always she was not one to give up. "Yes, Hana what is it?" I asked keeping my voice steady.

"Yua Sensai when are we going to get to meet a real team of ninjas? You did say we were going to meet some didn't you? Do you know they are going to be? Because you know I could ask my cousin Ino to come in with her team. She is really nice and pretty even if her friends are a bit annoying." she said and stopped only after her face turned red and she needed to take a breath.

As much as I loved my students Hana was quite a handful and Ino was not exactly on the top of my "Someone I want in my class" list. I worked with her after we graduated the academy together and we didn't get along even then. As politely as I could I said "No Hana I don't think that will be necessary. Ino I am sure is very busy and besides I already have someone lined up to come in. They will be coming in next week when I assign all of you to a three person team for a project." This was automatically answered with demands to know who it was and with just clearing my throat they all quieted as I said "Now if I told you it would not be a surprise."

Geez it felt horrible to lie to the whole class like that. Yes I had promised to bring in a team but the truth was I had no idea who to bring in. All of my friends were busy next week with training or missions and I was running out of options. But I was determined not to let my class down so I had to find someone to come in.

I went on with the rest of my lesson and not soon enough the bell rang leaving me able to try and track down somebody to come in. I cleaned up my papers and picked up everybody's books in a hurry and didn't even realize that my uncle had entered until I literally ran into him by my desk. "Oh Uncle Gai I am so sorry! I am in such a rush I didn't even hear you come in please forgive me." I said bowing slightly before I started cramming everything into my bag.

"Oh it is nothing of course Yua I am sure you have a lot of stuff to worry about besides your poor old uncle. I mean you must since you forgot to stop by last night for dinner like you always do … not that it matters to me of course my dear I just wanted to make sure you were all right!" he said his voice as always full of enthusiasm but couldn't hide the hurt behind his words.

I looked at him apologetically and gave him a kiss on the cheek saying "Oh I am sorry but I just grabbed some fast food last night. I had a ton of papers to grade and of course trying to find a team to come in next week for there team project has been killing me! It seems everybody is to busy for the kids these days."

That's when he pulled away from me and with his signature good guy pose said "Yua your troubles are over for your uncle Gai has just what you need! Why didn't you think of me in the first place? I mean you have not even met my team but let me tell you they are the best of the best. So not to fear my dear you have a team ready when ever you need them."

I laughed nervously. It was true I hadn't met his team but the way he talks about his one student Lee I could only assume his team was a bit to much like him. Not that I didn't love my uncle and all but he could be a bit much to handle. Then again there was no one else who was available. Reluctantly I said "Ok thanks Uncle Gai. That's one thing off my plate. Now how about we go grab some Ramon my treat?" The rest of the day I spent with him still worried about meeting his team.

"Yua don't be so worried. Gai's team is very nice. It is true Lee is a bit um well he is like your uncle but he is very nice actually." Iruka said handing me a cup of tea in the teacher's lounge. I was twirling a strand of my brunette curls on my fingers and stared at my own gray eyes that reflected at me from my spoon.

"Yea I know your right but what is really worrying me is that my uncle has been trying to set me up with this Lee ever since, as he put it, I grew truly beautiful. I think he was trying subtly to tell me that I was ugly before ..." I said rambling as I usually did when I got nervous. Iruka just laughed at me. Not really in a mean way but it still hit a sore spot.

"Well let me just say you have approved from your days of big jackets and guy pants." he said looking over my outfit of a light blue mini skirt, pink off the shoulder sweater, white high thighs, and cute pink flats. For some odd reason this made me feel better. I guess knowing I looked good made me feel good to. A lot better then the days where I was mocked and teased for being ugly.

So I took a deep breath and downing my tea thanked Iruka and made my way to my class room to set up for the day. In no time my room was full of giggling and excited eight year old's. Before school had let out yesterday I had assigned everybody's team and they were all seated accordingly ready to meet the team I had promised. Just seeing there faces gave me courage and with one more deep breath started to explain today and the team project.

I continued to point out the important points in working together when my uncle in his usual flashy manner entered my room saying "Are you kids ready to meet the best team the Leaf village has to offer?" The kids all clapped and screamed. This was the moment they had all been waiting for. Then in one quick blinding second, of course my uncle used a smoke bomb, there were his three students each striking a pose behind him.

Everyone cheered and rushed forward to get a better look at the cool new people who had showed up. None of the team seemed to mind except one guy with long brown hair who tried his hardest to try and just blend in with the wall. I assumed that was Neji. Next to him pulling him forward was the only girl on the team, so that could only be Tenten. Then I laid my eyes for the first time on Lee. Wow was Iruka ever right not only did he look like Uncle Gai but even from a distance I could tell he acted like him to.

After a few minutes of allowing the kids to go wild I whistled loudly which sent all of them flying back to there seats. "Now class I know you are excited about today but remember we are still in school and I expect all of you to act as such. Now I want you all to be quiet and pay attention as our guest introduce themselves and if they would tell us a little bit about working on a team." I said and right away Lee jumped up to introduce himself.

They each did as I had said and I couldn't help but feel uneasy as Lee stared at me with a weird look on his face. I found any excuse to walk away from my spot beside my uncle and escape his stare. It was not very successful though. I didn't really expect it to be. I was glad when it came for the Q&A part of the session when his attention was all on the kids who made the mistake of asking him a question. I said mistake because out of all of them his answers were always the longest and full of the word youth.

The whole rest of the day was spent outside with the kids watching the team spar and show off some of there Jutsu's and for the first time they all seemed sad to leave and go home. It was actually a very sweet thing to see. I was picking up stray paper when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and thankfully it was Tenten who I saw behind me. "Hey thanks for inviting us into today it was actually very fun. Plus it was nice to finally meet Gai Sensai's niece. He talks about you a lot you know. You would think you were his daughter or something. Its kind of sweet actually." she said taking a seat and offering me the space beside her.

I took it and said "Well I guess I consider him a bit of a dad to. He raised me for seven years while my father was away on some secret mission. He was the one who saw me grow up so we became really close. It makes me happy actually he talks about me a lot. Oh that sounds selfish doesn't it?" I laughed remembering the years fondly. It still made me smile remembering coming home from the academy with my uncle waiting there with cookies, even if they were burnt.

"Oh thats not selfish at all I think its rather sweet. By the way those kids really adore you you must be one hell of a teacher but I thought that Gai said you worked with the black ops?" Tenten said completely focused on me. It was kind of nice to have someone other then little kids pay attention to you every once in awhile.

"Yea I did for awhile but there were just certain things that I didn't agree with them on so I left and I found my true calling working with kids. So I became a teacher and haven't looked back ever since." I said looking up at the sky. It was such a nice day it was a shame that such a horrible past was being brought up.

"Your saying you don't ever think about what would have happened if you had stayed with the black ops? Highly unlikely." came another voice and I looked to see Neji and Lee standing above me. Neji giving me a very stern and angry looking glare. It made me shift uneasy in my seat. It took me a second to get enough nerve to answer him.

"Well after what I saw and went through in the organization I knew I never wanted to be part of it again so no I don't dwell on the past. Dwelling on the past isn't really worth it anyway because it already happened and there is nothing you can do to change it so the only thing to do is to work for your future." I said suddenly not so afraid of him any more.

Neji glared some more and seemed like he was going to say something but Lee jumped in and said "Come on leave her alone I am sure a smart and very pretty teacher like her has more important things to do then hang around talking to you guys." I blushed a little bit and wanted to argue but even though Lee stood up for me I still wanted to get away from that creepy lovey stare he was giving me so I took that chance to gather up my things and head back to my classroom.

I was humming softly and reading my students reports at my desk when I heard someone knock on the door. I looked up hoping to see my uncle or maybe even my new friend Tenten. But instead it was Lee looking at his feet and blushing. "Er um uh hi Yua I just want to come see if you needed help with anything or maybe if you were all done with your work wanted to go get some lunch?" he asked not looking at me or entering the room.

I looked him over and looking at him all alone he looked kind of cute in an innocent way. I would have felt horrible if I refused him so I said "Sure why don't you come help me grade these papers the kids wrote. We can talk some you know get to know each other a bit better."

Lee jumped excitedly and ran to take the seat next to me. He helped grade the papers and we talked and talked. It surprised me that he actually listened to me. It was obvious he liked me and usually when a guy liked me all he did was stare and nod. It was nice to have a guy actually listen and have a normal, well semi normal Lee like my uncle was a bit odd, conversation. I guess it was refreshing. And without realizing it on that day Lee had become my own little stalker.