Rock against Water

By: Astranged Uchiha

Rock Lee straightened his vest and let out a heavy sigh. It had been a year since he became a Jounin for Leaf, but he still hadn't gotten used to it. This past year had been hard on young Lee, having to deal not only with Haruno Sakura's utter rejection and the passing of Gai-sensei, Lee was now expected to deal with the responsibility of teaching and commanding others, with no time to deal with his building emotions.

Perhaps, it was best that way. With constant reassignments and difficult missions, Rock Lee had no time to ponder. Pondering on the battlefield could mean death. Gaara of the Desert had taught him that much at least. The mere thought of that paticular incident caused Lee's right arm and leg to throb uncomfortably. Not very many things can cause Lee pain anymore, the most he'd gotten was uncomfortablitiy. The only thing that brought him pain was MAYBE Sakura, and the thought of Gai-sensei...

"Lee-sama!" Came the shrill command voice of Shizune, right-hand woman of The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade-sama. "The Hokage requests your IMMEDIATE presence, NOW!!!"

Rock Lee nodded. "Of course, Shizune-sensei."

Lee released another heavy sigh. The life of a Jounin, no off time at all. It made him wonder how Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi could seem so laid back and bored, or how the Invincible Beautiful Blue Beast of Leaf, Gai-sensei, who was...

"Rock Lee!!!" Shizune yelled. "Are you coming, or not!?"

"Rock Lee." Tsunade adressed him without even looking up from a file she was attentivly reading. "Please, take a seat."

"Hokage-sama..." Lee spoke respectfully, yet firmly. "I'd prefer to stand."

Tsunade glared up at him without lifting her head. "...so be it. I've been looking over your past preformances, and i must say that they're quite impressive..."

"..." Rock Lee said nothing.

Tsunade sighed heavily. She wasn't good at this diplomatic bullshit. "...Do you see what I'm getting at?"

"You are saying my missions where successful. I'm aware of this fact and am awaiting future assignments." Rock Lee said, eyes cold.

Tsunade sighed heavily again. 'Eyes are the gateways of the soul...is his soul to late to thaw?'

"...Anything else, Hokage-sama?" Rock Lee asked, turning to leave.

"Actually, there is." Tsunade snapped. "It has come to my attention that your exceptional skills might be put to better use than that of a mere Jounin."

"...?" Lee pivoted to face her. "What do you mean?"

"Despite the fact that we are strechted thin as it is,..." Tsunade sighed. "If we allow our internal affairs to go unnoticied or unchecked, we become weak. Do you understand?"

"...You're referring to a paticular event, aren't you?" Lee inquired, puzzled.

"...I am." Tsunade said. "This next mission I'm offering you, is NOT a request from outside parties, but a direct request from ME, the Fifth Hokage."

"...Hokage-sama,?" Lee was confused. "You've never 'requested' anything from me before. Are you commanding me or not?"

Tsunade looked dead at him. "It is your choice to take this mission or not. The success rate for you is 12. ... Anyone else in the village would die."

"Why me?" Lee asked.

"If successful, I would be glad to promote you to Anbu-Leader, and would rely on you heavily. Are you prepared for such responsibility?"

"...You're avoiding something..." Lee stated it as if it were a fact, not an opinion. "What is it?"

Tsunade averted her eyes. "I will give you a complete case file as soon as you accept. Until then, ..."

"Then I decline." Lee snapped. "Something's up, what is it..."

Tsunade stood up, turning her back to Lee and gazing out across the beautiful view of Leaf. She sighed once again. "I'm asking you,... and you alone. You will recieve no help, not even from Anbu of the lowest rank. I can't spare anymore... I'm asking you to..."

"...What?" Lee asked, starting to get worried.

"I'm asking you to..." Tsunade turned, her fiendish eyes boring into him. "...massacre the Village of Hidden Mist. Leave noone alive. Slay them all."

Lee was startled. "W-W-Why!? Why would we...?"

Tsunade turned around, facing away from him again. "They are responsible for the death... no, the MURDER of Gai-sensei of Leaf."

Lee was more than shocked. No words have been invented yet that can explain his emotion. He staggered out of the Hokage's office and wander the streets of Leaf in despair.

Shizune took a step forward, bearing witness to the whole encounter. "Tsu..."

"LEAVE!" Tsunade snapped, her back to Shizune, her shoulders squared. "Go now, and leave me be."

Once Shizune left, Tsunade sank back down into her chair, a trembling hand covering her face. Two tears made a salty trail down her face.

'Sometimes...' Tsunade thought. 'Being Hokage is shit...'