Gai panted as hard as he could and ran with all his might to Konoha. He could already see the village brimming on the horizon. Picking up the pace, he raced with all his extra energy down to the hospital, knocking some villagers out of his way.

Two men greeted Gai at the door. "Please," he gasped. "Where's L-lady Tsunade?" The two looked at each other and led a tired Gai up to a different floor.

"She's right in there."

Tsunade turned around to see Gai charging up the small walkway. He skidded to a stop, but bonked his head on the doorway. He fell to the floor, gasping.

"Gai, what is it? Did your mission go well?" Gai breathed before answering.

"Y-yeah, it went without a hitch…but please…m' lady…how did Lee's surgery go?!"

Tsunade grinned as she squatted down to face him. "It was a total success." She answered. "I told him he could resume his training in a few days. However, you know Lee, of course…" Gai sighed with relief as tears streamed down his tired face.

"Thank you!" he babbled. Suddenly, the two men appeared behind Gai again.

"Lady Tsunade, we have a problem with Rock Lee! He's vanished!" Gai gasped and face fell on the ground.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!"

Later, in Lee's room, Tsunade and Gai examined the bed, which was filled with various objects to make it appear as if Lee had been lying there the whole time. Gai cried and Tsunade sighed as his stupidity.

"Little fool," she spat. "He must have been half-delirious when he snuck out. And…" Observing the basket next to his bed. "Instead of his prescription, he snagged a bottle of sake!" Gai fell into a cold sweat.

"My Lady…" he trailed off. "If Lee even takes one sip of that, he…" Tsunade gave him a puzzled glance.

"What are you babbling about now?" she asked. Gai sighed.

"Lee and I were eating at a restaurant one night," he began. "I…I thought it couldn't hurt, so I let Lee have a sip of my sake. But then…" Tsunade glared at him.

"Go on," she prompted.

Gai bowed his head. "It was a scene of horror. Within 5 minutes, the restaurant was in shambles. It was then that I learned that Lee was a true master…"

"Master of what?"

"A master of…the dizzy fist!"

Tsunade blinked and thought about what Gai said. "Well, wherever he is now, his enemy is gonna be sorry." Gai jerked his head to face the Hokage.

"You MUST let me go after him!" he argued. "He could be out there, injured." Tsunade shook her head.

"That's not an option right now!" she replied. "With so many threats in the area, all my jounin will stay put in this village--that's an order," she added. Gai got a glazed look in his eyes, and he walked out of the small room.

It was night. Gai looked around and ducked when he saw a guard pass by his hiding place. The jounin waited until he was well out of sight, and then he stumbled out into the night.

I'm coming…Lee…