Authors Note: I have discovered that imitating Gai really gets your blood pumping.

"Gai-sensei…" whispered a strange voice over the communicator. "Gai-sensei…"

He paused in midpose, startled. Who was speaking to him over the communicator? Could it be his Eternal Rival, the amazingly hip and cool Kakashi? No, his Eternal Rival was too modern to be whispering to him in a creepy voice. It must be …. Someone Else!

He prepared himself for a confrontation by performing several poses. Then he answered the call.

"Yes? Who is this? This is not my Eternal Rival, the amazingly hip and cool Kakashi…for he is far too modern to speak to me in such an un-cool way! I, Gai-sensei, answer your challenge to be creepy with Youthful Exuberance, and if I fail, I shall do the worm around Konoha 1500 times!"

And then he promptly started breathing very heavily and loudly into the communicator in order to out-creepiness his newest opponont with Youthful Exuberance! He struck a pose and breathed louder and more hoarsely.

There was an odd choking noise from the other end of the line. He must be winning with his Magnificent and Youthful display of creepiness. All Right!

Whoever was on the other end began to speak of Other Things. Magnificent tactics, manufacturing a subject change in the middle of the contest! He struck a pose and then listened to the voice.

"Gai-sensei…you look very green…"

"Why, thank you! It is my specially manufactured—"

"Yes, I know." The voice cut him off. "You look…very….very…green."

"Yes! Green is good!"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"MAGNIFICENT!"

"AH!" There was a strangled noise from the other end. "Don't shout into the communicator!"

The person cleared their throat. "You look…green. Like a pickle."

Again Gai-sensei had to pause midpose. A serious question had arisen in his mind, and it had to be answered!

"…is a pickle youthful?"

There was a pause.

"No."

"Then how can you say that I, Maito Gai, resemble such an uncool and nonhip thing as a pickle which is not youthful? The very idea is preposterous!"

"But you do you look like a pickle."

"…do not!"

"Do too."

"Do not!"

-…-

Neji looked at Tenten. "You all done?"

She nodded. "Call sensei on the communicator and tell him we're heading back in."

He dialed Gai-sensei's number.

"I AM NOT A PICKLE!"

Slowly, he brought the communicator back down to his ear and Tenten looked at him questioningly. He solemnly shook his head.

They headed back in silence.