By Airen Hitomi
Prologue: Fifty-eight Percent
Shizune walking into the Hokage's office and was surprised to see that Tsunade had left. The assistant looked down at the writings scattered over the large mahogany desk. Her eyes focused on a figure written by her Hokage's hand: fifty-eight percent.
Shizune smiled. She didn't know the boy, Rock Lee too well, although she had gotten the impression that he was going to be just like his instructor, the famous Green Beast of Konoha, but she was glad that Tsunade was willing to try. Shizune knew how devastating it must be to have to give up your dreams.
Tsunade smiled at Rock Lee encouragingly as he lay on the operating table, ready for the anesthesia. She could tell the boy was nervous, but he smiled back, bright teeth lacking the glint of his mentor, for which Tsunade was grateful. Shizune stood beside the Hokage, acting as medical assistant. Tsunade leant over Rock Lee to administer the anesthesia, giving Rock Lee the perfect view down her top before he faded into unconsciousness.
Gai paced the hospital waiting room, muttering to himself and scaring the people around him. "If Rock Lee makes this I'll teach him how to make his teeth as shiny as mine," Gai whispered reverently. Having almost worn a path through the waiting room carpet, Gai then proceeded to get down on his knees and prey, which was quite an amusing sight given his choice of clothing.
At that moment in time, Gai's eternal rival Kakashi happened to be visiting Sakura in the same hospital, who had come off rather badly from a bitch fight with Ino over her black haired team mate who still never showed her any interest. Kakashi had decided to leave Gai to his insane ramblings and return to his home to read in comfort under his shuriken-print blanket, but Gai would have none of it. His eye's shot up and focused on Kakashi's face.
"Ah, Kakashi, my eternal rival," Gai proclaimed in a loud voice. His good guy pose was spoiled somewhat by the worried tears that streaked his tanned cheeks. "Surely if I can beat you, my eternal rival, on this day in combat using only Taijutsu, as Rock Lee's only ability, he will be healed by the time we are done."
Kakashi sighed. It seemed he had no choice but to fight the thick-browed freak, who seemed so certain that the fate of the mini thick-browed freak depended on the outcome of this battle. He tucked his Icha Icha Paradise in the compartment he had commissioned especially in his Jounin uniform, and followed Gai outside, shading his eyes from the sun's reflection off Gai's hair.
The two rivals stood facing each other, preparing for battle. "And no Sharingan," Gai admonished his rival. Kakashi widened his visible eye in a look of innocence, before settling into his battle stance, namely slouching with his hands in his pockets.
The two combatants had never needed a starter. They always knew when the battle was going to begin. Gai rushed Kakashi, intent on ending this battle quickly. Kakashi dodged the fist flying at his face, and the kick aimed at his midsection a moment later. He jumped aside, avoiding Gai's blows, content with being on the defensive.
Every swing and grab Gai made for Kakashi, Kakashi blocked or dodged. After several minutes of fighting, Kakashi had yet to make an attack. Gai was annoyed.
"This battle determines the fate of my favourite student," he hissed at Kakashi in an uncharacteristic display of real anger. "Fight me!" So, Kakashi did. Gai sent a kick to Kakashi's head. Kakashi grabbed the foot and flung Gai away. He then moved; appearing behind his opponent, bringing a knee into the small of Gai's back. A kick to the back of the head followed.
Gai grinned. This was better. He jumped over a sweeping kick, dodged an uppercut blocked the flurry of punches Kakashi directed his way. The two circled, kicking up dust from the street, eyeing each other. Kakashi still wasn't taking the battle seriously.
With a cry of honour, Gai leapt at his opponent again. As Kakashi dodged, Gai moved in the exact same direction, having predicted the movement after years of battles with the other shinobi. Gai's foot landed squarely in Kakashi's chest, knocking the wind out of him. Before Kakashi had time to react, Gai was there, raining a series of kicks and punches until Kakashi simply lay on the ground, too lazy to get up and defend his honour.
Gai jumped up with a grin, proclaiming to all those around; "With this victory I have ensured the recovery of my prized student, the great Rock Lee."
That was the moment Tsunade chose to exit the hospital in search of the man who worried most about the outcome of the surgery. Her face was unreadable.
TBC...
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Tee hee, what will happen? Was Gai's vistory really an omen of success? I know my fight scenes kinda suck, but please read and review. The more reviews, the quicker the story progresses.