Author's notes: This is just a bunch of drabbles that were too short to be individual stories, and wouldn't leave me alone. Hopefully, now that they are written, I can go back to my other fics. Mostly friendship here, although you might be able to imagine some pairings. Also, I took some liberties with their childhood, but why not? This story is complete, unless I decide to write more.
A Portrait of Youth
I. They sit in the cool, shaded veranda, waiting to meet their sensei. Tenten fidgets on the left, Lee bounces anxiously in the middle, and Neji reclines easily on the right. Three newly graduated shinobi, one newly formed team, and no glue to hold them together. They are nothing alike.
Tenten is the cheerful one, the girl who averaged 'average' in all her classes. She's the one who, except for her penchant for weaponry, could easily be forgotten. Her dream is to be better, the best kunoichi, as strong as the great Lady Tsunade herself.
Lee is emotional, a wreck who somehow managed to pass the exam, despite being the worst student in their class. He's the one with no skills save taijutsu, and no promise at all, at least none that anyone can see. His dream is to show everyone just how wrong they are, even himself.
Neji is the indifferent one, cold and beautiful and oftentimes rude. He's the one who sailed through the academy with flying colors, whose bloodline trait can't be stopped. He's the one with no dream at all, the boy who became a ninja because it was in his blood and he didn't know what else to do.
They couldn't be more different, but as time goes on, they'll find they are also the same.
II. Neji is sulking, that much is clear. He sits there, on the bank, watching the river flow by with white eyes, a frown on his face and a line between his brows. What he's thinking, Tenten can't tell, but she knows he's upset.
"Is it because you beat him this morning?" Lee whispers, mouth to her ear. They don't want their mercurial teammate overhearing.
Tenten shrugs, as far as she's concerned it was a fluke. This morning during training she was somehow a little quicker, or a little more devious, she isn't sure which, but her blade ended up at Neji's throat before he could strike her. It's the first time she's ever won a sparring match against him.
And losing is no reason to pout.
Turning back to her friend, Tenten looks him in the eye for a long time, communicating without words. She glances at the river, then Neji, and back again, and Lee grins like an idiot as he catches on to her plan. Speed is the key, as the Hyuga could even now be watching them, piecing together the puzzle.
Quickly, they run over to him, one on each side, and grab hold of his hands. Before he can protest, or fight the two of them off, they hurl themselves into the river, laughing. Neji is dragged under with them.
Sometime later, Lee cries for mercy, and a soaking wet Neji finally allows him to catch a breath. Turning, he stomps out of the river and leaves, but Tenten, clinging to a rock in midstream, already thoroughly drowned herself, sees the small smile playing at the corner of his lips.
She thinks it's worth it.
III. One of the earliest things they learn about each other is that they are all orphans.
Tenten was found on deep in the forest outside the village, a refugee child all alone, being menaced by bandits. Her father, the man who is now little more than a faint dream in her mind, was missing. Ninja later found his body, but no one told the tiny girl that, and she was carried off to Konoha and placed in the orphanage. Until Gai-sensei, the Hokage, with his infrequent visits, was the closest thing she had to a father.
Lee's story was a little different. His teenage mother had fallen in love with one of those same immigrants, had gotten pregnant, and had run away with him. No one really knew what happened after that, but Konoha's hospital called his grandmother and asked her to care for her only remaining relative, so she took baby Lee home. Having once been an elite ninja though, the lady was unimpressed by her grandson, and angry at her missing daughter, and she really didn't treat Lee very well. After graduation, Lee left to live with Gai-sensei. He only sees the old woman on holidays now.
Neji's story is known by everyone, although he never bothers to tell his teammates. That information they had to learn from Gai-sensei, who one night was just drunk enough to let it slip. The two children are horrified, and worried for their friend, but they never bring it up, continuing to pretend ignorance in his presence. Let him have his pride, it's the only thing left unscathed.
Somehow, they all become family to each other, and it is enough.
IV. How could this happen? The inn overbooked, all it can offer their travel-stained team is a small room, more like a closet, and a futon. One.
Gai frowns, and looks his team over. Maybe they should just continue? Another two days of walking, and they'll be back to the village anyway. When he realizes that Lee is sleeping where he stands, he gives up, and accepts.
That night is…uncomfortable. The futon takes up a good three quarters of the room they've been given, and Gai stretches out on the floor, taking up the rest. There is nowhere to change, no privacy available, so the three just turn and face one wall each, stripping their filthy clothes for some relief.
Lee goes all the way to his boxers, but leaves on the headband.
Neji just removes his jacket and the thin shirt he wears underneath, and dusts his shorts off as best he can.
Tenten unbuttons the top of her shirt, and slips off her pants, so that the boy shorts she's wearing underneath are visible. It's just a phase for her, this underwear, but she's glad of it. Neither boy ever realizes they are seeing her unmentionables.
They crawl into bed, Tenten in the middle and her teammates on either side, and spend one long night staring at the ceiling, trying not to touch one another.
Of course, accidents do happen, and poor Lee wakes up with a black eye.
V. They are at Tenten's apartment, resting. After the attack on their village by Orochimaru, they've been working night and day on any mission within their capabilities, trying to regain the world they once knew. In a few hours, they are supposed to go out again, to help with the repairs at the academy, but right now, everything is peaceful.
"Lee, have you seen Tsunade yet? Isn't she pretty?" Tenten still can't believe her idol has returned to the village, and is their new Hokage.
Lee, still swathed in bandages and with his crutch laying across his lap, has not been able to take part in their missions. In fact, he's rarely allowed out of the hospital, as the nurses believe his constant attempts to train will hurt him. It took the promises of both his teammates to the hospital administrator to even let him leave today. "Yes, I've seen her."
Their friend sounds so down that Tenten, laying on the floor with her head cradled on some pillows, sits up. Even Neji, half asleep on the futon, opens his eyes. "Lee, what's wrong?"
Their friend's hands curl into fists, and he drops his eyes, unable to meet their gaze. "She came and looked at me. Examined, I mean. And she said that I will never be a shinobi again." Although Tsunade made her diagnosis yesterday, Lee hadn't told them yet, as he's still trying to come to terms with it himself.
"That's it?" Tenten asks in disbelief. How could her hero be unable to heal Lee?
He shakes his head, but doesn't look up. "There's an operation I could have. Lady Tsunade herself would perform it. But at best there is a fifty-fifty chance that it would work."
"And if it doesn't?" Neji's voice is quiet. He thinks he already knows the answer.
"I'll die." Silence.
They sit there for a long time, trying to digest all of that, before Tenten realizes Lee is crying. She slides over to him, wraps her arms gently around his shaking shoulders. "It'll be alright, Lee."
The younger boy hiccups, wipes his face. "But what should I do?"
Neji comes and sits beside them, not touching, but close just the same. "Do what you must. It will be as it's fated."
Rock Lee sighs. His friends are no help at all, but he's grateful just the same.