Fading notes from a brass bell echoed around the watchful faces engraved into the rock of Hokage Mountain and the slow spring breeze rustled the emerald trees blowing leaves down the quiet Konoha streets

Fading notes from a brass bell echoed around the watchful faces engraved into the rock of Hokage Mountain and the slow summer breeze rustled the emerald trees blowing leaves down the quiet Konoha streets. A row of fluttering flags hung above the dark ponytail of Neji Hyuuga as it curled over a light blue roof, his pale eyes were fixed on the clear sky.

Below him the dusty roads were unoccupied; everyone was inside their cool, concrete houses eating lunch, even the small sparrows were not swooping through wooden gates or the bamboo forests. The koi pond in the distant town centre bubbled, the gurgle only added to the heat of the day. Neji closed his eyes, breathing in deeply as a hot gust of wind swept over his pale skin, he sighed as he heard voices disturbing the midday silence.

"Sakura-san, have you seen Neji-san?" Hinata's soft voice drifted upwards.

Neji stretched and stood up; he brushed the hair away from his face and peered down at the distraction.

"No, I haven't, why do you want to know?" Sakura replied.

"I-It's about Gai-sensei…"

Neji jumped from his secluded spot, landing next to the two girls "What about it?" he asked.

"Uh…maybe you should come…" Hinata's voice faltered.

"Oooh! What happened? Tell me Hinata-chan! I wanna know!" Said Sakura, butting in.

Neji looked disdainfully at Sakura's face; her shiny forehead reflected the light from the sun.

"Fine then, let's go." Neji said, cutting Sakura off.

Following Hinata, Neji wondered what Gai wanted. Her small feet pattered on the ground a she walked, resulting in small dust clouds forming around her sandals.

He heard Sakura calling after them in her whiny voice "But I wanna know!"

Neji could feel the sun burning his neck and the dirt from the ground was clinging to his legs, water dripped from a leaking tap and time seemed sluggish.

He noticed a small grey cat dozing in the shade and he stopped, watching the feline's body having with the exhaustion of the summer heat.

"Neji-san, please…please hurry up." Hinata called to her cousin.

Neji swatted at the small flies that clung to his face. He knew Hinata was always like this, he knew he didn't need to worry, because Konoha is a quiet town, nothing ever happens in quiet towns.

They walked past the pond, Hinata's face was reflected in the ripples, her eyes looked and she was biting her light pink lips. A fish rose to the surface and her face disappeared with a flick of its scaly tail.

"N-Neji is here" Mumbled Hinata.

Neji became alert and focused on the scene before him, in the small shady alley way stood two people, Ten Ten was standing close to the splintered fence and a dying vine hung above her tight buns. Her eyes were down cast and her hands were twisting around each other. She looked up, her brown eyes meeting Neji's, and then they swept across the pavestones to where an emerald clad boy with black hair was kneeling, his attention completely on something else.

Gai was lying down; his loose torso was supported by Lee's arm. His eyes were screwed shut and his face contorted into a deathly grimace. His green jumpsuit was slashed and spoiled by an ebony red stain. Ten Ten's eyes were watering; Gai's strong hands were covered in blood, the scarlet liquid dripped from his fingertips, mixing with the muddy ground below him.

Hinata was shaking, her breath was short, "S-Sensei…he…T-Tsunade is coming."

Rock Lee was muttering under his breath, his eyebrows were creased in worry. Neji looked back down the leafy alley at the sunny town square, birds splashed in the pond and the water sparkled.

He bent his head and reached for his forehead protector, "Gai-sensei".