Disclaimer: Still don't own Naruto.
Lee awoke at dawn and smiled at the sunshine that poured through his window. "What a beautiful day it is to celebrate the most special of all days."
He leapt out of bed and quickly dressed. "I think I have time to run one hundred laps around Konoha before I wrap all of Gai-sensei's birthday presents."
He gleefully sprinted around the city greeting everyone as he passed.
"Good morning, citizens of Konoha. I hope the youthful spirit of this beautiful morning is shining on you all."
Yamanaka Ino was watering some of the potted plants on the patio of her mother's flower shop. She watched Lee as he passed by, running with all the enthusiasm he could muster.
After the twenty-fifth time he passed, he stopped at the flower shop.
"I've run out of time for training. I need to find the most perfect flowers to go with my present for Gai-sensei's birthday." He beamed at Ino, flashing his blinding smile.
"He's got to be kidding," she thought. What had she done for her sensei's birthday? She tried to remember. Asuma-sensei wasn't really a flower kind of guy, so she'd opted for a gift certificate to the barbecue restaurant that he often took their team to after their training sessions. He ended up spending it on the team, rather than himself, but it had saved him a little bit of money.
"What kind of flowers are you looking for? We have some nice roses. How about yellow ones?" She asked Lee.
"Ahh! Yellow, the perfect colors for roses given in friendship, but alas roses are too common for such a glorious occasion as this. What else do you have?"
"Carnations?" She suggested.
"Carnations do maintain their youthful bloom for a long time, but they are used most often for funeral arrangements. I need flowers that celebrate the precious gift of life rather than commemorate death."
"You sure know a lot about flowers?"
"When giving gifts, it is important to think about the message you are sending to the person that receives them."
Ino paused. She'd never really thought about gift giving in such an unselfish light. She gave gifts out of obligation rather than generosity.
"Maybe Gai-sensei would like a houseplant."
"A houseplant? What an excellent idea, Ino-chan! A houseplant with beautiful green leaves would be a wonderful gift. Houseplants last as long as you take care of them, and they brighten up any living space. Gai-sensei will love it."
She sold him a pretty potted plant with large green leaves. She wrapped the pot in shiny gold foil and put a large green bow on the front.
"Thank you, Ino-chan. You have been very helpful. Now I must deliver this wonderful gift to Gai-sensei."
Lee walked out of the flower shop whistling a happy tune, and Ino felt the urge to hum along with his whistling. She continued watering the plants on the patio and pondered what sort of gift she might buy for her team members on their next birthdays. She really wanted them to know how special each of them were to her.