"Finally. I have been waiting forever to get a mission..."Rock Lee claimed excitedly, hiding, an impatient edge. "So, what is it?" He added questioningly. He was in the Hokage's office, it had been three years since the chunin exams, since he had his operation. But he had recovered swiftly. The only problem had been, things kept going wrong. Attacks, mishaps. And then the therapy Sakura had forced him through. So he couldn't get a decent mission. Nothing more than delivering packages to other villages, or something trivial like that. He frowned in concentration. He knew that Tsunade was just being sure he was fine before he went charging into battle...but waiting three years? Gai-Sensei must of had some influence over his mission timing. He was overly protective. Lee sighed exasperatedly. He knew that Gai cared, but sometimes, Lee just wish the crazy sensei would let him live his life."Your mission. Well, Lee...as an alliance to the Sand Village...we need someone who understands the diplomatic side of everything." Lee's face fell. 'Another boring mission? What...am I just supposed to deliver some important papers to Suna?'
"Don't look at me like that, Lee." Hokage Tsunade wearily demanded. Lee straightened his face into an respectful expression. "Am I supposed to deliver more packages, then?" He asked miserably."Papers? No, Lee. I know you don't know anything about diplomacy...but you're the best choice we have. We need you as a liaison for the problems with Suna and Konoha. Things may come up, and you will have to...help out the there have been hectic, and the other countries have been denying them any assistance. And what happened with Orochimaru, Sand and Konoha have both stuck together since. Not only with battle, but as well with paperwork, the sand ninja there will rely on you if there is any trouble...you will be treated like one of them." Tsunade explained. Lee was confused. "A go between?" He asked curiously. "Yes...there are going to be some meetings to further our alliance. You will need to sit in on those, as a leaf jounin, the only one I am sending on this mission...you will be representing Konoha." Tsunade told him fiercely. Her eyes narrowed warningly as she folded her hands beneath her chin. "So if you so much as place one toe out of line…I mean it, Lee. Don't embarrass me." Lee immediately straightened up and put his hand up in a salute. "Yes ma'am." He started to turn, so he could get ready and leave for his mission as soon as possible. But Tsunade called him back. "Lee! Wait, there are a few ground rules." She claimed hurriedly. "First, everyone knows how..'sensitive' Gaara is. Don't get him mad. The sooner you remember hpw short a fuse he has, the better.." She glanced to his previously broken leg pointedly. "Second, you will have your own office, but are to report to the Kazekage daily. He will need to know of your progress, and if there are any troubles. Third...I'm sure I don't need to tell you this...no Shukaku talk. That's as taboo as someone mentioning the fact you have no jutsu. I'm sure It would just upset him. You shouldn't have to see Gaara except for business, and he likes his privacy...so don't bug him. We all know how exuberant you are. I think that should be it..." Tsunade said glancing down at the papers on her desk. "And Lee? Good luck." She added, rubbing at her temples in irritation. "I fear you may need it."Lee saluted again and turned to leave the office. He walked out, thinking about his mission. 'A liasion?' For Suna?' he pondered. He started walking to his house...he had to pack everything if he was to leave right away. He opened his door, and saw Gai-sensei there. In his house. Gai Sensei noticed Lee coming through the door and grabbed him in a bone crushing hug. "Well?" he asked. He had known Lee would get a mission...but what kind he had no clue. So Lee sat down and talked to him. He explained about his specific orders, and that he had to leave right away. Gai sensei looked at his student with tears shining in his eyes before he turned and walked to the door. "Well, I had to let you go sometime. You couldn't stay my student forever...could you? I'll let you get to packing now, just say good-bye before you leave." Gai requested walking out the gaped after him. He heard the door close behind Gai, and snapped his mouth shut. "Right. That's enough. I've got work to do." He told himself. He headed to his bedroom, holding a khaki backpack...he had to pack months of clothing in one backpack? 'Man, this will be more difficult than I thought.' He speculated. He went into his closet and grabbed as many green suits as he had. The only clothes he wore. He headed into the kitchen to fill some water bottles, and pack some fruit. It was healthy and sweet, and..'That should be the best thing when your traveling...it will help me replenish my energy quickly.' He thought triumphantly. He had everything...food, clothes, water. Even his weights and legwarmers. He walked out the door to go say goodbye to Gai-Sensei. He got to his sensei's house, hoping to make this a quick goodbye. Lee really hated saying goodbye. So fast was best for everyone. Fortunately, it had to be fast. Gai was also heading out the door. He had been called to Tsunade's office. As soon as Lee said his goodbye's to everyone, he headed outside the village gates, and started sprinting to Suna. He ran full speed... The sooner he got there...the sooner he could get to reached Sunagakure by the next nightfall, but was so exhausted, he felt like he was about to collapse. But he saw Kankuro walking in his direction and straightened up. "Hey, man. You know you're early...right?" Kankuro drawled out lazily, leaning against a pillar of stone.
. Lee scratched his head and grinned. "A test of endurance...thats all. But I'm here. Early is better than late, right?" Lee explained. Kankuro looked at him as though he had suddenly sprouted feelers from his head. "I suppose. Let me show you your office." Kankuro turned and started walking up a massive stairwell leading to the main towers of Suna. They walked past five office rooms before they came to a vacant and elegant office. "This ones Gaara's. If something comes up, you'll have to see him. I don't know anything about his Kazekage duties, so don't come to me with problems. I'm just a guard. And his brother." Kankuro explained, smiling faintly. They kept walking...past two more offices....until they got to Lee's. It was smaller and less cushy than the others...but Lee loved it. For him, it was roomy. He didn't need a lot of space. He turned to thank Kankuro, but he had already sat at his desk, looking around the room. He got up to make himself a cup of tea. When he put his tea on the desk, he sat to drink it and look over some papers, but promptly fell asleep at his desk. The next morning, he awoke with the sun. He opened his eyes in disorientation. He momentarily forgot where he was as he rubbed at his eyes groggily. But he remembered when he heard Temari's voice down the hall. He groaned as his muscles started to complain about getting so little rest. Ignoring the pain, he looked at his desk. There was a paper that hadn't been there the night before. It was a paper he had to fill out as a liasion for the villages. He sighed and filled in the lines. It took him fifteen minutes to do...some questions were rather difficult. But he finished and took a drink of his tea from last night. His stomach growled in response. 'No time for nourishment.' He answered back scoldingly, only then mentally chastising himself for talking to his body. What next? Was he going to end up starting a conversation with a wall?
He got up, planning on taking the form to the Kazekage. But as he opened the door, he saw Gaara walking past the office, his Kazekage hat in his hand, and looking tired. Lee immediately looked at the Kazekage's head. 'Still short, but not as much.' Lee noted amused. 'I guess that's what three years will do to you. Although he still has the same red messy hairstyle he's always had.' Lee added to himself in thought. Gaara hadn't noticed Lee yet, so Lee went walking after him. "Um..Gaa—I mean Kazekage-sama?" Lee said softly. He didn't want to startle Gaara. The kazekage turned around, the tired look on his face gone. He had a look of impassiveness on his face. Lee started to sweat. It was only three years ago that Gaara had broken his arm and leg. But then again, he had also saved his life once. Lee had forgiven him for the chunin exams...and now was not the time to be scared. He narrowed his eyes in determination. "I have to give you this paper, Gaara. It's a form for being a go-between." Lee explained. Gaara looked at him with a searching gaze. He had the type of eyes that can pierce straight through to your soul. Lee tried not to blink.
"I know what paper it is. I was told you arrived last night...so I dropped it off for you. But you were already asleep." Gaara explained emotionlessly, though there was a trace of amusement at the edges. Or was that Lee's imagination? "Perhaps the next tiem, Rock Lee, you should take some rest before going straight to work. I need the strongest, hardest working men. Not ones bound to collapse as soon as they get here."
Lee turned red. After all the times he had bragged about his pain tolerance...about his speed superiority...it seemed his body had been too fatigued to go on longer than necessary last night. "Um, yeah. Well, thanks for dropping off the…the paper... I filled it out, and I have to get back to my desk. I have others." Lee answered handing the form over to Gaara.
"Lee." Gaara replied in a politely commanding tone. "The papers can wait. Get some proper rest. You have an apartment on the other side of the village. I know no one had told you about it yet...but it's fully furnished, and you need to rest your body before doing any more work." Gaara ordered him. Lee started to object, but the Kazekage was gone before he could say anything.
Lee started heading over to his newly acquired apartment. It wasn't as far as Gaara had led Lee to believe. In fact, if he looked out his window, he could see the Kazekage office. He looked, and started to turn away from the window. But he stopped when he saw Gaara in his office. Lee noted how Gaara looked tired and drawn. And lonely. Lee was still looking into the office, when he collapsed from exhaustion. He decided he should make it to his bed...and he vowed to check in on Gaara later. Lee fell asleep thinking about all the changes that were sure to come...living in a desert...so much of a change from the lush forests he was used to. Lee felt his eyes drifting closed, and felt himself fall into a drowsy slumber.