Sakura met Lee everyday in the hospital after the Chunin exams. She wanted to beat Gaara in revenge for what happened to Lee but with the way they fought, there was no way she could beat him. Although he didn't win the fight, sakura thought Lee was amazing the way he used his fighting skills. He was so close to beating Gaara and would have won if Gaara didn't cheat. And Lee did all of that with out using ninjitsu or genjitsu! Sakura stopped at Yamanaka's flower shop to pick out fresh flowers for Lee's hospital room. She would do this everyday and visit with Lee to make him happy, which he wasn't really since he couldn't train with shatterd bones, but after seeing Sakura, he felt just a little better. He liked the attention Sakura gave him but felt it wasn't genuine or was out of pitty. Today when,sakura visited Lee, she asked him something he wanted to hear for years...
"Go on a date with me, Lee!" Sakura managed to say only woth a sour look on her face. Lee's heart skipped a beat but he knew she didn't mean it.
"Sakura, you don't have to do this. I don't want you to pitty me. I want you to date me only of you really want to."
"Lee, after all the things you did for me, I want to give it a chance. I want to go on a date with you!"
After hearing this, Lee felt his face heat up and his heart started to race. "I'll make this the best date you've ever been on, Sakura!"
"We'll that should be easy since this is my first date..." Sakura said shyly.
"You won't regret this!" Lee said. "Meet me at the pagoda park tomorrow!"
After Sakura agreed and left his hospital room, Lee spent the rest of the afternoon planning his date. When Gai-sensei came to visit soon after Sakura left, He was so excited that his pupil finally had a date with a girl. He knew that Lee's fighting skills would surely attract the ladies and the Chunin exams was the best way to show them off, so he helped Lee plan.
"You can borrow one of my old suits, Lee! That'll really impress her!" Gai told him. "Make sure you don't goof this up. Take it slow and treat her well. If she's still unsure, don't try to kiss her on the first date."
"First? You mean there will be a second??" Lee said astonished. He thought one was a fluke but a second date! That would be his dream.
"She might even be your girlfriend if you play the game right." Gai said.
"The game?" Lee asked. "I didn't know dating was a game."
"It's not! You should never play with a girl's heart, Lee! But you should play your cards right." Gai advised.
"Oh, so it's a card game?" Lee said confused. Gai wasn't making any sense.
"Just be yourself, Lee and treat her like a special friend but don't assume she's your girlfriend!" Gai said. "Sakura is a fragile girl and it seems like she hasn't made up her mind about you yet so proceed with caution! And try to show feats of strength while you're with her to impress her but don't strain yourself! Show her you're not all that crippled!"
"Thank you Gai-sensei. You're so wise!! Why don't you have a girlfriend?" Lee asked.
"HaHa! My boy, because the love from my students is the only love I need!" Gai said. "Enjoy your date Lee!"
The next morning Lee left early to the park wearing one of Gai's old suits. It was green like his training uniform and fit him surpisingly well. Lee was a little embarassed to take his crutches. He wanted to look strong in front of Sakura but he couldn't walk on his leg just yet. Sakura took a little extra time getting ready. She brushed her hair more than usual and put it up in a ribbion. She also picked out a red summer dress to wear that complimented her. She also grabbed a matching cloth purse with embroiderd pink sakura flowers. Her mother was excited to see her daughter go on a date, with such a strong ninja. Surely she would be protected is any danger came their way.
"Stop fussing, mom!" Sakura insisted. "I'm fine"
"Oh, but your dress wrinkled! and look at you, you cheeks have no blush on them! And you could use some fragrant perfume, I can't smell you at all!" Her mother fussed.
"I'm going now, mom!" Sakura calles, heading out the door.
"Mind your manner and remember to be a young lady, Sakura!" Her mother said to her.
Lee sat on a bench waiting for Sakura to arive. He was holding a single rose in his hand for her. He started getting nervous hoping he wouldn't mess things up. Sakura arrived soon after Lee.
"Wow, you look beautiful!" Lee complimemtes her.
"You look surprisingly handsome as well, Lee." Sakura said. Lee blushed all the way up to his ears.
"Uhh.. this is for you." Lee said handing her the single rose wrapped in a pink ribbon. Sakura used the ribbon to tie the rose to her wrist like a corsage. The flower matched her dress nicely and the ribbon matched her hair.
"Thank you, Lee. It's lovely." Sakura complimented.
"There's a place I want to take you. It's a special place with an extrodinary surprise! But it's a little ways out of the village so I hope ypu don't mind." Lee said.
"Show me the way!" Sakura said with a smile on her face.
The two walked out of the village much further than Sakura expected. If she knew it would be this far, she wouldn't have worn her sandals. However, she tried her best not to complain. Lee lead her into the forest where they walked a little further.
"It may seem like I'm lost, but I know this path very well!" Lee assured. "We're almost there."
Sakura followed Lee through thick vines to reveal a ... butterfly paradise!
"Amazing!" Skaura said as she watched many types of butterflys swarm around her. Many landed on her head and arms.
"They think you smell nice!" Lee said.
Sakura was glad her mother made her wear that flowery perfume. She smilled with joy that the butterflys gave her. The two sat on a tree stump and watched the butterflys fly to the flowers on the trees. The whole part of the forest smelt fragrant with flowers that the butterflys were attracted to.
"I'm glad you brought me here, Lee." Sakura said. Lee was happy that their date was going so well. "Do you mind if I come back here on my own?"
"Of course. Just don't tell too many people about this place." Lee said. "If too many people start comming, they might scare the butterflys away."
"I just want to come here alone sometimes. It's so peacful and a perfect place to meditate." Sakura said.
When mid-day came, Lee and Sakura walked back to the village. The two ate icecream, Lee had strawberry because he liked the pink of Sakura's hair. In fact it was his favorite color. Sakura had lime because it wad green like Lee's fancy suit. They thought it was funny to have matching colors.
"We look like a real couple." Lee said.
"A-a couple!! Haha! No way!" Sakura laughed nervously. "Let's get some lunch!"
The two walked into a small resturant amd ordered shabu-shabu. It was a nice meal to share and Lee would usually scarf down all the food, held back and acted like a gentleman.
"I will cover the tab." Lee said.
"Let me pay for half." Sakura insisted. "I asked you on the date after all.
"You can pay tip." Lee said.
"Then it'll be the best darn tip they ever got!" Sakura said slapping twenty dollars on the table.
"Was this fun, Sakura?" Lee asked
"I've had a really great time, Lee." Sakura said. You're not all that cute but you're so sweet and you make me laugh.
"Let me walk you home." Lee offered.
"That would be really nice." Sakura said, secretly not wanting the date to end.
On their way home Sakura thought about the day with the butterflys and the icecream as pink as her hair, and even the shabu-shabu lunch they shared together. She really had a fun time and she liked all the attention she got from Lee.
"Halt right there!" A mysterious weirdo in a mask shouted blocking their path. "Hand over all your money and the girl!"
Lee recognized the voice to be Gai-sensei. "What are you doing here, sensei?" Lee asked.
"W-what! I'm not your sensei!" I"m petty theif here to steal your cash and your girl, unless you can stop me!"
Lee looked confused at the mysterious weirdo who he thought was Gai. "Oh, feats of strength!"
"What?" Sakura questioned even more confused. She didn't have any weapons on her and Lee was in no condition to fight. They couldn't run either because Lee wouldn't be able to catch up in crutches so Sakura assumed a fighting stance. She would have to defeat this weirdo herself.
"Stay back, Sakura!" Lee said. "I've got this!" Lee dropped his crutches and did a hobble run at his disguised sensei. Lee kicked with his good leg which sent the "robber" flying back. He looked back to Sakura to see if she was impressed but she just ran at him beating up Gai.
"How dare you pick on a crippled boy, you bastard! You ruined my date!!" She shouted.
"Sakura, I think he had enough!!" Lee said.
The mysterious weirdo ran away from Sakura crying uncle.
"What amazing strength Sakura has when she's angry!" Gai thought to himself.
"Lee! Are you okay?" Sakura asked handing him back his crutches.
"I could have taken him on!" Lee assured her. "But I've never seen you fight like that! It was amazing!"
"Naruto brings it out of me often so I get alot of practice." Sakura said. "Were almost to my house now. Thank you for everything, Lee." She kissed his cheek. Lee blushed a deep red color. "Would you like to go on another date with me next week?"
"Y-yeah! Of course!" Lee said excited.
"Well then. I'll see you next week." Sakura said before going inside her house.
"Well done!" A beat up Gai jumped out of the bushes. "You did wounderfully! You even got a kiss!"
"Ahh!! Sensei,you were watching!?" Lee screamed.
"The whole day!" Gai said. "Let's prepare you for your next date!"