Rock Lee V.S. Hyuuga Neji

Circa Chuunin Exam Preliminaries

By AUNAO

"I will pierce your ultimate defense, Neji-kun!"

Lee's fist held upright, erect with intensity that was almost visible – or was it anticipation? Surely it was so. He had been waiting for this fight for as long as he could remember. How many times had Neji humiliated him in the past? Not to mention that Naruto and Sasuke were watching. Lee wanted to prove he could do it, that he was a bad dude, too. He couldn't look bad in front of the guys. He had to be beautiful, to be cool.

Neji held his ridiculously cocky family stance. Even in the face of the beautiful green beast himself, his confidence was unwavering. "Don't you understand, Lee?" Neji began. "Inside of my castle, I am safe and warm. Nothing can penetrate my heavenly body!"

"Nothing, you say?" Lee spat. "I believe you are quite mistaken, Neji-kun! If there is anything that can pierce your defense, it is a springtime burst… of explosive youth!"

Rock Lee began to charge at Neji. By the look in his stupid creepy eyes, Lee knew he hadn't been expecting such white hot intensity on Lee's part. Would he finally be defeated? Would his dreams come true?

Charging me head on? He's so stupid. It was a foolish attempt. Admittedly, Lee was quicker than he had been in previous encounters, but he was still no match for the famed Hyuuga genius, Hyuuga Neji! Still, he supposed it was cute. Didn't he always think that about Lee? He wondered why he had always been so hard on his teammate. Sooner or later, someone would see through his pseudo-Communist ravings and call him out for it.

Then again, I guess I know why… Yeah, he did. It makes you feel big. What better way to improve your confidence than picking on someone weaker than you? Lee was his whipping boy, and as much as he hated to admit it, he got off on that kind of thing. Beating Lee made him feel powerful. He… oh, God, that's right! Lee!

Almost caught up in his daydreaming, Neji barely avoided Lee's charging attack. Yet he didn't go entirely unscathed. Lee's punch would have been powerful had it connected, but he managed to avoid taking any damage. However, as he leaped back to avoid a further barrage from Lee, he realized Lee had torn his shirt off! Blushing furiously, Neji swore an oath of revenge. He won't embarrass me like this. It isn't my destiny to be ridiculed. That's the destiny of a born loser like Lee.

Lee wasn't sure how to feel.

He figured his attack must have been so quick that Neji hadn't even had time to activate his Kaiten. Or was he paralyzed with fear at Lee's newfound courage and ability? It was hard to read him because of those idiotic catatonic eyes. And he did manage to avoid the attack, albeit at the expense of his shirt.

Neji's lithe, muscular chest and arms gleamed in the passive light of the exam stage. Lee felt another tinge of excitement, starting in his legs and making its way steadily to his spine. He was visibly excited. Neji would have to accept that rock hard work could compensate for a lack of born ability. He couldn't deny it!

Lee pumped his arms, eagerly awaiting his second strike at the now bare-chested Hyuuga prodigy. Even if he couldn't strike his opponent's flesh, he would remove a lot more than his shirt this time. Yeah, a lot more. It was a promise to Gai-sensei.

Somewhere in the stands, he heard the sound of a spectator fainting.