-Chapter 2: I Live to Protect-

Lee took his footwear off at the door and closed the entrance to his home. He looked at the counters of his house, to see that they were unkempt and dusty-looking. Not to mention the picture frame that held the picture of Team Gai. He took this first chance to clean them, to help keep this newly issued task off his mind. Once they were back to their original dust-free state, he seized a seat.

He took another look at the letter, reading over it briefly.

'Sakura-san.'

Lee remembered when he was still in physical therapy, and Sakura had given him the bouquet of flowers. This thought was interrupted, however, by a knock on the door. He quickly sprung up and opened it. It was Gai.

"Ah, Lee! I've heard you're well once again!" he said, showing his usual grin, sparkle and all. "Youthful and handsome as ever, I see!"

"Good day, Gai-sensei!" Lee struck his saluting pose as he usually would when greeting his teacher.

Gai stole a look inside the house, noticing that the counters were clean, and had a hint of lemon scent to them.

"Excellent work, Lee. By the looks of things, you're as energetic as always!"

Lee smiled to himself; Gai was like a father to him. He then was tempted to look back on the chair he was sitting on earlier; to see the note he left there. "Do you mind if I ask you something, Gai-sensei?"

The instructor gazed at his pupil with a curious face. "What is it, then? Need some tips on becoming as strong and handsome as me?" he said, half-joking.

"Not exactly." He quickly thought of a way to brief the letter that Naruto had issued. "You see, I have been asked to protect somebody dear to me; somebody whom I'd give my life to keep safe. But, I am not sure how exactly I should go about doing this, or how she would react to my actions. So, my question is: How do I protect the one I love?" Lee blushed momentarily, realizing what he had just said. There was one side of him who couldn't believe what the boy had just said. But, there was the other half who felt glad at Lee for asking this.

Gai marveled at his student. "Oh, Lee! You've finally come of age! I though I'd never see the day!" Waterfalls of joy ran down sensei's face.

Gai then went back to being his confident self, wearing the usual smile on his face. "If you want to protect her, then go. Run to her and never look back. Just don't mess up your hair." Gai struck the Nice Guy Pose at Rock Lee shortly afterwards.

The Green Beast replied with a pose of his own, nearly mirroring Gai. "Alright, Gai-sensei. I will take your advice! I, from now on, live to protect the person precious to me! Thank you for your advice!"

Gai laughed. "Well then, Lee. I must be off! I've yet to defeat Kakashi in our ongoing competition!"

Lee saluted Gai once more. "Farewell, Gai-Sensei! Best of luck to you in your endeavors!"

Gai bid farewell to his pupil, and vanished in a poof of smoke. The lad in green felt much better now, now that he knew how to confront Sakura. He closed the door behind him, and walked over to the picture of Team Gai. He was confident that Gai-sensei's advice would prove successful.

'The Lotus of Konoha always blooms twice. I will prove that I have become a stronger shinobi, Sakura.' He said this to himself, wishing she could hear what he had just vowed to do.