Character: Lee
Rating: K
For Rock Lee, it was all instinct, and it took him by surprise.
Usually, he was regimented by sharp discipline, strict training schedules in between daily training exercises and more training. Gai-sensei's rules were tough, and elaborate, and generally spontaneous, but nonetheless encouraging. Five-hundred sit-ups must be accomplished before breakfast, another five hundred after, followed by twenty-five laps around the village and then fifteen on his hands... and the list went on.
With Neji as commander instead of their teacher, he intended to listen just as fully and with as much conviction. "Return to this spot," Neji had instructed, but for the first time in a long time, Lee found himself unable to comply.
On the far side of a small clearing, she knelt, guarding with her own life the precious people hidden in the thick roots of an enormous tree.
Lee knew in a single glance that, not only did she have no chance of defending the two boys, but she was frightfully aware of this fact, and refused to move despite. Her muscles tensed with the knowledge that she could not protect her teammates, even though they'd protected her countless times before.
He hadn't thought about it at the time, but later he figured she'd be grateful of the help, and return the favor (at least that's what he told Tenten so the brunette would stop shaking him). Oh, and his promise! Of course, that was the biggest factor that drove him from the boughs, into the path of danger. She was his precious person to save, just as Naruto and Sasuke were her's.