A.N. I don't know if I like this chapter, but it has the content that I needed was here, and I couldn't figure out any better way to do it. This one reintroduces Rock Lee, but also briefly introduces young Naruto.

Disclaimer: Somehow typing this 10 times in a day made me not feel like doing it anymore. orz Yes I have chapters lined up for the next few days- its currently still Tues the 24th c:

Ch 3: Dedication, Friendship, Bullies, and all the in betweens.

The first thought in Gai's mind, ever the taijutsu master, was this: Someone was either sabotaging or severely neglecting this child's taijutsu, and that made him furious.

The second thought was a (MANLY) squeal of both pure joy and utter horror. HE WASN'T READY TO BE A FATHER! The child, as was mentioned was nearly identical to him as a child, but with longer hair and tattered clothing.

Reason filtered in then- there was no possible way he could have fathered this boy. As he reasoned this out, he grew distracted, and it was a shout followed by a grunt of pain that he drew his attention back.

"Weak dead last! Why don't you go running home to your mommy, and stop trying to be a pathetic loser ninja!" the bully sneered, in a mocking voice, punching him in the face. As the boy lay there, he was kicked, bruised and battered. "Oh that's right! You don't have a mommy!" And with a sickening laugh, the group of boys that came with the lead bully swaggered away, the bully giving one last kick to his ribs.

Gai had heard one rib crack, and immediately had decided to interfere, but before he could, the demon container, a young Uzumaki Naruto, slipped, surprisingly quietly to the young boys side.

"I'm sorry.." Naruto wept, turning the young man over on his back from where he was curled, carefully. "If the teachers had taught you.. I should stop being our friend! They do it cuz you always stand up for me!" Naruto finished miserably, snot trailing down his face with the tears.

"Its not Youthful to abandon ones Friends," the boy said, pushing himself up painfully. He flashed an earnest smile at Naruto, his eyes black and swollen and teeth marred with bloody spit from his split lip. "Being a Rock for my Friends is my Ninja Way!"

The boy, Lee, Gai realized, gave Naruto a shaking thumbs up. At this, Gai approached. "Well said, Lee!" Gai cried out. Lee looked up surprised, jerking in pain, before a wide smile crossed his face.

"Gai-san!" Lee greeted, pushing himself painfully to his feet, wobbling. Gai assisted him, holding him up carefully.

"Young Naruto, I'm going to take your Youthful Friend to get his Wounds tended!" Gai explained, relief crossing Naruto's face

"Thank you!" Naruto said, wiping his face and giving his friend a wobbly smile. When they left his sight, his smile fading into a miserable expression. "Take care of him," Naruto whisper, disappearing into the the street.

After being mended, Gai offered to train Lee, and Lee accepted on one condition; If Naruto could come too.

But the next day, at the Academy, Naruto was gone. The teacher gleefully announced The Menace had been transferred to a lower grade, having attempted to take the genin exam, and failing.

Lee wouldn't see his best friend Naruto for years, the boy having amazing avoidance skills, until his first chunin exam.

A.N. This would be the year before Lee's genin exam, so meeting Naruto again will be a two year time skip.