And back to PG ratings... I found this hilarious, and hope you will as well. :)

I don't own Naruto or any of the characters.

Springtime of Youth

Gai watched the green leaf and blossom on his team as they hurried around the rented room, retrieving their damp clothing. If he hadn't caught snippets of their exchange the night before, he would have missed the weight behind their rose-tinted cheeks, and assumed it was only because they had woken up curled together beneath the covers.

Ah, to be young again!

Of course, he had expected that his youthful lotus would blossom with Neji at some point, but not while they were all on a mission together, and certainly not with the Hyuuga prodigy letting his guard so far down. Who knew that Neji had such passion, such gentleness with their Tenten!

Of course, Gai had had nagging suspicions that Neji did possess such qualities deep within him. All he had needed was the right catalyst and sunshine for these qualities to take root.

As for Lee, his precious student... His time for romance had not come to fruition yet. He sincerely hoped that Lee would never lose his burning optimism, despite how that Sakura girl turned him down repeatedly. Someday, the right flower would come along and appreciate all of Lee's youthfulness and hard work, and Lee would be all the happier for persevering.

Speaking of Lee, the green leaf had just spotted the color on Tenten's cheeks, and he was wasting no time in complimenting her beauty. "Ah, Tenten! It seems that our night in the inn has restored all your youthfulness! Your cheeks are as pink as the cherry blossoms in spring!"

Across the room, hovering just where Gai was, Neji tidied his supply pack, pointedly ignoring Lee's chatter. Tenten's blush had deepened into a fetching shade of crimson. Gai tugged his vest on and checked that all his equipment was intact, before stepping discreetly next to the Hyuuga. "Ah, Neji," he started in an undertone. "I trust that you remembered the use of, ah, protection, in your passionate dance with our lovely flower."

Neji's head snapped right up, shock plastered across his features. His shoulders tensed. Deep red splashed across his face; lilac eyes burned in a glare. "How- We did nothing of the sort."

Gai lifted his eyebrows, casting his student a sidelong glance. Neji was yielding more emotion than he had ever seen. Tenten's effect on his youth was certainly unparalleled. "I am concerned about our lotus, that is all."

It seemed as if Neji was attempting to find the right words while keeping his temper in check. After all, no one, especially not a genius, liked to be told that he'd slipped up. "I have not compromised Tenten," Neji ceded after a long pause. "This is none of your business."

"So it isn't," Gai agreed. It did, however, please him greatly to see the changes Tenten had wrought in Neji. By focusing his tutelage on Lee, the remaining two pupils had drawn closer, giving their lives more meaning than Gai could ever have hoped to achieve by taking them under his wing. "I entrust our lovely flower into your hands, Neji. Don't fail me."

"I won't." Pale eyes bore into Gai's back as he made his way to the entrance of the room, where Lee and Tenten were involved in a youthful discussion about pink cheeks.

He gave Tenten's shoulder a light pat. She turned to look at him, and he returned the gaze meaningfully. "So you have blossomed in the night, our beautiful flower!"

Her jaw dropped. Tenten gaped at him, mortified. Behind, Neji's stare burned inconsequential holes into his back. Gai grinned at his students, the young leaves and flower that he'd watched grow through the years. "Let us continue towards Konoha! If we don't make it back in one day, we'll run a thousand laps around the village!"

Lee cheered and dashed out the door. "Yes, Gai-sensei! You have the best ideas ever!"

Gai began jogging on the spot to warm up, angling a look at his two remaining students. "Neji! Tenten! Let's get moving now, don't let your springtime of youth go to waste!" He gave them a Nice Guy pose when they remained rooted to the spot. "And don't forget, always use protection in your dance of passion!"

That got them tearing after him at breakneck speed. Yosh!