Chapter 21. One Last Report.
The sun was retreating to his sleeping quarters when Gai, tossing a scroll between his hands, knocked the Hokage's door. As he was invited to come in, his smile grew wider.
- I imagine you are here to report on your team. Did you have as much trouble as I had foretold you?
- Not at all, Hokage-sama! Not at all! They are a nice trio of students, youthful, bright and eager to learn!
The Third Hokage concealed a smile by lowering his head.
- All of them? Or one in special?
- Meaning? – Gai was momentarily puzzled out of his happiness.
- Was Lee any surprise to you?
Surprise. Good way to put it. He was simply puzzled at the boy, yet there was no mistaking him. Save for the short hair, he was the spitting image of the dying Rock Feng. Still, the test... that was a surprise.
- Maybe I can say he was.
Sandaime puffed slowly the smoke from the pipe. – I guess Ninkame told you that the boy was to be sealed to prevent any damage from the encounter with the Tailed One.
- Bu-but... but he said he wasn't.
- Rock Lee has been treated since you left him in the carecenter to prevent her mother's blood trait. Yes, I know about that too, Ninkame told me and Lingu-Shi did, too. She was worried about others taking care of his offspring, precisely because of the dark heritage of her blood.
Gai stood in silence. His hands were clenched, as he listened, almost guessing what would come next.
- That was the reason why we took him from you. I thought that you would oppose to the severe treatment, sealing, medicines and shots we had to apply him. That kid hates medicines, shots and nurses with all his might, being a child he was unaware they probably saved him from erupting and killing someone... perhaps even you.
Silence crept through the room. The jounin's eyes were lowered. Lee's eyes had shown him hope, frustration, anger, impotence, blind determination, but never hatred, killing intent or hate.He replied slowly – I would not have opposed, if it was for his well-being...
-But that's not all. We knew, from the first exams, that Lee was completely unable to send chakra to form hand seals, yet, with effort, he can mould and send it through his body.
- Sure... this makes him a peculiar student... the simplest ninjutsu and genjutsu are practically out of his reach.
- Exactly. And you're the Konoha jounin who needs less of those jutsus to complete your work. You reported to me that this boy has taken enormous efforts to have a decent level at taijutsu. But Genin have a short and difficult life... you know it.
- Of course, but this young man has guts, the thing I admire most... He really wants to achieve his goal. I will keep an eye on him... besides, he quite reminds me of myself when I was a youthful little beast...
Sandaime Hokage rose from his seat, holding his pipe. The tobacco poerfume filled the room as he delivered the main point home to Gai.
- I need you to do something for me, Gai
- Whatever, Hokage-sama, tell me...
- You're less eager than twelve years ago, huh? – Sarutobi Sandaime replied affectionatedly – Well, I am calling a test period on your group. I need you to keep tabs on Lee, and detail in full his first five missions. Just to know if he's ready to live a genin's life, and if the sealing he has endured has damaged his mind or hindered his reasoning. He may not be a bijuu holder, but the scars of being hit by one can be as traumatic as holding him in your body. Everything clear?
Hand-raised, Maito Gai made it clear that yes, he was.
- I will... do as you wish, Hokage-sama. But I can tell you myself: that kid is strong-willed and an overachiever as yours truly... you do not need to worry.
Sandaime Hokage laughed, as the last rays of the sun stopped warming Konoha.
- You're the same always. Here's your first mission with your group. I expect, this time, a fuller report than before. After all, he has outgrown toddler age, and is now, formally, a shinobi from the Leaf.
As the seal stamped Lee's ninja number in his book, Gai looked outside. His ears catched counting, not very far away, and he decided to give his little overachiever an early treat.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Five hundreds and ninety... five hundreds and ninety-one...
Lee was doing push-ups, as always... Gai stepped in, hands on hips, and the Genin almost fell over.
- What are you doing here? – Edgy tone, the test result surely had had an effect on him - ... five hundreds and ninety two... five hundreds and ninety-three...
- Nothing. I came to give you this. – Gai shook the little mission book in front of Lee's nose, who squinted, blinked and jumped up. – Hokage-sama signed it. You are a genin now, and I am your sensei.
That wasn't a trick. It was sealed, signed, everything was in good order. Lee watched Gai's smiling face speechlessly. But the test...
- First rule... you shouldn't run away before I finish explaining things. And second rule, you should believe in me when I tell you something. Do not be angry with yourself, now you're a Genin and no one can deny it... it's more than many of your fellow students can say.
Lee bowed his head politely. He was lost for words but managed to voice an "Arigato Gozaimasu" in a low tone. Gai replied by bowing his head, too, and smiled.
- If you finished your training, you should wash and get some sleep. Our first mission comes tomorrow.
As the boy nodded again, thanked him again and ran home, Gai could see those big, round eyes were alight. Maybe, he thought, he likes the missions as much as I do. He dashed away, to stop only at a point in the outskirts of Konoha. He wiped clean a small column, traced with kanji, took incense out of his pouchbag, lit it and joined his hands to pray.
Lee is the mission I received twelve years ago. If only he knew... It isn't over yet and hopefully, I will accomplish it with success. So I can write Hokage-sama a report... but before, I promise I will come here and read it to you... so you will be proud of your shinobi son – Gai's fingers caressed the Kanji over the column - ...Feng-san, Lingu-Shi-san, this is my promise of a lifetime.
END
I will continue the series with the following fanfics. I want to thank the patience and the reviews, as I want to explain some parts.
Reisetsu Han Purple no jutsu (Cold Han Purple) was taken from the funerary statues of the Chinese Han dynasty, covered in this pigment. It turns into 2D with low temperatures – hence, I created the story of the Pond ninja using them to become shadows.
The part about Lee's hair was an ancient costume in China, where long-haired boys were showing they were adults in that way.
Lee is commonly believed to be Chinese, so his parents have chinese names (Feng means sword, Ling-Si means clever) Fengu-San and Lingu-Shi san are their Japanese pronounciation, just as Rock Lee is Rokku-Ri. Same with Lee's caretaker Qing, which is roughly Kingu-san in Japanese.
Gai's 'bell' test will appear in some fics later on, don't worry.
I am happy to have finished this one up, although it took me long. Oh, and found a similar fic start today, but I haven't read it before today, less before starting mine, I swear... if anyone wants to check, it's www.