Updatin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.
I wrote this chapter up today just so I could make that joke.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! Please direct your squads of lawyers somewhere else.
The enemy seemed familiar.
Realization seeped slowly into Lee's mind, looking into the dark eyes of his foe.
The two enemies circled around each other, with each combatant feeling the balance of power shift slightly every moment.
Lee would feel the crunch of gravel beneath his sandals, and would try to calculate the odds of being able to kick up enough pebbles to distract his opponent.
The enemy was doing the same thing. Crystalline intelligence shone through Kenta's blackened eyes, and they flickered with menace every time some environmental situation seemed to give him an upper hand.
The first move in most taijutsu conflicts was the one that would decide victory, but a false start would give the opponent a clear window to avoid that critical blow and land one of his own. Lee refused to let this person set the rhythm of this fight.
Kenta suddenly surged forward.
Lee jerked backwards, giving himself as much reaction time as possible. His opponent mimicked his action, stepping backwards and out of the dashing motion.
Lee understood; the enemy was testing the waters, testing the minute differences in speed and technique that would ultimately decide the outcome of this battle.
Not to be outdone, Rock Lee threw up his fists and slid forward himself, twisting at the waist and pushing his weight into a solid right straight.
Kenta absorbed the punch, catching Lee's quick fist in the palm of his hand. Lee's eyes widened in shock; he had underestimated his opponent.
Lee pulled back immediately, only to watch his enemy vanish. Lee scowled and spun around, waiting for a punch to come from somewhere around him.
"Don't take it personal; I wasn't there to begin with." Kenta taunted, with what Lee thought was an almost rueful tone of voice.
"I've not been there much at all." He said, crisply.
The voice came from behind, and Lee turned once more to face his enemy. Lee had simply struck at a mirage, a genjutsu illusion.
And the dam broke. Memories flooded in, and suddenly Lee knew who this man was. The long hair, the Sound village forehead protector...
"You're that ninja, aren't you? We've fought before." It was the genjutsu expert, the one who had managed to hospitalize Lee the last time they fought.
"You're wrong. This will be the first time we truly fight."
Lee nodded, peering over his white-knuckled fists at the disarmingly friendly enemy.
"You've definitely gotten stronger since the last time I saw you." Kenta said warmly. "It's been good to watch you grow over all the years."
"Stop it." Lee said, hopping to the side to deliver a sweeping kick. He wouldn't allow himself to be toyed with. Not again. It was clear that this ninja knew quite a bit about his life; some time ago he had imitated Sakura-chan and used his affections for the pinkette as bait.
The smirk returned to Kenta's face. "Make me," he breathed, ducking under one of Lee's powerful kicks.
"I intend to." Lee barked, enjoying the thrill of battle despite the consequences that defeat would bring.
Maito Gai had to make the conscious decision to avoid scratching at his eye-sockets in an attempt to relieve himself of the throbbing, searing pain that came from the open wounds.
Remaining conscious was an uphill battle in and of itself. Gai knew that he had a few canteens, as well as some basic-level medication to ease the pain. He could rest when he was safe. Dying now... It wouldn't be fair.
Life wasn't fair.
Kakashi had once shouted that at Gai. The copycat Nin had broken down following the death of his teammate Rin, and revealing the tender, easily bruised heart that he hid beneath his apathetic attitude.
The memories echoed around Gai's skull as his knees gave out once more. Once more, Neji heaved him back up onto his feet.
Life wasn't meant to be fair, Gai had retorted. Life was about doing the best you could with whatever was thrown your way.
Gai had then punched Kakashi as hard as he could, nearly dislocating his jaw.
"Getting hurt..." Gai began, speaking coolly despite himself, "...is part of the job. The important part is how well we pick ourselves back up."
Damn good advice, Gai thought to himself. Now it was his turn to taste his own medicine.
The campsite came into view. Neji breathed a sigh of relief, and Gai broke out into a wide, albeit tired, grin.
He would beat this. He would pick himself back up.
Fuelled by this new resolve, Gai and Neji made it to the little clearing where they had slept previously. Neji laid Gai down softly, careful not to kick up any dust into his wounds.
The Hyuuga, oblivious to proper medical practices, could only dab at Gai's torn eye-sockets with the dampened sleeve of one of Gai's many spare taijutsu outfits.
It stung.
Through clenched teeth, Gai informed his student that they would have to return to the battlefield.
Neji gently chided his teacher's ambitions. Lee would be able to handle himself.
Gai smiled, and nodded. Lee was turning into a hell of a boy.
Tenten was busy chewing on the loose skin that lay atop her index knuckle, and fretting over Lee's well being. She had fought Kenta herself; though she suspected that the Sound-nin was only just toying with her.
...Why? If he wanted the scroll, why wouldn't he have just taken it?
Why had he totally ignored Neji? After immobilizing Gai-sensei, he went straight to Tenten.
Just now, he had found the other entrance to the tunnel so effortlessly. Why hadn't he launched another offensive?
Tenten pinched the bridge of her nose, scrunching up her eyes in confusion. More and more unanswered—unanswerable—questions assaulted her mind.
Why... Why had that bird zipped off in Konoha's direction? Had it truly been some sort of miraculously convenient stray messenger bird?
The coincidence was almost too much to believe.
A knot had begun forming within Tenten's stomach. She stood up and began to pace.
The girl gulped a few times, trying to relieve the stress that was gnawing at her belly from the inside out.
What if the bird had been a plant? Something left by the enemy, that was to flutter into her hand and wait patiently to take a message straight to Konoha.
That still didn't make any sense. Even if the Sound-Nin could take on the finest shinobi Tsunade had at her disposal, what motive could he have in luring Konohagakure's ninjas here?
Tenten gulped once more, this time out of fear. All he had spoken of... was Lee. The same Lee had come all the way from a Hidden Leaf hospital. The same Lee was now fighting the enemy ninja.
Alone.
The girl gasped, and after mumbling a quick excuse to the villagers, decided to make the climb back up to the village. Back to Lee.
He may have been in more danger than he could imagine.
Rock Lee was beginning to tire. Blow after blow had been traded, with no clear victor appearing as of yet. Thankfully, he was able to see the tiredness show in and around his opponent's rounded eyes as well.
The verbal assault was heaviest.
The enemy ninja introduced himself to Lee as Nakagawa Kenta, and began to tell the story of Rock Lee.
He told Lee about the games he would play with the other children in the Village of the Hidden Leaf. He recited some of Lee's exuberant speeches, almost word for word.
He told Lee about his life before Lee was mature enough to latch onto memories; of the time Lee had been found, wrapped carefully, and wedged between boulders in a Konohagakure quarry. According to the Sound-Nin, it was a much-younger Maito Gai sensei who had located the screaming infant and carried him back to Konoha.
Kenta spoke softly as he recounted every passionate gaze given to and from Rock Lee, all whilst avoiding Lee's punches, and being avoided when it was time to counterattack.
He had been there all the while; a guardian angel of sorts; or at least someone to watch Lee's progression.
Eventually, Lee began to break down. He had lost the mental game. Kenta seized the opportunity that Lee's only mistake had opened up.
He slipped through Lee's defences, but instead of delivering the blow that would immobilize Lee, he stooped enough to wrap his arms around the taijutsu kid's waist. Lee awkwardly held his arms to his sides, feeling the warmth as this man pressed his cheek against his chest.
"You are my son. You are my son, Nakagawa Lee." the older man wept openly, repeating himself. "I am your father. You are my son."
Lee finally brought his hands around to return the embrace. It was an unrivalled feeling; to be held by a loving father.
Lee dipped his head down until his lips were inches away from his father's ear: "I'm sorry."
The Genin drove his kunai as deep as he could into his father's back. The pang of guilt that had welled up in his stomach ached like an old wound.
Kenta's gaze rose, until he was peering back into Lee's pitch-black eyes. "I'm sorry, too, son."
With those words, the apparition vanished once more.
Lee looked down with a hurt, confused gaze to see his own blood spilling out. He had impaled himself on his kunai.
As the light began to fade from Lee's eyes, he imagined that he saw Tenten's head poke up from the cliff. Lee twisted as he collapsed into his father's arms—the real one this time.
Nakagawa Kenta pulled Lee up to a position where he could lay across his arms, and carried him bridal style to the edge of the collapsed bridge.
He placed a loving kiss atop Lee's forehead, and after apologizing once more, leaped off into the forest.
Well then! The plot thickens! Heh!
[JuneGilbertVivianRaeven- Genma gets even less love than Shizune, I think. Between you and me, I don't think many people know who he is. :P
Glad to hear your flash drive found it's way back to you; it means I get to read your stuff sooner.
I guess we all get into ruts now and then. I think now I'm sufficiently fired up for a while, though.
If you've read this far, I suppose some of your questions are answered. You're right, last chapter was too short.
It's good that you're considering LeeTen seriously. For the sake of the story, I've checked my pairing preferences at the door, and I'm glad to see others do the same. :)
Thanks for the long-ass review, dude.]
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