'Sensei, we have to stop the fight!' Kaiya almost yelled. 'He's going to get killed!'

'Kaiya, it's alright. Calm down.' Guy tried to get the girl calm down but to no success.

She couldn't keep calm with the image that played before her. When Neji fought his cousin, she knew that, even though he had been still very cruel, the redhead boy fighting Lee was something else. Something so much worse.

On the arena, Lee stood up, full of scratches and breathing heavily as he put his arms in the form of an X. Neji frowned.

'Guy-sensei,' Neji addressed, 'Lee doesn't plan to...'

'I think he does, Neji.' Guy answered, worry accentuating in his eyes.

All of a sudden, the air around him began moving at great speed as the gravity around him seemed to change. After a few moments, chakra began to come out from his body and conjure him.

'Third gate of Life... open!' Lee said, his voice changing.

'Sensei, I thought Lee couldn't mould Chakra.' Kaiya said, narrowing her eyebrows.

'He can't.' Guy stated. 'This jutsu takes a lot of effort from him.'

'What jutsu is this?' Kaiya asked, after a few moments of silence.

'The Eight Gates.' Tenten answered.

That's when something in Kaiya's mind clicked and made a connection.

'I heard of that jutsu! But sensei, that's pure suicide!' Kaiya exclaimed. 'You wouldn't let Lee die, would you?'

She recalled hearing Lee and Guy talking about it a few times, but she never really gave it much importance. Guy stood silent for a while.

'Of course, I won't... and Lee won't die.' He said. 'Lee can open roughly four or five gates, and the caster won't die unless they use the eight gate.'

'I see...' Kaiya said, still watching the fight tense.

Even if he won't die, it still looks dangerous to use., she thought.

'Don't worry too much, Kaiya.' Guy attempted cheering her up. 'Lee's a capable ninja, you know that.'

Kaiya puffed in annoyment. 'I know that.'

'Fourth gate of pain, open!' Lee announced.

As he said that, his skin changed colour to red as his eyes turned white and pieces from the ground began breaking from the floor and began floating.

He leapt towards the redhead boy and, just as he did that, the entire floor broke. This time, Lee managed to kick the redhead boy without any obstacle. He then managed to throw the boy in the air and kick him multiple times without anyone being able to keep track of where he was.

'Amazing...' Kaiya mumbled.

With one last blow, Lee pushed the boy to the ground with all his power, making a cloud of dust arise. As the cloud cleared away, the redhead boy was on the ground surrounded by sand that probably attenuated his fall as Lee tried to get on his feet, obviously weakened and injured by the jutsu.

The redhead boy looked at Lee as he raised his right arm in his direction. As he did that, the sand around him began moving and taking the form of a hand, before making its way towards Lee, who was struggling standing up.

The sand eventually reached him and surrounded one of his legs and arm.

'Sand coffin.' The redhead said. 'Die!'

'Sensei!' Kaiya shrieked as a mass of sand hurried towards Lee.

She didn't need to say any more; just as the sand was about to hit Lee, Guy arrived just in time to dodge it. For a second, the density in the air was gone.

'Why... save him?' The redhead asked, confusion reading on his face.

For a second, Guy thought as he analyzed the boy.

'Because... he's an important subordinate of mine.' Guy eventually answered.

The redhead shook his head as he began walking away, leaving the proctor confused.

'The winner is Game-' The proctor didn't get to finish his sentence, as it seemed like the fight had yet to finish.

Behind Guy, Lee slowly stood up, raising his still usable hand as a sign that he was still ready to fight. Guy turned around to see him like that and was so shocked to see him as the boy like that, emotions took the nest of him.

'He's out of consciousness, isn't he?' Kaiya asked.

'Think so...' Tenten answered.

'The winner is Gaara.' The proctor eventually announced with a sigh.

Medical ninja hurried over to Lee to do some check-ups, and eventually, one of them sighed. Guy hurried to the group of ninja and asked, only for his face to drop in shock. After another few minutes, he eventually returned to his team.

'Will Lee be alright, Guy-sensei?' Tenten asked, worryingly.

Guy sighed as he bit his lip. 'He will. Not as good as he used to be... but alright. At least that.'

'What do you mean, sensei?' Kaiya tilted his head sideways.

'He... He won't be able to be a ninja anymore.' Guy said.

Kaiya felt like a slap hit her across the face. How was that even possible...?

It was about one week after the preliminaries, and Kaiya and Tenten were making their way to the hospital, carrying some flowers.

'I hope they allow Lee to go outside today.' Kaiya commented, enjoying the warm and sunny weather. 'It's a really nice day.'

'Yeah, pity that Neji didn't want to come with us, though.' Tenten said.

Kaiya shrugged. 'That's his problem.'

'Hey Kaiya, I want to ask you something.' Tenten said, slowing down the pace she was walking.

'Well, I hope it isn't about my family again. I told you everything you need to know for now.' Kaiya answered. 'Also... can you walk a bit faster, please? At that pace, by the time we're at the hospital, the flowers will be already wilted.'

'Ah- right. It wasn't about your family, Kaiya.' Tenten said. 'I just wanted to say that you really seem to care for Lee. Is there... you know, something between you two, or...?'

Kaiya looked at Tenten, weird out.

'There's nothing between us, but the course I care for Lee! He's in my team and we're good friends, just like you are with him.' Kaiya said. 'I hope I don't need romantic feelings to be allowed to care for someone.'

'Of course not!' Tenten exclaimed, quickly.

'Then let's hurry to the hospital already.' Kaiya said with a smile. 'We don't want to keep Lee waiting too much.'

'Right.' Tenten nodded, with a little surprise.

She wasn't sure if Neji or Lee noticed, but recently, Kaiya was being warmer towards them than she remembered when the girl first joined the team. She smiled more, and she seemed to not mind them so much as she did before. Tenten shook her head. She supposed it was natural, since now Kaiya became more comfortable with them and Konoha, on the whole.

Soon enough, they reached the hospital and, at last, reached Lee's room.

'Here is it.' A nurse who guided them through the hospital said, as she stopped at a door with the number 609. 'Please don't tire him too much; he's already as tired as he is.'

The two girls nodded, before entering the room. The passed through the room full of various hospital beds, until they eventually reached one with a familiar face. At their sight, the boy's face lit up.

'Tenten, Kaiya!' He said.

'Here, we brought you some flowers. Hope it makes you feel a little better.' Tenten said with a smile, as she put the flowers in a vase on Lee's nightstand.

'Speaking of it, how do you feel?' Kaiya asked, seating herself at the end of his bed.

'Oh! I'm great! Could've not been better.'He answered, with an electric look in his eyes.

Kaiya squirted her eyes a she looked at the boy. 'You sure about that?'

The boy nearly died last week and, from what she understood, he broke some bones and had other serious injuries. She had been aquintanced with him for a while now, but she couldn't help but wonder, How could he be so optimistic

'I couldn't be more sure!' Lee said, as he turned to the nightstand to look at an empty glass. 'Darn it. I'm out of water again.'

'I could go get you some.' Tenten offered.

'Thanks, Tenten.' He smiled. 'You're the best.'

'Then I'll be back in a minute!' Tenten said as she began walking away and, just before exiting the room, she turned around one last time. 'Be careful, you two!'

And with that, the girl slammed the door and hurried away.

'What did she want to say by 'be careful'?' Lee asked, obviously confused.

Kaiya blinked a few times in shock, as she had a flashback to their earlier discussion. 'I have no idea.'

For a second or two, there was silence. Kaiya settled herself more comfortable at the bed end and relaxed her head against a wall.

'This brings back some memories, doesn't it?' She said, with a short laugh and a smirk.

'What do you mean?' Lee asked.

'Well, one is in the hospital, and the other one is coming to visit.'

After she said that, Lee understood what she meant. Just about a month or two earlier, Kaiya had an operation and had to be in the hospital, whilst he and the rest of the team visited her on a nearly daily basis.

'It does, actually.' He answered. 'But you're doing better with that operation, aren't you?'

Kaiya looked at him in surprise. 'Yeah, I'm fine.'

Lee smiled and, just as he was about to say something, the doors opened as Tenten entered breathing heavily, with a glass in one hand and some water in a bottle.

'Sorry for... the long wait.' She said, trying to control her breath. 'I have... brought the water... here.'

'Why'd you run like that?' Kaiya asked, before shaking her head in an attempt to brush it off. 'Whatever... just come and catch your breath.'

Tenten made her way slowly towards the two and put some water in the glass for Lee, before throwing herself on a chair next to the bed. 'So, what's up?'

'Not much, honestly.' Lee said, after drinking the glass of water. 'They said that they would let me out in a day or two, but I'll have to sit with crutches for a while.

Kaiya pursed her lips, along with a sigh. 'That sucks.'

Knowing him, he wouldn't be able to bear the whole idea of constantly sitting still for god knows how long. Knowing him, he'd find a hole in the plan very soon, she thought.

'It really does! That way, I won't be able to train anymore for the next chuunin exams!' He exclaimed.

'You won't be in crutches forever, you know that.' Kaiya tried to cheer him up.

'Exactly!' Tenten exclaimed. 'Knowing you, you'll pass the next exams without a problem. Besides, you can always come to see the final exams. That way, you'll know what to expect.'

'That's actually a good idea.' Kaiya mumbled.

'So... how will you two train?' Lee asked. 'The finals are roughly a month from now.'

'I want to get some more weapon scrolls.' Tenten said. 'I was thinking of learning to fight with a sword, but I don't know if I can learn everything I need to know on my own...'

'Oh, I can help you with that.' Kaiya said, jerking her head up. 'I have a tachi, I think you saw it already. But I have to admit I'm a bit rusty with it-'

'Really?' Tenten asked, excitement now radiating off her. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!'

Tenten now jumped off her chair and went to hug Kaiya in a bear hug. As she did that, Kaiya shrank a bit, shocked by the girl's actions.

'Tenten- I can't breathe. Please stop.' Kaiya wheezed, unsure of how to approach the situation.

Tenten let go with a laugh. 'Sorry about that! I got really excited.'

Kaiya breathed out, more comfortable now that the girl wasn't hugging her.

'But you'll have to do something for me in exchange.' Kaiya said, looking right into Tenten's eyes.'

'Oh... sure.' Tenten's eyes widened in surprise. 'What is it?'

'I still suck at controlling and moulding chakra. Perhaps you could help me with that?'

Tenten had to blink twice. The request was reasonable, but she never really remembered Kaiya for making deals like this before. She eventually smiled.

'That's a deal!'

Seeing the girl's positivity, Kaiya couldn't help but smile back. That really is a deal, then., she thought.

A/N

Hey, y'all!

Your girl Avery is back. This time, it took me a few days longer to publish this darn chapter, but it's here! What did y'all think of it?

So, I have a bad news and a good news. The good news are too good to be told just yet, so I'll start with the bad.

The Easter holidays are on the verge of ending, and that means school will start again very, very soon.

But weep not, I will put my most honest effort in it and post every chapter as soon as possible!

Now, *slams hand on table* it's time for the good stuff.

Ok, so I need to spill some tea! I'm super-duper, massively excited for the next chapters, because a hella lot of stuff will happen that I've been waiting to write ages!

There's going to be this really important plot twists, and you guys will get to know everything about Kaiya. Ok... if the next chapter will be longer than predicted, Kaiya's past will be revealed in the chapter after, but yeah! *drops mic*

See y'all in the next chapter!

-Avery