Section 21: My Inspiration

Rock Lee stood in his room, staring at the reflection of himself against the training mirror across the wall. He poked and rubbed his eye brows in a dissatisfied manner, then flung his arms down to his side angrily.

"You look terrible! No wonder Sakura-chan would never, ever like you enough!"

"Lee-san..?" Lee turned around quickly, being slightly startled. He saw Tenten standing in the back entrance with arm loads of Kunai holsters. "You're back late, where were you?"

Lee looked back forward towards his reflection, "Finding out some things..."

"Oh, well I was worried about you! And I hope you found out what you needed to."

"...Tenten?" Tenten was startled by the tone of Lee's voice, being serious and stern. "...what do you think of Sakura-chan?"

Tenten looked at him oddly, "What do you mean? She's a very smart ninja... and..."

"No... I mean, do you think its ok for me to like her...?"

Tenten opens her eyes widely, and drops one of the belts she had in her arms. "You... like her?" She looks down to the ground with melancholy in her eyes, while her arms, along with the belts, lowered slowly. "...I didn't know."

"...She wouldn't like me... because I'm ugly right?"

Tenten shot up dropping all the belts on the ground, "You aren't ugly! Even if you were it shouldn't matter, you're an amazing guy! Who wouldn't lo..." She gasped at what she was saying.

"Sakura-chan wouldn't..."

Tenten kneeled to the ground hopelessly, picking up the belts she had hurled to the floor. She worked silently, which drew Lee to turn towards her in curiosity. He saw her disappointed expression, and felt responsible for it.

"I'm sorry Tenten... You probably think I'm stupid for thinking any girl would like a ninja reject like me."

She rocketed up, with only the belts she had picked up already, "No! You're more of a ninja than most! Don't say things like that..."

"What kind of girl would like me then? Everyone makes fun of how I look, how I can't use ninjitsu or genjitsu, even how I respect Gai-sensei so much."

Tenten shut her eyes, trying to ignore the blows Lee was giving himself. "Stop it... Stop it, Lee! STOP!"

Lee froze up due to Tenten's outburst. "Tenten...?"

"Don't be so... mean to yourself... I... like you, so please... stop."

"But Tenten, I thought you always liked Neji, you always used to tell me and..."

"...you always listened. You were always there for me." Lee looked towards her, startled from her commentary. "You were always an inspiration... and I grew to like you a lot, underneath it all."

"...but Tenten, I'm a terrible ninja, Neji is far better than I am..."

"No... it isn't your ability I respect. You... never gave up. Seeing you try so hard for something so out of reach, to achieve your dreams... It made me want to be like you. I only use weapons, and people look at me as being weak. Lee... you make me feel strong like you."

Lee stood solidly without flinching, he wasn't sure if this was a dream or not. "...Tenten?

"I'm sorry, heh. I just wanted you to know... that I was sorry for always putting you down with Neji..."

Lee looked off with a lack of self-assurance, "You have the right! ...I try so hard, and I can't even become a great ninja like I said I would."

Tenten stared back, "... but like Gai-sensei said... you already are a great ninja." She laughed back nervously, "Unlike me, hehe..."

"Ohhhh-ahhhh, that's not true! Everyone has the ability to be a good ninja with hard work! I think you do great with your weapons!"

Tenten blushed, "Thank you Lee..."

Lee stared back puzzled, "...Why is Tenten acting so strange...? Since when does she feel I'm not a joke?"