Disclaimer – I do not own Naruto. I never will. This is but a work of fiction based on a work of fiction meant entirely to honor the original story and creator. Please enjoy.

Author's note: It was brought to my attention (and my shame) that Rock Lee has indeed thrown weapons in combat and threw accurately. To the reader who so kindly corrected me on this matter, thank you. You are a true fan. I was tempted to pass it off as AU but that would be a cop-out. So I have altered the wording and meaning slightly. Please read on…

Thank you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1

Kakashi of the Leaf shuffled through the doorway into his sparse, overly-clean great room, wishing for the hundredth time he had not done what he just did. His chakra completely spent, he had just enough energy to collapse into his only chair at the table in the kitchen.

Fighting down the urge to crawl to the cabinets and eat from the floor, Kakashi closed his eyes and began to relax. He was hungry, very hungry, but a Jounin had reserves undreamt of by simple Gennin and ambitious Chuunin. Breathing heavily, he focused on the ancient barrel of water that had served as his meditation point for many years. Although a product of his imagination, the barrel seemed, for lack of a better word, almost conscious. It filled with a gauged inhalation and drained into the void on exhalation, never leaking, never creaking and getting older in the grain as Kakashi grew more experienced and gained a polished wisdom. It was on the eighth breath of the 9 Breaths Meditation that he heard a distant noise sounding from the void, seeking to break his perfect repose. It was urgent, insistent and, not without a measure of annoyance, Kakashi finished his cleansing breath and opened his eyes to gaze on the visitor positioned less than a foot from his face.

"Kakashi! Hello! Is my Eternal Rival too hip to open his ears!"

Gods, but Gai could ride a nerve. It was never discussed openly, but a healthy respect and more than a little friendship was shared between Gai and Kakashi, owed in part to their virtually identical strength in the Ninja arts, and in part to a spiritual resemblance to certain mythical creatures called "unstoppable" and "immovable". With a great sigh that betrayed his exhaustion, Kakashi rose slowly and carefully to his feet and walked to the cupboards, speaking over his shoulder.

"I appreciate your patience, Gai, in letting me finish my meditation uninterrupted. It is a virtue that few possess."

While Gai stood looking fairly sheepish and shuffling his feet, Kakashi reached his right hand up toward the ramen shelf and felt his strength drain from his fingertips to his shoulder. His arm fell to the counter with a soft slap and lay there unmoving save for the rapid nerve firing in his index finger, attempting to regain a signal to the nearest chakra point. Trying to hide this momentary weakness from Gai, Kakashi modulated his voice to a mocking, challenging tone.

"I have a challenge for you, if you are man enough to accept it." Kakashi needled, "Although I doubt if you could do it, given your lack of speed and your ignorance in the art of cooking."

"Ha! I will accept your challenge, no matter how difficult! And when I complete it, you will sit at that table and listen to me with both of your ears and none of your hip attitude I detest!"

"And if you fail?"

"I cannot fail! Give me the challenge!"

"Fix my ramen in thirty seconds. Go!"

Gai only hesitated for the briefest of moments, and with typical lighting speed, raced to the counter and began working. With a rapid mixture of fire seals and flying noodles, the meal was prepared, (mushy and infernally hot) and Gai set the bowl in front of a now seated Kakashi.

"Ten seconds! Haha! I am Ninja no matter the task!" Gai yelled triumphantly. But then a slow change came over his face. Kakashi noticed a look he had never seen before and it confused and puzzled him. 'What is wrong with Gai?', he wondered to himself. Gai sat down against the wall in his rivals kitchen, now looking completely dejected and depressed, his hands folded in his lap and his head bowed slightly.

"Kakashi. I do not know what to do. I have failed Rock Lee."

Gai was not a pessimistic man by nature. He appeared joyful and exuberant to the point of annoyance, but doubts plagued him about every facet of his life, chiefly, his Nin-do. It didn't matter how well he performed, how many praises were heaped upon him, or how strong his taijutsu and ninjutsu had become, it was simply never good enough. Gai was not ignorant of his talent, to be sure, he was acutely aware of his standing in Konoha, but always present, always waiting to pull him into a depressive slump, was the one emotion ninjas were forbidden...

Fear.

There was not a man on the face of the earth that Gai would not stand toe-to-toe with, locked in bloody combat, death but an eye-blink away. He had finished A-rank missions solo when his team was injured, and was almost always the first to volunteer when a certain mission or situation seemed most dire. There was nothing to fear from death or pain. Konoha had trained it's ninjas to replace that needless and dangerous emotion with caution and heightened perception.

Gai feared nothing...except failure.

What if he wasn't strong enough? What if he was too slow? What would happen if he died before a mission could be completed? What price would the fates demand if he, God forbid,

failed someone else?

Rock Lee was but a child when Gai took him under his wing. He had never been able to fully integrate himself with the other children. He was constantly ridiculed and picked on and never given a moments peace. Young Lee was a special child. A child with a unique disability in a village founded by ninjas.

The complete and total absence of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu ability.

But Gai had never turned down a challenge and the instruction of this boy had put his ingenuity and willpower to the test. How do you make a Ninja out of a boy who cannot perform Ninjutsu?

Gai finally opened his mouth to say, "It has been almost 2 years since I became his sensei, Kakashi. I have never seen anyone like him." Gai got to his feet and began pacing about the kitchen, his hands moving as he spoke.

"Rock Lee has nothing but his hands, his feet and his head. And I must tell you, I know of no-one who was able to do what he does at this age. He is stronger, faster, and more powerful physically than even I was. He has this so-called disability that does not allow his to manipulate his Chakra on the outside environment, putting him at a disadvantage in most ninja battles. But honestly, friend Kakashi, given his physical progression, I would not want to face him in close combat in the next four years! Neji's "perfect" fighting style is flawless, but without his chakra defense, I believe Rock Lee would stand victorious every time should a battle between the two ever be fought." Gai stopped pacing and looked imploringly at Kakashi. "But put a weapon in his hands and he shows no special talent! Ten-ten is going mad trying to teach him alternative and ranged combat but he just doesn't show any natural talent. He can throw well enough not to be laughed at, but where is the Rock Lee genius! Absent! Not there! Gone! Just-good-enough is not good enough for this boy, he needs greatness to survive!

Kakashi chuckled tiredly at Gai's frustration. They both knew that ninja as talented as Lee in taijutsu rarely excelled using ranged weapons, but for the amount of hard work he put into everything he attempted, he must truly be dismal for even Ten-ten and Gai to have given up on that avenue.

Gai's exasperation showed clearly as he resumed pacing. "I have nothing more to teach him about kicks, punches, blocks and technique. The only thing he is lacking, the only thing I cannot teach him yet is to open the remaining Celestial Gates. I thought that perhaps weapons were the answer, that they would be his next step, but everything we have tried has proven fruitless."

"Have you given him a non-throwing weapon," Kakashi asked quietly? "Perhaps the Ninja-to would suit him?"

"Oh God's, don't remind me!" Gai buried his face his hands, practically weeping at the memory. "He nearly took his arm off when I tried to teach him that. Even running through the rudimentary Waza, he would forget there was a blade in his hand and he would try to position-check with his off hand and..." Gai stopped, not willing to relive that shameful memory. "I have learned to keep him away from sharp objects, Kakashi, They do not suite him."

Kakashi bowed his head deep in thought, weighing the many options open to a ninja in weapon training.

"What about the blunt, striking weapons, Gai? Haven't you tried those? It would seem to me the next logical step?

"What would be the point? His hands are stronger and tougher than any wood, and his feet are faster than Nunchaku. A blunt weapon would be a waste of time!"

"Gai, there are other blunt weapons than Tonfa and Nunchaku. Have you tried the long ones? Perhaps the Bo staff?"

Kakashi's rival stood still, his eyes fastened on the wall beyond Kakashi. Why not? He had avoided the blunt weapons entirely for their lack of advantage in Rock Lee's hands. What advantage might he gain, however, with the reach and speed of the Bo?

(Continued in chapter 2 - coming soon. Please R&R! Insults are not welcome, but constructive criticism and praise are gratefully welcomed!)