Disclaimer: Obviously, this is a work of fan-fiction, as I do not own anything derived from the Naruto world-set.

Early Spring, Konaha Village, near Main Gate, 6am

Still carrying his duffel bag on his right shoulder, towel wrapped around his neck, Rock Lee stands just inside the South Gate Entrance. He has just finished his pre-breakfast warm-up.

He looks up and over his left shoulder at Main Gate, watching the sun's rays finally catch up to him again as he rests for a moment. He admires the splendor of a new day arriving. How can people sleep in so late? They do not know what sights they are missing when they trade in a few more hours' rest he thinks to himself. Shaking his head in wry disbelief, the young man turns and heads down the thoroughfare, towards the entertainment district.

It is like I am the only one here, that I have the world to myself , thinking back upon many other early mornings.

We see that his observation is just about right - there are few people up at this time. Oh, sure, there are a few ANBU flitting about from roof to roof on various duties, and there are those ninja who had drawn guard duty at Main Gate's sentry posts that Rock Lee just strode past on his way to breakfast. But overall, there are few and far between that are awake and active now (or those that are, know how to conceal themselves from casual view).

I have always liked how Konoha feels this early...

Rock Lee enjoys a casual walk over to the district, taking in the scenery as he goes. No one is 120 Modern and Rocking' all the time, even the genius of hard work... Sometimes it is nice just to BE, rather than DO.

He had heard about a new restaurant that had opened there, catering to the early-morning crowd. He thought to give it a go.

Early Spring, Konoha Village, Entertainment District, Restaurant Kyoko's', 6:15am

Hurry with those tablecloths, Souji! and Hana, what are you doing with that silverware? They need to be wrapped in those napkins, then tied with those ribbons we picked up from that merchant out of Wave Country can be heard clearly as we decend upon the aformentioned restaurant.

Inside the breakfast cafe Kyoko's' we see that the namesake proprietor and her three floor assistants are hurrying to prepare for another day's business, which starts in just another quarter hour! It looks as if the restaurant's crew is still working out the most effacious means of preparing for the day.

Yes ma'am! rings out from the two crewmembers as they doubled their pace; they acted as if they had had previous examples why it was in there best interest to double-time it if she called them by name.

Kyoko herself seems a tall, athletic, angular woman with chinese features from Earth Country. She has the typical dusky skin, but her hair is an unsual raven-dark blue. We can tell that it would reach her knees, if it was not up in a chinese bun with a pair of enormous, bejeweled stickpins holding it together. Although beautiful, her too-sharp eyes reduce the overalll impression of her athletic build might otherwise have, not to mention being dressed in a fanciful, bright yellow dress featuring royal blue highlights. The employiees she had brought from Stone Country said the too-bright yellow and the too-dark blue made the dress an eyesore. However, she would have been able to pull the look off' if if wasn't for those too-sharp eyes. Instead, she looks a touch like a predatory bird that had gotten dipped in two different buckets of paint. Oh, well.

Ma'am, the morning hot buns are just finishing! voices from the direction of the kitchen. Good, now see if you can get a head start on the house specialty's ingredients... We've been getting a lot of orders for those Kyoko sends over her shoulder to the only Konoha native working in Kyoko's' -- Akamichi Hatsuyo. The Akamichi familiy not only produce prodigious eaters, but skilled cooks as well.

Maybe things will work out after all...

6:30 am

Kyoko's P.O.V.---
DING-GLE! the door bell declares as the doorway admits the first of the early bird crowd.

Welcome to Kyoko's... Kyoko announces towards the door, before turning to what will hopefuily be the first customer of the day.

Usually, it is just usually some fanatic jogger needing to use the

She dries off her hands on the apron tied at her waist, puts a warm smile on her face, and turns toward the front of the cafe to heartily welcome the first customer.

...The first breakfast cafe in Konoha--AAHH?-- and promptly trades all of her carefully-practiced composure for shock at the sight of her first customer'. My word! she thinks to herself, those are the fuzziest things I have seen not properly attached to a bear! And then OOHH-dear, he's staring at me oddly... I hope I haven't angered him! He's looks like one of Konoha's Ninja -- I would not want to drawn one of their ire this soon -!

---Rock Lee's P.O.V.---
Rock Lee strides cheerfully down the main walkway, looking for the sign of the restaurant Choji mentioned the last time he'd seen him at that one barbecue place. Gai-sensei says I'm a genius of hard work, but Choj is a genius of finding good food.. He half-grins in appreciation of the memory. Who knew that little, out-of-the way place had the BEST BBQ steak sauce in Fire Country?

He stops, then turns to the dooway belonging to Kyoko's'. He finally lets the duffle bag slide off his right shoulder. Just before it hits the ground, he catches the strap in his hand absently, saving the pavement from the equipment stored within. He had long ago learned if the special gear he used in training was to be dropped together, all in one place, it could crack concrete. And shortly after that discovery, he found out something else. While he never minded hard work, he discovered that really did not care for reconstructing publc walkways -- so he always made sure that he took the utmost care with his training duffle bag.

Well, this looks like a neat little place... He sees that the windows' are actually stacks upon stacks of small blocks (each one a single hue of the rainbow) of some kind of glass he hasn't seen before, and each block not much bigger than the palm of his hand.

Looking at the artistry of the window of Kyoko's', he notices a small posterboard with the house special pictured. I wonder what the house specalty is? With that caramel-looking heavy glazing dripping down the sides, it looks somewhat like a really big version of those sweetcakes TenTen enjoys after a particularly hard solo mission - but why would there be sliced ham as a side dish to a dessert? Whenever I have had ham, it was part of the evening meal. His right eyebrow rising in question, he ponders further, with left hand on chin. And I know one is not supposed to put butter on a dessert item... Finally, he shrugs away his questions. Oh well, that's why I wanted to try this place out -- to experience something new.

With resolve settling his features, he reaches for the doorhandle, recalling the conversation with Choji. Choji had said that it had some new foods from foreign lands, and said that the menu was too good to pass on. He'd heard from a cousin of his that took up a cook's position here during the first week after trrying some of the menu; I guess that his cousin was so impressed with the owner's techniques, she'd decided to try her hand at them.

In Rock Lee's book, any restaurant that could impress a member of one of the Akamichi clan's own family members (who also happened to be rather impressive in her cooking skills), was worth taking a look at! And so, Rock Lee enters the new establishment, with avid anticipation (and if there was a little trepidation as well, no one else was the wiser).

DING-GLE! the doorbell brightly claims, as Rock Lee draws himself inside.

He sees a moderate amount of booths lining the walls, with a smaller number of tables arrayed throughout the center of cafe. The restaurant's cashier was near the back, sitting on top of a display case of small treats that were waiting to go home with customers that had more money than room, after having had some of the regular menu's selections.

He finds one employee (a tall but thin man in his early twenties, with dark brown hair) already manning said cashier and display case. Behind the cashier-and-case, there was a door (presumably leading to the kitchen), still slowly swinging from the passing of one of the other employees.

Welcome to Kyoko's... catches his attention, drawing his view towards the strong, but friendly, female voice. Ah, that must be the manager of the establishment he realizes. I wonder what new things she has learned from living here in Konoha... Then, as Kyoko continues to turn, and lays eyes on Rock Lee for the first time: Wow, she's not only pretty, but she has great taste in colors! She looks just like the morning dawn oustide.

And, as Kyoko finishes her standard early morning welcome - ...The first breakfast cafe in Konoha--AAHH? - Rock Lee's face freezes. Well, I guiess I should have expected that...

All through his life, as Rock Lee graduated from the Academy, performed first-year missions, took on Gaara in his first Chuunin Trial (and nearly died because of it), survived an incredible surgery performed by the current Hokage during the first months of her rule, only to fight Kimimaro while just barely recovered from aforementioned surgery, and triumphed over many other trials throughout his young life, he never found anyone who wasn't shocked, suprised, or stunned by his features - or if not, found them so incredibly comical as to break down laughing... Well, neither Gaara, nor Kimimaro had laughed at him, but Gaara and Kimimaro did not really count in as being normally in either aforementioned shocked' or shocked silly' categories, as they had... issues... already.

As his own parents' were killed during the Kyuubi's rampage, combined with the fact that neither Rock Lee's parents had been ninja, what little records had been in Konoha about Rock Lee's heritage had been destroyed along with the entire section of Konoha that they'd lived in. According to what little detail had survived, it seems that Rock Lee's parent's had been mere farmers that had moved to the big city' to find work during the last Great Ninja War. They had arrived in Konoha with their toddler of a son just weeks before Konoha's assault by the Kyuubi, but that was all that had surivived - no one new how they had arrived, nor what land or lands they had hailed from.

He had heard some tell of Earth Countries' own northern families that sported strong eyebrows, but he had never seen anyone from that land that had quite the same features as his own. They might indeed have pronounced eyebrows (though not as much as his were), but they did not have the unusually rounded eyes that known for He had always hoped that someone might recoginze something of his seeming, and ask if he were related to someone else, or if he was from a certain country, so that he would have had some idea where to be looking; so far, no luck. It was something he had become a ninja for in the first place (as ninja travel great distances to get certain jobs done), but during his tribulations just in becoming a ninja, somehow, his original reason had become something that he almost forget about, until the next time he suprised someone that was not already familiar with him.

Merged P.O.V.---
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Trying to throw away her earlier social slip, Kyoko qiuckly says Come IN, Come IN! Right this way! Would you have a preference of a table or booth today? while whipping out a small notebook for taking orders, and trying to hold in her shock in recognizing... no, it really could not be, as he was lost over 25 years ago she thinks. At this, however, Rock Lee finally thaws, and gratefully indicates that a table would be fine.

Sitting himself at the table, and remembering to place the duffle bag carefully on the floor (scooting it out the way with his foot, so as to not obstruct the employees), Rock Lee decides on his order: I'll take the House Special, along with a carafe of Orange Juice, please, ma'am, thank you! Kyoko pins her eyes on her handwriting, carefully making sure not to keep staring at the young man's features... Yes, right away! practically spinning on her heel, Kyoko makes straight for the kitichen, ostensibly to place the order.

Konoha Hosptial, Chakra Damage Wing, Critical Care Ward, 6:30am

Dammit, Saito, stay with me! Don't you dare give up now ! Shouts Tsunade at the top of her prodigious lungs. She has both hands upon the rookie Jounin's chest, as if performing CPR, if if was not for the green chakra positively flaring up and away from the point of contact. After just a few more moments, the young Jounin's eyes glaze over, and his head lolls to the side. He passes away without even being able to give his last thoughts. Shizune is also there, holding TonTon in her arms, a concerned look on her face... for both the now-departed ninja, as well as Tsunade herself.

Tsunade exclaims, realizing that Saito has passed beyond even her abilities to heal. Her head drops down, letting her pale blond hair to obscure her face, and the tears that were already starting to flow.

Umm, Tsunade-sama... There are the others that need your help, particularly his old teamates... Shizune weakly states after a few moments more pass. I know, I know; just give me a moment Tsunande shakily demands. She raises from her hunched over position slightly, and scrubs her right palm into her eyes, trying to press the tears away.

After a second longer, Tsunade draws herself to her full height, and, after drawing Saito's head back into a more restful position - along with closing his eyes for the last time - she stalks out of the room.

Tsunade immediately turns to the left, and improves her speed further. Shizune, along with TonTon, try to keep up. After a few steps, it becomes clear to Shizune that Tsunade intends to head for the stairwell leading to the main floor... she stutters, wait, what about the rest of the Hunter-Nin team? You need to go back and treat them, right? Raising her right hand in acknowedgement, the Sannin-turned-Hokage states yes, YES, Shizune, I got it. But I need to see to something for a minute as the Hokage, not as a healer. Saito was the worst by far of the three - the others will survive the few minutes I need. And with that, she straight-arms the stairwell door open, and practically runs down the several flights of stairs. Poor Shizune stops in the doorway, still holding TonTon in the crook of her right arm. She bows her head, sighing in disapointment? Or is it in regret? And then turns around, heading back to the remaining members of Hunter Team 5, to see what she might be able to do.

Outside, on the main pavillion of the Konoha Hospital, the two main doors practically leap open with the force of Tsunande's charge through them. Any harder, and she would have plain crashed throught the two great glass doors. She stands in the early dawn, and takes a deep breath... and lets it go. Even the average eye, unfamiliar with her rough manners, could tell that this apparently young woman was a bit more than shaken right now... and perhaps not all due to the passing of one of the ninja under her command.

Hearing something to her right, in the directlion of the Main Gate, she looks over to see what it could be. She barely makes out a tall figure. It seems that the figure is... jogging? Why would anyone be jogging this early, and why on he Main Gate Avenue? Wait, they are getting closer.. Tsunade squnts at the rapidly approaching form. OH. NO.. Its Maito Gai. I should have known that he would be up already. I'd better head back to the office and send for all the Jounin -- before I get another earful of the benefits of youthful power'... Tsunande grimaces at the thought... and then suprisingly, she brightens considerably. Instead of escaping to her office, she stays put, readying herself for the arrival of the self-proclaimed Beautiful Beast' of Konoha.

Not all that long after this odd change of intent, the eccentric Jounin pulls up next to the hospital (Gai is a brisk jogger, after all). Seeing the Hokage, he pauses his foward movement, while still running in place. Oh! Hokage-sama! A GLORIOUS morning Konoha is having, isn't it? And the Hokage Momument is ESPECIALLY inspiring! It fills my heart with the BURNIN- is all Maito Gai can get out, before being interrupted by Tsunade GAI! I have a important task for you! Gai immediately stops his speech-making, and even stops running in place, to stand at the strictest attention of his Hokage. YES! What is this important task? Is there a clan of Bandits that needs clearing out from the trade routes? Perhaps a merchant needs an escort, to protect his person from dastardly assasination attempts from jealous rivals? Or, instead, is it - GAI! Tsundade interjects again, before being allowed to get tot he point. Affer getting Gai's quiet attention, Tsunade continues: I'm having an emergency meeting for all Jounin, regardless of speciality or circumstances. All Jounin are to meet in my offices at 7am SHARP! Your important mission is to get gather up Kakashi and get him there, presentable and on time (at this, even Gai blanches slightly) as this is too important to have to put up with his typical childish tardiness, and you are the best suited. Use force if you have to, just get him there. Now GO! With that command, Maito Gai, the Beautiful Beast' of Konoha, disappears in a blast of green and gold wind. Sorry to the both of you, Kakashi and Gai, but this is something tthat we cannot put off, and we need to explain in secret as quickly as possible -- this could change the world of the ninja as we now understand it.

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Author's Notes:

Heya all! here's the next chapter, the one that actually gets the story moving along. I know - not much seemed to happen here, but I've set the stage' so to speak. Next chapter, we'll see just what Kyoko's House Special is, and hear from the Hokage herself just what was so devastating about the death of Jounin Saito - beyond the fact that a Hunter-nin Jounin was, in fact, killed. Muh-hu-hahah:) And also, if anyone has even small suggestions on formatting or such, leave a note in Reviews! Thanks!