Early Spring, Konoha Village, just outside of the Hokage's Office, 8:45am
We find Rock Lee leaning against the wall, off to one side of the main staircase to the Hokage's Offices.
He is craning his neck over his left shoulder, gazing up the stairwell. His plain features are practically broadcasting joy.
"YOOOSSHH ! I can tell this is already going to be a good luck day! " Rock Lee thinks with excitement., barely refraining from hollering his happiness out to the world at large. "Sakura-san commented on how nice it was to see me. " A little grin lifts the sides of his mouth; when he thinks of how much more improved that greeting was over that one time he formally introduced himself years ago... "My Power of Youth is blazing! She just might be finally getting over Sasuke, after all these years, and after all that pain that wielder of the Sharingan had put her through..."
Then, face clouding over as it drops back down towards his shinobi-sandaled feet, Rock Lee rests his tall frame against the staircase's support wall rising up behind him. "But, she did seem really distracted. She said something about having to go gather scrolls, books, and other files on rare Chakra Disorders, right? " Recalling more of the conversation, the Green Beast of Konoha considers another possibility. "She was more than likely just being polite in order to hurry on and complete that collection mission Hokage-sama had given her as part of her new training today." With a heavy sigh, and shoulders sagging slightly, Rock Lee seems to accept that was more likely the case.
Trademark eyebrows crouching lower, black eyes drilling holes into the concrete at his feet, Rock Lee gains a new look - this time of anger? It is as if the Taijutsu Specialist was wrestling once again with a much-despised foe. "If only I did not have such horrible problems with my own Chakra Control, I might be of some help to her, and win a larger place in her heart." The earlier grin since upended into a frown, Rock Lee looks disappointed as this idea travels through his mind. "Since pouring my everything into Taijutsu, and Gouken specifically, I really have not had all that much time to study such things like Chakra Disorders. "
The moment of self-doubt passes. His brow lifts as he realizes something else, something good. "Hey, that's right. If I can't be of help on my own, with all my training in Gouken, in Taijutsu, then I think I know how I can be of help to Sakura-san after all, indirectly at least ". Scowl now reversing itself back again into the familiar grin, he leans forward, taking a step away from the staircase's support wall. "That's right!" the Chuunin declares out loud, startling a passerby or two in the process of making the sudden declaration. Holding a folded fist up in self-challenge, he declares "If I can't get him to lend a hand in Sakura-san's research, I will forego training for the entire day!" To anyone else, that would have been an encouragement to fail - but to Rock Lee, being such a complete workaholic, that outcome would be a near-tragedy... doubly so, as that would mean that he would not work off that unintentional feast from earlier today.
After adding this new addition to 'My Rules', the passionate teen heads out, merging with the outgoing foot traffic wending away from the Hokage's Offices. Finding a clear path, he picks up speed, and turns towards his target: the Hyuuga Estates.
Early Spring, Konoha Village, Hyuuga Estates, 9 am
At the Main Entrance of the Hyuuga Estates, we find the stout gates opening, allowing a single person exit, then arduously swiveling shut again. When the heavy steel gates come to rest fully, a heavy, metallic noise resounds. At the ominous sound of the gates locking once again, the young heiress of the Hyuuga cringes for a moment, before turning northward --
!Kbam!
-- promptly slamming straight into the galloping Green Beast of Konoha, who had been hurrying to make his arrival before the Main Gate had fully closed.
We see that the two teen ninja are now carefully extricating themselves from the knot of limbs and bodies they found themselves heaped in, in front of the Main Gate (and after checking for any serious collision damage).
Hinata makes her apologies first, but it is obvious that Hinata is hardly able to raise her lavender eyes more than an inch or two above Rock Lee's midriff, due to her mortified embarrassment of being caught so unaware of her surroundings as to inconvenience another person (a terrible example of awareness of her surrounding as a ninja, and a Hyuuga one at that, it seems, in her mind). She manages to stutter out "U-Umm, I am really, VERY, sorry for bumping into you, Rock Lee-san..." while bowing forward with clasped hands in front of her, her voice picking up steam at the end.
Now also back on his blue-sandaled feet, the elder Chuunin surreptitiously tries to hide a particularly sore spot at his side. Rock Lee plants left hand just above left hip, puts his best, brightest, smile on to reassure Neji's younger cousin, and snaps a smart wave-off with his right hand. He shoos away her apology with a bandaged palm, as if it were an errant summer fly idly buzzing past. Then, he continues to further carry his point across, gesturing strongly all the while: "Not at all, Hyuuga Hinata-san!" !PING! "I was allowing my youthful enjoyment of the morning to carry me a little too far, and did not reign myself in well enough to stop in time!" !PING! "I only hope that I have not caused you any discomfort this grand morning!" !PING! By this time, the heavy-browed martial artist struggling between a 'Nice-Guy Pose', and a 'Damn, gotta-hide-that-my-ribs-are-killing-me' pose.
At all this, the dark-blue haired inheritor of Hyuuga is greatly entertained. She is humored greatly as the zealously over-expressive speech and mannerisms of her cousin's teammate continue on, as she watches with left hand curled near her chin. She grins at Rock Lee's antics, while whatever minor aches caused by the impact of the two Chuunin disappear as lighter emotions bubble up inside. All in response to the much-taller Taijutsu Specialist's further attempts to reassure her that the accident was fully his fault, and that he is much aggrieved to have caused her any harm. So much different than what she experiences inside the Hyuuga Estate, and from her own father, that she wonders how two such different persons can exist within the same Village.
Internally, Hinata thinks further on how much similar to her Naruto her cousin's teammate is. "I have always wondered why is it that Neji-nii-san has thought of Rock Lee-san as such a great, big, nuisance. Rock Lee-san has always seemed to be an enjoyable person to be around, and has such honesty and energy in his emotions. In that, he has sometimes reminded me of Naruto-kun. Hm, maybe that's why - perhaps Neji-nii-san still hasn't fully recovered his old self yet from before, and it bothers him that he cannot be as open with his emotions with anyone just yet. SIGH I wish I could be as open and honest with my strong feelings for Naruto-kun, even just as much as Rock Lee-san has been this morning."
Meanwhile, during Hinata's stuttered apology further ruminations, Rock Lee is actually thinking something similar, and yet different about the younger cousin of his stoic teammate. "Ow! OW! OWW! If Neji's little cousin can do this much damage accidentally tripping into someone just passing by, I really don't want to know what she could do if she set her mind to it with Jyuuken."
Internally wincing over the pain in his left side, where apparently Hinata's heel had somehow attempted to find a place to rest during the early morning crash, Rock Lee's thoughts meander further: "Whenever I asked about her, Neji just scowled, and attempted to change the subject. What little I could get out of him, was that she was always a weak-willed failure. I don't see that, and haven't really seen that at any of the times Hinata and I have met over the years after Academy. During the Chuunin Exam, she fought on even after Neji-san had hit her tenketsu, and had rendered her Jyuuken attacks useless, even to the point of literal collapse. Sure, she might be a little shy, but maybe no one has ever encouraged her to be as open and truthful about her feelings as she could be, like Gai-sensei has always done for TenTen and myself. It can take farmore strength of self to continually be the polite one, and to be forgiving of others, that be a brash person, like that Inuzuka Kiba person Hinata is teamed with. Gai-sensei tried to encourage Neji's expression of emotion, but my Eternal Rival has always preferred locking everything away, except for a feeling of contempt for the weak. And almost anyone else is weak in comparison to the Hyuuga Genius." Refraining from grimacing, even just mentally at that last thought, he realizes that, to be fair, Neji has had a hard life. In some ways, Neji's life had been harder than his own. So, feeling that he should not judge him d harshly, he lets that little bit of resentment drain away.
"Hey!" thinks the premier martial arts student of Konoha "Hinata might be even a better choice for what Sakura-san needs for her assignment, and I'll bet Hinata would be more willing and able to help out, as she's been looking into medical training as well. That's what Nara Shikamaru was saying that once at the Ichiraku last week, right? I think he said something about Hinata taking some of the specialized, but still lesser, healing techniques from each of the major clans, and collecting it for the 'common ninja' to use. Having her being the heir of the Hyuuga would not be a bad thing, either. She could even maybe access classified Hyuuga documents for the Hokage's research the clan might not share otherwise."
The Hyuuga ruling hierarchy was well-known for it's reluctance to share any information about their clan's advanced chakra manipulation techniques, beyond the absolute bare minimum to participate as the premier ninja clan of Konoha. This was on the grounds that sharing too much information on Chakra Theory would allow some other Ninja Clan to gain too much insight into how the Hyuuga clan's techniques worked, and that would eventually lead to someone figuring out a means of countering the Jyuuken martial arts style's method of blocking the use of Chakra-empowered jutsu - thus eliminating a vast portion of the Hyuuga clan's superiority over most other Ninja clans the world over.
"Aa-hh, yes, Rock Lee-san, I'm fine, just f-fine" stutters the slight kunoichi, heading off further exhortations of apology from the Thick-Browed Student of Gouken. Screwing up her courage further, Konoha's Number One Shyest Ninja continues a bit stronger than before. Still never looking directly at the face of the target of her questions, Hinata's eyes nervously quiver back and forth, side to side, up to the left, and then down to the lower right while she speaks. "E-er, excuse me, but I was wondering, if y-you could say, why you were coming to the E-estate? Neji-nii-san isn't here." Even her still-delicate fingers are now tapping, tapping, tapping against each other, showing just how hard it is for her to impose upon someone else.
Startled into ceasing his fusillade of apologies, Rock Lee now switches from his 'blinding smile' to merely a 'bright grin'.
"Oh, Right! I almost forgot! I did come to see Neji for something, but I think that you would be even better choice for this that Neji-san!"
At this, the little blue-haired Byukagan user looks supremely suprised at this. Her entire form shows such shock that someone would be wanting her for something that Neji-nii-san was initially thought would be suited for. "W-what? Y-you think that... How could I be - ! How would I be the be-better choice for something you came to ask Neji-nii-san for?" She appears as if she could not be any more startled to find out that she'd won the Konoha Lottery...
Rock Lee stops Hinata's nervously-tapping hands, by earnestly cupping them with his own heavily-bandaged ones. Then, he leans forward, bringing his viewpoint more in line with her much shorter one, and presents a question to the now-startled Chuunin kunoichi user of Jyuuken. Grinning, while his eyes are shut in momentary self-satisfaction in obvious pleasure that he'd thought of an even better way to help his dear Sakura-san, he asks: "Hinata, as a member of the prestigious Hyuuga Clan, you study all sorts of Chakra Disorders, yes? And, as for your family's Jyuuken, it is designed to take advantage of the Chakra Coil System's delicate nature to fight, so you'd know all sorts of ways that the Chakra Coils of the body could be disturbed, or even infected, right?"
At this, the little ninja named for sunny fields raises her eyebrows, and looks utterly lost at this apparently-random affirmation of the Hyuuga specialties. Rock Lee was right, she had to study a great deal about various Chakra Disorders, and the ways that the Chakra Coils could be disturbed by the environment, or even by disease. This was all in preparation of being able to cause similar effects with Jyuuken. "But, any Ninja outside of the Hyuuga Clan would know this. Neji-nii-san had often shared how badly he had beaten Rock Lee-san during their training runs. For that reason alone, wouldn't it be Neji-nii-san's own teammate that would know of all this most clearly, right? Why is he asking this? "
"Ah-h, yes-s, that is rr-right -- Jyuuken requires a l-lot of study of the Chakra Coil System. But, w-why would you want me, when Neji-nii-san has mastered the Jyuuken to such a higher level than I h-have?"
"Ah, you may be right that Neji is the best at Jyuuken, but a martial artist was not exactly what I needed Hinata, now that I have reasoned it out more thoroughly. Actually, I heard from Nara Shikamaru that you were collecting weaker healing techniques from many of the more-important Clans in Konoha, to create a sort of general-access medical jutsu set of scrolls... THAT is why you would be better than Neji-san for this thing I would ask of you." During this partial explanation, Rock Lee again opens his large, perfectly round eyes, his utter conviction in his choice to choose Hinata over Neji shining in his eyes. So close to her pale features is he, that Hinata thinks she can see reflections of her suprised features in his eyes as they stare unblinking, looking for her reaction.
"Hinata-san, if you don't have anything else planned, could you help me find extra materials on rare Chakra Disorders, so I can help my beloved Sakura-san? Hokage-sama is requiring Sakura-san to gather all sorts of material on that subject for her medic-nin training. I was hoping to show her that while I suffer my own difficulties with Chakra, I am still able to support her in her chosen field of study... and maybe win a larger space in her heart. Hinata-san, do you think that you could help me win the love of my life, by helping me help her?" Finishing with getting the idea across, Rock Lee's mighty eyebrows lift slightly mid brow, as if they also were begging for her help. This had the effect of making the 'Fierce Green Beast of Konoha' look more like the 'Sad Puppy of the Dog Pound' - especially with his odd, perfectly-black iris-and-pupil eyes.
Now that Rock Lee has voiced his idea to her, Hinata's own features relax from their previously startled expression. Her own slender eyebrows lower, and her eyes return to that half-lidded look when she's pleased with something. She smiles brilliantly, and accepts with a clear, bright voice. "HAI! Rock Lee-san, I would be most pleased to help you with your search."
But, just after she says this, her face falls slightly. Her eyes drop to the side as she remembers something. "A-ano, I am sorry, but I was actually on the way to request a mission from Hokage-sama or Shizune-sempai. I want to s-strengthen my resolve as a field ninja, and become a stronger p-person."
"Ah, I see; wanting to become a stronger person is always a worthy goal, Hinata-san." Rock Lee looks a little crestfallen at this admission of Hinata's, with his smile greatly diminished. His strong voice sounds only a little bit dampened by this, however; if it was anyone out of his generation that understood that same desire for self-improvement, it was Rock Lee himself. As he acknowledges Hinata's desire to be a stronger, more self-assured person, his hands drop away from Hinata's, ending up hanging loose at his sides. "I do understand your will to improve yourself Hinata. Perhaps when you get back from the mission, we can go over the research at that time?" Nodding briefly at his own acceptance of the situation, he turns back to the street he had just came down a few minutes earlier. He starts walking, albeit at a much more reserved rate than he arrived.
As Rock Lee straightens up, and begins turning away from young heiress, Hinata starts once more. She reaches (weakly) for her sempai's rough hand, but stops almost before starting. Her chin tucks itself into the Hitate-and-scarf wrapped around her throat. Her already-pale colored eyes become even cloudier, if that is possible.
We feel sorry for them both; sometimes the best of ideas come just a little too late.
Then, the hand she had been reaching with closes into an informal fist. Hinata's head inclines back up to its former position. Then, we hear Hinata draw a short intake of breath. And she lets it out again just as quickly, after only holding it for but a moment.
She takes one, two, several steps after the retreating form of the spandex-clad Chuunin. Even just this brief time later, Rock Lee's singularly speedy stride has carried him some distance; he is almost at the nearest crossroads. Hinata reaches his side while he waits for a break in the foot-traffic to make his way. She pauses just a moment behind the man she'd just denied assistance to. She looks as if she is steeling herself for some bitter reaction, and steps forward to stand side-by-side with the oddly-attired ninja. " I did not mean to disappoint you earlier, Rock Lee-san, but I hope I can provide some help before I have to prepare to leave? I may be on the way to receive a mission to strengthen my own resolve, but we could talk over the basics on the way over, okay?" All stated while looking straight ahead into the shifting crowds, and almost pulled it off with confidence, but heir of Hyuuga once again turned a statement into a weak question at the end, making it sound as if she was asking permission - rather than offering a minor bit of help to a comrade.
When the shorter ninja steps to his right, Rock Lee blinks in suprise. Fully intent on her appearance when Hinata offers a sort of second chance, his whole demeanor regains it's normal energetic manner. "Yosh! THANK YOU, Hinata!" He drops his right hand on her left shoulder, grinning madly (but without a !PING! - yet). "I know that you did not mean to, Hinata-san. Whatever help you can give will be fine." In response, Hinata lets go of the held breath that she hadn't been aware that she'd been holding, and smiles again. "BUT! As I am sure I took up a lot of your time this morning, how about we take a shortcut to the Hokage's offices Hinata-san?" Hinata's happy features shift into a question. They were already on a street that was on a (mostly) straight line for the Hokage's offices. She looks to be wondering what her year-senior Academy graduate means by a 'shortcut'.
After smiling happily at Hinata's change of heart, Rock Lee turns to Hinata, and gathers her up in both arms, as if to carry her over a threshold. This suprising turn of events elicits a rather mouse-like "SQUEAK!" from arguably the most important member the most powerful of Konoha ninja clans. What would Gai-sensei's most dedicated student be thinking, we wonder? "Hold on, Hinata-san," declares Rock Lee happily, while scanning the nearby rooftops "I haven't put on my leg weights for today, as I was practicing Initial Lotus this morning." The rather stunned Hinata looks questioningly at 'Thick-Brows', as Naruto would have called him. Then, as those last few words of Rock Lee's sink in, her eyes snap open as far as the Hyuuga eye can go in realization. (and for a Clan known for Doujutsu, Eye Techniques, that's a bit farther than normal :)
She had forgotten that, for all of her sempai's limitations, and for even all the apparent similarities in looks to a green turtle, being slow as a turtle was not one of those limitations or similarities that Rock Lee had...
She tries to speak up before Rock Lee does what she thinks he's going to do, before he finds a good starting rooftop perch.
Too Late!
Between eye blinks, the young pair of Chuunin vanish into thin air, causing a few nearest to gasp in either exasperation (elder ninja on their days off) or in suprise (regular citizens of Konoha). We catch a green-and-beige blur bouncing from roof to roof, making a straight beeline for the Hokage's offices.
Halfway there, we catch sight of a certain gray-haired Jounin-sensei. He is just finishing his morning reading of a rather risqué manga, snaps it shut, and lazily looks over at the paired blur racing past. Standing up from his perch without any apparent concern for balance on a local telephone line stretched taut, Hatake Kakashi takes stock of the unusual sight of Rock Lee carrying Hyuuga Hinata, beaming an unabashed smile the whole time.
"Oh? Hmm, maybe this means that Gai's student has finally switched targets? This will make for a good advantage the next time Gai challenges me. Well, I guess it's time to meet the team; I think that 3 hours is good enough. Haaah." The Thousand-Jutsu Copy Ninja shrugs nonchalantly, lifts his right hand in the manner of summoning chakra, and 'poofs' away.
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Author's Notes: Hehe. Whew, Fourth Chapter, Complete! Wow, sorry about that longish wait folks. I know I've gotten a certain amount of notice (around 30 or so estimated separate viewings I figure), but due to my misuse of the posting function, and subsequent revisions made to the first chapter, I had accidentally deleted my first reviews; that's probably why I haven't seen much 'review' level interest. I've seen a lot of good, well written 'fics apparently not get many reviews total (or per chapter), until the total hits about 50ish. Then, it seems that it's almost a contest to see who can review first. Please, even if it seems to be just another 'Hey, this cool, keep it up" or a "Erg, what IS this?" thing, I'd like to hear it. Positive or negative, feedback is muchly desired.
Magus Black, thank you for 'finding where you put that bookmark'! Your current reviews are muchly appreciated!
Keep checking, as I will be trying to release these chapters more frequently. I did have minor case of writer's block, but all of a sudden, the chapter just flew out. I had originally planned on Neji getting pestered into helping his Eternal Rival, but a better idea of how to to use the 'Branch Family's Genius' sorta popped into my head. More on that in later chapters. MUHAHAH.
I was hoping to keep Hinata IC, but I found her a bit hard, as I was trying to show that, while she is still shy, she is getting much better than she had been, even in comparision to how she was after the Chuunin Exam. What is everyone's vote on Hinata, or Rock Lee, for that matter? Have I underplayed/overplayed any aspect of the characters? Opinions please! One thing: no, I'm not 'setting up' these two; Hinata just 'works' better for the story line than most of the other characters at this point. I didn't wish to create OCs yet (and I plan to try to keep important OCs to a minimum), and she fit the bill.
By the way, any particular main characters people would like to see sooner, rather than later? Keep in mind, that all this takes place sideways to the current manga arc; that gives me the most flexibility and options (and any cool developments that Kishimoto-sensei comes up with) for the characters. Yes, even for Sasuke, Itachi, Orochimaru and that crowd. While I do consider Sasuke a 'villain' now, that doesn't mean he will be irredeemable; or, at least that's my hope for the 'real' manga story line.
Also, if I screw up any romanji in this 'fic, please let me know. I feel I've gotten a decent grasp, but wish to include it more - but I don't wish to turn this into a hybrid-language 'fic, or use japanese 'just 'cuz'. Instead, I intend to use it as a gourmet cook would use a strong spice - as a flavoring, not the main dish, if that makes any sense.