HARD-WORKING TYPE
Hands stay open in the Juuken style. Blows are delivered with the palm. The shape of the palm, flat or curved, determines where and how much chakra will be released. That is, for any other Hyuuga. Rock Lee knew from experience that Hyuuga Neji could release the absolute maximum chakra needed for his decided blow regardless of if the palm were flat for a body blow, or curved against the shape of his cheek…
He really hated it when it was the latter.
"Gaah!"
Tenten watched with concern obvious on her cute features as one Rock Lee soared four feet through the air care of one Hyuuga Neji. Tenten had noticed, in the near half year that she had been Genin partners with the polar opposites, that Lee tended to drag about nine inches from where he struck the ground to wear he stopped, and Neji kept the extension of the blow that put Lee there for about six seconds.
On paper, there was no question who was the better fighter. It was true that Lee had speed and strength, but Neji had versatility, a sharp mind, and of course, his Byakugan. That genius bloodline gave Neji that something more; that something that made his Juuken style devastating; that made him number one.
They were training because Lee had failed in a mission again. Lee had asked for the training to prove his worth. Somehow it seemed that when he was most needed in his missions he fell apart. He should rarely lose in hand to hand combat, but he had yesterday and if Tenten hadn't caught the assaulting thug with a chain around the wrist, Lee would be the new owner of a second smile.
Like yesterday, Lee found himself face first in the grass.
"It's… not over yet…" Lee's voice was a bit mangled from the sore jaw and the slip of grass that had snaked between his teeth.
Tenten hated this part. It was the same thing every time. "Lee, you just don't know when to give up. You can't win. Neji is a genius… unlike you." Tenten wasn't the kind of soft spoken girl that boys liked, but she was honest when no one else dared to be. Lee and Neji both respected her.
Sometimes her voice irked the hot blooded Lee.
"Genius? What is a genius? Even if I don't have talent, I'll surpass him with hard work."
Though Neji never said so, he hated when people talked about him as if he weren't standing four feet, nine inches away from them. He especially hated it when Lee did it, whether or not he was standing or angry.
"That means everything to me! That's my ninja way!"
Your ninja way is to surpass me? Neji thought with distaste. What a shallow purpose you've committed yourself to… I can only get stronger if I'm challenged by the strong… Until a truly strong opponent arises again… Lee… I will make you stronger…
"It's useless, Lee…"
Lee's faced changed from anger to surprise. Neji was a boy of extremely few words. He often didn't waste them on Lee, certainly not after handing him a defeat. He usually turned around, told them when they'd next train then walk to the east side of Konoha to go home. So when Neji spoke, Lee paid careful attention, just like Neji knew he would, because Neji could read people so well, and Neji said the words that would force Lee to become stronger.
"No matter how hard you work, you can't beat me. That's already been decided."
The angry voice came again, just like Neji expected and his face remained calm as Lee leaned into his own anger.
"That's not true! That's not…"
Lee turned his face away. Tenten stared at him. Neji continued to think, he was always thinking. It was why his mind was so much stronger than Lee's. Lee could only see in one dimension. His ninja way blinded him more than Gai-sensei's ridiculous Nice-Guy pose. Neji didn't want to tell Lee that his ninja way was flawed, not because he was particularly nice, but because he had to believe that the person who had chosen him as his rival, the Rock who had no talent, at the very least, had logical sense. If it turned out the Lee never learned and that he never developed into a worthy shinobi, there was a good chance that Neji would kill him, or at the very least cripple him.
If nothing else beat him to it.
"Don't look down on me like that!"
Neji continued to look at Lee with the same eyes. "I'm only looking down at you because you're still on the ground. Get up."
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"Hypocrite." Neji responded.
Tenten became nervous then. This was different than what had happened in six month's worth of previous scuffles between Neji and Lee. Neji didn't seem to be his usual calm and reserved self. He was still cool and still cute and still, well, passively aggressive, but the reserve seemed to be slipping away. Lee had a talent to getting to the depth of people. Tenten had to wonder if deep down inside of Neji was a burning fire, the kind that Lee wore in his eyes.
Lee stood up and emphasized the extremely slight height advantage he had over Neji, the only advantage he had in truth, standing nearly toe to toe with the genius type Neji.
"I won't always be the 'loser' who holds the team behind. I will defeat you and all the genius types to prove my worth as a shinobi. You continue to rest on your bloodline and I'll work three times as hard as you and surpass you!"
Tenten flinched; she saw what Lee didn't until it was much too late. Neji did have a fire, one that Tenten and Lee normally had absolutely no access to. Unlike Lee, Neji never seemed to be giving them his all in their training… that was until then, that very moment.
Tenten had never seen such an expression, not on Lee and certainly not on Neji. Lee's face was surprised, actually stupefied was a better term. He had every right to be… Hyuuga Neji… had just slapped him.
The blow had turned Lee's head to the right. Though Neji wore his shuriken holder on his right leg, the truth was he was ambidextrous. It was one of the reasons for his versatility. His Juuken style had no weakness. But that slap, didn't have any chakra behind it, it didn't even have malice, though Neji was angry.
"Neji!" Tenten shouted in surprise.
Lee turned his face back to look Neji in the eyes. The Hyuuga's hand was still extended from the blow and didn't show any sign of being retracted. Lee's cheek was redder than it had been in his anger. His wide eyes stretched to their limit, his pupils fading into a dull shade of their normal onyx black. He looked at Neji, whose face was clean, the perfect skin stretched across his high cheekbones and across his grimace. Some of the girls in their year, including Tenten, used to refer to Neji as Hyuuga-hottie; he was a remarkable beauty, pretty in the way thirteen year old boys shouldn't be... even when he was angry…
Lee didn't see beauty; he saw anger and that made him angry again.
"What are you doing!" Lee shouted, raising a crossed fist to shake near his face.
Neji grabbed his shirt, wrapping his fist in the material. His breathing was coming fast through his nose. He was trying his best to maintain his composure. For the first time in a long time, he was unsure of his capacity.
"Stop saying that, you coward!" Neji commanded.
"Coward!" Lee screamed in disbelief.
"Neji! Lee! Please, calm down!" Tenten shouted, carefully keeping her distance. She had known Neji for a long time, much longer than either of them had known Lee and she knew she was safe from any dreadful gaze or scorn from Neji, but right now she was looking at a Neji she didn't know.
"What is wrong with---?" Lee shouted, struggling to pull himself free from Neji and finding he couldn't.
"Your assumptions are pissing me off."
"Neji, please let me go." Lee wasn't worried for his safety, but there was something here, something dangerous, this was a Neji he was… afraid of.
Neji granted Lee's request. Lee stumbled back flexing his fingers over the bunched material that had been crinkled in Neji's angry hold. Tenten watched Lee put distance between the two of them.
"Don't assume you know anything about my training or my blood. I told you 'you can't win' not because you're weak, but because I'm stronger… but now I think you are weak and worse than that… you're a loser."
Neji…Tenten watched Neji stare through Lee and felt herself pierced through Neji's knowing eyes. Something… had changed… and things would never go back to the way they were before.
Neji didn't look at Tenten as she approached Lee and steadied his shoulders. Lee didn't realize he'd been shaking until Neji blinked and tipped his head just so. Neji's eyes… what was that?
"Our next group training will be Thursday, here at five AM." Neji stated.
"But Neji… today is Thursday." Tenten said, positive that Lee wasn't capable of words at the moment.
"I know what I said. It will take me that long to make sure I can stand having that loser in my sight again."
Neji walked away. Tenten took her hand away from Lee's shoulder when she felt her own body to shake. She had seen Neji cold before… but this was cruel.
"Lee… you really rub him the wrong way. You should apologize." Tenten stated.
"Apologize? He called me a loser! Why should I apologize?"
"You called yourself a loser first. He only used your word. But that's not the point."
"What's the point then? Why do I have to apologize?" Lee turned to the shorter Tenten and saw the way her face was betraying everything. Emotional training hadn't been her forte, but Lee knew she was better than that. She was concerned. Neji had scared her too.
"You should know better than to bring up bloodlines and things like that around Neji. He may talk down to you, but he at least he talks to you not at you, like you do when you mention bloodlines and genius. You say it like a curse word… he already has a curse to worry about without you being a jerk."
"I'm not a jerk! He's the jerk! I'm not apologizing!"
"It's a good thing Gai-sensei isn't here… he'd be ashamed of both of you. I'm going home now. I'll see you on Thursday."
Tenten made her way back to the west side of Konoha and did her best not to think about her teammates for the rest of the day. She succeeded in breaking two plates and a glass before realizing that was something she just couldn't do.
Lee also made his way to the west side of Konoha. His mother and father were still at the Rockadou Bakery. It was likely his sister and brother were there as well. Like Lee, his younger brother and sister, Rock Takerou and Rock Anzu, had no talent as a shinobi, so they decided they would take over the family business. Lee turned his head to the side, throwing his gaze to the east side of Konoha as he stepped out to his backyard. Unlike his siblings, his handicap was a motivator to do better. He slid the door closed behind him and walked to the middle of the yard wearing his sparring post stood. He stared at the thick stump with its shorter protruding logs, worn in from his constant training. He looked hard and didn't see a wooden, immovable object. He saw Neji, his palms drawn for his Juuken style. Lee spread his feet and delivered a straight punch to the image, where the vision of Neji's forehead protector once was. The vision disappeared when the sound of his strike echoed off the wood. Lee stood just there, fist pressed against the wood, unable to will back the image of Neji he'd just struck down.
"I won't lose to you."
…
Maito Gai crossed his arms the same way his eternal rival did and watched his genin team break up. He turned an onyx eye to the Copy Ninja and let his face show his displeasure.
"How much of it did you see?" He asked.
"All of it, I think. He's the type I've seen a million times… that Hyuuga Neji."
"He's a prodigy. A genius type like you." Gai replied.
"He isn't your type. Why did you take him on?" Kakashi asked.
"I didn't. I had selected Lee, Tenten and the number two rookie, Kato Fuyuka. I thought it was a well balanced team."
"I thought the decision was to put Neji and Fuyuka together. They'd be a formidable group on their own."
"That's why they were separated. Hokage-sama believed they'd grow better independently. Fuyuka was given to Kashiwa Ryoko. Fuyuka took the Chuunin exam half a year ago and became a Chuunin immediately."
"Hai, she completed the tournament… It wouldn't surprise me for Hyuuga Neji to do the same. But you didn't answer my question."
"How very hip of you to notice my purposeful evasion… I took on Neji for Lee's benefit."
"I see… you're not being fair to him. Neji or Lee for that matter."
"In truth, Tenten could be molded into a masterful weaponry ninja by anyone. She has the talent. Lee needs the guidance of someone who understands him…"
"We're still talking about Neji-kun. You're still dodging my purpose… I'm starting to lose respect for you, Gai." Kakashi let his visible eye show his displeasure.
Gai conceded. Kakashi's victory: 47-48. "He doesn't need me. That isn't to say he doesn't need anyone, it is that I can't help him. From what I know about his records, he's confused and angry and he turned that anger into talent."
"I see. He's like Uchiha Sasuke in the class below him. If they were the same age, they'd be fantastic rivals, better than Fuyuka and Neji."
"Uchiha and Hyuuga are known for producing geniuses. Neji's mother is the famed Sango-hime."
"Hai, hai. I don't need to tell you who Sasuke's brother is… what are you going to do with him? Hyuuga Neji, that is."
"Continue, pray for inspiration. He's a clockwise type. Lee and I are counter-clockwise types; it's hard to understand him."
"Have you tried talking to him? If you wait for him to come to you, you'll be waiting for a while. This is the first time in a long time that you haven't tried hard enough, Gai."
Kakashi left in a flash, leaving Gai to continue to watch his students spread through Konoha. Neji went to the east, Lee and Tenten to the west. Is there really no common ground between them?
Gai thought about the day, the very moment that the Jounin trainers were choosing their genin teams. Gai had received no conflict when he chose Lee and Tenten. Kashiwa Ryoko, the former Anbu trainer, had gotten the coveted Kato Fuyuka and had made a claim for Neji when several Jounin objected. The Sandaime Hokage had decided to break up Fuyuka and Neji, but that left again the difficult decision of who would get the Hyuuga. Everyone wanted him but Gai and so Gai had gotten him.
Gai thought about that moment when Hyuuga Neji's profile was read over. He had heard things like Number One, Branch, Juuken and genius, and for the most part didn't pay much attention… But then again, he had heard and remembered every word.
If you throw a rock to hit a pole you'll miss… but if you throw it to miss…
Gai smiled to himself. Perhaps he wanted Hyuuga Neji in his genin group more than for Lee's sake. Truthfully, the two boys knew little about the other before they were assigned together. Everyone knew Neji was the number one rookie and everyone knew Lee was the hotheaded loser, but other than that, they knew nothing of each other.
How much of that has changed in this time? I'll have to make my decision for entering them into the Chuunin Exam within the next five months… individually they have the potential… but is the teamwork there?
Gai made up his mind to confront them all in the order of Neji, Tenten, Lee. He chose Neji first simply because it would take the most time and the fact that Gai lived on the west side of Konoha. It would not be the best use of his time to travel back and forth when he could be spending the time with his precious Genin.
Hyuuga Neji lived on the Hyuuga compound, the largest old name residence now that Uchiha was reduced to two. Of the standing old houses were the greatest bloodline of Konoha and the lineage of extremely versatile shinobi: Hyuuga and Kato. Genius types, both of them, and for the most part he had ignored them. Fuyuka was a taijutsu genius. Hyuuga Neji was a genius of chakra control. Uchiha Sasuke was a genius of his body. Rock Lee was a genius of hard work. Only one of those four was one suited for Gai's tutelage, but two of them were under his wing and he had an equal obligation to both of them to give them the best of what he had.
The Hyuuga were a traditionally beautiful people, the young Hinata and Neji were exceptional examples. It was the young Hinata who answered his knock and escorted Gai to Hyuuga Hiashi's location.
Gai found that he would have to wait. Another Jounin coming on behalf of a genin had beaten him there.
Kurenai? So you are the young Hinata's trainer? A good choice.
Gai had been made readily aware of what the Hyuuga Branch family was and what the Hyuuga Fate meant for both the Branch and Main houses. He had met Hyuuga Hiashi previously and it had gone similarly to how Kurenai's meeting was. Hiashi's sense of fate was an unpleasant thing.
Gai saw that Hinata had heard all of Hiashi's cruel words regarding her and her younger sister, Hanabi. When Kurenai exited, she saw that Hinata and Gai had heard as well.
"Hinata."
The pale girl said nothing. Gai placed his hand on Kurenai's shoulder. The Jounin genjutsu expert said nothing.
"If you're going to come in, do so, I have better things to do than wait on you, Maito Gai."
Gai turned his head and saw that Hiashi-sama wasn't looking at him. His Byakugan was activated and Hanabi was back on the floor struggling to get up again. Gai didn't look back again to the meek Hinata nor up at the rightfully upset Kurenai.
Is this the consequence of producing geniuses?
Hanabi held her kunai tightly and pushed with her young arms to get back to her feet. She charged at Hiashi. She ducked and tumbled nimbly, as expected of a minimally experienced student, before turning to the offensive. Her young voice carried through the air as she drove in from the right with her kunai. Hanabi was repelled with a quick whirl of Hiashi's cane and found herself flat on her back.
"Better. Your footwork is excellent. Again. Remember your senses and come at me with the intent to kill."
"Hai, father."
Gai realized he'd have to talk at the leader of the Hyuuga clan rather than to him.
"Hyuuga-sama, I need to talk to you about Neji."
"What of him?" Hiashi responded.
"His progress isn't expediting as I would like."
"Hmph. What does that matter to me?"
"He is a member of your clan."
"A Branch Member. Nothing much is expected of him." Hiashi replied.
"Hyuuga-sama, I know that you're aware of his genius. His level is high."
"What is it then, Maito? Is he good enough for you or not?"
"He is excellent, however, he could be better… however."
"Haaa!" Hanabi's voice cut through the air as she stabbed at her father again, this time from the left. Hiashi swung his cane to block her, but the quick daughter of the Main house evaded and snuck under his defenses. She rose from a squat on the ground to run her kunai up her father's side. Hiashi barely glanced in her direction before dropping his elbow onto the top her head. The young Hanabi's assault ended and the girl grabbed the top of her head.
"However, what?" Hiashi continued as if he hadn't delivered a hammering blow to the head of a seven year old girl. Hanabi had grabbed her head in a moment of weakness before tumbling backwards out of range to think of another strike and to allow the pain to subside.
"However, I believe he needs more than my instruction to do so. The intricacies of the Juuken style are complicated, one which I am not fully suited to develop."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Perhaps, you could become involved in his instruction. As the leader of the Hyuuga clan, surely you want all your members to be as strong as possible."
"Jounin Maito Gai, do not attempt to educate me on my responsibilities as leader of the Hyuuga Fate."
Gai's face became dark and tight, but he said nothing.
"Neji knows his place and it would do you well to understand yours. How far Neji develops is not a concern to me. The Branch house exists in a Fate of servitude, not exceptionalness."
"Neji is the exception to that fate."
"There are no exceptions to fate. Your words are poorly chosen. It is hard to decide whether or not you understand what Neji is and what Neji can do. There is a limit to both."
"I do not believe that is true."
"I cannot concern myself in what you believe. I see much more than you can in the Fate of Hyuuga." Hiashi turned his eyes to Hanabi who was still struggling over the last attack. Hiashi slammed the bottom of his cane into the floor. The sound echoed through the room and twice as loud through Gai's ears. It was the signal for Hanabi to start; it was the signal for Gai to stop.
Gai bowed and made his exit. Behind his back he heard Hanabi's young voice shout as she made another approach and the sound of her body being struck by a cane before hitting the floor.
Gai remembered the way to the Branch compound even though he hadn't been there for more than half a year. Neji lived with his mother, Hyuuga Sango, in a small separated house, one reserved for the head of the branch family, the role Hyuuga Hizashi had played. After his death, Sango had taken her husband's role. Hyuuga Sango was a distant cousin of Hyuuga Hizashi and herself a branch family member. Until recently, when her health began to fail again, she had been an exceptional leader for the Branch family. Gai could tell that Neji expected his mother to be replaced soon as her health continued to fade before his eyes.
Gai knew this without Neji telling him a thing. Sometimes, it's when you don't say a word…
Neji opened the door before Gai knocked. "Please be quiet, my mother is resting."
"Understood." Gai had wondered, once or twice, if anything surprised Neji outside of jutsus that his Byakugan couldn't decipher.
Food was being prepared. Neji lead Gai into the kitchen as he continued to prepare the dinner for himself and his mother. Hyuuga Sango had been a medical ninja of high regard in her youth. Many Hyuuga females were in the medical ninja unit, the precise chakra control required for their Juuken style made them suited for such an intense role. Sango-hime remained as one of the best in the history of Konoha, falling behind only the famed Tsunade in her talents.
It was a remarkable irony that Sango-hime was dying from an incurable illness.
"Would you like something to drink, sensei?" Neji asked.
Gai shook his head in the negative and watched Neji continue to prepare his Gyoza. He had the hands for a chef; he often prepared the meals for their long missions, much to the delight of Tenten and Gai who couldn't cook to save their precious lives. Hyuuga Neji had become talented in many things at such a young age.
"Did you want something particular, sensei? This is the first time you've come to my home in seven months."
"Has it been that long?"
"Hai?"
Gai watched for a few moments as Neji continued to stuff the wonton with his pork, cabbage, and onion mixture. His fingers worked nimbly to pinch the wrapper closed and place it the side.
Though in truth Hyuuga Neji was arrogant, self-involved, and mean, he wasn't cruel, rude, or stupid. He had spectacular insight, a gift for reading people and a mind that collected and archived information readily and efficiency. He could read people, he could see many things. Gai knew that Neji knew that he had spoken to Hiashi and that it hadn't gone well. He also knew that Neji knew that he wanted to talk about what had happened that afternoon. Though his Byakugan hadn't been activated during the training, he knew that Neji knew that Gai and Hatake Kakashi had witnessed the skirmish.
"I want to talk to you about Lee."
"That is something I do not wish to talk about." Neji split his completed gyoza into two piles: one to go in the refrigerator for another time, the other to go into the steamer.
"You say that a lot."
"I don't particularly like talking to people… or about them."
"You should change that habit."
Neji said nothing as he opened the steamer and delicately lined the pot stickers onto the wooden rack. He poured water into the bottom pan and set the entire setup onto the stove. He then started his rice to cook.
"Lee sees you as his rival."
"I know that." Neji replied.
"He also sees you as his inspiration." Gai responded.
Neji did not respond, but Gai saw the slight pause in Neji's motions. The Hyuuga had his head bent down as he wrapped his extra pot stickers for storage. His shoulders had paused in their rhythm for just a second before continuing their motion. Gai smiled slightly. So there is something you didn't know…
"I don't want something as troublesome as an admirer… especially an admirer like Lee."
"You misunderstand. He doesn't admire you. However, you gave him a goal that he believes he can achieve."
"If he were a real shinobi, his goal wouldn't be a person. His precious ideal is flawed."
Gai frowned and Neji continued his mechanical preparations. He kept an emotionless expression for ninety-percent of his public face. Gai hadn't seen him ever totally enraged or totally happy. Peace was something he could show to the world… what Gai believed he felt was something completely different.
"Do you believe a precious ideal, Neji?"
"Hai."
"What is it?" Gai asked.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"You say that so often."
"I wonder why it is then that you're still surprised. It is one of the many things that will never change, sensei. I will always be reserved, Lee will always be your favorite, and his ideal will always lead him to failure. His failure… that is fate."
Gai cocked his head when Neji placed a glass of water and a plate of white radish in front of him. He hadn't thought to look at what Neji had been doing, that had set his shoulders into a repetitive rhythm. He had been cutting vegetables to accompany his gyoza and rice. Gai took his chopsticks and ate a slice of radish and continued to watch Neji and he moved around.
"Neji, if I give you my warm promise to tell you a deep secret, will you tell me one of yours?"
"Iie. That doesn't sound like something that will be beneficial to me."
"I will tell you my truth anyway." Gai stated, placing down his chopsticks. He drank the remaining water in his glass as Neji turned his back to him to wash the dishes he had dirtied. "Neji, I believe that Lee will surpass you."
Neji rinsed his hands clean and dried them on a drying towel. "That's no secret, I've known that you believed so before you became our sensei. He's your favorite and that will not change."
"Is that fate as well?"
Gai couldn't see, because Neji's back was still turned to him, that Neji looked to the upper left. He didn't turn his head; he didn't move anything but his eyes. Then he tightened his lips and turned to face his Jounin trainer.
"What did you hope to accomplish by coming here, sensei? You've told me nothing new and you have changed nothing. Lee has chosen me as his rival, but the heavens will not allow him to surpass me because his will is flawed. I do not care what he thinks he can do or for that matter, what you think he can do. In one sided rivalries, one will develop to catch the other and one will have his growth stunted in such a race. If you would encourage such a thing from Lee to hinder my development, I ask that you send me to a different Jounin instructor."
Gai had failed emotional training twice before the instructor realized that Gai was different. Rule number twenty-five didn't apply to him. His face showed everything: happiness, fear, excitement, and, once, complete stupefaction. The Jounin shot out of his seat in complete disbelief at Neji's words.
Gai watched Neji with wide eyes as the thirteen year old continued to check his cooking. He lowered the heat on his rice, added oil to his vegetables and kept the heat low on them. Neji's face was calm as ever. Gai fought the tears threatening to escape his eyes.
What does this team mean to you? What does anything mean to you, Neji?
Gai regained his composure and sat down, realizing he had gone about this all wrong. Neji continued to cook, not looking up once.
"No one would have you." Gai replied, picking up his chopsticks.
"Kashiwa Ryoko is entering her remaining team into the Chuunin exam again. I can fill in the third position that Kato Fuyuka held."
"I mean, no team would have you, Neji. Jounin would fight for you again, but amongst your peers, your value isn't so high."
"I don't care. How can I hope to achieve… anything if I'm held back by the thoughts of others?" Neji asked.
Gai noticed the pause in Neji's words. He almost admitted a truth he didn't want to. There was something shining behind the diamond of a shinobi genius that he was. There was something more beautiful behind it and Gai was going to find it.
"What if everyone thinks like Lee does? Will you continue to switch teams, one after another after another?" Gai asked.
"Iie. Everyone thinks like Lee does about Geniuses, except Geniuses. What Lee calls 'Hard-working' types assume one thing blindly and completely: that 'Genius' types don't work hard. Lee's flawed ninja way stems from that assumption: that Geniuses are born Geniuses and don't work hard to become them. That is his precious assumption that I will tear down."
And in that moment, it all made perfect sense. Gai turned his intelligent eyes to Neji and stared at him until Neji was forced to look at him, to get that heavy gaze off his forehead protector.
"You do not believe in classes."
"Of course I do." Neji replied.
"No, you don't. What you wish to achieve in your style, in your cruel words, is to rip such a system apart. You use the words of others to show how destructive they are… especially to one who doesn't have words… but a reflection of what class means. Being a Branch member is difficult, isn't it?"
Shadows fell over Neji's face. His eyes became lost under the overhang on his forehead protector. Gai stared in awe at the transformation of his features. Even here, in his home, he keeps it on. He is always a Branch Member even if Lee isn't always a loser or if the young Hinata becomes Elite. Everyone is allowed to change… except him… so until he could change… no one else could…
But, Neji… when will you realize you have changed?
"Please finish your plate and leave."
Gai had expected as much. He finished his last slice of radish. He laid his chopsticks against the earthen plate. He stood up and looked down at the pupil whom he'd come to understand a bit more.
"Lee's dream is his own. I will do nothing to deter him from following it. However, I will make him work harder to understand you. It will be training for him. He will understand that you spend your training on your mind the same way as Lee does with his body. I see know how hard you work Neji, to capture your hidden ideal. I will keep this a secret from everyone."
Gai turned and moved to let himself out.
"You will not switch me?"
Neji's voice stopped him for only a second. He turned back to the much younger genin and delivered his second most devastating Nice Guy Pose in his arsenal. "Iie, that would be foolish. I intend to give you the best of what I can."
Neji frowned. Gai beamed harder.
"Thank you for the food. Give your mother my regards."
Neji frowned at Gai's retreated back. "Hai."
…
Tenten wasn't much of a conversationalist. She spoke in short sentences, usually declarative and only said what was necessary. She thought more than most, but she thought with her fingers fastest.
She didn't miss. Period. Her coordination was superior to most fighters with twice her experience. Unfortunately her chakra control was poor. She developed ninjutsu that could be activated with large bursts of chakra rather than the finely tuned methods expected of skilled ninjas. Most ninjas could perform her techniques with half the use of stamina. She'd improve as her arsenal increased, but as it was, with her efficiency, such modifications weren't immediately necessary.
"Have Neji and Lee talked to each other, sensei?" Tenten asked as Gai got up to leave.
Gai shook his head in the negative.
"I told Lee to apologize. I think I need to have a kunai drawn to make him listen to me."
"You believe that only Lee needs to extend an apology?"
"Not exactly… Neji says mean things sometimes, but Lee went too far. Being a Hyuuga is harder than not being talented."
"How would you know such a thing?" Gai asked. "You've been neither a Hyuuga nor untalented."
"Sensei," Tenten put her hands on her hips, clearly unamused by Gai's cheekiness, "it's just like getting kicked in the face by a Tai kick boxer. You don't have to experience it to know you want no part of it." Tenten replied.
Gai laughed thoroughly and exited Tenten's apartment, much to the relief of Tenten's family.
The last stop should have been the Rock house not two blocks east of Tenten's apartment. However, Gai felt it in his bones to go to Lee's training spot, knowing somehow he would be there.
Jump rope. Front kicks. Insecurity. Lee was good at all those things. He didn't understand his potential, but he kept working, kept moving, kept being irresponsible with his body. So many things needed to change. Gai explained to Lee what Lee truly was: a genius of hard work and leveled the difference between him and Neji as far as type went. Gai used his smile to encourage Lee and didn't take away Lee's desire to surpass Neji, nor did he change what Genius meant. For now he could be satisfied with Lee seeing his genius as something completely different than Neji's Genius. When the Chuunin exam came, he would teach Lee all of his truths and hope that Lee came to understand Neji a little better.
Lee decided to treat his sensei to dangos at his family restaurant. Gai became ecstatic at the prospect of food. His smile lit up half of Konoha. Lee's sister and brother were happy to see their brother, less than happy to see Gai, but dealt with it. Gai spent most of the time sneezing at the counter when Rock Anzu and Rock Takerou were in the back storage room.
"Ano… Gai Sensei?" Lee said weakly. His cheeks were flushed red and he dipped his head down towards his plate.
"What is it, Lee?"
"Since… I'm going to become stronger like you… Do you think I could… get an azure trainer like yours?"
Gai's face went blank for a moment before his mouth opened wide as he laughed heartily. "If you want, I just happen to have accidentally shrunk one in the wash the other day. I will bring it by for your next training session."
"Do you think I could have it before then? Thursday is a long way away and I want to do some more training immediately."
"You're not going to train as a group before Thursday? Why?" Gai knew very well why, but he hoped his kawaii student would realize the error in keeping to the angry schedule his fight with Neji had caused the team to adopt. It was the approach that Neji had adopted to handling Lee, he wondered if there was any chance of it working.
"Neji is upset with me right now and doesn't want to see me for a week. I was going to honor his request, however I see now that he is being unreasonable to think only of himself. I will call both of them tomorrow morning and request a training session for Saturday afternoon! While I am in the Springtime of Youth, I cannot be denied! Not even by someone like that arrogant Hyuuga Neji!"
Just outside the door, Lee and Gai heard a reserved sneeze. Both turned from their stools at the bar and watched the curtain pull aside and one Hyuuga Neji entered Rockadou. Lee's face went completely white, his mouth hung open. Did he hear what I said?
Neji approached the counter, ignoring Lee and Gai's gaze on him. Rock Anzu greeted him cheerfully.
"Ah, Neji-kun, your order is ready!"
Anzu handed Neji a bag and Neji paid before bowing respectfully and turning to leave without another word. Rock Lee frowned and jumped out of his seat. His voice became a shout and he pointed at Neji's retreating back with both rage and excitement.
"Neji! What are you doing here? You eat my family's pastries and you never said so?"
"Iie." Neji responded. He turned back to look at him, though it wasn't necessary. Lee's big motion was visible without his Byakugan activated. He was becoming more dramatic than their sensei and that was a heavy task. "I don't like sweets. My mother asked me to come and pick some up. She likes Rockadou's dango very much… they must be high quality."
Lee suddenly felt ridiculous pointing at Neji the way he was. It might have had to do with the look Neji was giving him. His expression became sheepish and the young, raven haired genin rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully.
"Uhh… Hai… Arigato. Please give Sango-hime my regards."
Neji nodded and turned his back to walk away. Before he reached the door he stopped. "If you want to have a training session on Saturday… it's fine. It's something a guy like me can understand."
Lee's face vaulted. He did hear me.
Gai laughed at Lee's stupefied expression before turning to watch Neji leave. As Neji turned to exit, the curtain was pushed aside and Tenten popped in from the side.
"Neji?"
"Tenten." Neji greeted. He laughed a little before turning his head to the side to look back at Lee. "We're having our next training this Saturday at noon."
Tenten blinked twice. "Uh… hai."
She held the curtain back and Neji exited without another word. Tenten watched him go for a few seconds before turning back to look at Lee and Gai.
"You all met up without inviting me? You boys are so mean!" Tenten put her hands on her hips in that way that was distinctly hers.
"Iie, I wouldn't isolate my kawaii kunoichi. Come, we'll have sesame dango this time." Gai replied.
Lee smiled. Tenten did as well. "Hai!"
Tenten approached the counter and Lee smiled at her. Tenten smiled back and Gai smiled heartily. He relaxed backwards a bit in his seat and thought about his genin. It occurred to him then that he had mislabeled his students: not that Neji wasn't a true genius, that Tenten wasn't a magnificent weaponist or that Lee wasn't a genius of hard work, but he had labeled them separately at all. Their teamwork had suffered because his mistake and he would fix it, starting Saturday.
Lee and Tenten munched happily on their dango, sharing smiles beside their mentor.
Youth is an explosion. Gai thought. I will give my all to make these genin full and proud shinobi. If I cannot do that… I will quit being a ninja.
It was the "My Rules" with the heaviest consequence he had ever created. He would use his all to make sure his record against himself would be 1-0.
Lee and Tenten looked up when Gai began to laugh without provocation. His dazzling smile sparked a new future for Team Youth.
It was a promise of a lifetime.
End