Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its plot or characters. I own any OC, my plot, and anything else you don't recognize unless otherwise stated.
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
-Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
A cleaning guy came in to clean up Hinata's blood and Kankuro went down the stairs and walked up to Naruto who was standing by himself leaning against the railing.
"Ahhh! Now you're talking! All you can eat! Bring it ooooooon!" Chouji suddenly shouted. Hayate coughed and everyone looked over at him.
"Now then, we'll continue the competition." He said.
"Alright! This time you'll be picked I just know it." Gai said to Lee giving him a thumbs up. "You ready Lee?"
"No." Lee said turning away.
"Huh?"
"I have been waiting so long, I do not care. I might as well go last." The names on the board started changing. They stopped Gaara used his sand to transport down. Rin leaned on the railing with a big excited smile. Gaara glanced up at her before looking forward and waiting for Lee to join him.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Chouji screamed. "Safe again!"
"Stop that!" Ino said hitting him on the head.
"You want everyone to know you're a chicken?" Shikamaru asked also hitting him.
"Lee." Sakura looked over at him after seeing his name on the board.
"It worked like a charm." Lee said after kicking. "I knew if I said I wanted to be last I would be next!" He kept kicking the air. "I simply applied the principal which states that sometimes the surest way to hit something is to stop trying to hit it." He started punching the air. "It is a form of reverse psychology!"
"Huu-ah! That's my student." Gai said.
"I was absolutely not going to be last no matter what! Ha ha! I sure fooled them did I not?" Lee asked.
"Now then, listen carefully." Gai said. Lee stopped punching. "A piece of advice before you begin."
"Sir." Lee saluted. Gai leaned closer to Lee and whispered.
"Look, you see that gourd that Gaara's wearing? Watch out, there's something weird about it."
"Good advice sir."
"Don't write it down!" Gai said when Lee started writing it on a paper. "What are you thinking? After all you're not going to have any time to read any notes during the match are you?"
"Ah, more good advice." Lee said before writing it down.
"Now Rock and Roll!" Gai shouted pointing.
"Yeah!" Lee shouted before vaulting over the railing to the floor. Lee took up his stance. "I knew that sooner or later we would have to meet and I am glad it is sooner." Gaara just started at him.
"I hope Gaara doesn't hurt him too bad." Rin said with a small frown. Temari looked at her.
"I'm sure the kid'll be… fine." Temari said.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Lee asked after catching something. He dropped the cord to Gaara's gourd.
"Alright then." Hayate said. "If you are both ready… begin!" Lee ran at Gaara and jumped up.
"Ah! Leaf Hurricane!" He kicked but Gaara's sand blocked it before getting bigger. "huh?" Lee jumped away while flipping to avoid it. The sand went back into the gored.
"What is that?" Ino asked.
"It's sand." Sakura said. Lee ran at him again and sand came out. Gaara remained motionless, his arms still crossed. Lee jumped and kicked but the sand blocked him. He kept attacking but the sand kept blocking. He heard it behind him and took out a kunai. He sliced at the sand as it attacked him then tried to kick. He rolled out of the way of the sand multiple times. Before jumping up and throwing kunai at the side of Gaara's head. The sand stopped them.
"Wow." Naruto said as he watched.
"Even as fast as he is, Lee can't get anywhere close to him." Sakura said.
"The sand, he's using it as a shield." Naruto said.
"He's not doing it." Kankurō said. "The sand is protecting him of its own accord."
"Huh?"
"It's almost like a living thing." Kankurō said. "It'll come to Gaara's defense without his doing anything. That's why Gaara's never been injured. No one can get at him. No one's ever even been able to touch him." Kankurō said. Gaara looked up at Rin and saw her bouncing on her feet with a big smile. He couldn't help but smirk briefly.
"Well, is that all?" Gaara asked turning back to look at Lee. "I hope you haven't finished entertaining me. We haven't had enough… fun." Gaara lifted his head and the sand came at Lee. It grabbed him around his leg before swinging him around. It threw him against the wall and Lee slid down. It came at him again but he dodged to the side and ran at Gaara before trying to punch him. Gaara looked up towards Rin and expected to see a smile but Rin had her hands over her mouth slightly and looked worried for Lee. Gaara grit his teeth together. She was supposed to be supporting him; she shouldn't care about some leaf ninja she barely knew. Lee back-flipped away from the sand but then he slipped on it and fell. Gaara heard Rin gasp and shot a glare at Lee. The sand came at Lee and covered him.
"It's over." Shikamaru said. Sakura looked up to see Lee flipping in the air way up high. He landed on top of the hand statue.
"A ninja who can do neither ninjutsu or genjutsu is certainly a rarity. Lee has only his taijutsu to rely on. Some might consider that a disadvantage, but that's what makes him a winner." Gai said.
"Huh?" Sakura sounded even more confused.
"Alright Lee, take'em off." Gai said giving him a thumbs up. Lee look over and saluted.
"Uh, but Gai sensei, you said that was only as a last resort when the lives of very important people were at stake." Lee said.
"That's right I did, but this is an exception." Gai said.
"Really?" Lee asked a smile forming on his face. "Really?" He sounded excited. Lee sat on the statue and pulled off his orange leg warmers to reveal leg weights.
"Huh? Are those..?" Ino asked.
"How old fashioned." Shikamaru said.
"Totally cool." Naruto said.
"Totally dumb." Kankurō said.
"Ah that is better." Lee said holding each leg weight and standing. "Now I will be able to move freely." He dropped the weights. When they hit the ground it was like an explosion had gone off. The whole room shook. Everyone looked shocked.
"Alright! Now go!" Gai shouted.
"Yes Sir!" Lee said and suddenly he was gone. Gaara blinked and looked surprised. Lee was suddenly behind him and punched. Lee punched through the sand but didn't hit Gaara. Gaara looked shocked and had uncrossed his arms. Lee was suddenly on the other side of him and kicked. Gaara's head moved as Lee kicked because the sand had just barely stopped Lee's foot. Gaara looked to where Lee had been and Lee suddenly punched coming an inch away from his face. Lee ran around Gaara and punched and kicked. Lee suddenly punched with a cry and his fist went past Gaara's face.
"Close!" Sakura said with a smile. Gaara looked around as Lee seemed to blink around him kicking and punching. Temari looked over at Rin to see the girl watching with wide eyes.
"I could see that Lee had no aptitude for ninjutsu or genjutsu," Gai said. "so we skipped them and focused all of his time and energy into developing taijutsu. That way we turn his disadvantage into a blessing. Now he doesn't need those other things to win because he's transformed himself into the world's greatest taijutsu specialist." Lee was running around Gaara who was trying to see where he was. Lee jumped up and brought his foot down and kicked Gaara's head down which caused Rin to let out a squeak. Lee slide away and looked up with a smirk and Gaara looked in pain and annoyed.
"Wow, that's scary." Naruto said. "And I thought he was quick on his feet before. He's been that fast all this time?"
"Yes Lee!" Gai cheered. "Let the power of youth explode!"
"Right!" Lee shouted and ran at Gaara. Gaara raised a hand and sand came up to block. Lee was suddenly behind Gaara and kicked. Gaara whirled around. "Over here!" Gaara couldn't tell where Lee was. "No here!" Lee punched Gaara sending him to the ground.
"Gaara!" Rin shouted as she gripped the railing tightly.
"Good!" Gai said.
"He's just, too quick." Sakura said. "That sandstorm can't keep up with him. Lee you nailed him!"
"That's incredible." Shikamaru said.
"I've never seen anyone that fast." Ino said.
"Makes me dizzy just tryin'a keep track of him." Chouji said. Gaara stood as sand poured out of the gourd."
"Uh-oh." Kankurō said.
"Yeah uh-oh is right." Naruto said. "Your friend with the eye make-up is getting the stuffing beaten out of him."
"That isn't what I was talking about, kid." Kankurō said.
"Huh?" Lee looked at Gaara, who was hanging his head, as sand fell off his face and onto the ground. He looked up and sand was covering him completely except for a few places were the sand had broken off. Gaara was grinning with wide eyes, showing all his teeth, and making a weird sound.
"Gaara?" Rin whispered.
"What the heck?" Naruto asked. "What's going on with this guy?! His face is falling off."
"It's like a shell made of sand." Kakashi said.
"Look there's no a mark on the guy." Shikamaru said.
"That is so weird." Sakura said. The sand around Gaara swirled and went up to his face. The sand covered him.
"I don't get it, is he made of sand or what?" Naruto asked. "All those blow and kicks Lee hit him with, did any of them get through?"
"No." Kankurō said. "It's like he's wearing a suit of armor."
"A what?" Naruto asked.
"Ordinarily those shifting clouds of sand are enough to shield him but in the event the shield is penetrated Gaara can also wear the sand like armor as a last line of defense."
"This guy's too much. He's got armor now?" Naruto looked back at the two. "Does he have any weak spots?" Kankurō glanced over at Rin who looked extremely worried.
"Well is that all?" Gaara asked. Lee started to unwrap his arm wrappings until long pieces dangled from each.
"Get ready." Lee said before he started running around Gaara in a large circle.
"What are you waiting for?" Gaara asked.
"Okay you asked for it." Lee said. Suddenly Lee kicked Gaara in the chin sending him up.
"Gaara!" Rin shouted.
"Try this!" Lee kicked him in the stomach a bunch of times to get him up. The sand on the ground started to follow.
"What an incredible series of kicks." Kakashi said. Lee gave a final kick then wrapped Gaara with his bandages before grabbing onto him and spinning them both extremely fast.
"Now take this! Primary Lotus!" They hit the ground creating a large crater. Lee landed safely next to it. The smoke cleared and Gaara could be seen in the middle of the crater. The sand armor on his made it seem like he was cracked all over. "It is over. I got him." Lee said.
"Right on!" Gai shouted.
"Gaara!" Rin screamed. Temari put a hand on Rin's shoulder afraid the girl was going to jump over the railing to run to him.
"Amazing. He really did it." Naruto said.
"No… I don't believe it." Kankurō said.
"You did it!" Sakura cheered. "Way to go Lee!"
"Is he… that guy isn't dead is he?" Shikamaru asked. Hayate walked over to look at Gaara's body. A piece of sand fell in showing it was an empty shell. More pieces began to crumble away
"What?" Lee looked shocked.
"An empty shell!" Sakura shouted.
"But how? When did he do it?" Gai asked.
"It was when you closed your eyes to pray." Kakashi said. "At that moment, Lee closed his eyes too because of the pain. That's when he did it." Lee turned around hearing sand behind him and Gaara appeared, sand falling down around him. He chuckled.
"Oh no it's-" Tamari said. Rin looked back, up at Temari with a frown.
"So it's happened just as I thought; that look in his eyes it can only mean…" Kankurō said. "The demon inside him has been awakened." Gaara made a hand sign and the sand swirled around him before attacking Lee sending him to the ground. Lee got up shakily grunting. He turned to face Gaara. A large wave of sand rose up.
"Run Lee!" Naruto shouted. Lee put up his arms to defend himself and a large wave of sand pushed him to the wall. The sand retracted and Lee slid down the wall. The sand came at him again and Lee put up his arms around.
"The poor kid is helpless he doesn't have anything left." Kankurō said. "Gaara's just toying with him now."
"I don't get it, what's Lee doing just standing there?" Sakura asked. "With his speed he should easily be able to get out of the way of those blasts. Why doesn't he dodge them?"
"For a very simple reason." Gai said. "He can't dodge them."
"Huh? Why is that?"
"The lotus is what you might call a double edged sword." Kakashi said.
"What…What does that mean?"
"You know that it's a forbidden technique, why do you think that is?" Kakashi asked.
"Well…"
"The Lotus isn't ninjutsu or genjutsu it's taijutsu requiring extreme physical energy, the strain it puts onto the body is unimaginable. No one can sustain it for long. Right now Lee is in so much pain that he hardly move at all. Isn't that right Gai?"
"But-! But that means-!" Sakura looked back at Lee who was in a crater in the wall. He was holding his hands out and panting heavily. The sand attacked again and Lee jumped out of the way before rolling and jumping a few more times. Lee put up his arms in an X and Gaara made a hand sign. "No ninjutsu or genjutsu."
"All he's got is taijutsu." Ino said. "And not much of that."
"There's no way he can win this." Chouji said.
"Win? He'll be lucky to survive." Shikamaru said. Lee kept his arms up. Sand attacked him and he yelled out as he was sent to the ground. Gaara grinned and Lee stood up again holding up his arms. Gaara chuckled.
"What good to you think that'll do?" Gaara asked.
"I pity the kid." Kankurō said. "Gaara will just toy with him until he begs for mercy."
"Well then," Gai said. The three looked over. "Gaara's in for a long match because that will never happen."
"Huh?"
"Lee doesn't know how to give up." Gai said. The sand attacked Lee and he landed on his stomach the sand pounded into his back. Lee screamed. The sand retracted and Lee stood again holding up his arms. Tears came to his eyes as he looked up at Gai. Sand moved around and Lee got ready.
"He can't go on, make him quit before he gets himself killed!" Sakura shouted. Lee took up his normal stance with one hand up. The sand attacked but Lee quickly moved out of the way.
"Lee!" Rin shouted. Gaara clenched his fists and teeth as a growl rose in his throat.
Why does she care about him? Gaara's mind screamed. She's my friend! Mine!
"What?" Kankurō looked shocked that Lee had dodged the sand.
"He's still about to-" Neji said.
"Move like that?" Naruto asked. Lee stood again with a smirk.
"Lee's smiling, he's running for his life but he's still smiling." Sakura said.
"Yes, but now it's Gaara's run to run." Gai said. "The leaf village lotus blooms twice."
"I've heard that somewhere before." Sakura said. "Yeah. Lee told me that."
"But no… Gai you didn't." Kakashi said.
"Yes Kakashi I did."
"So that genin, that boy, is able to open the eight inner gates and use the hidden lotus?"
"That's correct." Gai said.
"Well if that isn't the more…." Kakashi sighed. "Okay, so then how many of the inner gate is her able to open now?"
"Five gates."
"Okay, what exactly are these inner gates you're talking about?" Sakura asked. "And the hidden lotus?"
"The eight gates are like values or chakra limiters that must be opened if one is to… release the hidden lotus."
"I'm still not following." Sakura said. Kakashi explained where the gates were. Starting at the head: The Gate of Opening, The Gate of Rest, of Life, of Pain, of Closing, of Joy, of shock and the Gate of Death. The purpose of the gates is to limit the flow of chakra throughout the body.
"The primary lotus opens only the first gate." Gai said. "The gate of opening, releasing the brains restrains on the muscles freeing a person to bring forth his body's strength to its full extent. You've seen the results."
"And the… hidden lotus?" Sakura asked. Lee was dodging all of Gaara's sand attacks.
"At the second gate, the gate of rest, one's strength is increased further. And at the third the gate of life one enters the hidden lotus."
"Wait a minute; just the primary lotus almost destroyed him, he could barely move. What's gunna happen to him if he takes it further?"
"Exactly." Kakashi said. "By opening all eight gates you could obtain power beyond even the Hokage's the only drawback is… you die." Sakura looked shocked. Kakashi looked at Gai. "I don't know what this boy means to you Gai, but I shouldn't have to tell you that we never bring our personal feelings into play. I wouldn't have thought you were capable of this.
"You have no right, you know nothing about him." Gai said. "Nothing at all! That boy has something important to prove and he's determined to prove it even at the cost of his life. And I am determined to help him reach his goal, not for his sake but because that goal is worth reaching." Suddenly the hair around Lee moved and energy came from him.
"What?"
"I don't know what you think you're planning right now but this match is over for you." Gaara said.
"You are right. It is over. One way or another. I am not going to be the only one to lose here!" Lee's hair stared to lift from the pressure of the air around Lee. Gaara looked a bit surprised. "Gai-Sensei please let this work, it is now or never!" Lee brought his arms down as blue chakra started to glow. His hair was blowing straight up and his skin and face looked darker. "The third gate! Gate of Life open!" The ground around Lee rose around him as his chakra and the air mixed around him. His skin was changing and his eyes were wide and white. A green glow emitted from him.
"His whole body's changing." Sakura said.
"He's turning red!" Naruto said.
"What's it mean? What's happening?" Kankurō asked.
"He's opened the third gate the gate of life, now he'll attack." Kakashi said.
"Oh no, not yet." Gai said.
"Hm?"
"The fourth gate! Gate of Pain!" Lee shouted as he was hunched over slightly. "Open!" He screamed.
"Incredible." Kakashi said. Lee continued to scream and suddenly moved forward. Gaara's eyes widened, as Lee moved the ground exploded. Lee kicked Gaara up in the chin, the force being sent up at the other genin and jounin watching. Everyone held up their arms and took cover.
"Gaara!" Rin screamed.
"Huh? Gaara!" Kankurō shouted looking around.
"Where'd they go?!" Naruto asked.
"Gaara!" Rin shouted, squinting to look through the dust.
"Eh huh? Up there!" Shikamaru shouted. Gaara flew up out of the smoke and dust.
"There's Gaara but what happened to Lee?" Ino asked.
"He's just gone!" Chouji said. Gaara's sand hurried to get to him. Gaara's sand armor was cracking.
"Hiding behind that sand armor again, ay?" Lee asked. "Well we will see about that!" Lee was suddenly above Gaara who sounded surprised. Lee hit Gaara down then back then all around rapidly. Gaara's sand armor was cracking and falling away. "You are a tough one!" Lee shouted. "Try this!" Lee forced his hand into a fist.
"I can't watch." Rin whimpered as she covered her eyes.
"His muscles are tearing themselves apart." Kakashi said.
"One more and we are finished!" Lee shouted as he opened the fifth gate. Lee disappeared when he was a foot away from Gaara. Gaara made a noise of surprise and suddenly Lee hit him in the stomach. Gaara went flying but Lee had a bandaged attached to him which stopped him. Gaara looked at Lee with wide eyes. Gaara's sand couldn't keep up and was far behind Lee. Lee pulled on the bandage which pulled Gaara up. "Hidden Lotus!" Lee shouted as he punched Gaara in the stomach. They hit the found sending a shock wave and smoke and dust up at everyone else. Gaara's gourd started to turn to sand to protect him. Lee rolled on the ground.
"Unbelievable he did it!" Naruto shouted.
"Gaara!" Kankurō and Rin shouted.
"Is it over?" Sakura asked. The smoked cleared.
"Huh?"
"What's that?" Ino asked. "Down there." In the center of the crater lying on a protective layer of sand Gaara was groaning in pain. Rin covered her mouth with a gasp. Gaara weakly reached out his arm with an open palm. His sand started going after Lee.
"I know what's coming now." Shino said. Lee struggled to get up and move away. The sand went around his left arm and leg.
"Gaara no!" Rin screamed.
"Sand coffin." Gaara said closing his fist. Lee screamed in pain. He hit the ground and looked to be unconscious. The sand move to attack again. "Now you die." Gaara sat up as his sand was stopped by Gai. Gaara looked at him in shock. He grabbed his head with one hand. "But why? He failed." He put his other hand on his head. "Why save him?"
"Because he's… he's my student and also because he is precious to me." Gaara blinked and his eyes looked up at Rin who had tears in hers.
"He's precious to him?" Tamari asked. "A student?" Gaara stood and his gourd reformed on his back. Gaara started walking away.
"Huh?" Gai looked after him.
"I quit." Gaara said.
"He what, he quits?" Sakura asked.
"It's too late for Lee. He lost the match the minute Gai intervened." Kakashi said.
"The winner is…uh?" Hayate look over at Lee. Everyone made a noise of surprise causing Gaara to turn around. Gai looked behind him to see Lee standing, his left arm and leg bleeding profusely and his left leg was shaking.
"It can't be." Gai said turning to face him. Lee raised his right hand in his normal pose. "No Lee." Gai went up to him. "It's alright, it's all over now. Anyway you're in no condition to…" Gai stopped. "Lee…oh Lee…" Gai started crying. "What have I done? Look at you not even conscious and still determined to show the world what you can do."
"He's out cold." Kakashi said pulling his headband back down. "Nothing keeping him up but sheer willpower.
"Lee… You've already proven it." Gai said before pulling him into a hug. "You are a splendid ninja."
"The winner is Gaara." Hayate said. Gaara was looking at Gai and Lee. He glared at them.
"Lee!" Sakura was about to jump down.
"Sakura." Kakashi said stopping her. "There is nothing you can do for him right now." She looked down. "There are times when sympathetic words only make things worse." Sakura looked down to see Gai lying Lee down.
"Hmph, I knew he couldn't beat Gaara." Temari said. Naruto vaulted over the railing and started running towards them. As he passed Gaara he turned his head to look at him. Gaara looked back then watched Naruto run over.
"Hurry this boy needs attention." Hayate said to the medics who were coming. Naruto looked down at Lee.
"Bushy Brow…" Naruto stood by Gai as the medical ninja looked over Lee.
"You're his teacher aren't you?" One of the medics asked Gai.
"I am. What is it?" Gai said. The medic stood.
"Will you… come with me?" The medic asked before walking away. Gai followed.
"Careful with him." The other two medics put Lee on the stretcher. "That's right, easy." Naruto walked over and looked at Lee.
"The boy's breathing is faint but steady. There are bone fractures and muscle tares on is body. He's facing a long and difficult rehabilitation." The medic told Gai. "But I'm afraid it's not the worst of it… his left arm and leg in particular have suffered massive damage. I'm sorry I know how much it means to you both but he'll never fight again. His days as a shinobi are over." The medic bowed before going over to the stretcher to help take Lee away.
"No… he's wrong." Naruto said, tears coming to his eyes. "It can't be true." His shoulders shook. Gai walked up to Lee. He was also crying. They took him away.
"Easy for you to say it's over! What about Bushy Brow?!" Naruto screamed. "What's he supposed to do now?! Failure! I thought you said we could win?! I thought you were gunna show how a failure can-! It was all a lie wasn't it!" Naruto started to run after them but Kakashi appeared to hold him back and cover his mouth.
"That's enough Naruto." Naruto knocked his hand away.
"But sensei- It isn't fair! All he ever wanted was to prove himself against Sasuke and Neji."
"And maybe that's what led to his downfall." Kakashi said. "He was so fixated on that goal that he sacrificed his body, his future, to attain it. And now that goal is unattainable. But you're wrong about one things Naruto, it wasn't just Sasuke and Neji he was thinking of, it was you too. That's right, he risked everything just for the hope of meeting you in combat. Remember that." Kakashi put his hand on Naruto's head. "Be worthy of his sacrifice." Gaara watched Lee get taken away. Gaara transported back to Tamari, Rin and Baki with his sand.
"Good to have you back, Gaara." Temari said. Gaara just looked at her for a brief moment before looking at Rin. She was wiping tears out of her eyes. Gaara's hand gripped the front of his shirt as she looked at him. He must have looked in pain because her eyes widened and she rushed to his side.
"Are you okay?" she asked reaching out a hand but stopping before she touched his arm.
She doesn't even want to touch me. Gaara thought bitterly.
"Gaara?" Rin asked as she gently touched his arm. Gaara looked down at her hand; Rin took it the wrong way and pulled her hand back. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." he said quietly. Rin looked towards the doors of the room.
"I hope Lee is okay…" she said. Gaara started glaring at the ground. Temari swallowed and looked between the two.
Probably going to post another chapter in a day or so… maybe even tomorrow.