Hey! Sorry about the delay in posting. Now that I'm working on TWO fics, it's gonna take a little longer to update. I'm trying to get as much in before school starts, because when it does, things are gonna take a LONG TIME.
I can't say anything about how in-character Lee, Tenten, Neji, and Gai will be in this chapter. Tenten has an excuse, though.
I don't think this chapter was very funny. I CAN promise you the chapter for Neji, Sakura, and Ino will be hilarious.
I don't own Naruto or any of its characters... I don't.
Tuesday: Lee and Tenten's Uninvited Invitation
"After running 200 laps around Konoha, performing 500 pushups, and practicing with my team, I'd have to say my day is complete!" Rock Lee announced to his seemingly empty room. "Now, all I need is a quick snack and I'm off to bed! As Gai-sensei says, 'Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise'!" (1) The remainder of Lee's words of wisdom echoed in the hall as he strolled out of his room and latched the door.
Great! Now's my chance!
Eavesdropping on Lee's lecture in health, money, and intellect, the intruder glanced behind him to confirm no one had followed his stealthy footsteps. He sidled across the side of Lee's house and arrived at a window, which happened to be left open, and snuck inside the room. After entering the darkened room, he switched on a lamp and removed the mask obscuring the majority of his face. Inuzuka Kiba grinned maniacally.
"Great! See, Akamaru?" A white puppy popped its head out of the top of Kiba's jacket. "I told you that I AM the MASTER of STEALTH!" he exclaimed, placing a note on the top of Lee's nightstand. "Mission accomplished!"
Akamaru yipped in agreement.
"Now, lets -"
"Unless my mental stability is lapsing, I believe voices coming from the inside of my room!" A familiar voice cried out. Kiba gasped. Lee…!
"Akamaru, hide me!" Kiba frantically whispered. Akamaru ducked in Kiba's jacket. "No! That's the other way around!" He glimpsed around the room, not having ample time to escape to the window.
"I see how it is, FIENDS!" The doorknob turned. With no other choice, Kiba dove underneath Lee's bed. After unlocking the door, Lee burst inside his room and adapted his fighting stance. Finding zero evidence of the recent infiltration of his room, he shrugged it off, climbed into bed, and soon fell asleep.
Kiba groaned. This would be a LITTLE more pleasant if he didn't SNORE.
At the crack of dawn, Lee awoke with a large yawn. "Ah! It is Tuesday! I must make the most of today, as it is the only day our team does not practice! No matter! I shall run 100 laps around Konoha to prove my dedication!" As Lee hurtled out of bed, he detected a miniscule note atop his nightstand. This wasn't here before. He scanned over the note, realizing his routine for the day would be rudely interrupted.
Hey, Fuzzy-brows!
It's your BEST PAL, Kiba. So, today, you and Tenten will be working on invitations for Bug Boy's birthday party! That means you buy all the materials needed for making the invitations, write the message inside, decorate them, and send them out. I'm sure it will be bundles of fun for you two! But don't have too much fun, now! (Lee decided to remind Tenten about annihilating Kiba).
By the way, keep on the watch for Shino. Hinata and I couldn't think of a way to distract him, so if he's around, make sure you don't let anything slip! You might want to work somewhere that will be a little less obvious. Let's see, anything else I'm forgetting… Nope!
See you guys around!
Lee sighed. Spending the day with Tenten was not on his to-do list. Usually, the two of them would end up arguing about the most trivial subjects, and that was something Lee never looked forward to. He would much rather spend the remainder of the morning training, and the rest of the day sparring with Neji or attempting to woo Sakura. Nevertheless, it was Tenten's and his duty to ensure the task's completion! Brimming with a fiery resolution akin to the burning of a thousand suns, he showered, dressed, ate, and performed all those other routines necessary for proper hygiene, and then sped out his front door.
After Lee departed his room, Kiba emerged from underneath his bed and stretched. "Ah! What a relief, eh Akamaru?" Akamaru barked in response, deciding to sit atop Kiba's head. "I think it's pretty safe to leave, now!" As Kiba headed for Lee's window, a shrill voice rang in the room. Kiba halted dead in his tracks.
"YOU! What are you DOING in my son's room?" An irate woman stomped into the room and marched right up to Kiba. "Speak now, because I'm in half a mind to call my husband!" She paused, and then continued in a deadly whisper. "And you don't want that."
Kiba trembled in fear, feeling himself cower as her tall frame towered above him. Was it his imagination, or had he shrunk? Aw, man! Now I need an excuse! Uh… "W-well… Lee invited me over," Kiba stuttered, not daring to break eye contact with Lee's furious mother. "There was a marathon - yeah, a marathon! - for this program we like to watch!" Kiba prayed she would consider his excuse.
As if nothing had happened, her facial features relaxed and she smiled broadly. "Oh! That's okay, then! Sorry if I sounded a bit imposing a second ago! I am very protective of Lee, that's all."
Astonished that she hadn't saw through his obvious lie, he tried to return a grin. "Its no problem, my mom can be like that, too! But I should get going," Kiba insisted as he inched closer to the door.
"It was nice to meet you, and your name is…?"
"Inuzuka Kiba!" Kiba hollered as he sprinted out of Lee's room and as far as humanly possible away from the Rock residence.
Finally, Lee arrived at Tenten's residence. He was unsure whether Tenten's family would be awake at the break of dawn, so he decided to meet Tenten at her window. After chucking a blunt rock at a wall neighboring the window, the kunoichi yanked it open, glaring at Lee.
"What are you doing?" she hissed, lazily throwing a kunai in his direction. Lee easily dodged it. "Its barely six o' clock in the morning, and you wake me up? We don't have training today, Lee!" Before she snapped her window shut, Lee caught her and leaned against the windowsill.
"We need to work on the invitations for Shino's birthday party today, Tenten. It's best to finish it earlier than later!" Lee avoided her piercing gaze as he returned her kunai. Tenten groaned.
"Ugh, great. Just how I wanted to spend my day." Stuffing away her kunai in her room, she continued. "Alright, Lee. Wait outside for me, as I get ready. Got it?" she added, rather threateningly before she gently closed her window. She didn't need her parents to stumble across Lee roaming around in her house.
"Yes, Tenten!" He saluted, and sat underneath a nearby tree as he anticipated her return. Once she arrived, clad in her usual attire, they debated their working area as they headed to a local arts and crafts shop.
"I'm telling you, Lee. We should work at my place. Gai-sensei likes to randomly drop by your place to invite you to training, and I'm not doing this work alone!" Tenten declared, placing her hand on her hip.
"But, Tenten! Remember the last time I went to your house? Surely, your parents would forbid me visiting!" Lee shuddered, recalling his last experience at Tenten home. I don't believe I had even heard of some of the words that Tenten's father shouted at me when I advised her mother to display more youth! It's unnatural to be that quiet all the time!
Tenten shrugged her shoulders. "Well, can't argue with that logic. I guess it's your place, then." Lee smirked, a triumphant expression plastered on his face.
"Great! Besides, I've always believed my backyard's scenery is quite pleasant in comparison," Lee claimed. Tenten glared menacingly in response. Honestly… just because he belongs to the 'Oh So High and Mighty' Rock clan... (2)
"Oh!" She nearly shouted, causing several bystanders to rush away in fear. "So, are you saying mine isn't? You sure know how to be sensitive, Lee!" She gritted her teeth and shot daggers at him.
She sure is moody today! I better be more careful about what I say! "N-no!" Lee stuttered, not finding the right words. "It's not that your backyard isn't pleasant, it's just that I think that mine is more so… I mean, no! Um…"
Tenten threw her arms up in frustration. "Okay, Lee! You win! Can you just forget about it? Honestly, why are you overreacting all the time? Don't you care about how I feel?" Tenten paced quickly ahead of him, and Lee, flabbergasted, remained in place.
I'M overreacting? What is WRONG with her today? Perhaps it's her time of the… GAH! Trying to ignore his previous thought, he caught up with Tenten, who had already arrived at the arts and crafts shop. After grabbing a cart, he met her inside. Tenten greeted him with a bright smile as if nothing had happened, which perplexed Lee even more. Nevertheless, he returned the smile, not wanting to be at the receiving end of her mood swings.
"Hey, Lee! So, what do you think we'll need to pick up for making invitations?" Tenten inquired as they aimlessly strolled around the store.
Lee paused for a moment. "Well, obviously we'll need envelopes, blank cards, and then we'll need various things for decorating them, wouldn't we?"
Tenten nodded. "Yeah. Let's go get the envelopes and blank cards, first. They'll be easier to find."
And the two began their search for said items, oblivious to a new presence stalking behind them. After they had found the desired items and, much to Lee's surprise and relief, with minimal argumentation! And then there was the task of deciding on the cards' decorations.
"So, I was thinking we should go along with a theme. How about…" She glanced at the assortments of glitter and other decorative items, "yellow? Or maybe orange…"
That girl has lost her mind! "Um, I was thinking, you know, since Shino is such a… calm person, maybe he'd prefer a… calm color?" Lee squeaked out, avoiding her gaze. "Maybe a sky blue would suit Shino -"
Tenten crossed her arms in a huff. "Oh, I understand, Lee. You don't value my opinion? Is that it? Why are you so imposing whenever you're around me? Don't I ever have a say in things?" She demanded, and Lee felt very small next to her.
"Uh, yeah, you do have a say! I was just making a suggestion -"
"You ALWAYS make suggestions, Lee!" Tenten shouted, ignoring the newcomer in the group. "Don't you care about what I have to say?" By this time, Tenten was shouting, and Lee could officially count this as the second occasion in which he ever felt embarrassment. Before he had a chance to reply, the intruder in the group beat him to it.
"Well! You two sure fight like a married couple!" Lee was astonished; it was none other than Gai-sensei! Although he was ecstatic to meet him here, he didn't dare speak anything while Tenten was still in 'one of her moods'. Gai continued in a suspicious tone unlike his usual manner, "Maybe it isn't far from the truth."
Lee gaped, no longer harboring his former enthusiasm at meeting Gai-sensei. Is he still going on about that horrible incident with Tenten and me at Ichiraku Ramen on Sunday?
Furious, Tenten slowly turned in Gai's direction. "And, what, exactly, are you implying?" As Gai was about to reply, he noticed Lee's desperate hand signals, which implied him not to speak his mind. He also noticed Lee mouthing words which he translated as, "It's her time of the month!" much to his amusement. He took Lee's actions into deep consideration.
"Why, I'm just speaking the truth!" He replied unawarely.
Lee had learned a valuable lesson today: Never irk a woman during PMS. Apparently, his sensei would soon learn it too, only the hard way. "I think I'll be heading off to my home, now! Tenten, I completely trust in your abilities to pick out the perfect decorations for the invitations! Meet me there when you're finished!" Lee hollered behind him as he darted away from the unfolding scene and the arts and crafts shop.
Tenten sighed. It's been a long day already, and it's not even noon! First off, Lee HAD to start acting like an ass and he never let me say ANYTHING! That jerk! And then, Gai-sensei comes up and, for whatever reason, starts to imply LEE AND ME! As if! I am NOT happy now!
After walking up to Lee's residence in the Rock Villa, she found a young man fighting a shadow clone. Tenten stared at him. Is that Lee's brother? He seems too young to be his dad. And he can use ninjutsu - that must be tough on Lee. After taking a better look at him, she noticed he didn't inherit the horrid trait that is Lee's eyebrows, thank goodness! However, they shared similar facial features, except his features were longer and thinner.
Once she headed inside, she nearly walked right into Lee, and she ignored the fact he nearly scrambled away at the sight of her.
"Oh, hi Lee!" She greeted. "Was that your brother outside?"
Lee's eyes narrowed slightly, his entire demeanor changing. "Oh, yeah. My charming older brother. Have you spoken with him yet?" He replied in a deadpan. "Anyways, you want something to drink? I'll ask my mom if she can get us anything."
"It's okay, Lee. I'm good. And, no, I haven't talked to your brother yet." Tenten was very curious. Why did Lee cringe at the mention of his brother? She assumed they didn't get along very well, as with almost every other sibling-to-sibling relationship. She followed him out the kitchen and into the living room. There, she met two people she concluded to be his parents. Tenten immediately noticed that neither of Lee's parents inherited Lee's massive eyebrows, much to her astonishment. Was Lee just unlucky?
After entering, Lee's cheery disposition returned as he greeted his mother, who appeared to be a very outgoing, sweet-natured person. Lee's father hadn't given him a passing glance, as he was engrossed in writing a mission report.
"Lee!" His mother cried out, crushing him in a hug. "Where have you been all day? I don't believe you had team practice!" Her features drooped, and a look of utmost concern possessed her.
Lee blushed as he broke the hug. "Mom!" He scratched the back of his neck and, uncharacteristically, sounded very shy. "We have a visitor." Lee's mother eyed Tenten for a moment, before rushing over to her.
"Oh! So, you must be Lee's teammate! Lee told me about you, you're the 'pretty one proficient in weaponry', I believe?" Tenten's eyes widened. By now, nearly all of Lee's face had turned scarlet. "Anyways, it's nice to meet you, and you are…?"
After recovering from her slight shock, Tenten answered. "Oh… I'm Wasanabi Tenten, it's good to meet you, Mrs. Rock…" she muttered as she shook her hand.
Preventing his mother from starting a conversation, Lee interrupted. "Yeah! And, today, we shopped for supplies to make invitations for Aburame Shino's surprise birthday party! We'll be working outside, since it's such a beautiful day out!" With that being said, Lee sped out the living room and through another door. Lee's mother sighed wearily.
"That boy! I swear - he doesn't have an 'off' button. Well, you two have fun working on those invitations! If you're hungry, let me know! I'll be happy to make lunch." Tenten waved and followed Lee out the door and into his backyard. By now, Lee already had the materials spread out across the perfectly trimmed grass. Soon, they began working on decorating the invitations in an uncomfortable silence. Tired of Lee's apparent inability to speak, Tenten began a conversation.
"So, Lee. Your mom seems pretty nice -"
"Tenten! What she had said earlier was her own opinion! It was never spoken by me!" Lee declared as he shot up out of his seat.
Tenten's eye twitched. "Oh! So you don't think that I'm pretty?" she demanded, also standing up and leering at him.
Lee cowered in fear, unsure of how to respond correctly. "W-well, no! I think you're very pretty, just as my mother had said!" Realizing his mistake, he corrected himself. "No! Not that I had told her! She just -"
Tenten covered his mouth with her hand. "It's okay, Lee. I understand…" she uttered and she felt her face heat up. However, it was nothing compared to Lee's, as his face's tint resembled a tomato's. Eventually, she lowered her hand and seated herself. "Let's just continue our work on Shino's -"
Both paused. Lee glanced at the bushes nearest to them. He faced Tenten, and mouthed, "I swore I just heard… but was it -"
"Neji…?" Tenten replied. "But why would he be here?" Tenten watched Lee carefully approach the bushes and peek into them.
"H-hey! Lee!" A familiar voice shouted. "Watch your head!" The eavesdropper calmly walked out of the bushes and brushed himself off. Tenten glared at him. Lee wished he could disappear. I hope Neji doesn't mistake our conversation…!
"Neji! What are you doing here?" Tenten crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. Neji sighed heavily.
"Well, as odd as it sounds, Gai-sensei sent me to spy on you guys, along with someone else." I sure hope he was smart enough to leave.
Tenten's mouth fell open. "What? Wait, let me guess - he thinks we're dating and sent you and 'mystery man' to find out if we were or not? Tomorrow, I'm going to have a word with him…"
"Hey, Neji," Lee sounded very worried. "The other person with you, don't tell me it was…"
Neji nodded slowly. "It was." Lee's shoulders slumped. Neji continued, "Don't worry about it, he didn't hear you guys since I distracted him. That noise you heard was me, obviously."
Tenten's eyebrow rose. "Who was it?"
"Shino," they answered simultaneously. Before Tenten had a chance to reply, another familiar voice rung out. Tenten's fists clenched.
"Hello my students! Isn't it beautiful out today?" Gai jogged up to his three pupils. "I was merely taking my daily 500 lap run around Konoha, and I happened to find you guys here! How ironic!" He laughed heartily. Tenten donned a skeptic look.
"I'm not buying it, Gai-sensei. I-know-what-you-did." She pointed an accusatory finger at him. "You sent Shino and Neji to spy on us to see if we were dating or not. And, so you know, WE'RE NOT." If looks could kill, Gai would have dropped dead. Neji and Lee, too, for good measure.
"That's right!" Lee pumped a fist into the air. "There's no chance I'd EVER find my own TEAMMATE attractive!" Tenten slapped him hard on the cheek. Neji chuckled.
"You idiot! I can't BELIEVE you!" She marched back inside Lee's home, and the three of them watched Tenten storm out of the Rock Villa. Lee rubbed his cheek and winced in pain.
"I don't believe her! She's been like that all day!" He whined. Shaking off the stinging pain in his check, he resumed. "But she's right. We're not going out, and neither of us have any sort of feelings that exceed friendship."
Neji snorted. "Not from where I was standing…"
"YES!" Gai shouted. "I am victorious once again!" He waved to his students. "Remember tomorrow's practice, my youthful students! Especially you, Lee! I don't want to hear ANY excuses about not having enough sleep last night! GOODBYE, Neji and Lee!" Gai darted off, leaving an unconscious Lee and a hysterical Neji behind.
"I don't recall ever being in such good spirits." He took into consideration the previous encounter with his sensei, Tenten's absence, and Lee's unconsciousness.
For Neji, this was a grand day.
You know the deal: Read and Review! You know you want to. Okay, you might not want to, but you know I want you to! That's a good reason. In my book anyways.
(1) If you have been living under a shell your entire life, then you might not have recognized the quote. It's by Benjamin Franklin, the best inventor ever!
(2) Yes, The Rock family has a Villa. In my fandom, they're a prestigious family too with some serious genjutsu skills, but Lee, quite unfortunately, hasn't inherited it. Basically, his father and brother are snots because they're so high and mighty, but Lee's mother married into the family. Lee's inherited a lot of his character traits from her, and his facial features from his father. Maybe I'll write a profile his family on my... profile...
Next time, on "Shino's Birthday!": We follow our heroes, Neji and Shino, as they spy on Lee and Tenten!