"I'm not disappointed, I'm just... surprised." Kakashi sat at a table across from Guy. "He was not by any means a star pupil of mine. Frankly, Naruto has been showing more promise at this point than him…Guy, I know we have a life long rivalry, and through most means we work things out, but this…"
"Say no more Kakashi. I will learn from this lesson by running around Konoha on my hands until I pass out!"
"No Guy, thats not the point I'm making. You enjoy physical punishment like that; it's part of your training. If it weren't for Tenten's initiative, they would still be attempting to form gills." Kakashi pulled two pictures out. "You remember these two right?"
"I recall these from the team that had two casualties during a class D missi-"
"Their names were Chikanari and Samanazo. They were part of Nayuza's old team. The one Takamitsu was in."
"Eh… Wha? I don't recall seeing him on file after that debrief."
"Of course you don't remember names… None of us want to see the repeat of a neglectful leaf Jonin. The wrong ninja went for the wrong target, and it just so happened they got in the way. It would have easily been prevented if someone had kept a watchful eye and kept the team together." Kakashi noted the slump beginning to form on the back of Guy.
"I know you want to give your team the benefit of the doubt that they're cut out for everything presented to them right now, but they're still Genin, borderline Chunin. Right now, they need a strong leader to go above and beyond like you always do."
"*Sniff* You really mean that Kakashi?"
"I know you've got a level head. I need you to stop romanticizing your team and take a hard look at them with a real world view."
"Might O' Guy." The hokage crossed the hallway into the room with the two jonin. "I need a word with you privately, and Kakashi, I must ask of a favor from you given this turn of event."
0-0-0-0
Takamitsu's mind swam aimlessly when in a dreamlike state. One can't conceptualize a normal thought when under alleged anesthetics. All Takamitsu could relive was the last few minutes, chopping away at Lee's weights in different ways before his vision darkened, and the loop then repeated itself. The anxiety of oxygen deprivation wasn't present, only the mild frustration of remaining in this reoccuring stasis. After almost a hundred attempts, he realized it was futile to act in any sort with the situation. With each occurrence, other things were subtly different. The hue of water, the expression of Lee, even the shape of the kunai Takamitsu wielded. He could feel a steady pace of him breathing despite remaining submerged.
After many more repeats, he made a gesture to turn around. As he did so, his eye lids felt immeasurably heavy and he could not lift them to view what was around. He could feel, just a hint of cloth at his fingertips; feint beeps, rhythmical and continuing. A burning feeling struck. His hands felt blood circulate to the lungs. No, not blood, Chakra. When the warmth reached the center of his chest, it sent off to the edges of him like static.
A momentary flash blindsided Takamitsu, ears perked at the sudden rush of sound, like the roaring winds of a hurricane, slowly dulling to a breeze of an industrial fan. He inhaled deeply and blended his dream state into the real world. A dull headache remained, and his shoulders felt as though they were overstretched and weighed of lead. Of course it was a hospital bed.
"Awake and able already Mr. Montonobu?" Takamitsu could tell the cooing nature of no one other than his mother, begrudgingly.
"Ugh, how long was I out?" Takamitsu searched around the bed, then the rest of the room. An empty bed laid beside him. A broken wristband laid on the edge with the words Rock Lee imprinted in a contrasting ink color.
"A total of three days." On cue, a nurse entered through the side curtains.
"And what happened to-"
"I'm afraid the whereabouts of him are deemed confidential."
"Nurse, when can I take my son home?" she inquired.
"He will need another few days. The medication he is on was experimental, and we are still observing if there were any adverse effects in result."
"Experimental?!" Takamitsu sharply raised.
"Oh well, the important thing is that you are still here and running Takamitsu." his mom scruffed his hair. "I'm sure you need to get back to things as soon as you're out. Feel free to visit me whenever you find time." She got up and proceeded to leave, expression remaining neutral until she was out of view behind the curtains.
"Well, that was… odd." The nurse with her pause didn't know how to read the room.
"Yeah, she's always busy these days." Takamitsu whispered. "So what's the damages?"
"Your set release will be the morning of the 16th. As far as medical expenses, they were compensated in full by Might Guy. And now Takamitsu…" The tone of voice suddenly changed, a major poof of a transformation took place. Suddenly Kakashi appeared from the dissipating smoke. "We have a lot of catching up to do before you enter the chunin exams."
"But wait, where is Lee?"
"He'll be around, don't you worry." With his casual eye smile, Kakashi led Takamitsu out through one of his transportation jutsus. They ended up at a place where the elevation wildly varied. Plenty of rocks and pitfalls were scattered. A foreign village was nearby, it seemed much smaller than the city of Konoha. "Let's see what you remember from our last session."