Morning came as quickly as the night. The next town was close but he was really tired and the smell of the dark forest greens beckoned him to sleep. He sat near a river to rest his weary feet. Just a quick one before he leave. Only the foolish or the strong would dare stay in the forest at night.
Huge clouds covered the night sky making it almost pitch-black and this forest was as silent as the cursed one making it eerie. The crunch of stepped twigs did not help the situation.
Normally, Kakashi being Kakashi would ignore such things but after experiencing his own supernatural tale, he started to doubt what he had steadfastly believed in - there's no such thing as the supernatural. As he splashed the freezing cold water from a nearby lake across his face, his back froze. Even more alert now, his sharp eyes darted around. Wiping the droplets of water away from his eye, he gathered his belongings.
Whatever it was, it did not welcome him.
A rustle in a nearby bush caught his eye and immediately, he drew his sword. No one would be around such an area at this time. A blur appeared and suddenly, Kakashi found himself falling backwards to the ground with two large furry paws against his shoulders. Choked on his breath with a few hundred pounds of a large beast growling in front of him, he remained still and observe it as a form of calming down before he flicked his wrist to change the direction of his sword before thrusting it into the side.
With a large growl, it rolled to the side and tried to get to its feet but stumbled. The look in its eyes became even more intense and it tried to lunge at Kakashi but was too injured to do so. By then, Kakashi had took out a spare dagger to fend for himself and was readying to strike when just then, another rustle in a nearby bush caught his attention.
While distracted, the beast took this opportunity to lunge at him.
Shit.
Without enough time to dodge, he put his arms in front of his head, hoping that the metal plates would somehow protect him.
"-elping you now!"
Kakashi froze.
Since when was anyone in the vicinity?
Removing his arms from his view, he managed to see a green blur hit the beast.
"Ha!" The green blur spun a few more times before a human shape formed and then, landed swiftly on to the ground while the beast groaned in pain from being kicked across the clearing. Loss for words, he could only stare with wide eyes.
The green human shape - which is actually a human - with a really weird one piece as clothing, sporting a full head of shiny black hair styled in an old-fashioned bowl cut turned to him.
"Are you all right, stranger!" He had strange eyes too. Was it even possible to have eyes that round?
"Y-yeah... Thanks." The strange looking man walked towards him. Kakashi took a step back.
"Ah, I am no one suspicious," He raised his hands, "I just wanted to check for any injuries you may have missed out."
Fighting the urge to raise the dagger still in his hand, he spoke. "It's okay, I am fine."
Probably sensing his discomfort, the strange looking man took a step back. "Okay."
Even so, his tensed shoulders did not relax in the slightest. The tension broke with the growls of the injured beast.
"How persistent..." The strange looking man muttered, "...how youthful is that?"
Kakashi chose to ignore the strange comment as the one who commented was already looking pretty strange and focused his attention on to the beast, readying the dagger. Just then, a hand was placed in front of him.
"Please put away your dagger, there's no need to hurt it any further. I will chase it away."
Kakashi raised his eyebrow. "Please believe me." The strange looking man said firmly without removing eye contact with the beast. Sighing, Kakashi pocketed the dagger.
"Thank you." With that, he blurred.
He's fast... He must had been practicing for years.
His lone eye could barely catch the strange looking man's actions as he dodged the beast's lunge and kicked it once again in the same area where he first attacked. Howling, the beast staggered and glared at him. Its growls grew weaker and then, a few seconds later, it bounded off.
The strange looking man patted the dust away from his clothing and then faced him.
"I have yet to introduce myself, right?" He held out his hand. "I am Rock Lee. Nice to meet you."
"Hatake. Nice to meet you too." He did not return the handshake.
"I guess you must still be shaken," Lee said looking slightly disappointed. "But no matter! I am just glad you're all right!" His mood switching suddenly to a more bright one as he flashed his shining teeth with a thumb up.
"No, thank you for saving me." Kakashi's eye crease, starting to feel comfortable with Lee. He does seem to be a good chap despite all the oddities he displayed.
Just then, the bushes rustled again. Kakashi's eye narrowed and took out his dagger once more.
"Lee! I managed to find us a boar! We should eat our fill tonight!"
Kakashi gaped. Luckily, his scarf hid the lower part of his face. Right in front of him, an older version of Rock Lee, was holding a huge boar by the neck up high with a hand and the other at the backside. A truly strange way to hold an animal especially when his arms were lifted up above his head with his backside sticking out.
The older Lee blinked. "Oh, who's this Lee. How rare to see someone here."
"Ossu! Gai-sensei! This is Hatake-san whom I have just saved from an animal!" Lee gestured politely, while pumping his fist.
"Oooh! You're really in your spring time of your life, aren't you!?" Gai said impressed, lifting the boar even higher while bending his back.
"Yes, Gai-sensei!" Lee straightened his back even further.
"I am so proud of you!" Gai's lower lip tremble and then, he started tearing. "LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
What?
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
Huh...?
"LEE!"
Oh my God... WHY IS THERE A SUNSET WHEN THE SKY SHOULD BE PITCH BLACK!? WHY ARE THE TWO OF THEM RUNNING TOWARD EACH OTHER!?
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
OH MY GOD WHY ARE THEY HUGGING EACH OTHER IN FRONT OF ME!
Too shocked to do anything, Kakashi stared with his eyes wide till Gai and Lee broke apart.
"Oh right! Forgive me, I am Maito Gai! Nice to meet you, Hatake!"
"Right, Maito-san, nice to meet you too."
Danger alert! Time to leave!
"Gai will do! Hatake, join us for dinner! We are going to roast the boar soon."
"Ah, it's okay, Maito-san. I do not wish to intrude." Kakashi raised his hand in an apologetic manner, his eyes creasing.
Weirdos.
"Nonsense! We have more than enough! And it's Gai! Lee, get the fire ready." Ignoring further declines from Kakashi ("Um... Gai-san? It is really OK! I... Gai-san? Gai-san!?"), he turned around and threw the boar up in to the air. His eyes sharpened and Kakashi tensed at it, his hand involuntarily reaching for his dagger. Then, Gai jumped with a knife. With a few swift and strong strokes, the boar was cut into pieces.
"..."
"Gai-sensei! The fire has started!"
Kakashi's eye widened in shock as he turned his head to look at the ever enthusiastic Lee.
"Hatake, you shouldn't miss Lee's roasted meat. They are delicious!" This time round, it was Gai who flashed his teeth and put his thumb up.
... How blinding.
"So Hatake, where are you going? It's rare for someone to stay in the forest at night." Gai commented as he poked at the dying fire. He was taking the first watch while Lee slept and Kakashi was not comfortable sleeping in someone's presence.
"Just heading to the West." Too tired to make eye contact, Kakashi stared at the flames.
"Hm, that's towards Konoha. Heading there for a short rest before leaving?"
"Mm, something like that."
"I see. Lee and I are heading there too. Shall we go together? We will need two more days to reach there."
Unable to find a reason to object, Kakashi agreed.
...
Well, those two days were dreadful.
"We are here!" Gai and Lee cheered with their hands pumped up as Kakashi lagged behind.
Finally...
"Hatake! Where's your youthfulness? We have finally reached Konoha!" Gai chided, hands on his hips.
"Just a little tired."
"You should wear our green spandex! It really boosts our energy!" Lee suggested enthusiastically, holding the outfit out for Kakashi to take.
Kakashi nearly groaned. The two had tried to get him to wear their horrendous outfit for the past two days while at the same time, they attracted many unwanted attention due to their loud voices causing the journey to become more arduous and bone-weary. Not to mention the numerous times they decided to have their sunset hugs... Kakashi fought the urge to shiver. The not-so-secret competition (as their voices were loud) to see his face behind his scarf was the worse. He had taken to tying a handkerchief while bathing and even when he slept underneath his scarf.
"No, it is okay, it is just my age." Lee's shone even brighter.
"All the more to wear it!"
"... Thank you." Kakashi forced his hands to not tremble as he took the outfit from a beaming Lee, swearing to burn the thing once they part.
"Oh Lee! It's so kind of you to give away our special outfits for Hatake!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
Not again...
As the process repeated, Kakashi inwardly sighed. As long he was not included.
"Well then, this is where we'll part." Gai and Lee flashed their equally shiny teeth and their thumbs went up. "Remain youthful, Hatake/Hatake-san!"
Not knowing how to respond, Kakashi waved and then, the group parted.
A.N.: Sorry for the late update. Not sure if I managed to get their characters down... Oh well. Does anyone not like this story? T_T
Anyway! I hope you enjoyed it! About two to three more chapters to go! WOO!