Chapter 5 Realizations. Present.

No, I should not.
It is not a sin, Lee-kun!
It was my fault! I will not commit another by reading it!
You will have to, to leave it in order.

Fighting with himself, and swallowing hard, Lee picked the pages. The photograph he had seen in his sensei's hand was replicated every single year: a battered boy, his eyes deadly and defensive, but convinced of his worth. The same baggy outfit was in all of them.

How did he arrive to the green outfit?

"His ninjutsu has bettered up, still under the level of most of his classmates. He's not at the height of his family skills, nor he will ever be"
"Taijutsu is his best asset, though we can assure that with it alone, he will not make it past Genin level, any sensei can see he can't."
"Genjutsu is pathetic, against any of the Uchiha, Yuuhi or Kujaku clan members he is done for. Unable to dispell illusions"

Those were the final evaluations. Genin at age seven. That was impressive... as the list of Genin who graduated then. Lee's eyes widened: he had graduated alongside Hatake Kakashi... his eternal rival.

In the class photograph, Gai was alongside a red-haired girl, who was between him and the future Copy Ninja. The kunoichi was smiling at him with contempt, as he tried to extend an arm to reach Kakashi, eyeing him with icy despise over a book of rules he was poring at. His headband was steady, not lopsided, and two equally harsh eyes were glued to Gai's narrowed ones.

Lee felt guilt and sorrow. Every Academy student knew those boys and girls who appeared in that photograph were sent inmediatly to the battlefield, to fight for Konoha. Many would've died months or days after it was taken.
Maybe Kakashi-sensei was injured right after then...

He sighed, piling the pages with the aid of his bandaged hands. I did not mean to read that, Gai sensei. I am deeply sorry.

Quietly assembling the folder, Lee put it back in its place. He didn't pick up his own... what sense did it have? The most important question wasn't answered yet: why did he pass, and not the others?
He wouldn't find an answer there.

His stomach grunted. He had a sipfull of juice before leaving, and a bowl of porridge Lee knew Gai had made on purpose, but now he needed to get lunch. As he checked the room, he sighed, as the teachers hall's tower clock rang noon. A day without training cannot be this long! It is just twelve o clock!

After thanking Iruka with a deep bow for his kindness, Lee left the Academy with a sorrowful expression in his eyes. Find something that fits you...he repeated as he walked back into the stream of people around the marketplace.

- Hey! Lee!
He turned to see TenTen, waving to him from a small restaurant.
- Uh... TenTen? What are you doing here?
- I spent half my morning in polishing my weapons. Mind, with Neji's training and the missions I was never able to do it properly. I've oiled them and they're up to dry, so I decided to get myself lunch here.

Lee sat down and ordered Tang Yuan with curry filling.
- How on earth are you going to eat them?! Those bandages... let me guess... you injured yourself AGAIN!!??

The taijutsu overachiever curled at TenTen's angry statement.
- I... yes...
- Are you EVER going to train like normal shinobi do? You will never get stronger by beating yourself to a wasabi sauce, you know that?
- You should not be concerned about me... I know better.
- Yeah, and you always get beat up by Neji in the end... are you ever going to understand? He-Is-A-Tensai...

Lee shut is eyes and seemingly his ears, but the thud of a kunai on the table told him he couldn't ignore this kunoichi.
- LISTEN TO ME, DAMNIT!
- ... Heh... s-sorry
- Anyway – TenTen sighed – you want me to feed you?
Panic rose in Lee's chest.
– No... no... no way! I caneatitbymyselfthankyouverymuch!

The weapon expert watched Lee take one chopstick with both balled hands, stab a ball after throwing another to the floor, open his mouth wide to try and get it into his mouth, and finally chomp on it. SUCCESS! I DID IT ALL BY MYSELF! GAI SENSEI WOULD BE SO PROUD OF ME!!

- Have you seen Neji?
- He's meditating. He says that helps him enhance his chakra... I wouldn't disturb him now, sensei forbade us doing any training today.
- Yes, I know. This is.. the first day I do not train without being ill...
TenTen nodded.
– That seems odd. I never see you resting or relaxing. Just like... sensei, but well, he's a madman, you at least have some common sense.

Yet still, I am no match for Neji right now. He is meditating to become stronger, and I am wandering about, losing time. More importantly, I have not chosen my clothes yet.

- It was nice to lunch with you, TenTen. But I must go.
- Check-in to the hospital? Good luck! And don't do anything rash!
- I will not! I hope your tools dry soon, TenTen!

Instead of the hospital, he walked towards one of the most crowded Konoha streets, where all the clothes shops were. He couldn't come out with anything that suited him, unless it was...

I may find that outfit somewhere...

He walked around, but no shop sold jumpsuits like his sensei's. Overtly frustrated, he turned round and decided to go on a plan B...

Bump!

Lee stepped back twice, muttering excuses. He had bumped onto a medium-aged man, with purple, shiny eyes, long moustaches, a goatee and a walking stick, dropping him and his bags on the floor. Meanwhile, the people in the street looked terrified and fled in various directions, as discreetly as possible.

The young shinobi picked the man's bags, dusting them, and reached for the man's walking stick, a peacock engraved in its top-part.
- No, don't touch it, boy.
With a hand sign, he prompted the stick into his palm, raising up with a grunt.

- I am sorry. I was not looking where I was going. Please forgive me.
- You don't know who I am, don't you? – to Lee's surprise, the man raised one finger and put it on his forehead. Just as his sensei... – That explains why you stayed to help me up.
- Of course! I bumped you, it is only fair that I helped you up!

The man chuckled, while people around gasped in fear. – Thank you, kid. I'm taking this. You need not to worry.
- Please sir! – Lee raised a hand – Allow me to help you with the bags!
- With those hands of yours? No, thank you.

Some boys would not take "no" for an answer. Lee was among them. He grabbed the bags and strolled behind the man, who shrugged and walked on through the street.

They arrived to a big tailor shop. Lee's eyes widened as he saw the magnificent clothes, models he only had seen on nobles. Only rich people would afford to make their clothing there.
- Enough, boy, this is my shop. I have to... to thank you... you were very kind.
- Nothing. I am still sorry I dropped you...
- Nonsense, it was an accident. Tell me, is there something I can do for you? It's not very often a kid renders me a service. Especially one with his hands wrapped in bandages...

Puzzlement was beaten by duty, and Lee answered promptly.
- Yes! I need to find someone who can make me a jumpsuit!

The man frowned, considering Lee's hitai-ate and then, his skinny, battered body, up to his wounded hands.
- I was going to offer you healing for your hands – the Genin gasped – but if you want that other thing... no one tailors jumpsuits in this village.
- I cannot believe it! – Lee wailed out of desperation.- How does Gai-sensei get his?

The tailor's eyes flashed purple, but not a muscle in his face moved.
- I said, no one tailors jumpsuits... but let me take a look, I might have some in the warehouse. Hold still.

Lee looked around. the clothes not only looked elegant, but smelled different... Neat clothes, and expensive they seemed. After a couple of minutes, the man reappeared with a bundle.
- Here. I have these, they're remnants... quite old but they might fit you. – Three dark-blue unitards appeared from inside the bundle. High-collared, mid-arm cut, mid leg-cut, they looked quite like Kakashi's current outfit, save the mask.

- Wow! Just like those!
- These were the trend years ago... but obviously, not now. Why would a kid like you use something so old-fashioned?
- I want to surprise my sensei! He has done a lot to help me and I want to be just like he is! Maybe... maybe I am as he used to be... but – his eyes lowered – this one is blue, and I need it to be green.
- Find some green bleach, heat it and put it to dry. Better still... – the man lighted a fire in a corner – I shall do it. It will be ready soon so... let me take care of those wounds first.

As the man traced every piece of torn tissue with his chakra, Lee couldn't help but marvel at the surefireness of the man. He wondered if he was going to ask for a lot of money for those outfits, seeing that he was the only one who tailored them in Konoha Village. But he also said those were remnants. He nervously eyed his small money pouch, wondering if he had done the correct thing at all.