Chapter eight.
Last turns first. Lotus Peacock of Hard Work. END

- It's youthfully nice to see you took my instructions seriously! None of you trained yesterday, so you will be able to channel all your energy in this training. Perhaps not all of you will grasp this technique... it's perfectly okay. Sometimes, not even one of my past students got it. But I will help those who do to better their skills.

Lee was looking anxiously at Gai, absolutely determined to make a difference. His skill never counted with Henge or Bunshin, but now it would count!

- I noticed you polished your weapons, TenTen. Well, I'm sorry but they will not be needed today. Nor does your kaiten, Neji. Or your taijutsu, Lee. Well, what I need you to do is to focus your chakra into your bandages. That's the first step. When you can open and throw your bandages out, we'll go on to the next step.

TenTen concentrated in the tips of the bandages, which shot into the air, twisting, and then shot forward and backwards. Gai was holding his laughter. Of course, her chakra was a weapon-type, she was using the bandages like the nunchaku or the chain sickle.
Meanwhile, Neji was not able to infuse chakra into them. His training made him treat the tips of the bandages as an enemy instead, hitting them with Jyûken blasts. And Lee? His palms were facing outwards, beads of sweat racing through his face, in a desperate effort to avoid deceiving his sensei. Index and middle from one hand raised, facing the other hand fully extended.

"Open yourselves, damn it all! Are you going to open? OPEN! OPEN!"
He didn't even notice he had shouted the last KAI! outloud, that his extended hand had curled claw-like, that index and middle were raised before his forehead. That Gai was intently observing him with a glint of triumph in his narrow eyes.

A pulse, like a heartbeat, and white light filled his brain for a moment.
An onrush of energy followed.
For the first time in his life, Rock Lee recognized the ant-like buzzling in his limbs that was trademark of chakra users, not from a textbook, but in his own body. Bandages flew open, soaring at mid-height, before his incredulous eyes.

Gai chuckled in satisfaction. This means he has opened the initial gate by mere instinct. He's the second... More than enough to continue to the next lesson.

- Come here, observe Lee.
The taijutsu underachiever gasped when he saw a pretty disheveled TenTen trying to control her bandages' twisting, and a disgruntled Neji, his own smelling foully of burnt cloth, closing in to watch HIM. He was never the one teachers chose to show an exercise... not even in taijutsu. That was the first time he was in the spotlight.

- Practice some more, until you arrive to his result.
And practice they did. It was afternoon when they finally sat down to rest, none but Lee had been able to make their bandages soar. Gai was still chuckling when he came back with lunch for four. Neji was eyeing his teammate with attention for the first time, even TenTen's eyes were less harsh.

And Lee, legs crossed, slouched back and fisted hands, felt terribly awkward.
Every time others were able to do things he couldn't, they would shove that in front of him, just to make him feel worse.
"Am I suppossed to brag now? I mean... THEY could not do it. THEY have more chakra control and THEY could not do it."

He knew how frustrated they might feel, being the first time they sucked at something.

Gai was giving out the bento, self-satisfied smile in his lips. The jounin felt he could win over Kakashi one thousand times, such was the amount of happiness and energy he felt inside. The day before, he and Sandaime Sarutobi had checked over and over the first five missions of his team, focusing in Lee's hot-blooded reactions.
A face he had almost forgotten came to his mind... a little blond kid, blueish eyes, haughty manners, whose defensiveness and tantrums he had experienced first-hand. And his wonderful sensei, trying to make him listen to sense.

Kamisama, do not allow Lee to turn out like him...

He had managed to convince the Hokage that Lee was no threat for his team and himself. And his little student was almost abashed, in front of his two teamates. He was finally able to do something they couldn't, yet, instead of bragging, like the kid from his memory, he was sitting down, unsure of himself.

- Well, after meal, we will take a break and then back to work. – He started chomping on his Kare Raisu dish, when he looked above. Two small, beady eyes were staring at him from atop a tree.

A frown obscured his, until then, cheerful features.

"You are at it, again. I bet it was you who gave him that jumpsuit... but why? Why are you acting nice with him? Is it because you know who he is, while I didn't notice?"

As he collected the boxes to take them to the bin and called his students to the training field, his eyes were fixed in the magnificent green peacock that had taken flight above him, dropping a feather at his feet.
"You and I are going to have a talk soon... Tikagoro-san..."

As the silhouettes of the three Genin moved towards the log, Gai casually passed near Lee. He spoke softly enough not to be heard by either Neji or TenTen.

- That old man healed your wounds. That was a nice thing to do...
- H-how did you know...?
- Never mind. Do the same movement you did before, and follow my instructions.

With a swish, he stood in front of his team, grinning widely. This is going to be your one-up on Neji, Lee.

- Now listen. You see that log over there?

Neji opened his Byakugan. It was a simple log. TenTen looked quizzical. Lee nodded, taking out his notebook.

- What I want you to do is, open the bandages as before. Kick the log up, attach your chakra to its shadow and send your bandages onto it. When it starts to fall, throw the bandages at it, hug onto it and slam it onto the floor.

His eyes were fixed onto Lee. He knew the others were not able to do that... the clue was the first gate. If they couldn't focus on its opening, Neji and TenTen wouldn't even be able to kick the log.

Sure, as he predicted, TenTen's bandages were impossible to control, swirling and even making her trip. Neji's absolutely refused to soar, try as he might, he collapsed onto the floor alongside the kunoichi, both panting for the effort.

So it was all up to Lee. He knew it. It was amazing to feel that his new outfit was an aid to his movements... I will be able to train without worrying about my sleeves getting caught in branches! You were right, Gai sensei. The jumpsuit you use is the best there is! As you are, of course!

I, Rock Lee, am going to complete this move. Please watch, Gai sensei, I am going to do it in my first try... or else, three thousand more kicks to the log, on top of the three thousands I still owe you from before!!

He looked at himself, searching for a title he could voice when enemies demanded to know his name. It came easy, it sounded majestic even in his mind's ear.

For I am the Genious of Hard Work... and the Beautiful Green Beast of Konoha!

Gai couldn't help but grin again.
Now watch carefully. The next generation of hot-bloodedness is going to kick another genious' rear.

As the boy opened his bandages and ran towards the log, his brain pulsing and flashing white light, Maito Gai knew than his little underachiever was on his way to become the great ninja he wanted to be.

That was a trip to the future.

His hands, however, gripped tightly a peacock feather; almost an invitation to come over and talk about the previous day's issues.

And that, Gai knew, was going to be a trip to the past.

END.