Lee's face was blank, completely, utterly blank. He didn't hear the next few words from Tsunade, but Guy heard them. "What do you mean he has to stop?"

Tsunade sighed, "There's massive damage to nerves and muscles in his arm and leg, and there are fragment's of bone lodged near his spinal cord. In this state he has no hope of ever being able to return to duty."

Guy freaked out, screaming something about a transformation jutsu and imposter's. Lee didn't hear much of it. His world was shattered.

"Calm down Guy!" yelled Tsunade. "There is one chance, but it's a major risk."

"What is it!?!"

She paused, thinking through what she would say, "There is the option of surgery...But it's risky...very risky...he'd only have about a 50 chance of even surviving, and an even worse chance of ever recovering full function in the affected areas. Even if he didn't die on the table, there's no guarantee that the surgery would do any good this long after the injury."

Lee, without missing a beat, "I don't care. Do the surgery."

Everyone in the room blinked. "Lee is that..."

"Do it," he said blankly. "I don't care if I could die. I'd rather die fighting this than go on with a hunk of wood for an arm and leg," he finished bitterly.

Tsunade sighed, "Is that your final answer?"

Lee nodded, not looking at her. Guy tried to argue, but Tsunade would hear none of it.

"We'll do this as soon as possible. Call your friends and tell them. They deserve to know the risks."

Lee nodded. Guy spent the next hour trying to talk him out of the surgery, but he never heard a word of it. "Guy-sensei," he said and waited for him to stop talking.

"Yes Lee?"

"I'm doing this, whether you want me to or not."

Guy sighed, defeated, "Alright. I can see I'm fighting a losing battle. I already told Tenten and Neji to get over here. I'll go call Naruto and Kiba." L

Lee nodded and Guy left, closing the door behind him.

Lee cried.

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Tenten was white as a ghost, "No..." Kiba and Naruto looked much the same way. "It can't be..."

Lee sighed, "It is. There is only a 50 chance of me surviving. But that is better than nothing i guess."

Neji spoke, "But there is no guarantee that it would even work?"

Lee shook his head, "No, but it is my best, and only, chance." Tenten was crying by this point. Lee turned to her, "It's okay Ten, I'll make it through this."

Tenten sobbed, "How can y-you be sure!? If-f Tsunade-sama can only give you a 50 chance, what makes you so sure you'll make it!!? She's the best doctor alive!"

"We will just have to trust her. That's all any of us can do."

"Stupid old hag..." muttered Naruto, tears streaming down his face. He looked up, "When...when do they..."

"As soon as possible," sighed Lee. "Most likely tomorrow"

"Oh god..." sobbed Tenten.

Lee held her tight, "It'll be alright. It is going to take more than this to take me down."

"That's what you said about Gaara!!!" she yelled, before totally breaking down.

"Okay kids," said Guy-sensei from the doorway. "Let's leave them alone." He ushered them out and closed the door to give Lee and Tenten some privacy.

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The surgery did indeed happen the next day. Tenten sat in the waiting room, scared beyond tears. Kiba and Naruto had been there before, but neither of them could stand being in the building. The had taken to pacing up and down the outdoor balcony at the end of the hall. Guy-sensei sat next to Tenten, trying to look calm and collected, but succeeded only in looking like a stone faced ghost. Everyone that knew the squirrel-like boy was on edge, waiting for any news. The more religious of them had taken to praying, and they rest tried to go about their days, most failing miserably. It seemed like the entire village was on edge, waiting. 5 hours. 6 hours. 7 hours and then more passed with no word at all.

"No news is good news..." offered Guy lamely as the clock signaled the start of hour 8. He got up to get some coffee, "You want any?" No response. He sighed and walked off. He stood at the machine, filling his cup when Shizune flew out of the stairwell.

"Guy!" she yelled as she saw him.

"What happened!" he yelled as he dashed over to her.

Shizune grinned manically, "they're closing up right now. He made it!"

Guy nearly collapsed, "Oh thank god!!!" Shizune darted to the waiting room to tell Tenten the good news...

...And darted out just as quickly, calling for a stretcher. Tenten had fainted. Guy, leg's still weak, ran outside to find the boys. "Kiba! Naruto!" They stopped dead in their tracks and stared at him. "He's out! They've finished! He's alive!"

Kiba was weak in the knees, "Oh thank you merciful god!" Naruto had Guy in the tightest bear hug ever. The three ran inside to find Shizune. They found her standing next to Tsunade, who had just finished.

"There you are," she said as she saw them run up. "I was just about to go looking for you. He's going to be okay. We won't know for a few days if it worked, but for now he's alive and that's all that matters."

Guy was nodding vigorously, "Can we see him???"

She shook her head, "No, not yet. He should be comming around in an hour or so. You can see him them Guy." She turned to Kiba and Naruto, "Sorry boys. You'll have to wait a day or two before you can see him."

"WHAT!?! WHY!?!"

"You aren't his family..."

They groaned, "Not this again!!! We might as well be his family! He's our best friend for Kami's sake! Doesn't that count for anything!?"

She grinned, "Well, when you put it like that... You can see him tomorrow morning, but no sooner."

They groaned again. "Oh alright..." sighed Naruto, "We'll just have to live with that."

She nodded, "Good. Now if you will excuse me. I have a patient to go check on." She nodded to Guy, who followed her without a word.

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"But Tsunade said we could!" yelled Naruto at the attendant. "She told us we could see him this morning!"

The attendant shook his head, "Sorry, I can't allow you in there. You aren't family, and you haven't been cleared yet. You'll have to take it up with Tsunade."

"Take what up with me?"

"Lady Tsunade!"

"What's going on here?"

The attendant blinked, "These boy's were trying to get in to see Lee, but they don't have the authorization. I can't let them through without it."

Tsunade sighed and handed him a tablet before addressing the boys, "I didn't think you'd be here so early. Sorry about that, I forgot to tell Shizune to hand this in last night." She turned back to the attendant, "Let them through. Now. And don't give them anymore lip." The attendant nodded and quickly opened the door. The boys let Tsunade enter first and followed.

"How are you feeling Lee?" asked Tsunade as she entered the room. Lee looked over sleepily, "Tired." She smiled gently, "That's to be expected. You have some visitors," she moved aside so Naruto and Kiba could step in.

"Hey you..." smiled Kiba.

"Hello guys, I am glad they let you come in."

"Took a bit of convincing," joked Naruto, "But we managed it alright."

Lee smiled, "Yes, so I heard."

"Anyway..." said Tsunade, silencing the others, "I have some good news for you Lee. We managed to get the vast majority of the fragments and repaired most of the damage to your muscles and bones. What's left shouldn't have too much of an effect on you. Now all we have to do is wait and see how much nerve damage was done."

Lee nodded and sighed, "I'm just glad it's over. For now anyway."

Tsunade's eye's softened. She knew the worst was yet to come. The physical therapy alone would be gruelling, but to get back to his previous level would be nearly impossible. Not that it would stop the stubborn Lee from trying. Tsunade had grown to admire the boy's determination. "He'll be one hell of a ninja one day." "Okay boys," she said, turning to face them, "Time's up. You can see him again tomorrow" The groan and complained, but she glared and they quickly filed out. That woman is terrifying enough when shes not angry, no point in making her mad...

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The problem with things going the way you want them too is that eventually something bad happens to balance it out. Like two weeks to the day of Lee's surgery, Sasuke defected. And Tsunade sent a team of the best and brightest rookies after him. Oh yeah, that worked out well. Outnumbered and outclassed, the mission was a resounding failure. Not only did they not get Sasuke back, but Choji, Naruto, and Neji were nearly killed in the process. If it wasn't for the timely intervention of Gaara and his siblings, along with an idiotic rescue attempt by the still not fully recovered Lee, none of them probably would have survived. But survive they did. Shikamaru may have been the least injured of all of them, but he wasn't the first one up and moving around. No, he was so broken and depressed after the whole incident that he tried to quit. If not for a much needed dressing down by his father, and some "encouragement" by Tsunade, the village might well have been down another Chunnin before the day was over.

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Naruto sat in bed, waiting for the okay from Shizune to go visit Kiba. Lee and Tenten had taken to waiting outside the room were Shizune was working on Neji. Lee had dashed up a few times to deliver news, but it had been a few hours since he'd last seen him. "Funny..." thought the injured blonde, "For the first time in nearly a year he's the healthiest of us all..." He sat up, "Screw this. I'm going to go find Kiba..." He stood up just as Kakashi enter his room.

"Sit down you little moron. You're not going anywhere."

He glared at Kakashi, "Back off pervert. I'm going to see Kiba!"

Kakashi shook his head, "No you aren't. You can't see him untill his sister is done working on Akamaru. And one of the doctors can get around to actually doing something about his injuries. With Neji and Choji so badly injured, you and Kiba aren't getting much attention."

Naruto stood up and paced, "Goddamn it. I'm sick of waiting already. I'd be better off downstairs waiting with Lee and Tenten if I can't be with Kiba."

Kakashi sighed, "Again, not happening. You get back in that bed and rest for once. Kyuubi or not, you have to get some sleep. You'll heal faster that way."

Naruto growled, "You want me to sleep at a time like this!? I need to be with my friends! Barring that I have to get out there and look for Sasuke!"

Kakashi laughed, once, "Sasuke? He just tried to kill you and you still want to go after him?"

Naruto glared, "I don't care about that! Orochimaru's brainwashed him or something! That doesn't mean I can still go after him. If I find him fast enough we might still be able to save him."

"Poor innocent Naruto...When will you ever learn that not everyone can be saved?"

"Oh you are so dead!" scream the boy as he lunged for Kakashi, who easily dodged.

"Tsk tsk, get going at me like that and you're more likely to hurt yourself."

Iruka walked in at that second, "Naruto!" He helped him off the floor. "What the hell is going on here!?"

Naruto glared at Kakashi, before turning to Iruka, "Nothing. Just trying to kill this jerk," motioning toward Kakashi with his head.

"Well, while I agree with you that he is a jerk sometimes, attacking him won't do any good."

Naruto sighed, "Whatever. Can I get out of here yet?"

Iruka nodded, "Yes, Kiba's mother is asking about you. She wants you to go down there."

Naruto grinned, "Thank's Iruka-sensei. You're the best."

Iruka smiled and let him go. He turned to Kakashi, "You shouldn't encourage him like that."

Kakashi grinned, "Give it a break 'Ru. I don't encourage him. He encourages himself."

"I'd hit you right now, but this isn't the time or place." They both laughed before leaving.

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Naruto knocked on the door before sticking his head in, "Hello? Can I come in?"

Kiba mother smiled, "Of course Naruto. I was waiting on you."

Naruto walked in, "How is he?"

She sighed, "Sleeping for now."

Naruto nodded, "And Akamaru?"

She sighed again, "He'll be fine with some rest. Won't be able to walk for a few days though."

Naruto sat down in the empty chair next to Kiba's bed. "I'm just glad they're alive."

She nodded, "Have you heard anything about Choji or Neji?"

Naruto shook his head, "No. I was hoping you had." The both sighed. It was going to be a long night.

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The reunion between the friends was joyous one. Lee and Tenten had ran down to Kiba's room after Shizune told them that Neji would live. Kiba was awake by then, which made it all the better. Naruto smacked Lee and then hugged him tight saying only, "You idiot!" Tenten and Kiba laughed. Tenten was just glad to see them all alive and happy. Even more so when the news about Choji finally made it down.

"I still can't believe we all survived," said Naruto, sitting on the edge of Kiba's bed so that Lee could sit in the chair.

"Well I for one am glad we did,' said Lee. "I don't think it would have been very fair if I made it and you two didn't."

Tenten snorted, "How do you think I feel. I didn't even have a part in this little escapade. How do you think I would have felt if all three of you hadn't returned?"

Kiba just smiled.

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The next morning, Naruto sat in his bed, waiting for the news on whether or not he would be able to leave that day or not. Jiraiya, in his typical fashion, appeared at the window on the back of one of the larger frogs. "What now Pervy-sage?"

He jumped through the window and stood next to Naruto's bed. "We need to talk kid."

"About what?"

"You," was the only response.

"Me? What about me?"

"What are your plans?"

Naruto blinked, "Go after Sasuke, defiantly. Other than that, I don't know."

Jiraiya sighed, "After Sasuke huh? Bad idea."

"What!?"

"Forget about Sasuke." Naruto just stared. "Forget about him and move on. He's a lost cause." Naruto fought the urge to use his Rasengan on the old pervert. "You need to focus on training, not tracking down that traitor."

"Oh right, and I suppose you'll be the one to train me?"

"That's right. I'm offering you a chance most shinobi could only dream of. I'm going to spend 2 and a half years training you in everything I know. When I'm done with you you'll be the strongest ninja in your generation. And about 10 steps closer to becoming Hokage."

Naruto snorted, "Pass."

Jiraiya blinked, "What? Did you just say "Pass?"

Naruto repeated, "Pass."

"That's what I thought you said...," he closed his eyes and nodded, a vein in his temple starting to throb, "...ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?!"

Naruto grinned, "I don't need your help. I can train myself. I'll invent better Jutsu than you could ever teach me."

"Oh for the love of! All you'll come up with is more perverted jutsu. The second you'd leave they'd send ANBU teams out to track your every move. Like it or not, you're stuck with me!" He growled, "This never would have happened if I had taken Sasuke as an apprentice instead of you..."

3...

2..

1.

"YOU WIN BASTARD!!! I'LL GO, DAMN IT! NOW LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE FOR A FEW DAYS!!!"

Jiraiya smiled, "I thought you'd see it my way. Meet me at the village gates at noon two weeks from today. And pack light. Very light. Only bring your pajamas and a single change of clothes. Nothing more. You won't need any money where we're going." He jumped back through the window.

"Jackass..." mumbled Naruto as he dissapeared. A thought struck him and he groaned, "Crap, how am I going to tell them about this one..."