IMPORTANT!! There is a correction at the bottom of the page in the translator notes.

Lee was at an impasse. His team was nowhere to be found, not that they trained with him for social purposes, and Gai was out on a mission.

'Should I go train or look for Sakura-chan? Which is the more youthful path?'

Stuck pondering the green clad boy found himself meandering. He soon bumped into Konohamaru and his friends.

"Ah! Hello there young ones. Off on a youthful adventure?"

"Uh…yeah. Yeah we are. We're doing just that"

"That is most inspiring! Truly the imagination of a child is a thing of-"

Iruka suddenly crashed in from nowhere.

"You're not skipping class today Konohamaru! You too Moegi! Udon!"

"Crap he found us! Cheese it!"

But before the three could move they were snatched up by the teacher.

"You're never going to be good shinobi if you keep cutting class"

"Naruto-niisan did!"

"He never escaped from class twice in the SAME day!"

Iruka continued to lecture his students as he carried them back to the academy. Lee merely watched the display wordlessly. As he turned to walk away a pink haired streak crashed into him. His senses returned to him and he found Sakura sitting on top of him, flushed and breathing heavy.

"S-Sakura-chchan…"

"Lee-kun! I-"

A loud gasp attracted the two's attention. Ino was standing there; face in shock.

"Sakura! So forceful. And in public no less"

"AH! Chigau chigau!! It's not like that!"

"Well you have me beat. I could never be THAT bold"

"I said it isn't like that!"

"Oh, but what would your mother say? I think I should go ask her"

"Don't you dare Ino! Stop right there!"

Laughing hysterically Ino raced off. Sakura tried to stand but fell off Lee. Acting quickly Lee stood up and helped Sakura to her feet.

"Well come on! We have to catch her!"

"Y-yes of course"

And the chase was on. Given Ino's head start and the fact Lee was preoccupied with thoughts of Sakura on top of him the pair did not catch up to Ino until she was at Sakura's house.

"Oh Haruno-san! I have something you have got to hear!"

"Oh no you don't Ino! Jump Lee-kun!"

Reacting to her command Lee sprang forward. He grabbed Ino's shoulders only for her to dissolve into a poof of smoke. With no body to provide resistance Lee crashed into the door, bouncing off and ending up flat on his back.

"Lee-kun!"

As Sakura moved forward to check on him Ino tripped her. For a second time that day Sakura ended up on top of Lee. But this wasn't the 'her sitting up on his stomach' on top. This was a 69 position and there was no way to deny it. So of course that is what Sakura's mother sees when she opens her door.

"HARUNO SAKURA YOU STOP THAT THIS INSTANT! ARE YOU TRYING TO RUIN THIS FAMILY'S REPUTATION!!!!"

Sakura sat up quickly and spouted rebuttals. Lee, still under a certain part of Sakura's anatomy, found that both his mouth and nose were covered, making it hard to breathe. Unable to hold his breath any more he tried to move and get some air.

"Iyaaa! Lee-kun if you move like that..ah!"

The elder Haruno pinched Sakura's ear and pulled her off Lee, who comically took deep breaths. Lee sat up and looked at the Haruno matriarch with no small amount of trepidation.

"Ow ow ow ow please let go kaa-san ow ow"

"Boy. I suggest you leave. Now"

"H-h-hai"

Lee stood up and turned to leave. He was only able to do so after stumbling a few times. As Sakura was dragged inside by her mother Ino revealed herself from behind a bush. She got two steps before laughing herself silly.

gggggg

Kakashi stretched more than was necessary as he left his latest report at the mission desk.

"So my worthy rival, are you finding your youth faltering?"

"No. It just needs a day to recuperate"

"Ho ho! It is rather rigorous these days is it not?"

"You can say that again. And on top of what happened to my team; Sasuke's gone, Naruto is out on an extended mission with Jiraiya and with me so busy I have no time to train Sakura. I really have failed as a teacher"

"Buck up my friend. There is an end to the tunnel. Once the influx of missions slows you will have more than enough time to give your students the attention they deserve. Until then Sakura can train with my team"

"Thanks Gai. I owe you one"

"Thirty seven all told but who's counting? You go and have a proper rest my rival!"

Kakashi waved weakly and ambled off to his apartment. Gai headed back inside to get a mission scroll for his team.

'I'm sure they would love the opportunity to work with Sakura. And my most wonderful protégé will most certainly agree'

With a hearty laugh Gai dashed off to find his team.

gggggg

Some time later Tenten and Neji were out trying to find Lee.

"That was too close. Gai-sensei almost caught us. You should be more careful Neji"

"Huh? How is that my fault?"

"Because I said so!"

Baffled again at the mystery that is female Neji turned and found Lee blindly stumbling along, a dazed look on his face.

"Lee! Where have you been? We have a mission"

"…"

"What is wrong with you? Did you not hear me?"

"…"

Before Neji could cock back a fist Tenten intervened and waved her hand in front of Lee's eyes. She then poked him a few times.

"He's really out of it"

"Regardless we still have a mission to do. Let's just leave him"

"Even though it is still just a D rank it's better to have him with us"

Tenten grabbed Lee's shoulders and shook him violently.

"C'mon Lee! Snap out of it!"

"That… really was… Sakura-chan's… (mumble)"

With a stiffened back Tenten unceremoniously dropped the mostly unresponsive lad. Lee didn't react in the least.

"Alright let's just leave him"

"But didn't you say to-"

"I said we're leaving!"

Not bothering to argue Neji followed the very agitated Tenten. It was quite a change from the norm where he led the way.

'I thought that time of the month was last week. I didn't remember it wrong did I?'

'Okay Tenten. Just calm down. Lee didn't really mean it that way, sure he said omanko but it could have just meant Sakura bought snacks and not Sakura's… ARG! Just what the hell happened today! I have to know!!!'

ggggg

chigau – false

iyaa – no (although on another note iyaan is a squeal of joy; what a difference that one consonant makes)

omanko – vagina; at one time it meant a smaller form of manju, the steamed cake usually with sweet fillings like anko (red bean paste)

CORRECTION!! oman is actually a shortened version of manju, usually with a brand name (or name of a charater on the manju itself) placed in from of the o. (ex Lulu-oman: manju with a picture of Lulu on it)

to be honest this is an older joke, omanko is now illegal and can no longer be said on Japanese airwaves