47: Lee and Gai and Parties
∆ (Konoha 12 Home) ∆ - ¤ (Next Day) ¤ - Φ (Tenten) Φ
I sat down and began preparing for the day. I would first need to make a list of things we'd need for the party so that Neji could go out and get them while the other girls and I would go about preparing this house for company, and the party. It was always clean but we had to decorate, that would take a while.
"What will we need?" Neji asked.
"I'm not exactly sure, snack foods, chips, drinks, balloons, streamers, and just anything that you think she be here. I have no clue. Just go." I sighed.
Neji got up and left with Owen. I went upstairs to Sakura's room where the other 3 girls were while the other boys were also shopping and getting prepared for the party. I had planned to have it at the Hyuuga Complex but Naruto had said it'd be best to have it here since most of Lee's friends live here.
The house was usually quite, except for when Owen was here. He loved playing with Hiroka, Hinata's daughter. They were like second cousins or something but that didn't matter, we were all cousins or aunts and uncles. There were only two kids in the house, Hiroka and Owen. Aside from when Owen is here, Hiroka never made a sound. She's just sleep or sit. It annoyed Naruto but he accepted it. Hinata's behaviors, so similar to her daughter, annoy him as much.
I walked into the room. "Neji went out to get supplies?" Ino asked.
"Yeah." I answered.
"Good, so what else." Sakura asked.
"Neji's handling food too." I added, forgetting I had told him to get the food as well.
"That's one less thing we have to do then." Sakura said.
"I'll manage decorating when he gets back." I volunteered, a few dozen kunai and shuriken and I'd be done within seconds. I was well practiced in preparing partie decorations with kunai. There were a lot of people to throw parties for at the Hyuuga Residence.
"Alright, I'll bake a dozen cakes." Hinata said quietly with Hiroka in her arms.
"Who's going to keep Lee busy until the party?" Ino asked. "He can't be here."
"It's not a surprise party, Ino." Sakura said.
"I know but it will be annoying to have him here while we're baking and decorating, he'd be in the way."
"Ino, that's not a good way to talk about Lee on his birthday." Hinata said, almost scoldingly.
"Yeah, yeah, but he'd be in the way. So who's going to deal with him?"
Sakura smirked. "Sasuke!" She called. He lazily walked into the room.
"Go find Lee and make sure that he doesn't bother us, we have 3 hours to prepare, only." Sakura said.
He, sort-of glared at her and walked away in an annoyed manner. "Fine." He mumbled under his breath.
"That takes care of that." I said.
Hinata stood up. "I should start baking. Can you watch her Tenten-chan?" I nodded as she left, leaving me with Hiroka.
"Shikamaru!" Ino called.
"What Ino?" Shikamaru said walking in from his room, probably asleep and now annoyed for being woken up.
"What else do we need to do for the party?"
"What do you have done?"
"Food and Decorations are being bought by Neji. Sasuke's entertaining Lee. Hinata's cooking. Tenten's decorating and that leaves Sakura and me to do nothing along with you and Naruto."
"I don't want to do anything."
"Fine, then you don't but just help us remember the last things to do."
"What kind of party is it?"
"I don't know, like a get together, socializing birthday party."
"Did you guys get gifts?" Shikamaru asked.
We all screamed, we had totally forgotten to get gifts. "I'll handle that. What to get though, what a tramatic thing to do, Shika-kun, help!"
"Ino buy a formal outfit for Lee. He's probably should have one when he's guarding whoever he's guarding over there, that outfit is so out of place there." I said, handing her a chunk of money from my bag.
"Get me, for him… a training outfit of some sort, anything but spandex, please!" Sakura begged. She definitely did not like spandex. I can agree with that. (LOL. I hate spandex too. In high school we have to wear it in our volleyball matches, it's annoying stuff but we absolutely have to wear it. L. Luckily the jersey isn't spandex, just the pants.)
"What are we going to get Shikamaru?"
"I don't know… I recommend something to remind him of Konoha since he's been gone quite a while."
"Genius Shikamaru, you find that item, okay?" She asked.
"Yeah sure, whatever."
"Go ask Hinata if she needs something, knowing her she already got something though. She's always on top of things." Ino nodded and left, followed by Shikamaru to go talk to Hinata.
Sakura sat there. "What should I do?"
"You can prepare the table and stuff with all the food when Neji gets back. We'll wait together because I'm taking decorations I have to wait for them to arrive too." She nodded. So we talked about our experiences with Lee.
∆ (W/ Neji) ∆ - Φ (Neji) Φ
I wonder how everything is going back at the house. I'm sure they're finishing organizing what everyone's doing so I better hurry up and finish shopping, they only have 2 hours left until the party.
I went to the party supply store and picked up different items that we'd need like balloons, plates, cups, silverware along with streamers, and a bunch of other stuff like that, all in green and blue, Lee's favorite colors. I did remember that much about him.
I then went to the grocery store and got a ton of food, from ramen to chips and dip to everything else I could think to get. I stayed on budget of everything that Tenten had asked and then added other things that would fit into our budget. It worked best that way.
I arrived home and Tenten was sitting on the couch with Hiroka in her arms and Sakura was sitting there, she wasn't exactly doing well I could tell. Tenten said she was but because her life force was so weak to begin with, as Tenten's had been… it was more draining then normal for her.
I had been carrying Owen in my arms and everything I bought in some of Tenten's scroll that she uses for storing things. They're rather useful for most things though, the weight though can get heavy sometimes but I could have carried them normally so it didn't really matter to me. Only that I take good care of Owen while shopping.
Sakura was about 6 months now. Tenten in her 6th month had been screaming at everyone because she wanted to train, Sakura just accepted it because training isn't what she did. She was a med-Nin but she complained about wanting to go back to work, probably more than Tenten had ever complained.
"What's going on?" I asked. "What's the plan?"
"Hinata's baking cakes. Sasuke's dealing with Lee. Ino went shopping for presents for Lee with Shikamaru. I haven't seen Naruto though. Sakura will set out the food, and I'll decorate." Tenten said.
"What am I supposed to do now?" I asked her.
"I suggest you go help Sasuke out with handling Lee, he's a mighty trouble to handle." Tenten suggested. "You know… who knows what could be happening."
"I'm sure Sasuke would appreciate the help. Remember to have him here at 9, others will be arriving a little earlier than that." Sakura said laughing. I nodded and left.
I didn't exactly know where those two were but a little Byakugan searching would get me to exactly where they are. I searched around and found Sasuke with Lee and Gai-sensei at his house.
As you could probably guess, Sasuke had a very… annoyed look on his face, so much that his eye was twitching as Gai and Lee were going on about the power of youth.
∆ (W/ Sasuke) ∆ - Φ (None) Φ – ¤ (A bit earlier) ¤
Sasuke had only accepted to watch Lee because Sakura had asked. He had agreed because… well he'd pretty much do anything she'd ask him to do. Not only because she was pregnant or she was his wife but because he would always do anything she'd ask, there was no real reason involved.
However, he had no clue why he was so weak when it came to saying no to her. All the guys in the house acted the same ways. Sasuke didn't hate the fact that the girls could easily manipulate their husbands but it was sure annoying that they'd be pulled into these things.
Only two hours to go. Sasuke thought to himself. Then it would all be over so he could go home and be with his wife and party with everyone, not just talk with Lee.
"What do you want to do?" Sasuke asked.
"We should go see Gai-sensei." You could only guess that Sasuke's eye twitched… two crazy people who would mumble on about nothing… this was wonderful. Someone save me!
They arrived at Gai's house. "Lee, my boy! Sasuke, my rival's boy." Sasuke's eye was going to twitch a lot today, that would be for sure.
"Yeah, whatever. Hi." Sasuke said.
"You should be happy."
"Yes, because my friend Lee's birthday is today." Sasuke answered, knowing that's what he'd say.
"Exactly."
"I didn't know we were friends?" Lee said hugging Sasuke. "It's so wonderful to know that you are my friend Sasuke. What a wonderful gift, after all these years to be seen as your friend."
Sasuke was very uncomfortable about this moment. His eye twitched as Gai-sensei and Lee hugged him. "I'm so happy that you two have became friends after all these years. I knew that as you grew up, you'd become close; like Kakashi and I."
Saved by the bell has never sounded so not cliché. Sasuke though. "I shall get that." Gai yelled as he ran off.
"Let me help!" Lee said following him, saving Sasuke, for the time being.
"Lee, look it is my former student, and your former teammate Neji, come to see us on this joyus occasion." Gai-sensei said hugging Neji.
"You'd never believe what just happened, Neji!" Lee said crying.
"I'm sure I wouldn't. What did happen?" Neji asked Lee.
"Sasuke has admitted to Lee, after all these years, they are friends."
"Wow, what a surprise. I didn't know you felt that way Sasuke." Neji said sarcastically, but with no real tone.
"Actually, no one really knew. It was a surprise; I was waiting until his birthday. I realized this while Lee was missing so long and made that discovery." Sasuke said in the same feelingless tone Neji had used.
"Neji, so what is the plan today for your good friend, Lee?" Gai-sensei asked him.
"You were already informed of the party for Lee, Gai-sensei." Neji reminded him.
"There's a party?" Gai asked.
"Yes, you were invited." Neji said, almost annoyed.
"That is amazing. You're such a spiritful child! How wonderful to see you like this." Gai said hugging Neji.
Sasuke smirked laughing, on the inside. "What time is the party?" Lee asked.
"9-5."
"An unusual party time." Gai said.
"It was Tenten's idea. So Lee could get back to the person he's guarding. We didn't want him to be gone to long. She may be in trouble."
"They can manage themselves really, well now they can."
"They?"
"There are 4 of them I watch there. They aren't much to deal with but with the first one I had to take care of, she was troublesome by herself. The others now keep her inline. Well they actually all need my help just as much." Lee said laughing.
"I'm sure it's a lot of work." Gai said.
"I can take care of them Gai-sensei, you have my word as a ninja."
"Glad to hear it."
"It's time to go." Neji said, pushing them all to the house.
Sasuke realized that they were quite early and the girls would be angry but Sasuke knew that Neji would have a plan. "Let's go shopping, it'll waste away the time that we have left."
"I'm sure your wives shop a lot." Lee says.
"Tenten does, but only for necessary things." Neji said. "She's not much of a shopper, she's in for what she wants and back outs, she doesn't usually walk around or take time, unless it's a kunai store… of course."
"Of course." Sasuke said. "Sakura and Ino spend a lot of time and money shopping. It's like their favorite hobby, next to taking care of their pregnant selves. They like shopping for our soon to be arriving little ones."
"Tenten did too. It's definitely a girl thing though. I can't stay interested very long." Neji said.
"Agreed." Sasuke said sighing.
"Well let's wonder around, we'll find something that speaks to us for your birthday." Gai said. "I have yet to get you anything." They continued to shopping until Neji and Sasuke pulled them off to the party.
They walked in and they all yelled happy birthday to Lee and the party began. "Wow guys, this is an awesome party. I've never had a party like this."
"Thanks."
"So what did you all do?"
"I went shopping." Neji said.
"I decorated." Tenten said.
"I cooked." Hinata said, quietly.
"I set everything up." Sakura said.
"I went shopping too." Ino said.
"I went with her." Shikamaru said.
"I was with you." Sasuke said.
"Where's Naruto?" Lee asked.
Choji stood up. "I last saw him hassling Tsunade-sama about something. She looked angry at him for bothering."
"I'm sure he's trying to get something done that she and the council don't agree with, anyway." Kiba said. "I know I'd do that if it was me."
"I doubt that's what Naruto's doing." Hinata said.
"I'm sure it's something very important that they're arguing about." Neji said. "He would be here, if that was the reason. We made sure he got the time right and everything before he left this morning."
"We told him an hour earlier so he'd be here. I'll go get him, excuse me." Hinata said disappearing and searching for Naruto.
"Well Lee… happy birthday." Tenten said hugging her teammate.
"Thanks Tenten, thanks for trying to find me." Lee turned to Neji. "Also thank you too for caring about my presence missing enough to look for me."
"You're welcome. Happy Birthday." Neji said.
"I was very busy out there but Gai-sensei managed to send a summons to find me, and thus I came home for my birthday, I was more than happy to be here with you." Lee said happily.
"I hope they'll be okay without you." Ino said.
"They'll be fine. I had someone cover. It's the first time I've paid someone else for a mission." Lee said.
"You paid someone else to watch your person while you were here?" Shikamaru said. "You should have just asked for a day off instead, they would have understood."
"It was on a more personal level than that, they can't be by themselves at all, it's impossible. There was no way they could function on their own, trust me."
"If it was that bad, you should have brought them along." Tenten suggested. "I'm sure that they would have liked to visit Konoha, wouldn't they?"
"Yeah they'd love to visit but in their current state, they're under tight guard and it would be impossible."
"That's bad. As soon as their under looser guard, you should take them here."
"I shall, I believe that is a brilliant idea!" Lee said. "I'm sure they will love to."
"Then it's settled, as soon as you can, bring them so we can meet them. I'm sure they're excited to be in Konoha."
"Yes, they've never left their country. They are very important there."
"Ah, and be sure to tell them that they are welcomed here, all of them." Sakura said. Sasuke didn't seem happy about the idea but Sakura's hospitality was just naturally agreed with.
Naruto walked in. "Guess what!"
"What?"
"I got it!" Naruto said.
"What did you get?"
Hinata walked in, smiling. "When I heard that Lee was guarding 4 people in Tea Country… I had decided to get permission for them to come and go as they please, full access passes to Konoha." Hinata said. "Happy birthday Lee. They will be treated as Konoha citizens if they choose to stay."
"Hinata that is wonderful!" Sakura said.
Lee hugged her. "Thank you so much, it's such a wonderful gift to be given."
"Get off Hinata, Lee." Naruto said. Everyone laughed, next to Sasuke, Naruto was the most protective husband in all of Konoha. No one touched Hinata, not without Naruto's permission. The same went with Hiroka. The two girls… when Naruto wasn't watching them, were being watched by ninjas of Konoha. The hokage made sure of that one.
Shikamaru didn't let Ino out of his sight but he wasn't really protective of her, well not from people close to her. He didn't care if people he knew were around her but when he was in public he didn't like other people around much.
Neji wasn't at all protective of Tenten, he expected her to take care of herself, and for the most part she was the one protecting him. He didn't like strangers being around Tenten but he accepted it, if they were. She was completely independent of Neji because she was always with Owen and he was at meetings but he was never too far, and there was usually someone nearby if she needed protection.
The party then started and Tenten and Neji shared stories of there times with Lee. They had a lot of stories to tell and then it continued until Lunch came and they sat down with the cake. They sang happy birthday to him, and they all ate.
"Hinata, this is really good." Lee said. "Can I ask to bring some with me?"
"Tenten already packed some food and cake for your trip, and enough for the people you are guarding as well. She is well prepared for your leaving this afternoon."
"How did you know I was leaving?"
"I figured the people you were guarding would want to spend time with you on your birthday as well. You're a popular guy around here, with a lot of friends." Tenten said.
"Thank you though for everything Tenten." Lee said hugging. "I have not felt so appreciated by you guys in so log. It is nice to have you all here."
"I'm sure it is Lee." Neji said.
Lee started crying and so did Gai-sensei. "I remember how you all never got along in your younger years, and you have learned to accept each other's differences. It's amazing how this happens." Gai said crying loudly.
"I can agree with that." Tenten said, shrugging.
Lee went around hugging people and so did Gai, they then went and cried together and ran in circles around the house because they had cried on a happy occasion. They came in and started hugging and apologizing to everyone.
"I wish to give a speech." Lee said. He then began a very long speech on the power of youth and how it has affected his life, since then. He was happy to share a story of how he had hurt his leg and how he got stronger from the experience.
Gai sensei stood up. "Lee, my boy. That was the most wonderful speech that I have ever heard. You are a natural. You should give speeches at the hokage banquets, shoudn't he Naruto?" Gai asked.
"If I have an opening, I'll call." What Lee didn't know was that the events were booked in advance and he probably wouldn't call Lee even if they had no body. He'd get someone else to go on. He didn't what that speech going on while he was hokage. It was torture.
"Anything else you'd like to say Lee?" Tenten said.
"No, but Gai-sensei has something for you all." Lee said.
"By request on Lee's birthday I have gotten for you all, a spandex suit." We all mentally or aloud growled or whined. Even Naruto, in his common sense was quite about complaining to Lee on his birthday about his choice in clothing, that was a sure fire surprise.
"Aren't they awesome?" Lee asked everyone.
"They will be quite useful someday, I am quite sure." Hinata said politely.
"Yes, they are the top of the line in training outfits. They're great for anything." Lee said. "I wear one all the time."
"We are all aware of that Lee." Tenten said.
"Here's my gift to you Lee." Neji said. "It's from Tenten and Owen too." Shikamaru and Ino had picked out a nice formal outfit for Lee and put it in a box for him.
Lee opened the box. "Wow! This is amazing. It's like…"
"It's a kimono, a men's formal kimono." Tenten said laughing. "It'll probably come in handy one day on your mission. I'm quite sure."
"I know it will. I've been needing one, though I've never had one." Lee said. We all laughed.
"Then it's good that you finally have one." Neji said.
"This is my gift to you Lee." Sakura said. "A new training wardrobe."
Sasuke looked at her. He didn't think Lee would accept it. "Sakura this is nice but I have some."
"Spandex is not healthy to wear during the summer seasons in sand, until you hit the weather there, you won't thank me, but be assured, it's not healthy so accept it and you won't need to worry about it." She said with a threatening, yet welcoming, smile.
"I will take your word for it and use it if it becomes necessary." Lee said. "Thank you."
They party continued as Lee sat with his friends. "Describe what you're doing out there Lee." Gai-sensei said.
"I'm not doing much, I'm just guiding and protecting 4 people."
"Describe them."
"Well… one is our age, about 20 now. The others are children of her brother's."
"Oh really, is she married?"
"Uh… I'm not exactly sure really. I'd think that her husband would be protecting her if she was, but then he could be a ninja and be away all the time. So… I'm not exactly sure."
"I can see that. I'm sure I'd pay someone else to protect Sakura if I was gone and she really did need my assistance at every corner." Sasuke had caught himself, he knew she'd get angry unless he mentioned somewhere in there that she was independent of him.
"I don't think I would." Shikamaru said.
"Why not? You'd leave me alone?" Ino asked, upset.
"No. I just wouldn't leave you with a ninja. I'd leave you with a friend, or your family because you'd be safer there and you'd get much more help." Shikamaru suggested.
"She doesn't have family, besides her brother and he's gone all the time. That's why I'm guarding her, since he can't. He used to though." Lee said.
"Her brother seems like he moved on from her, leaving her with you. Is it full time?"
"Yes, 24-7, which by the way we should throw on some music and get partying before this party is over." Lee said jumping up.
"I'm just saying I'd rather have Ino with Sakura and everyone here then with a complete stranger from another country to protect her, I wouldn't trust them with her, not at all."
"They don't have much choice, her only family is her brother and she'd been responsible for everything despite her brother being truly in charge, then the kids she's busy and desperately needed help. Her brother pretty much left her when he got married to take care of everything else, leaving her behind."
"Wow, that's horrible." Tenten said.
"She's very lonely and I think that I'm the only one she's ever been able to get close to."
"That's sad." Sakura said.
"Well… anything else?"
"Nope." Tenten said. She handed him a scroll full of food and deserts and everything for all the people who he'd be eating with.
"I'm sure she'll appreciate this food being made for her, instead of her making food for me." Lee said, "thank you."
"You're welcome Lee." Tenten said.
"When will you visit again?"
"Christmas." He said. "She'll spend it with her brother and his wife along with the kids, but I'll spend it with you all."
"That should be great."
"Well see you then." Neji said shaking Lee's hand.
"Bye Lee." Tenten said. "Take care of yourself, and stop wearing spandex."
"Tenten…" She sighed.
"Just try not wearing it, you'll see what I mean." She said laughing as he took off.
"You had to say that… didn't you?"
"Yeah, I mean, he seems so lonely Neji. I mean wearing spandex is totally weird. Maybe that girl would like him if he changed his looks." Tenten said.
"That's pretty superficial thinking Tenten." Sakura said.
"I'd agree with her." Sasuke said.
"I think in there is some meaning about girls and how they're superficial." Sakura said, almost trying to figure it out.
"Most normal girls are, outside of the ninja circuit. I don't worry about you girls one bit." Gai said. They all laughed, surprised that he'd say something like that. They weren't expecting that at all.
