A/N: Im free from school! Confetti so hopefully, updates should be more frequent :) As always, love to the amazing reviewers, for whom this story is dedicated to. Keep it up! Happy Summer!
Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover
Behind the unusual face, behind the large round eyes
Hid an inextinguishable flame of strength
A kunai stopped her, shooting out of nowhere pinning Lee's bandage to the wall. She froze, the grinding of her katana against their sheaths silenced.
"This is bad" Lee and Kari said in unison, his bushy eyebrows furrowing as her eyes darted in the direction the kunai had come from.
"ALL RIGHT THAT'S ENOUGH LEE!" a… giant turtle hollered. Kari blinked. Then blinked again. Turtle?? She let go of her katana, allowing them to slip back into their sheaths with a slight 'ching'. Lee grabbed hold of the bandage, using it to pull himself down. Oh dear, Lee's in for it now… But what's with the turtle? Is it a summon?
"SASUKE-KUN!" Sakura shrieked. Kari jumped out of her skin (having been staring wide-eyed at the peculiar turtle) and looked up to see a falling Sasuke. She just stared at him blankly, wondering why on earth Sasuke's were falling from the sky, before Kita's 'Okaa-san!' snapped her out of her daze. With speed like that of Lee's, Kari shot forward, catching Sasuke, before falling on her back and sliding along the floor.
"Ah! Kari-hime! You shouldn't catch people like that!" Lee cried. Catching the turtle's glare Lee immediately turned back to him, head bowed. Kari groaned; the bruises from before throbbing and her spine burnt from sliding on the floor. She tried to shove the heavy boy off of her, but Sasuke wasn't cooperating. She sat up and tipped him off lap, rubbing her sore back. Then she hoisted him up by the arm, allowing one arm round her shoulder for support. Kari shot Sasuke a quick, annoyed 'I so told you so, but noooo' look behind his back as he leaned on her. Ah, it was a strange switch of roles!
"Sasuke-kun are you okay?" Sakura fussed, rushing to his side, a hand hovering in front of his chest and behind his back, should his balance be off. She secretly hoped it was so he could fall into his arms. Kari shot her sly grin, knowing what lines she was thinking along.
"You were watching the whole time?" Lee asked guiltily, his eyes glued to the floor as he stood before the large turtle.
"Of course! That last technique is forbidden you know that!" the turtle shouted, causing Lee to wince.
"I am sorry I did not mean to..." Lee said quietly. the turtles glare intensified, like that of a lion that had been poked in the eye. Lee immediatly spurted excuses to try and escape the turtles wrath. "I was not planning to use a forbidden jutsu! It is just… I was in the middle of a fight and… I mean-- you understand right?!" Lee cried, trying to get his point acros. That was what he had explained to Gai while Neji and TenTen had to take Kari to the Hyuuga compound to rest (despite her stubborn complaints she was fine, though she was clearly not).
"I'M RIGHT THAT TURTLE REALLY IS HIS SENSEI!" Naruto cried suddenly.
"Oro?" Sakura asked, looking round at an excited Naruto.
"HEY GUYS!" Naruto cried. Kari tilted her head, was itjust her or was he rather hyper after being knocked out.
"Nani Naruto?" Sakura said sounding annoyed.
"The weird thing he's talking to a turtle, right?" Naruto asked.
"Obviously what do you think it is?!" Sakura said irritably while Kari just nodded. Sure, Kita could talk. But she wasn't a turtle.
"Ok, then... maybe it means turtles can be sensei's too!" Naruto cried in excitement.
"How would I know if they can be sensei too?!" Sakura argued. Kari was lost in a daydream of Kakashi being a donkey and a sensei at the same time. Waving his tail around and twitching his long grey rabbit like ears, his long muzzle covered by the mask, his forelock sticking up, and his mane lop-sided…
"Kari, you look stupid. Stop it." Sasuke mumbled. Kari snapped out of her daydream. She so did not look stupid!
"You're a disgrace! You think you'll get away with a bunch of lame excuses like that?! A shinobi never reveals his techniques unless it's absolutely necessary! It's a basic rule you should know it by now!" the turtle scolded, causing Lee to wince once more. Kari really felt sorry for the funny looking guy, he wasn't that bad at heart, he just got a bit carried away.
"Forgive me sir" Lee said sadly. Sasuke suddenly growled.
"Sasuke you're growling" Kari stated, her eye twitching. "Stop it, it's disturbing"
"You can hardly talk, your half canine" Sasuke retorted.
"How is that my fault?! That's like saying you're an Uchiha!"
"Are you prepared to take the punishment for your actions?!" the turtle cried, drowning out Sasuke's and Kari's argument.
"I... Hai sir..." Lee said quietly. Kari ignored Sasuke's next insult, worrying Lee would be punished severely. He'd better not be or she'll—
"All right then! Please come out Gai-sensei!" the turtle cried.
"IIE! NOT HIM!" Kari cried clutching where her ears were hidden under the fabric. The last thing she needed was Gai humiliating her in front of her team mates. She couldn't cope with his accusations of hers and Neji's non-existant relationship, or a youth speech, or Kami forbid he and Lee might cry, hug and do a lot of poses! But as long as he didn't try to get her into that green latex…thing again, she supposed she would just about be able to survive.
"HEEEEY WHAT'S SHAKIN'? HOW YA DOIN EVERYBODY?! LIFE TREATIN' YA GOOD?" Gai sensei hollered, appearing in a puff of smoke. As the smoke cleared, Gai was in his entrance pose, hip back, back arched, arms above head, one in a hand gesture of gayness or a arthritic ballerina, the other with an upside down 'OK' hand sign in front of his eye. Kari's body slumped as her cheeks reddened. She wanted to just melt into the floor and hibernate for a good few months. After seeing her team-mates expressions she buried her face in her hands. "HI LADIES!" Gai said with a wink and smile, striking the good guy pose he and Lee were famous for. Kari mumbled a few whimpers, willing herself to become invisible. Kami-sama just let Gai not see her…
"Kari-hime!"
There is no God. If there is, well, he doesn't like her.
"So that's where Lee gets it from!" Naruto cried. Kari pulled her hair in front of her face as a shield. Naruto wouldn't insult Gai in front of Lee, he's not at all rude, so there's no need for Lee to get defensive and earn youthful praise from his sensei. "Same soup-bowl hair cut, bushier eyebrows!"
Kami hates her.
"HEY! DO NOT INSULT GAI-SENSEI! HE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!" Lee cried. Kari clamped her hands over where her ears were hidden, the shouting giving her a headache.
"EXCUSE ME FOR NOT NOTICING HIS GREATNESS, I WAS TOO BUSY WATCHING HIM CRAWL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH A TURTLE!" Naruto retaliated.
"HE DID NOT CRAWL OUT!" Lee shouted, his fist held threateningly in front of him.
"Give it a rest Lee" Gai said soothingly, placing a hand on Lee's shoulder. Kari stared at the larger version of Lee. Gai… being… helpful?
"Hai sir" Lee said reluctantly.
"Now, for your punishment… YOU FOOL!" Gai cried punching Lee in the face. Naruto's and Sakura's jaws dropped and Sasuke's eyes widened. Kari smacked her forehead knowing what was coming next. Kita stared perplexed, like watching a mind absorbing film.
"I'm sorry Lee but... it's for your own good" Gai said sniffling. Kari twitched violently.
"Se-sensei" Lee said, his eyes watering. She twitched again.
"Oh Lee…"
Twitch.
"Oh sensei, sumimasen" Lee said, tears running thickly down their cheeks.
Twitch.
"It's all right! It's over! You don't need to say anymore!" Gai said dramatically.
Double twitch.
"SENSEI!" Lee cried, flinging himself into his sensei's arms. Gai was on one knee, holding Lee tightly. Kari sighed. They just had to, it was Gai and Lee after all. The sunset that had miraculously appeared in the background was a must too.
"It's ok, it's ok… sniff"
"Sumimasen… sensei… sniffle"
"Actually, it's kinda sweet the way their all huggy and stuff" Naruto said turning to grin at his other team-mates. Kari half-agreed and half didn't. Their relationship was sweet… but… disturbingly odd.
"You gotta be kidding they're both crazy!" Sakura cried, while Sasuke gave a half nod in agreement.
"You're just caught in-between… you're too old to be called a boy, yet not quite a man…" Gai said emotionally.
"You are so good to me... Gai sensei" Lee sobbed, admiration shining in his tear filled eyes.
"Now take off! I want you to run a hundred laps! Show me what you got!" Gai cried, tears disappearing.
"Hai sir no problem!" Lee cried, jumping to attention, hand in a salute.
"Run into the setting sun! RUN and SUFFER! But DON'T mess up your hair. Let us go!" Gai cried, as Kari's twitching spasm returned with a vengeance. She didn't think she was brave enough to tell Gai his 'sunset' was just a wall.
"Right!"
"Hey! Wait a minute! We're not finished here; you guys can't just take off like that!" Naruto cried.
"Anyway, what about the chunin exams? There's no time for fooling around!" Sakura added.
"Huh? OH RIGHT! I FORGOT ABOUT THAT!" Gai cried. He coughed; no shred of embarrassment visible. "Lee you've not only disobeyed the rule against fighting, you've disrupted the chunin exams! I think that deserves a more severe punishment don't you?!"
"Hai sir!"
"Let's say 500 LAPS! How does that sound?!" Gai cried striking a pose.
"Outstanding sir!"
"They're gonna be the death of me…" Kari mumbled as Kita let out a confused whine. How 500 laps was outstanding was beyond her. She'd die half way through.
"They're insane" Sakura said.
"Probably, but never mind them. What's the deal with that turtle anyway?" Naruto said. Kari turned to stare blankly at the reptile again. She'd forgotten about that turtle… Gai turned and looked at them. On impulse, team seven tensed.
"NANI?! AAAH HE'S LOOKING AT US!" Sakura cried, clutching Sasuke's sleeve as though it would protect her. Kari let go of Sasuke's arm, figuring her life was more important than his injuries. In other words, if Gai came within an inch of them – she was running.
"Tell me… how is Kakashi-sensei?" Gai asked.
"Do you know him?" Sasuke said in surprise, not deterred by the fact he had lost his support or he had Sakura hanging off him like a pink monkey to a tree.
"Do I know Kakashi?" Gai said with a chuckle, a glint in his eye. "Well, people say he and I are arch rivals… for all eternity."
"THERE'S… JUST NO WAY!" Naruto and Sakura cried. Kari had heard it from Gai before when she told him who her registered sensei was, but she still found it hard to believe. Just look, Kakashi, lazy, cool guy a rival with… Gai?
"HOW DARE YOU! IF GAI-SENSEI SAYS IT IS TRUE THEN--"
"Let it slide Lee, a ninja's actions always speak louder than words..." Gai said soothingly. Kari narrowed her eyes. Actions don't mean…
"Gah!" Kari shot into a defensive stance as Gai appeared behind them. She hated being snuck up on, it was just so… sneaky. The four ninja and Kita turned to face Gai warily.
"The record stands at 50 wins and 49 losses, which is one better than his by the way" Gai said with a wink.
"Oro? Nani?! No way! How'd HE beat Kakashi?!" Naruto cried confused.
"The fact is; I'm better and stronger than Kakashi" Gai cried happily. Kari shook her head. Ego, ego, ego…
"You see! Gai-sensei is the greatest!" Lee cried happily.
"I'm sorry for the trouble Lee caused you. Look into my eyes and accept my sincere apology. Also notice my handsome manly features" Gai said to Sasuke with another wink, completely oblivious to Sasuke's rage at losing. Kari shuddered, picked up Kita and shot closer to Naruto. Gai was too old to say such things to kids. They'll all think he's a paedophile now. "Lee I think you should accompany these fine young ninja to the classroom" Gai said. He threw a kunai knocking away the one pinning Lee's bandage to the wall. Lee nodded and began re-wrapping his bandages.
"His hands…" Naruto gasped. Lee's hands and knuckles were covered in millions of scars, showing how much he pushed himself, how much he struggled. Kari eyes softened and she walked over to the older shinobi and helped him wrap his arms.
"Ah arigatou Kari-hime!" Lee said gratefully. She smiled at him; he really did have too big a heart.
"You helped me wrap mine; I'm clumsy and useless at it myself. But it's easier the way you told me to" Kari said, striking a cheerful conversation so Lee would stay in a good mood. The green beast grinned, giving a few pointers here and there and wincing when she pulled to tight.
"Remember give it your best Lee! Farewell!" Gai cried disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Hai sir!" Lee cried, now completely re-bandaged. The turtle too disappeared. "Hey Sasuke, actually I have not been totally honest with you" Lee said, he shifted awkwardly beside the blonde kunoichi. "I said I wanted to test my skills; that is true enough. You are not really the one I wanted to test them against."
"Neji…" Kari whispered; of course training with them she saw their rivalry. Neji was extremely harsh on Lee. Neji was a prodigy, he was stronger than Kari by far, probably even stronger than Sasuke. Kari's eyes turned to the Uchiha. As strong as Sasuke is, against Neji he wouldn't stand a chance…
"I lied to you when we were fighting before. I told you that I am the best genin here. But there is another top ninja, someone on my own team." Lee paused and his fists clenched. "He is the one I want to fight against, you are just practice. Now you are a target. I will crush you" Lee said. Sasuke gave him a major glare. "There you have it, consider yourself warned!" Lee cried. He ran and jumped off. Kari looked after him; thinking about Neji always upsets him…
"Oh Lee…" Kari said sadly.
"Oh Sasuke-kun" Sakura said, noticing the unhappy Uchiha.
"How about that, looks like the Uchiha clan isn't as great as everyone thinks they are" Naruto said. Kari appeared at his side and thwacked him on the head. "OW! KARI-CHAN!"
"You were insensitive" Kari said simply. She turned to Kita. "Being insensitive isn't nice" Kari said, poking Kita on the head. She was rather surprised actually, she'd never seen her fox brother behave like this.
"Ne?" Kita said confused. Kari made a zipping motion across her mouth, reminding Kita she shouldn't be talking.
"NARUTO!" Sakura screamed in rage, turning to repeat Kari's punishment tenfold.
"Just shut up!" Sasuke spat enraged. "Next time I'll drive him to his knees!"
"Sasuke!" Kari cried shooting him a glare.
"Yeah right, who just got his butt kicked" Naruto said rolling his eyes. He shot a wary glare at Kari's fist to make sure it didn't come in his direction.
"Stop it! What are you saying?! Spit it out Naruto!" Sakura cried.
"Patience is a virtue Kita-ko" Kari explained, her smile growing strained, her eyebrow twitching. "No matter how stupid people are; or how much you want to smack their heads together." She had to be a good example; Kita was young and could pick things up easily.
"You saw his hands didn't you when he took off the tape? I bet bushy brow has been training and training 'til he drops, day in day out, he trains harder than you. That's all I'm saying" Naruto said. Kari sighed sadly, knowing Naruto was exactly right. Lee pushed himself to and beyond the limit of his ability, working harder than anybody. Lee said she had natural talent, those who didn't, like him, had to work hard to reach the level the talented were already at. It was sad and unfair in Kari's eyes. With all Lee's work he should be more powerful than anybody. Lee deserved to be among the strongest shinobi. But come to think of it, Kari thought with a smile, with his Taijutsu he was almost there.
"Fine." Sasuke said coldly. Kari blinked, no fight? No argument? No tantrum? "Things are starting to get interesting in the chunin exams; can't wait to see what's next." Sasuke smirked, causing Kari to roll her eyes. But a smile spread across her face all the same. Typical Sasuke.
"Same here" Kari admitted. She'd been itching to see what other villages could do. What surprises they had in store…
"Right!" Naruto cheered. Sakura smiled and laughed, glad another fight didn't break out.
"Kita you ready?" Kari asked her dear wolf child. The cub responded with vigorous nodding. Kari giggled, placing her on her shoulder.
"Let's get started! Kari! Naruto! Sakura!—Kita!" Sasuke cried, catching Kari angry gesture towards her white fluff-ball.
"YEAH!" Naruto hollered in delight. "Chunin exams here we come!"