Chapter 30

I inhale deeply. Naruto's eyes widen and he covers his ears. "GAI-SENSEI!" I bellow into the air. I take a deep breath afterwards.
"Geez! You're so loud, dattebayo!" Naruto exclaims.
"Heh.. I only picked it up from you, 'dattebayo'." I say with a giggle. He rolls his eyes. I inhale again, and just as I go to shout, Naruto slaps his hand over my mouth.
"Shush! I have a better idea!" He says. I blink. He removes his hand to perform a hand sign. "Multi Shadow Clone jutsu!" He says, creating possibly over 50 clones, and they all scatter. I shrug.
"Well that could work too.. c'mon we may as well go look ourselves!" I say, then begin running in a direction.
"Wha- SETSUKI! WAIT UP!" Naruto calls, chasing after me.

I ended up being too fast for Naruto, and getting way ahead of him, losing him. I went around searching the entire day, unable to find him. I was close to giving up when I thought of one place I haven't been yet, the Academy. The sun was setting and close to fully disappearing, but I told myself it would be the last place I look before I go home.

I searched all the floors, until eventually I end up on the top floor- the roof. I look around, then I hear voices and pause.
"-lained that effort alone couldn't beat a genius, you said to me that I'm a genius of hard work.. that's when you taught me the importance of believing in myself..."
'That's Lee-san's voice!' I was about to step out from behind the column when I heard quiet sobbing, I remained hiding behind the column, listening.
"But.. this time, even if I put forth effort," Lee's voice turned into a cry. "or even if I believe in myself, Gai-sensei, please tell me! Why am I the only one who has turned out like this? What should I do? Please tell me!"
I didn't know what to think, why does Lee-san sound so upset and frustrated? What on earth happened? I watch as the last of the sun disappeared over the mountain, leaving the village darker.
There was a dead silence, only the sobs and sulks of Lee could be heard.
"Lee." It was Gai-sensei's voice. "If you want to release yourself from your suffering, you must prepare yourself!"
"..! … T.. to prepare for me giving up on my dream?" Lee inquires.
"If you lose your dream, you'll suffer even more than you are now. You're an idiot who won't be able to live if he loses his way of the ninja." Gai-sensei replies. "I am as well... Go through with the surgery, Lee!"
Lee gasps, and goes silent. 'Surgery..?'
"... A short while ago, I was reminiscing about the time when you and Kakashi-sensei were fighting with rock, paper, scissors.. back then, he said that luck is also part of one's strength.. the success rate of the surgery is also 50%, but this is different from rock, paper, scissors!"
"Do you remember what happened after that, Lee?"
"... That's right.. that was when you taught me my rule."
"Your surgery that you'll put forth all your effort into will definitely succeed. I'm sure you'll call forth the future. If per chance- no, if it fails, which is a one in a million chance, then... I'll die alongside you." Gai-sensei says.
My eyes widen, silence filled the area. 'Wh.. what does he mean by that?'
"Ever since I met you, my way of the ninja was to train you to be an excellent ninja." Gai-sensei says. "That's a promise."
"... Gai-sensei!" Lee cries loudly, then his crying became muffled, like he was hugging Gai-sensei, crying into him.
A million thoughts raced through my mind.
"Now, let's go, Lee!" Gai-sensei says.
"Yes sir!" Lee whines. I look at the ground for a moment, then when I heard footsteps coming my way, I quickly stand up straight, and try and forget everything I just heard.
"Mm? Setsuki?" Gai-sensei's voice came. I blink at look at him. Lee gasps slightly and wipes his eyes a few times and stands up straight.
"E-er hi Gai-sensei!" I say. "And Lee-san!"
"Hi Setsuki-san.." Lee says, calming himself down. Gai-sensei was giving me a thoughtful expression.
"Setsuki, how long have you been here?" Gai-sensei asks.
"Hm? Oh I just got up here." I lie.
"What brings you here of all places? Particularly at this hour?"
"Er.." I look down. "Just.. trying to clear my head. That's all." I reply, looking up again. Gai-sensei tilts his head.
"Clear your head..? What happened?" Lee inquires. I shake my head.
"Oh it's not that important. Just something Uncle Takashi said, I'm just thinking about it.. I guess my feet must've brought me up here." I say, then place a hand on the back of my head and laugh nervously, hiding a small wince for my head still hurts.
"Hm." Gai-sensei replies with a nod. "Very well. Don't stay up too late, you don't want to be tired tomorrow. It's the announcement of the fifth Hokage."
"Huh? Oh! Right! I completely forgot!" I exclaim. Gai-sensei gives a slight chuckle and leans forward to ruffle my hair.
"Well I'll be seeing you, around." Gai-sensei says. "Good night Setsuki." He says, then begins walking with a small beckon to Lee.
"Hai." I reply. Lee steps forth, I notice now, the dark bags under his eyes, and the dried up tears on his cheeks.
"Good night.. Setsuki-san.." Lee says, nodding his head slowly like a bow. I nod.
"G'night Lee-san." I reply, then watch as they walk off. I look at the ground again for a minute before heading home.

I open the door slowly, and as expected Takashi was sitting on my bed, waiting for me. I look down.
"About time you got home." He says. "Look. I apologize preposterous attitude this morning.. it wasn't right for me to shout at you like that."
"... It's alright." I say, I'm not the person who holds grudges. Takashi stands up and walks up to me.
"I think it was just hearing my son's name that got me all worked up.." He says. I nod a few times.
"Hai. I know, it's always been like that.." I mention. He smiles slightly and puts his arms around me comfortingly.
".. Lets have an early night, hm? Tomorrow's the fifth's ceremony." Takashi says.
"Hai." I reply. He smiles and with a nod, walks out.
"Night, Setsuki." He calls.
"Night." I reply, shutting the door. I change to my singlet and boxer shorts and jump into bed, falling asleep a while after.

As I walk through the corridors of the hospital, I kept getting this sensation that someone was in deep trouble, no matter how much I try to ignore it, it stays. I look around for Lee-san's room, I want to visit him.
"LEE!"
My eyes widen. "Gai-sensei?" I inquire, then run in that direction. Lee's hospital door was open, I peer in, Tsunade was leaning over Lee's bed, Lee was on his stomach, wires attached all over him. I stand in the door frame watching in confusion. I look at the heart monitor, it was keeping a steady pace... but it was slowly decreasing. "W.. what's going on?" I ask. Shizune, Gai-sensei and Tsunade were the only ones aside from Lee in that room.
"Will he be alright?" Gai-sensei questions.
"I'm doing everything I can!" Tsunade replies, her hands glowing green from the mystical palm jutsu, and sweat drips from her forehead.
"Gai-sensei?" I ask, but he paid no attention, his eyes were clearly focused on Lee.
"Just be patient. She knows what she's doing." Shizune says to Gai-sensei. Gai-sensei clears his throat, both hands clenched into fists from stress.
Suddenly Lee coughs up a lot of blood, and the heart monitor displays a straight line, and gives out a long, monotoned beep sound.
"LEE!" Gai-sensei says. Tsunade gasps.
"No! Don't die on me!" Tsunade says. Suddenly Gai-sensei's voice from last night came through my head. 'If per chance- no, if it fails, which is a one in a million chance, then... I'll die alongside you.'
"Argh!" Gai-sensei coughs and grips his chest right where the heart is.
"Gai-san!" Shizune exclaims. Gai-sensei showed pain in his expression, his eyes wide and his teeth clenched hard. He falls to his knees. My eyes widen in shock. Gai-sensei coughs and spits out endless blood. It just kept falling from his mouth, and he falls over motionless.
"Gai!" Shizune exclaims, kneeling down to him, she puts her hand over his chest, then gasps.
"What is it Shizune!" Tsunade questions.
"H-his heart... it.. exploded.." Shizune replies with utmost shock.
"WHAT?" I question, but still no one paid attention to me.
"Lee's heart only stopped! What's going on!" Tsunade questions.
"LEE! GAI-SENSEI!" I bawl.
"Setsuki! You shouldn't look!" Naruto's voice came from behind me, then arms wrap around me from behind and begins pulling me away from the door.
"No!" I cry, feeling my eyes stinging trying to hold back tears, but they escaped and ran down my cheeks regardless of how hard I try. The further Naruto dragged me away, the darker the corridor became, then Lee's room door closes on it's own. Everything was just getting darker.
"Setsuki!" Naruto calls.
"It's too late! No I want to go back! I want to save them!" I exclaim.
"Setsuki come on!" Naruto calls again. I turn around in Naruto's grip, tilting my head down the slightest bit to look into his face.
"Naruto! This isn't happening! I can't bear this!" I cry, then throw my head in his shoulder crying. Naruto rubs my back.
"It's okay. Just.. come on." He says. I couldn't answer, my cries were too extreme. Suddenly Naruto lets go of me and puts his hands on my shoulders and begins shaking me back and forth. "Setsuki! Snap out of it!"
I open my eyes looking into his face again. "Why.. why don't you care?" I question.
"Care about what?" He asks.
"Lee! Gai-sensei!" I exclaim, not understanding why he doesn't know when he was just there. Naruto shakes his head.
"You're crying. Why are you crying?" He asks. "Come on." He says, still shaking me.

I open my eyes slightly, and I felt my body being shaken back and forth. My eyes snap open.
"Finally!"
I see Naruto's face.
"Naruto-kun.."
"Man, I thought you'd never wake up. You're even crying. Whatever that dream was, it must have been extreme." He says, wiping the tears from my cheeks with his sleeve. "Something about Bushy Brows and Bushy Brows-sensei.. considering the shouting about them."
"Yeah..." I reply quietly, then rub my eyes. Naruto tilts his head to the side.
"You don't look so well, dattebayo." He says.
"I'll be alright." I reply, then yawn, then I suddenly realize something. "He let you in!" I question, staring wide-eyed at him. Naruto scratches the back of his head.
"Yeah.. he told me to come and get you out of bed." He says.
"R-really? That's not like Uncle Takashi." I mention.
"Yeah, he was acting kinda strange, believe it." He says, pointing to my door with his thumb.
"I don't believe it!" I exclaim, throwing the blankets off my bed. "This I gotta see! He has to be sick! He's just gotta be!" I jump up from my bed, and run to the kitchen, seeing Takashi sitting at the table, eating away at his toast, contently.
"Morning Setsuki." He says. I blink a few times, then look at the front door, then Naruto-kun, then back at Takashi all with a confused look.
"B-but, what the..?"
"What's wrong?" Takashi asks.
"You let Naruto-kun in without me?" I question.
"... Yes." Takashi replies, taking hold of the handle of his cup of coffee, and looking into it. I blink confused. ".. I'll just say I've been thinking about what you said yesterday."
"Ohhhhhhh." I reply, then smile. "So you like Naruto-kun now!" I question, my smile getting bigger.
"... Well, considering he hasn't hurt you, yet, I don't see why he can't be welcome here." Takashi says. I smile more, then hug Naruto randomly.
"Gah! T-too tight!" Naruto gasps. I let go and give him a thumbs up. He sweatdrops.
"Now I suggest you two get ready." Takashi says. We both look at him with blank expressions. ".. It's the fifth's ceremony!"
"Oh yeah! We gotta be there to see old lady Tsunade become Hokage, believe it!" Naruto says, smiling. I nod at him.
"HAI!" I shout, then run to my room, energised by the morning time.