Disclaimer: So yeah, I don't own Naruto. Sorry for the long wait on this chapter guys, but I did warn you. Just a lot of life crap going on. Anyway, so someone last chapter asked if there was going to be a lot less humor in this story when compared to "Yes, Naruto, Everyone Knew." Well... yes and no. I'm pulling back on the humor reins a bit to start with. I know the first two chapters really didn't have a lot, but that's just because of how the overall story outline fell into place. But starting with this chapter, it's very much back. So hang on to your hats and enjoy!
~Flights of Youthful Fancy ~
Gai and Lee knew Naruto was going to propose when they happened upon him visiting Neji's grave.
The pair, seeing that Naruto was already there, quickly dove out of sight and hid behind a few conveniently placed tombstones.
"What do we do Gai-sensei?" asked Lee, peeking hesitantly over at their preoccupied friend. "Naruto seems to be in the middle of an important conversation with Neji right now."
"Hmmm..." muttered Gai, assessing the situation. "It might be best for us to leave for now."
"Uhh... but Gai-sensei, how are we going to do that without being noticed? Your wheelchair is still sitting in the middle of the path..." Lee pointed to the toppled over device with one of its upended wheels spinning.
Gai sweatdropped. "Ah... yes, my dear student. That does seem to pose a problem."
"Perhaps we should-" But before Lee could finish his suggestion, Gai clamped a hand over his young protege's mouth. Lee raised one of his bushy-brows in question, but his sensei simply shook his head placed a hushing finger to his lips. The pair then quietly focused in on what Naruto was saying.
"...I'm so glad I told you first!" laughed Naruto at the gravestone in front of him. "The Hyuga Council actually agreed, can you believe that?"
This statement made both Gai and Lee raise their bushy-brows up at one another. Naruto had asked the council for something? What on earth was that about?
"But I kinda get the feeling some of that might have been influenced by you, so thanks for the help!"
This made the snooping duo smile sadly.
Naruto then playfully smacked his leg, letting out a very undignified snort. "The expression on their faces was priceless!"
Gai and Lee glanced at each other a little ashamed at their actions. Maybe they should just leave...
"So it's official," he continued, giving the tombstone a megawatt smile and a big thumbs-up. "I have their permission to ask Hinata to marry me! Dattebayo!"
"ACK!" simultaneously croaked Gai and Lee as their jaws hit the floor. They quickly ducked back down into their hiding place.
The two then turned and simply stared at one another in shock.
"Gai-sensei! Can you believe it?" Lee's eyes began to tear up with joy. "Neji is most certainly smiling down on us at this moment!"
"Hai, Lee. I truly believe he is," agreed Gai as waterfalls of tears began to stream down his cheeks. He placed a supportive hand on Lee's shoulder.
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
The duo cried out in happiness and began hugging each other with very youthful enthusiasm! After a few moments, they let one another go and started drying their eyes.
"This is most wonderful news, isn't it Gai-sensei?" asked Lee with a bit of a sniffle.
"Indeed it is." Gai nodded in agreement, his grin a mile wide. "I am certain Naruto is putting all his youthful energy into making it quite the event for our dear Hinata."
"Huh..." said Lee, bringing his hand up to his chin in thought. "I wonder sensei, how Naruto plans to propose to her?"
A crow suddenly flew over their heads going "Caw! CAW!"
"Ahhh... Lee." Gai sighed, stretching a supportive arm around his student's shoulders. "See, things of this nature must be done with subtly..."
*We then flash to the scenario playing out in Gai's head.*
The animation has become very soft and romantic. Gai is dressed as Naruto, complete with a blond wig, making his very bushy-brows even more prominent.
Someone dressed as Hinata is shyly hiding their face as the pair walk across a moonlit bridge.
The person playing Hinata shivers, saying, "Oh my. I knew I should have worn my jacket tonight!" in a super high pitched, overly dramatic voice.
"Here my dear, allow me," offers Gai-Naruto as he removes his jacket and gracefully drapes it over Hinata's shoulders.
"Tee-Hee Hee!" laughs Hinata as the wig slips a bit, revealing a rather similar set of bushy-brows. "How kind!"
The pair then slowly continue walking under the night sky... when suddenly! *Snap!* Hinata's high heel gets caught in a crack in the pavement and breaks! The horror!
"Oh no! My ankle!" gasps Lee... I uh, mean Hinata as she looks up at Gai-Naruto with round, tear-filled eyes.
"Ah! Fear not, my lady!" exclaims Gai-Naruto as he flashes her a "good-guy" pose and teeth sparkle. "For I shall carry you the rest of the way!"
Gai-Naruto uses his most honorable and chivalrous strength, to pick Lee-Hinata up in his arms bridal-style. He then proceeds to continue walking across the bridge.
"Oh, Naruto-kun!" Lee-Hinata gasps as she shyly hides her face in Gai-Naruto's shoulder. "You don't have to go through all this trouble! I can still walk!"
"Think nothing of it-" says Gai-Naruto as he raises one hand to stop her apologies and in turn, ends up dropping Lee-Hinata on her ass.
The pair end up tumbling to the ground together, exaggeratedly laughing at their silliness. They then sit up and stare at the full moon glowing above them.
Eventually, Lee-Hinata shyly squeaks out, "Thank you for your most youthful help, Naruto-kun! I don't know what I'd do without you."
Gai-Naruto takes the opportunity to grab her hands in his. "Then allow me always be here for you, Hinata-chan! Let us explore the depths of our youthful love together as husband and wife. So that its spring blossoms might fill all those around us with joy!"
"Naruto-kun!"Lee-Hinata exclaims as she dramatically pretends to faint in Gai-Naruto's arms.
"Oh jeeze! Not again..." exclaims Gai-Naruto as he sweatdrops. The scene ends with him gently shaking her to wake-up so that he can get an answer.
*We cut back to Lee looking at Gai with a doubtful frown.*
"I don't know Gai-sensei," said Lee uncertainly. "That sounded a little too subtle. Especially for Naruto-kun."
"Hmm... fair point," admitted Gai with a look of deep thought. "Then what do you think will happen?"
Lee's eyes light up with bright youthful determination. "Naruto and Hinata are both ninjas after all! So I believe it will take place during one of their most daring and important missions!
*The scene then shifts again, only this time to an explosive battlefield. *
The animation style has also changed, the character outlines are now dark and harsh. And all the colors are dull and kinda gritty.
This time Lee is dressed as Naruto and Gai is Hinata. The duo are on a dangerous mission through enemy territory. You see them fighting back to back against hordes of ninjas with question-marks on their forehead protectors. The two are of one mind as they dodge and counter attacks. They are holding their own, but are quickly becoming overwhelmed.
"Looks like we have no choice, Kurama! I need a distraction!" yells Lee-Naruto as he pulls out a small stuffed fox from his jacket and throws it at their question-marked enemies.
"AHH!" the ninjas scream in horror, desperately fleeing from the adorable children's toy.
Lee-Naruto snatches up Gai-Hinata's hand and the pair hastily escape into the depths of the forest.
"Your sacrifice shall not be forgotten my dear friend!" cries Lee-Naruto as you hear squeaky-toy noises from afar and bits of cotton fluff fly in the air.
As they run, Gai-Hinata suddenly lets out a painful gasp and falls to her knees. Lee-Naruto's eyes go wide when he notices the ketchup smear that is applied to her side.
"You must complete the mission without me, Naruto-kun. It is your duty as a ninja," says Gai-Hinata dramatically as she holds out one of Tenten's cooking supply scrolls as if it's an important missive.
Lee-Naruto takes the scroll carefully into his hands, weighing it like a great burden. He then safely stashes it away."I shall Hinata-chan, but not until I know you are safe."
Lee-Naruto picks up Gai-Hinata on his back and runs off into the forest.
"We do not have time for this!" counters Gai-Hinata, pretending to try and break free of Lee-Naruto's grip. "You must fulfill your honorable duty as a shinobi of the leaf!"
"No," he says steadfastly, turning to stare into Gai-Hinata's eyes. "Not before I fulfill my duty to you."
"I-"
"Use your Byakugan to find a secure hiding place," suggests Lee-Naruto with an air of determination. "Once you are settled, I shall leave."
"Very well," concedes Gai-Hinata as she slips on a pair of glasses with Byakugan eyes painted on them.
"There! A cave." Gai-Hinata proceeds to direct Lee-Naruto to its location.
Once completely hidden away, Lee-Naruto gently lays her down on a bed of leaves. Gai-Hinata places both hands to the ketchup stain making *Swish Swish* chakra healing noises.
Next, Lee-Naruto begins to unpack their supplies.
"No! I won't need that much," protests Gai-Hinata still holding her hands over the red mark. "I'm not wounded that badly. You will require the rest for the mission!"
"I will be fine..." refutes Lee-Naruto. "As long as you remain safe."
"What are you saying?"
"I must go now! But I shall return!" exclaims Lee-Naruto with an over the top flourish. "And when I do, would you do me the honor of becoming my bride?"
Gai-Hinata pretends to blush and shyly glance off to the side.
"Hai," she answers with a whisper, while clearly trying not to faint.
"Very well, I will keep my shinobi promise if you keep yours!" Lee-Naruto then flashes her the 'good guy' pose, while grinning like a maniac.
"But wait!" says Gai-Hinata as the Byakugan glasses once again appear over her eyes. "There are too many of the enemy out there now! Y-you cannot leave! Please... at least stay the night!"
Gai-Hinata lifts up the glasses-frames and gives Lee a wink. Her fake tits then suddenly start jiggling independently of one another.
"Well... I-"
*The scene abruptly cuts back to Gai looking disgusted with a giant sweatdrop over his head.*
"Huh? What's wrong?" asked Lee with a confused blink.
"I think you've been reading too many of Sai's new graphic 'Icha Icha' novels," confessed Gai-sensei.
…Not that he had ever read any of the vulgar things himself mind you. (Somewhere Kakashi was giggling his head off knowing that's not true.)
Lee gasped scandalized. "Gai-sensei! I would never-"
"You know what I think?" interrupted a gruff voice from overhead, making both Gai and Lee suddenly breakout in cold sweats.
"Uh oh, we are so busted," thought the pair as they slowly turned around to confront the very annoyed face of their friend Naruto.
"Oh, what's that?" croaked out Lee as he tried to hide the fact that he was shaking.
"That you two need a new hobby, Dattebayo!" the blond angrily finished with a glare and a sold smack to both their heads.
"Hai..." agreed Lee as shamelines appeared over both him and Gai. "We were coming to visit Neji-kun, when we noticed you were already here and-"
"Yeah, yeah, I already know all that," said Naruto waving it off. "I sensed you two wackos the second you arrived. Remember? Toad Sage powers?"
"Oh yeah..." grumbled the pair ashamedly. "Forgot about that."
"Well... no harm done I suppose." Naruto sighed and lightly shook his head. "But if I could make a suggestion?"
Gai and Lee glanced at each other questioningly, and then back up at Naruto.
"Of course," responded Gai, curious as to what the blond had in mind.
"How about instead of daydreaming about my proposal, the two of you help me plan it?"
"Are you serious, Naruto-kun?" asked Lee as tears started flowing down both their faces like waterfalls.
"You truly are the living embodiment of youth!" declared Gai as he then tried to grab Naruto's leg into a hug.
"GAHH! Cut it out you two! It's not that big of a deal!" The blond quickly dodged and ran away from the pair.
Lee then start chasing Naruto around to give him a great hug of thanks because Gai couldn't.
"But Naruto-kun! Allow me to share our eternal gratitude with you!" cried the youthful green beast as he continued his diligent pursuit of his target.
"ARGH! Lee! Get the hell away from me! I don't want it!"
Naruto had a feeling he might regret this... but it was better than leaving them to their own wild ideas, right?
And so, one more piece of Naruto's grand plan fell into place. But will it all come off like he hopes?
Or will it be a disaster of Kaguya proportions? Only time would tell...
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: Wow! That went to a lot of weird places! But I think it all really fit in well with Gai's and Lee's usual gags from the show. See, humor's back baby! XD Pretty much, some chapters will be more humor focused while others might turn out serious. It all depends on where the story takes me.
Oh and for people who were wondering. Yes, the crow is the Aho bird from the anime and the manga. I wanted to add him in because I love it, but I also wanted it to be a bit more subtle so I just call it a crow.
And next time! Naruto reveals his plans to Iruka, Kakashi, Tsunade, and the rest of Naruto's noodle family. How will all that go? All this and more next time!
Please remember to read and review!