"How have you been?" I asked.

"I've been great! I'm still training to get better but I'm slowing down just a little for my son's sake." Lee's eyes lit up once he mentioned his son.

"Same age as Shina-chan right?"

"He's very talented! Just the other day, he came so close to beating me! I'm.so amazed! Though he still has some obstacles to go through. Though he can use jujitsu, he's not very proficient in it and I'm not the best teacher for obvious reasons. He also has Social anxiety, he starts to choke if he's in front of big crowds but I'm trying my best to help him any way I can!"

I giggled at his excitement. I can see the fire burning inside him, his determination to help his son.. amazing. "Just like how Gai Sensei helped you? How is he anyway?"

"Yes! Exactly! And he's fine. You know, after Kakashi-sensi retired from being Hokage, he and Gai began to travel around, going to laces they always wanted to go.. They deserve the rest they are getting. Especially with Gai Sensei playing a pivotal part in weakening Madara and almost dying.."

"Yes I remember. I'm surprised, after that last jujitsu, he was still alive, every muscle working properly." I reminded myself. "It's a good thing his cells matches with Hashirama's."

"Yes and I'm grateful it were." Lee agreed.

I looked over to the children playing and fixed my eye on to Metal. Such a.. unique name. It actually fits him. I wonder...

"And What of Metal's mother?"

"I was traveling with Gai-Sensei ,Kakashi-sensi, and Mirai. During our travels, I met someone. She was from the land of lightning so I stayed with her for a bit. We fell for each other and decided to marry privately with Kakashi-sensi and Gai-Sensei in attendance. Soon after, she was Pregnant with Metal-chan but...she didn't make it past birth. The midwives said that she lost too much blood.."

"I'm so sorry.."I put my hand on top of his comforting him as best as I could. I should have been there to help.

"Thank you." He continued. "After we, her family and I, burried her, I took him with me to Konoha five years later."

"Five?"

"The family and I agreed that he was too young to travel such a long way. So I made a deal to take him back to here after five years. It was tedious going back and forth but worth it. He grew so much so quickly.. I hated being away from him but it was the best I could do. Everyone else found out about him once I brought him home." Lee explained.

"I see."

Glad I asked.

"Your boy over there.. I've never seen or heard about him until now..?"

"Ah.." Lee smiled cheekily at her. "Well I didn't know when it was a good time to visit. You were in isolation for so long, I didn't think you'd want to see anyone.. Remeber when I, and the others, tried to get you out of the house?" He chuckled.

I smiled in embarrassment. Of course I remember going on a semi-rampage on everyone that were just trying to help. A d I regretted it afterwards. That, and others, were some of the ways I pushed everyone away.

"Yeah... I'm sorry about that. I was acting-"

"Out of grief." He finished my sentence. "I appreciate the apology Sakura-san but I understand why you did it. We were pushing you too hard when you clearly were not ready. You were still clearly grieving Nraruto and we sort of ignored that."

I signed in relief. I'm so glad, after all this time, there no hard feelings like I thought there would be. "Thank you Lee-san for understanding...but thats not an excuse. I treated you all horribly and said some things that I shouldn't have. Yes, I was grieving still and clearly not ready for social interaction but I shouldn't have acted so brash about it. You guys were just... trying to help. So I apologise for my behavior in the past and for the things I said."

"Sakura-san..." His expression looked as if he's a little taken aback but it quickly shifted to a warm smile. "I accept your apology. Thank you."

"Speaking of the others, like I said before, they told me you were getting out more. How was it, meeting them again after so long?"

I sighed remembering how it felt talking to Ino, Hinata, Kiba after years. "It was nerve-racking haha." I giggled a little. "I was so afraid that... That nobody would understand why I chose to isolate myself. I thought it'd be much harder to try and reconcile with everyone but instead, it went smoother than what I expected. Well, for the most part. Kiba was.. upset, confused maybe."

Lee jumped in. "I actually talked with him about it. He's definitely confused and you didn't give the best of reasons."

"I know I didn't but I could only take so much before my social anxiety gets to me. I wasn't expecting to speak to him and to ask me questions I wasn't ready to answer. I swear I would've had a panic attack if I didn't get out of there quickly..."

"But it is not resolved. He feels he didn't try enough and that's why he feels as if it was his fault you pushed him away personally." Lee explained.

"I know but... Truth be told, I still don't know the answers he wants we me to say. What I want to say.. I don't know but I promise." I looked Lee in his eyes with all seriousness. "I promise to resolve it between us soon."

"I'm glad."

We sat in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again.

"Sakura-san,"

"Hm?"

"Do you miss being the head of the hospital?" He honestly asked.

I tensed up at the mention of my old job. "Well.." Old memories came to mind and I shifted uncomfortably and it seemed like he noticed.

"Oh, Sakura-san, I'm sorry.i didn't mean to-"

"It's alright. I haven't thought about the hospital since.." I slumped over and sighed.

"I see."

"But I do miss it. I think about it from the to time. I mean, it was my passion before everything that's happened. I loved it.."

"But now?" He inquired.

"It's just...there. I want to get back out there one day but I want to start off slow. Something small. And I haven't talked to Lady Tsunade in who knows how long.."

"Hm... Well I think I may have an idea?" I quickly turned to look at him.

"Which is?"

"Well, Neji and TenTen are doing something for Lady Tsunade. Something about volunteering to heal the villages who have less resources than we do? You'll have to talk to them. They need a medical expert." Lee proposed.

"Really?"

An opportunity to get back out there? I should take it! But what if I choke? And it's been so long, years since I've used my knowledge. I'm so far behind.. but..

"I'll think about it. Thank you for telling me, Lee-san."

"Of course." He said with his signature smile.

*Note*

-in this verse, Gai's cells are compatible with Hashirama's so all of his body parts are working functionally.

-Gai's eighth gate jujitsu did damage his body but because of Hair using it, Madara took just as much, if not more, damage than Gai. He did not heal all the way and was a key player in helping to bring down Madara.

-Lee left the village with Kakashi, Gai, and Mirai Sarutobi during some time after the installation of Naruto becoming the Hokage. After his death, he came back for the funeral then left again to tend to his pregnant wife.

-Everyone assumes that Kakashi and Gai are married everywhere they go but they always deny their marriage to each other. However, they don't deny being a couple.