"Ha-ha-ha! That was a great joke, Lee! But alright, alright! Some kept it brief, some said nothing at all—I get it, no hard feelings! Really!" Guy laughed brightly, clapping his hands together in a way that instantly diffused the tension in the air. Rock's "joke" had thickened the atmosphere with a strain that was only natural, considering the weight of the subject…
"If Lee was being serious… well, there's nothing truly shocking about his way of thinking. A shinobi can't afford to be an altruist; those who are don't last long on missions, unfortunately. They die with a knife in their back when they hesitate to strike down an enemy... We, the shinobi of Konoha, must fight fiercely for our peace and the safety of those we hold dear!" Guy mused, his thoughts carrying a tinge of melancholy, though his face remained as open and cheerful as ever, betraying none of his inner reflections.
His gaze shifted to the trio before him—his first students, and perhaps not his last, but ones who couldn't be more different from each other.
First, there was Rock Lee, clad in a light-green kimono embroidered with soaring dragons—clearly new, tailored just for him. He could smirk, he could intimidate, or he could simply smile serenely. His expressive brows framed a face that was ever-changing, adapting to the moment. Guy was eager to see how he would fare in a real fight. A perfect candidate to inherit his taijutsu style—Guy was certain of it.
Next was Neji Hyuga, dressed in a loose, light-brown shirt and fitted trousers. Confident, undeniably skilled, yet emotionally closed off, hardened by the weight of his clan—the most powerful in Konoha. Even Guy couldn't imagine him smiling without a significant reason, but as a fair and caring sensei, he wanted to see it happen. He wanted Neji and Lee to become true comrades.
Lastly, there was Tenten, wearing a sleeveless pink jacket and baggy pants. She had stood out even at the Academy for her dedication to bukijutsu. Guy, though not a master of the art, knew he could still guide her in some ways. He believed she was the balance in their group, someone whose determination ensured she would never fall too far behind the two prodigies by her side. She had that fire—the very essence Guy lived for.
In Guy's mind, this was the perfect team for him, and he was thrilled. He mentally thanked the Hokage for his decision.
Besides…
Once, Guy had passed by a training ground and found a boy lying unconscious next to a battered log, his body covered in bruises from relentless strikes. A boy from an unremarkable family. That was the first time he had seen Rock Lee. Though, at the time, Lee had no idea Guy was even there.
Funnily enough, later that evening—perhaps by fate itself—Guy encountered him again. This time, just by chance, as a jounin passing through on his own errands. On a whim, moved by his perfectionist nature, he decided to show this seemingly inexperienced boy the proper way to strike the air—without wasted effort, without mistakes.
Funny, wasn't it?
"It was destiny!" Guy would later conclude.
"I'll be honest with you—you kids have potential, and I like you! But! Does that mean you're truly ready for ninja missions, where you must serve Konoha with all your might? Listen up—tomorrow at 9 AM, at Training Ground Five, I will test your combat skills against me. Start preparing now—good luck! And... goodbye!" With those parting words, Guy formed a seal and vanished into the leaves, carried away by the wind, leaving the three twelve-year-olds alone.
"Heading home?" Lee asked, stepping out from the rooftop gazebo and glancing at Neji and Tenten.
"Well… yeah, I guess. What about you?" Tenten answered hesitantly. She wouldn't have minded spending more time with Lee, but she didn't want to impose.
"I want to check on Naruto. Come with me? He'll be upset if you don't show up," Lee said with a warm smile.
"Oh! Sure!" Tenten beamed instantly, abandoning her original plan of going home in favor of spending a little more time with her teammate.
"And you, Hyuga?" Lee turned to Neji, who had already turned his back on them, his aura of detachment still lingering. But Lee's question made him pause.
"Seriously? Are we friends now? Who said that? I may be on your team as an ally, but… You want to become a master of taijutsu, Lee? Forget it. You'll never succeed. And you, Tenten. Your dream is absurd! Tsunade? Pfft. You don't have the prestigious bloodline she does! She's a Senju, after all! What are you even talking about? As a Hyuga, I know the truth—genetics determine everything, and you two don't have what it takes. I have no interest in associating with failures like you!" Neji's voice was cold, like a northern wind, his fists clenched, his brows furrowed.
"Wow, someone's in a mood today…" Lee chuckled, before smoothly dropping into a battle stance. His tone shifted from teasing to firm. "Don't want to argue, Hyuga? Then let's fight. Why waste words when we can settle this in a duel? Let's see whose beliefs hold true—mine and Tenten's, or yours?"
The air instantly grew heavy, buzzing with unseen pressure, as if ready to crush their shoulders, break their bones, and drive them into the ground.
Neji, sensing Lee's growing intensity, masked his emotions behind a stoic expression. Strangely, he no longer felt as confident as before. Something was different about Lee—something that made Neji suspect he might actually lose…
But.
Neji was no coward. Not in the slightest. He stepped forward, settling into the stance of the Gentle Fist, his Byakugan sharpening its gaze. His attacks could shut down chakra points, paralyze an opponent's body. He took a step toward his unnervingly composed adversary, preparing to—
"Stop, hey! What do you two think you're doing?! This is ridiculous!"
Too late. The match was already set.
Of course, it was foolish to think that someone like Tenten—courageous by nature—would simply stand by while her teammates clashed like this.
Lee, realizing this quickly, didn't argue. Instead, he just smirked to himself and gently placed a hand on Tenten's shoulder, silently reassuring her frayed nerves as she stood between them, arms outstretched. After all, it wasn't every day that her former classmates—and now teammates—were so close to an all-out brawl. Still, there was something nice about it, in a way. Lee had, after all, stood up not just for himself, but for her too.
"Next time," Lee said, his voice light, almost casual, but his gaze locked fearlessly onto Neji's piercing Byakugan.
Neji said nothing. Instead, he turned and leapt off the roof, landing smoothly on the nearest tree before descending to the ground with practiced ease. A deliberate display, a reminder that he possessed skills Lee had yet to master—like walking on vertical surfaces with perfect chakra control.
And so, Rock Lee and Tenten remained alone on the rooftop…
P.s: If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 27+ at patreon.com/c/Lucius01
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