Naruto could tell Lee's happiness was genuine. There was no fakeness in that bruised, swollen face, no hesitation in those bright eyes. The boy radiated pure joy despite having just been thoroughly beaten.
Lee's performance exceeded Naruto's expectations.
I just hope you don't end up like Guy-sensei, Naruto thought, watching Lee settle onto the grass beside him. Hiding away after a few days, trying to avoid me...
"I'm really grateful to Guy-sensei," Lee said suddenly, his voice thick with emotion. "Without him, I never would have met you as a friend. That would have been one of life's greatest regrets."
The sincerity in Lee's tone made Naruto shake his head. "Lee, no. Even without Guy-sensei, one day I would have found you and become your friend anyway."
"Why?" Lee turned to him, confusion written across his features.
Naruto's expression grew serious, his blue eyes reflecting the afternoon light filtering through the trees. "Because my dream is to make friends. Many, many friends. I'm starting with Konoha, but my ultimate goal is to have friends all over the world." He met Lee's gaze directly. "So even without Guy-sensei's introduction, I would have sought you out eventually. It was only a matter of time."
Lee stared at him for a long moment, then his face broke into an enormous grin that made his swollen cheeks stretch painfully. "Naruto, your dream is incredible! Since I'm your friend now, I'll help you achieve it!" He grabbed Naruto's arm excitedly. "I have two teammates: Hyūga Neji and Tenten. I'll introduce them to you later. They can become your friends too!"
"Ah, Lee, you're so kind!" Naruto seized Lee's hand in both of his. "But actually, Hyūga Neji is already taken care of."
"Huh?" Lee's eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean? Did something happen between you two? Don't you like him?"
"No, no, nothing like that!" Naruto waved his free hand quickly, realizing Lee had misunderstood. "What I mean is, Neji and I already became friends. It happened before I went on my mission to the Land of Waves. I promised him that when I got back, I'd visit him regularly to nurture our relationship."
His expression turned troubled. "But every time I go to the Hyūga compound, they tell me he's not there. I have no idea where he keeps disappearing to."
The regret on Naruto's face was palpable.
"Oh!" Relief flooded Lee's features. "I know exactly where Neji is! We train together every day at a spot most people don't know about. That's why you haven't been able to find him."
He bounced to his feet despite his injuries, enthusiasm radiating from every pore. "I'll take you there tomorrow morning! You can catch up with Neji then. I'm sure he's missed you too, not seeing you for so long."
"That's perfect! Thank you, Lee!" Naruto's smile could have lit up the darkening forest.
They continued talking as the afternoon stretched into evening. The more they spoke, the more Naruto noticed the depth of Lee's trust and admiration for Guy. Every third sentence seemed to include some reference to "Guy-sensei" or "what Guy-sensei taught me."
"Lee, I can tell your relationship with Guy-sensei is really special." A note of envy crept into Naruto's voice. The bond between those two was something he recognized but didn't quite have with Kakashi. Lee and Guy shared the same direct, passionate way of expressing themselves. Their emotions were simple, honest, and completely genuine.
Kakashi, on the other hand, kept everything buttoned up inside. The man was a closed book, unwilling to express his feelings directly about anything.
Except for Icha Icha Paradise. That got a very direct response.
"Guy-sensei treats me like his own son," Lee said, his voice thick with emotion. "I love him very much. He's the one who made me redefine my entire life."
He turned to face Naruto fully, his dark eyes intense despite the swelling. "Naruto, when I was in the ninja academy, I was constantly ridiculed by my classmates. My talent for genjutsu and ninjutsu was terrible. Do you know what it feels like to be called the dead-last of your class?"
Lee leaned forward eagerly, clearly hoping for sympathy and understanding.
Naruto shook his head. "No, I don't know that feeling. I've always been excellent at everything. No one in my class is better than me."
He raised his hands as Lee's expression began to darken. "Don't look at me like that! It's not because everyone in my class is my friend and they're letting me win. I'm genuinely that good."
The resentment on Lee's face deepened. His eye twitched. For a moment, he wanted nothing more than to stop this conversation and just spar with Naruto again. At least getting punched in the face hurt less than this casual display of superiority.
This was the eternal gulf between the naturally gifted and those who had to claw for every scrap of progress.
Lee took a deep breath, forcing his emotions under control. "At that time, it was the darkest period of my life. And then, like a ray of light breaking through storm clouds, Guy-sensei appeared. He stood in front of me and said, 'I've been watching you. I've been paying attention all along.'"
His voice softened, growing distant with memory. "He told me it didn't matter that I couldn't do genjutsu or ninjutsu. Those weren't the only paths to strength. There were other ways to become powerful, to become a great ninja."
Lee's bruised face transformed with a smile, even though the expression clearly caused him pain. "Those words brought me all the light in the world. Since then, I've followed Guy-sensei's teachings, practiced taijutsu with everything I have. And it's allowed me to find my own path, my own way forward."
Naruto nodded slowly, processing this. "I see. So behind every strong person, there's always a story of struggle that others never see."
"Exactly! That's why I—"
"Anyway!" Naruto jumped to his feet suddenly, cutting off whatever Lee had been about to say. "Let's continue our discussion!"
"Yes!" Lee leaped up as well, his enthusiasm undimmed. "I really love sparring with you, Naruto! I can feel myself improving with every exchange. In time, I'll become even stronger than Guy-sensei!"
They fought for another half hour.
Naruto kept careful track of the time, knowing that thirty minutes was Lee's absolute limit. Push beyond that, and he'd risk losing his new friend entirely. Better to stop while Lee was still excited and eager for more.
After the sparring session ended, Lee rested on the grass for another half hour before finally rising to leave. As they prepared to part ways, he said, "Naruto, I have to leave now. Tomorrow I'm getting up at four in the morning to start my training."
Naruto's respect for Lee's dedication grew. No wonder the boy was so durable. "Understood, Lee. I'll meet you here at four o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Perfect!" Lee's grin was infectious despite the swelling. "I'll see you then!"
Lee returned to his usual training grounds, where Neji was practicing Jūken (Gentle Fist) against a training post. The moment Lee stepped into the clearing, Neji spun around.
His pale eyes took in Lee's battered appearance. His mouth twitched.
"So, Lee." Neji's voice was carefully neutral. "Do you regret it now?"
"Regret?" Lee looked genuinely confused. "Not at all! I have to thank Guy-sensei. He introduced me to such an excellent friend. Meeting Naruto is one of the best things that's happened to me!"
"Heh." Neji's laugh was short and bitter.
"By the way, Neji." Lee tilted his head, a question forming. "I heard you and Naruto have been friends for a while now. Why didn't you ever introduce him to me as a friend?"
Because I'm not the kind of person who leads his friends to slaughter, Neji thought. Out loud, he said calmly, "You're always busy training. You don't have time to make friends."
"Oh, that makes sense." Lee nodded, accepting the explanation completely. Then he remembered something. "Naruto said he's been missing you. He went to your house several times but couldn't find you."
Missing me? More like hunting me. Neji kept his expression blank. "Stop talking. Let's practice."
Lee opened his mouth, about to mention that he'd be bringing Naruto here tomorrow morning. Then he reconsidered. Actually, maybe it would be better as a surprise. Neji would be so happy to see Naruto unexpectedly!
Imagining Neji's delighted expression when Naruto appeared, Lee smiled and began his training routine.
The next morning, before dawn had even begun to paint the eastern sky, Rock Lee opened his eyes. The master of time management was awake at precisely 3:45 AM, exactly as planned.
He arrived at their meeting spot to find Naruto already waiting.
Lee checked his watch, surprised. Naruto wasn't late. In fact, he'd arrived even earlier than Lee himself.
"Naruto, let's go!" Lee bounded forward without preamble. "Follow me!"
He led Naruto through the dark streets of Konoha, out past the training grounds, to an open grassy field surrounded by forest on three sides. The location was secluded enough that few people knew about it.
"Neji usually arrives at dawn," Lee explained, gesturing to the empty clearing. "You can train here and wait. I'm going to start my routine now."
Without another word, Lee launched into his training regimen, immediately absorbed in his exercises.
Naruto began his own practice. Strength didn't come from nowhere. Even the naturally talented needed to work, though perhaps the ratio was different. The strong relied on ninety-nine percent talent and one percent hard work, while others had to flip that equation entirely.
Both boys trained separately, neither speaking, each lost in the pure focus that came from dedicated practice.
Time passed quickly, as it always did during cultivation. Before either of them realized it, the first hints of dawn began to lighten the eastern horizon.
In the distance, a figure slowly emerged from the morning mist.
Hyūga Neji walked toward his usual training spot, his mind already running through the Gentle Fist kata he planned to practice today. Maybe after warming up, he'd work on that new technique his uncle had—
He froze.
Two figures stood in the clearing. One was Lee, as expected. The other was...
Neji's pale Byakugan eyes widened in horror.
Lee, his thoughts screamed in betrayal. You didn't just lead me to the enemy. You led the entire Imperial Army straight to my doorstep!
Why Lee….Why???