Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Rivals!
"Haha! You have a great sense of humor, Lee! Anyway, okay! Some of you were brief, and some didn't say anything at all, I understand, but that's okay! I'm not upset, really!" Guy beamed with a laugh and clapped his hands together, thereby diffusing the current atmosphere, which had become rather tense due to Rock's "joke," a logical reaction if you think about it...
"If Lee was serious, then... There's nothing terrible or unusual in his thoughts, really. Shinobi can't be altruists; they don't survive on missions for long, to my great regret. They always die from a knife in the back when they spare their enemies... We, the ninjas of Konoha, are simply obligated to fiercely fight for our peace and the peace of our loved ones, who are dear to us and whom we love with all our hearts!" Thoughtfully, Guy pondered to the point of sadness, but he wasn't even frowning to avoid revealing his true thoughts.
He then looked at his first, and perhaps not his last, trio of students in life, who were quite different from each other.
First on his list of personality studies was Rock Lee in his light-green kimono adorned with floating dragons, undoubtedly new and recently tailored. He could smirk, he could frighten, but he could also just smile serenely. The burly kid was crafting an image of someone who was completely changeable depending on the situation. That's why Guy was very interested in seeing him in a serious fight or sparring match. He considered Lee the perfect candidate to fully absorb his Taijutsu style.
Next was Neji Hyuga, wearing a loose light brown shirt and tight trousers. Self-assured and skilled, undoubtedly, but also extremely reserved and cold due to his oppressive clan, the largest in Konoha. Even Might Guy couldn't imagine him suddenly starting to smile and be happy without a weighty reason. However, as a fair and kind sensei, he would definitely like to see him become friends with Lee in the end.
Lastly, in Team 3, there was Tenten, dressed in a sleeveless pink jacket and baggy pants, who had stood out in the academy due to her determination to pursue the path of Bukijutsu, something the man didn't have much expertise in but could definitely teach her a few things. In principle, Guy believed that her determination served as an obvious balance in their group, and she would definitely not lag behind the two aforementioned guys who were exceptionally talented. She had that spark, the very reason Guy lived for.
In Might Guy's opinion, this was the perfect team for him, which made him ecstatic and mentally thanked the Hokage for helping him form it.
Moreover...
One day, Guy was passing by the training ground and saw a boy from the not-so-well-known Lee family lying unconscious on the ground near a battered and beaten post. That was the first time Guy encountered Rock. However, the latter was unaware of this.
What was even more amusing was that later that same day, purely by chance, the same Shinobi, Guy, reappeared before him, not as a passerby but as a Jonin, who, guided by his perfectionism, had decided to enlighten the seemingly inexperienced boy who had just set foot on the important path of Taijutsu—how to properly, without mistakes, strike the air.
Funny, right?
"This is destiny!" That's what Guy ultimately believed.
"I'll be honest with you; I like you, and you have great potential, kids! But! Does that mean you're truly ready for ninja missions where you have to work for the good of Konoha? Listen up, tomorrow at 9 AM, on Training Ground 5, I'll assess your combat capabilities by sparring with me. You'd better start planning everything in advance, so good luck, and... goodbye!" After his warning words, Guy formed a hand seal and disappeared into the green leaves and wind, leaving the three twelve-year-old adolescents entirely on their own.
"Back home?" Lee asked, stepping out of the rooftop gazebo and exchanging glances with Neji and Tenten.
"Well... I probably am. How about you?" Tenten replied vaguely, secretly wanting to spend more time with Rock but not wanting to intrude.
"I want to check on Naruto; come with me, or he'll be disappointed and upset if you don't," Lee suggested with a warm smile.
"Oh! I'm in!" Tenten brightly responded, promptly deciding to forgo going home in order to spend some time with her teammate.
"And you, Hyuga?" Rock addressed the still-turned-away Neji, around whom the aura of aloofness had not yet dissipated. However, Lee's question made him stop.
"Seriously? Are we friends now? Who said that? While I may be an ally in your team, I... Do you really want to become a Taijutsu master, Lee? Forget it. You won't achieve anything. And you, Tenten, your dream is utter nonsense! Tsunade, huh? You don't have the same high-class lineage as her! She's a Senju, after all! So, what's the point, really? As a member of the Hyuga clan, I'm well aware that genes determine everything, and neither of you has the slightest chance of succeeding. I have no desire whatsoever to associate with you, talentless individuals!" Neji responded coldly, almost like an icy northern storm, clenching his fists, gritting his teeth, and furrowing his thin eyebrows.
"Oh my, you're such a rude and touchy guy, huh?" Rock teased, getting into a combat stance after his sarcastic comment and continuing with a firm voice devoid of his previous playfulness. "You don't want to fight, Hyuga? Why argue when we can settle our differences by fighting each other and deciding whose stance is correct? Is it mine and Tenten's, or yours?"
In response to this invitation to engage in an air-to-air battle, the atmosphere immediately grew heavy, as if gaining tremendous weight, ready to crash down on their fragile shoulders, break them, shatter them into pieces, and grind them into the ground into a bloody pulp.
Neji, sensing the increasing power of his opponent, donned a mask of impassivity and emotionlessness. Surprisingly, he was no longer as carefree as before, feeling through intuition that something was off with Lee. Something that would most likely result in Neji's defeat.
But...
Neji was not a coward. Not at all. Adopting the stance of his clan's Gentle Fist style, which aimed to strike Tenketsu and thereby paralyze the opponent's body, the boy with the Byakugan, eyes devoid of pupils, took his first step toward his unnervingly calm adversary, as they...
"Stop, hey! What are you guys doing?! You can't do this, seriously!"
Oh no, they didn't, and it turned out to be too late.
It was foolish to assume that the naturally brave Tenten would not intervene in their nearly spontaneous and clearly inappropriate one-on-one fight.
Lee quickly understood this and did not protest, instead allowing himself a self-amused smile. He gently placed his hand on Tenten's shoulder to soothe her rattled nerves. The girl, now standing between them with her arms outstretched, had decided to step in. However, not every day did she encounter her former classmates, who were now her allies, engaging in such a fierce and impulsive conflict, almost erupting into a violent brawl. Although Tenten was pleased that Lee had essentially stood up not only for himself but also for her.
"Next time," Rock said in a somewhat matter-of-fact tone, still looking directly into Neji's piercing Byakugan.
However, Neji did not say anything further. He pushed off and leaped off the roof. In mid-air, he attached himself to the nearest tree with his feet and descended along it to the ground. He even showed off his ability to walk on a different surface, something Lee had yet to master due to his shaky chakra control.
So, in the end, Rock and Tenten remained alone on the rooftop...
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone