The Prodigy

[FoxxyJones]

Summary: The untold stories of a former loser's trials learning to teach the greatest genius born from the mighty Hyuuga clan.

Chapter One: Kakashi's Warning

“Yo, Gai! You made it!”

I waved, pushing the hanging aside to enter the bar from which my friends had greeted me. “Hey, Kakashi! Asuma! How’s life?”

“Same as always,” Kakashi slapped me on the back as I sat in the seat next to him. “Heard you just got off a mission.”

“Psh! Mission! It was barely a workout.” And it had been. Delivering messages was a poor excuse for a mission and was genin work, but times were peaceful and honest-to-goodness, rightful shinobi work was not necessary.

Asuma laughed, vibrant and youthful. “You take life too seriously, Gai! These easy times aren’t going to last!”

“Here’s hoping.” Now that was a terrible thing to say and I immediately vowed an extra fifty laps to my before-bed training to make up for wishing such a tragedy.

Kakashi waved down the bartender and turned to me. “What’re you drinking, Gai? Domestic?”

“Nah, I’ll pass.”

Kakashi stared, as if he had not heard me. “Import? That’s not like you-”

“No, Kakashi. I’m passing on the alcohol altogether.”

Asuma leaned over to stare at me, too. “Why?”

I could not help it. I was dying to announce it! A huge smile burst across my face and I replied, “I’m getting kids!”

“With what woman!”

I shot Kakashi a nasty look. “You know what I mean, Kakashi. The Academy is about to graduate a powerful class and I want in on all that raw youth!”

Asuma chuckled. “Already, Gai? You’ve still got a little youth in you yourself.”

“Of course! So I need to change my habits, starting with drinking and swearing.”

“You don’t even have them yet,” Kakashi murmured absently, rolling his eyes. “And why swearing? You’re a grown man, Gai. It’s your god given right to swear. Why not women?”

I scoffed lightly. “Kakashi, I already respect women! But, what if I swear in front of my new students? They’ll start swearing and next thing you know, they’ll be robbing banks and murdering old ladies.”

“That’s a little dramatic, Gai-”

“Unacceptable! And so, I have devised new words to replace the unsavory ones. For example, instead of ‘ass’ I will now say ‘fanny’ and instead of the‘f’ word, I will say ‘fart’.”

Kakashi snorted. “So, when I want to say ‘shut the **** up’ in front of your kids, I’m going to say ‘shut the fart up’?”

“Precisely. That way, they won’t learn dirty words from me or by extension, you.”

Kakashi and Asuma exchanged glances and then burst out into uproarious laughter. Kakashi slapped him on the shoulder, shouting, “Asuma, you are such a fanny!”

“Don’t fartin’ talk to me like that, Kakashi!”

“Suck my biscuits!”

“Fart off!”

I rolled my eyes. They obviously did not understand the noble sacrifice I was making for the future of our village. “You guys are *******s.”

Kakashi threw an arm around my shoulders. “Don’t you mean fanny-holes? Ha ha! Oi, Bartender! Another fartin’ round!”

Asuma wiped his eyes, catching his breath. “Naw, Gai. We get it. You just want to be a good role model for ‘em.”

“And it’s great, but…” Kakashi snorted and laughed again. “They’re twelve!”

“I know! Isn’t that such a youthful age, rival? Remember? We didn’t know anything when we graduated from the Academy…”

“Uh… we didn’t graduate at-”

“It still applies.” I sighed lightly, then turned on my eternal rival. “And weren’t you supposed to sign up for a new team this year? You said you would!”

Kakashi rolled his eyes absently. “Yeah… well, my application was late and-”

“Like hell it was, rival. Seriously. Why’d you skip out on me?”

“Y’wanna know the truth, Gai?” Kakashi looked around, exchanged another glance with Asuma, then leaned in and whispered, “They’re graduating Neji Hyuuga this year.”

I thought back, thinking of the child that was being praised as the greatest prodigy of the mighty Hyuuga clan. I shrugged. “So?

“So? Gai, I’d be a little more concerned if I were you.”

I shrugged again. “Why?”

Kakashi looked over to Asuma, who shrugged regretfully, as if he pitied me. Kakashi turned back and his voice dropped to a foreboding whisper. “That kid’s not normal.”

“Obviously. I heard he’s a genius.”

“He’s evil, that’s what he is. Haven’t you heard, Gai? At least five of his teachers quit.”

Asuma chimed in, “I heard he made one of them wet himself.”

I frowned suspiciously, but I could feel my heart beginning to race. “I’ve never heard of such instances.”

“I’ve heard from Iruka that his Byakugan is so powerful, it can see into your very soul and read your greatest fears and weaknesses. And he’s brutal about it. Apparently, one of the teachers ended up killing herself.”

“Suicide rate in students went up when he entered, too,” Asuma added. “Apparently it isn’t so fun being his classmate, either.”

“No kidding. They’re all afraid to spar with him and with the suicide rate being what it is, one wonders if they’re actually killing themselves.”

My heart leapt. “What? No way!”

“Yeah. Apparently, he’s already mastered the Gentle Fist.”

“Impossible-!”

“I’m telling you, Gai,” Kakashi warned softly, eyeing me with his good eye. “You’d best do everything in your power to make sure you don’t end up with this kid.”

“How…” My voice broke. I cleared my throat. “How do you know all this? Academy teachers- bless their hearts- are notorious gossips!”

“So are the Hyuugas, but you wouldn’t doubt their knowledge,” Kakashi retorted firmly. “Besides… they’re scared of Neji, too.”

I swallowed nervously. “The Hyuugas? How… how do you know?”

“I’ve seen the way they look at that kid when he walks by. I was delivering a message to Hiashi one day and I saw them step out of his way. You know for a fact, Gai, that Hyuugas don’t move aside for anyone.”

I could feel a tremor going down my legs. I glanced over to Asuma, who nodded in somber agreement. My hands began shaking. “Kakashi, I don’t believe this. The Hokage would never-”

“Gai, that kid is going to be a great ninja one day. It’s in the Hokage’s best interest to keep him around. Well, at least… until he wants to take over. But, by then…” Kakashi paused and gave a little shudder. “Who knows?”

The shaking got worse until I could feel it in my jaw. I clenched my teeth to keep them from chattering. Surely…! Surely…!

Kakashi shrugged and suddenly cheered up. “Well, no worries, Gai! I’m sure you’ll be okay. Right, Asuma?”

“Naturally,” Asuma threw back the last of his sake and gave a satisfied sigh. “I’m sure you can handle whatever the Hokage throws at you, right, Gai?”

I was still clenching my teeth, so all I could do was nod. I slid out of my seat carefully, waved goodbye and made a beeline to the training grounds where I fully intended to train the thoughts of this horrifying child out of my head. I heard Kakashi and Asuma’s laughter echo in my head for most of the way.




A/N: I'm going to go ahead and post chapter two, as well, as this chapter really is meant to be read immediately before hand.

 

[FoxxyJones]

The Prodigy: Chapter Two

Chapter Two:Form! Team Gai!

I woke up two or so months later to a wonderful four AM alarm, unable to hold in my excitement any longer.

Today was the big day.

I had much to do before the Hokage arrived at his office that morning. I had to get dressed, eat, shower and get all my morning training in so that I would not miss a second of the glorious day. Oh, there was much to do and such little time to do it in! Once I had the names of my youthful little charges, I would have a mere three days to prepare myself mentally and physically for their special arrival. What little time! What precious little time!

I got all my morning activities done in record time, a feat I am proud of to this day. Three hundred laps, two hundred sit-ups, two hundred push-ups and a hundred reps with my weight set (an admittedly light work-out. I do not believe in straining oneself before breakfast). I was drenched in the youthful sweat of my achievement, but I could not think of anything else except my excitement! I just could not wait any longer! At 5:17, I decided to forego my shower until I returned with my new team, grabbed a box of cereal and ran all the way up to the Hokage’s office to wait for him.

I could not sit still, though. Energy was pulsing through my body. I ran the length of the building, up and down stairs, on my feet, on my hands, backwards and forwards. At 5:45, I was merely pacing in front of the Hokage’s office, eating my cereal. It was in this time that I wondered what my new team would be like.

I certainly hoped that youthful Lee kid was one of them! I had met the little rascal about a year back and had been inspired to teach by his struggle for success. I had heard rumors that the kid had ended up dropping out of the Academy, but I had put in a special request and believed it to be quite convincing. I wanted to get to know this kid, be there for him, be there when he needed me and be there when he succeeded. Surely the Hokage would not have denied such a heartfelt request!

As for the others, I just hoped they would like me. While I had never heard of a teacher being completely incompatible with their students, there was certainly a first for everything and I did not want to be that teacher. The Hokage was famous for his ability to match students with their best suited teacher, but… I was a little harder than most to find ‘compatible’. That was just how it was.

I heard the Hokage’s footsteps and it brought me out of my thoughts. Absolute joy rushed my system and I charged the Hokage, almost shoving him right down the stairs. “Hokage-sama! They’re ready, right?! The results? They’re ready! Ca-!”

The Hokage just laughed lightly and waved me away, scooting his way around. “Yes, yes, Gai, they’re ready. I knew you’d be here, so I have yours waiting on my desk. Have you been here all night?”

“No. That’d be ridiculous,” I replied, watching anxiously as the Hokage fished the key to the door out of his robe. God, it took an eternity! It was as if time itself was against me as that key just dragged from his sleeve, slid so slowly into the lock and just struggled to push the tumblers aside. I heard it click and almost kicked the door down, slamming it open and darting inside. I was giddy with excitement. I could not help it.

“Hokage-sama, tell me they’re amazing! No, don’t tell me! I want to read it! No, tell me! Tell me! No! I’ll meet them! God, I want to meet them, Hokage-sama-!”

“You will, you will, Gai,” The Hokage laughed, easing himself down into his desk. “I’ve never met a man so eager to teach.”

“Yeah, yeah. Now, where are they? Where are they!”

“Right here,” The Hokage lifted a small scroll from his desk and handed it to me. “I think you’ll be most plea-”

I grabbed the scroll and threw it open so quickly, half of it skidded across the floor. I read as quickly as I could.

Tenten, female, age 12. Skills were weapons accuracy, weapon knowledge and taijutsu. Apparently strong-willed and clever. A wonderful flower to add to my team!

My heart skipped a beat.

Rock Lee! The Hokage had granted my request! How amazingly wonderful! My excitement overwhelmed me. There was no way my team could get any better! My youthfully diligent Lee, my clever and accurate little Tenten- who could possibly be awesome enough to complete the three-man team that was Team G-

Then my heart stopped all together.

My jaw dropped

The final member of my team… was Neji Hyuuga.

“Gai? Is something wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I tried to say something, but nothing would come out. I was trembling. The scroll was shaking so badly in my hands that I could no longer read it. His name was dancing, almost coming off the page. I stuttered, shaking my head. “H-H-Hokage-sama! This-! This can’t be right!”

The Hokage’s eyebrows rose. “What do you mean? I thought you would be pleased. They’re all exceptional in taijutsu and seem keen on honing those skills-”

“No, no! I am so pleased in that aspect, but…! I…! Why?! Why him?!”

The Hokage looked very surprised. “Him? Certainly you don’t mean Rock Lee?”

“Of course not! Why… why Neji?”

The Hokage stared at me for a moment, then his face grew soft with understanding. “Gai, I understand it is daunting to take on such a highly acclaimed child, but you’ll be fine. There is no doubt in my mind that there is no one better to teach him.”

I glanced at the paper and back up. “Are you sure…?”

“Absolutely, Gai.”

I could not handle this! There was no way! “S-surely-?”

“My decision is final, Gai,” The Hokage interrupted casually.

“Hokage-sama… I don’t know…”

“Gai,” The Hokage leaned forward in his desk and set his folded hands on the table. “If I did not believe you fit for teaching, I would not have appointed you as a teacher. If I believed for a second that these children would not succeed under your care, I would never place them there. Trust me to know what I am doing, Gai.”

Being chastised by the Hokage was not easy and I wanted more than anything to believe him, but I could not. I could not even speak. I just nodded, bowed and left the office. I walked back home in a daze. In three days… I would be put face-to-face with a child that- before his twelfth birthday- had terrorized his chuunin-level teachers, killed his classmates and struck fear into the hearts of the great Hyuuga clan. God knew what he would do to me, say to me. I did not even know my worst fear, my weaknesses. I was not sure I could face them, especially from the mouth of this… this… child!

Regardless, I tried to suck it up and prepare the best I could. I arranged a permanent training grounds, where I could train my students every day. I set up the straw dummies and training posts I had been making months before. I made several purchases, including several hundred weapons and a set of heavy ankle weights and several youth-sized versions of my own special custom-ordered suit.

When those three days were up, I walked to the Academy with the feelings of a man walking to his execution. I could not believe I was so frightened of a child I had yet to meet, but Kakashi had done his best on me. My legs were shaking as I climbed the stairs, my hand trembled as it touched the door handle. I closed my eyes, bracing myself and just took a deep breath. I could do this! I twisted the handle and pushed the door open, stepping out onto the balcony.

This was the first look I had of my youthful new team.

“Gai-sensei!”

Ah, that was my precious Rock Lee! His face had lit up with radiant energy the moment I stepped through the door. I could not help a smile. Such excitement and youthful wonder in the eyes of a child made my heart swell and I felt the tremors in my limbs cease. How he had grown in the past year!

My eyes moved on to the beautiful flower of my team, my little Tenten, just as her eyes shifted from Lee to me. She did not look thrilled, but her brown eyes flickered over me as if she were assessing a target.

My heart quailed as I shifted my gaze over. I could feel his eyes before I met them. Those white eyes seized my gaze and locked. His eyes did not flicker as Tenten’s had, were not bright and excited like Lee’s. Even the haughty arrogance in his features did not extend into them. They were fathomless, full of a deep knowledge and frighteningly void of emotion. They narrowed as if they had found something, closed bitterly and I was freed.

I tried to shake the feeling of dread, turning back to my team with a mask of confidence. “Alright! How are you all?”

I received an enthusiastic “Fantastic!” from Lee, a murmured “Alright.” from Tenten and no response from Neji. I chuckled lightly. “Excellent. Now, you know by now that my name is Maito Gai and I am going to be your sensei for the next few years.”

Lee looked very excited, but the statement drew no strong feelings in the others. I felt awkward in the face of these children, so I decided to turn the conversation over to them. “Alright. I want to know about you guys. Name, fighting style, what you expect to learn and at least one thing you want me to know about you.”

Lee’s hand went up so fast he almost fell off his seat. “Sensei!”

I chuckled lightly. His enthusiasm made my heart race. “Yes?”

“My name is Rock Lee! My fighting style is strictly taijutsu! I expect to learn great things from you, sensei, like how to become a great ninja in the face of opposition! I want you to know that I am going to succeed in my goals no matter what, regardless of what I have to pay to achieve them!”

The determination in the face of this kid did not surprise me, although the pride I felt for him was overwhelming. My face was nothing but a smile when I replied, “Excellent, Lee! A wonderful and youthful example of the kind of enthusiasm I expect from you guys! Now…?”

Tenten raised her hand carefully, but fully extended. “Tenten. I fight uniquely, using my weapons as the basis of my taijutsu. I hope you’ll help me expand my mastery of weaponry, as well as teach me practical use of them in battle and advance my skills. I guess I’m obligated to learn ninjutsu, but I really could care less. But, I expect you to forget that I’m a girl and teach me as you will teach my teammates.”

Surprisingly enough, I felt relieved. “Tenten, it’s delightful to see that the Academy can graduate such strong girls!”

Tenten scoffed sarcastically. “I’m one of a kind, sensei.”

I laughed. Her sense of humor would be welcome. Confident in how things were going, I turned to my stoic student and tentatively asked, “Neji?”

Neji looked at me with an expression of arrogant loathing. “Neji Hyuuga, Gentle Fist. I expect to learn nothing from you and there is nothing I want you to know.”

I could tell, from the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice, that he spoke the truth. He had no respect for me and did not intend to finding any.

“What about you, sensei?” I turned curiously to Tenten’s voice. She tilted her head. “What’s your style? What do we need to know?”

My little flower was so inquisitive! I placed my hands on my hips and grinned. “Luckily for you all, I excel in taijutsu. There are no substitutions. Real ninjitsu is based in the body and the heart, not in chakra and trickery! I expect to learn your goals and desires over the course of your time with me and make them realities. Know that I expect great things from you and that my goal is to bring those great things out.”

I saw the spark of hope flash in Tenten’s eyes. I knew that was what she had wanted to hear. My smile grew bigger. “But, that’s my goal. I want to hear yours. What are your beliefs? What are your reasons for being a shinobi?”

Tenten’s hand was the first up this time. “Sensei, I want to be a great and powerful ninja so I can walk in the footsteps of the legendary kunoichi, Tsunade-sama, because I want to be an amazing female ninja, too!”

The way she beamed with pride made me teary-eyed. I looked over to see Lee’s eyes shining in admiration. I turned to Neji and he looked disgusted. I frowned. “Neji?”

He narrowed his eyes and turned away. “I’d rather not say.”

My frowned deepened, but such a blatant disregard for personal goals inspired a youthful outburst from my precious Lee, whose hand shot up with an excited cry. “Gai-sensei! I want to show I can be a splendid ninja as well! Even if I do not have ninjutsu or genjutsu! That means everything to me!”

I smiled, feeling the tears start coming on. Then, I heard it. A short, humorless laugh that sent cold shivers down my spine.

Lee surged from his seat. “Just what is so funny!”

Neji’s cold eyes slid over to Lee and his lips curled in a condescending smirk. “Your goals are laughable. A shinobi without ninjutsu is useless. You’re destined to be a failure until the day you die and judging by your actions, you’ll reach that point faster than you can imagine.”

His voice resonated with finality, as if these things were inevitable, as if he were cursing Lee to failure himself. Lee sputtered, choking on righteous fury. While my heart ached for Lee’s dreams, the bitterness between the two seemed… right.

I forced a laugh and slapped a hand on Lee’s shoulder. “A healthy rivalry is good for the body, Lee! You two are going to be each others greatest assets, you’ll see.”

Neji’s eyes narrowed viciously, as if both insulted and disgusted at the very idea.

Starting such a strong rivalry- of pitting loser against genius- made my heart long for my days of youth. Such energy and extraordinary goals made my heart race and the blood rush in my ears. Even Neji’s lack of respect and enthusiasm for me could not turn that familiar feeling away. I was eager to get my students out into the world, to start their training immediately. I was pumped!

“Alright! Let’s get out there and train!”

“Already?” Tenten inquired disbelievingly.

“What better time than the present, Tenten?” I charged her, making her squeal and duck. I vaulted over the railing and landed neatly on the ground three stories down. I looked up and found my student’s glancing over the railing. I gestured them down.

Tenten sputtered. “S-sensei! I am not jumping off a balcony!”

“Yosh!” Lee threw himself over the railing. He landed gracelessly, tumbling a little to break his fall. He stood up, a little shaken, but alright. He grinned.

I slapped him on the back and looked up at the other two. “Come on! No fear!”

“Sensei, you’re ridiculous!” Tenten yelled. “You’re going to get us ki-!”

Neji jumped the railing. He stuck his landing with the grace of a cat. He did not look at me or Lee for approval. He did not even look up for Tenten.

Tenten sighed roughly, shaking her head and muttering to herself as she stepped onto the railing. She closed her eyes and jumped. She landed on her feet, staggering clumsily forward. Lee caught her and pushed her back onto her feet before she fell. She awkwardly thanked him, crossing her arms. She was shaking.

I slapped her on the back. “Atta girl! That’s the spirit! Now come on! You’re going to love our training grounds!”

“Our?”

“Our! I’ve reserved it permanently, so it’ll be like a second home! Come on! I’ll show you!” I grabbed her hand and made a fast beeline towards the training grounds, dragging a complaining Tenten the whole way. Lee struggled to keep up, but reveled in the challenge. I was unsure of where Neji was, but I trusted he was following me as well.

We arrived at the gates to our training grounds and my team was breathless. While they caught their wind, I fished the three keys I had made out of my vest pocket. I presented each of my students with one, stating, “These are keys to this training area and you three are the only ones- besides me, of course- that have them. Don’t lose them! They’ll allow you a place to train whenever you please, even when I’m away on missions!”

My team had various levels of respect for the keys. Lee looked as if he had received the key to heaven, while Tenten had taken a glance around me and believed it to be the key to target practice. Neji had put the key in his pocket without a second glance.

Taking the initiative, I unlocked the gate and pushed it open. Tenten rushed around me, looking around curiously and excitedly at all the targets I had placed around the expansive training field. She fingered her kunai holster eagerly, practically licking her lips. Lee took a reverent approach, looking around in awe. Surely, he had never seen such a place, as I had easily outdone the Academy’s taijutsu training facilities by far. He was not far behind Tenten in her enthusiasm. A quick glance at Neji showed that he was not impressed. At all.

But, my other students were ready to go and I had to cater to that youthful vigor. I jogged out into the training field and took up a quick stance. “Alright, team! Before we do anything, I wanna see what you’ve got! I want you to come at me like the enemy! I want you to give me your all!”

Tenten and Lee exchanged nervous glances. Neji cocked an eyebrow.

I teasingly beckoned them. “Come on, guys! I want to see your skills!”

The three stood there for a moment before Tenten carefully drew back to a comfortable distance and unhooked her kunai pouch. Her face grew hard and her eyes dared me to come at her. I grinned.

“Hah!” Emboldened, Lee rushed me in an obvious charge. I turned his fist away easily and knocked him off his feet. Tenten took the opening to throw three kunai with deadly precision. I drew my own and batted them away. I sent it hurtling towards her. It caught her pink shirt, tearing it at the shoulder and scaring her just enough to get her to move. I drew another and glanced over.

Neji had not moved. He was just watching.

Lee surged at me again and I parried several decent strikes to my face and body. I opened my fist and hit him in the chest, tossing him away. I heard five shuriken and I blocked each of them, looking expectantly from their direction. However, I felt Tenten’s presence behind me and turned just in time to catch her wrist as she aimed a kunai at my back. I flipped her, throwing her bodily over to where Lee was struggling to get up.

Then, there was a cold rush like a ghost had passed by me. I turned sharply, just in time to see the white eyes of a demon rushing towards me and a mere blur of a hand. It was like being electrocuted. I felt the chakra surge my entire system and a warm sensation in my throat. I hit the ground hard and my head slammed into the grass. I thought I heard my name, but white noise was filling my ears. Through blurry eyes, I could see Neji’s face.

He almost looked disappointed.

A/N: So...?

 

[FoxxyJones]

The Prodigy: Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Concerns

I woke up later to find myself in an bitterly familiar place. The white walls and creamy curtains, as well as the scent of sterilizer made me very aware that I was in the hospital. How I had gotten there, who had taken me there and what had become of my poor little students was all beyond me.

I sat up, stiff and sore. I popped my back and rubbed the back of my head. I did not feel as if I had been injured severely. In fact, I felt as if a little stretch and some water would do me more good than anything. But, I had to wonder: what the hell had happened? Had Neji really been so advanced that I did not see him coming? Had I seriously expected him not to attack me? Or had I just underestimated his skill and his willingness to kill me? I had asked him to come at me like I was the enemy. Who was I to say that- just because Tenten and Lee had hesitated- that Neji would have as well? This was my fault. After all, Neji had not killed me, though it certainly felt like he tried. No. No, I doubted strongly that Neji had been aiming to destroy me. Test me, maybe; Punish me, maybe; Prove me wrong and kick my ass, maybe… but not kill me.

I thought back to what had happened and distinctly remembered- even in the fuzziness before a blackout- Neji’s face after he had defeated me. I could not place the exact emotion I saw in that look. Sadness… hopelessness… loss…? I was not sure, but it bothered me greatly. It was the first sign of humanity I had seen in this child and I was positive that there was more, somewhere.

Suddenly there was a knock on my door. I glanced over and immediately saw the cheerful masked face of my rival. “Good morning, Gai! Feeling better?”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Yeah, I’m alright.”

“Good. You must be starving. Here!” Kakashi dropped a basket in my lap. “Have a muffin!”

I glanced between the overflowing muffin basket and my rival several times before I asked, “Why?”

“Oh, no reason,” Kakashi sighed, sitting down in a chair. “I just thought it would make you feel better after having your ass handed to you by a twelve-year-old newbie.”

I scowled, realizing that they were sarcasm muffins. “Ha ha, Kakashi. Very funny.”

Kakashi laughed, a soft little bark in the back of his throat. “Y’know, Gai, I was kidding when I told you all those stories about that kid, but goddamn I didn’t expect any of it to actually be true!”

“Shut up, Kakashi. It was an accident and you know it.”

Kakashi nodded in sympathy. “Oh of course, Gai. I mean sometimes I try and gently stop someone’s heart, too. Never really works out for me, but hey. Let the kid try!”

“Kakashi, quit it. He didn’t mean it.”

Kakashi raised a sarcastic eyebrow. “Obviously.”

“Look, Kakashi, I’m having a rough day, alright? If you’re here to make it worse, I’m going to punch you in the face.”

Kakashi was quiet for a moment. He tilted his head. “Is there something else, Gai? Y’know, obviously besides the fact you’ve been Gentle Fisted into the hospital?”

“Are you sincerely asking or are you looking for ammo?”

“Sincerely asking.”

I frowned deeply. “It’s this kid.”

“I told you.”

“Not that, Kakashi. Yes, the kid scares the living daylights out of me- thank you- but…” I had to pause and think a moment about how I was going to explain it. I ventured carefully. “It is kind of like… an urge.”

Kakashi leaned back, giving me an odd look. “What kind of ‘urge’?”

“Well, I didn’t feel it at first, Kakashi, but right before I passed out, I saw his face. I’m not sure, but I think he looked… disappointed.”

“That he missed?”

“No. More like he was disappointed in me. Like… like he expected more!”

Kakashi did not seem to be following me. “So… you think you failed him?”

“Yeah, but the feeling is different. It is almost like… like…” The word just would not come to me. I looked away, closing my eyes and picturing Neji’s face again. That look in his eyes, that expression. That sudden, brief flash of vulnerability. I opened my eyes and turned back to Kakashi. “It’s an urge to protect him.”

Kakashi visibly pulled back. “Protect him?”

“Yes! I want to take care of him!” I paused, then quickly asked, “Is that weird?!”

“Considering he just put you in the hospital? Yes.”

I huffed indignantly. “He’s a Hyuuga!”

“He’s twelve.”

The disgusting pity in Kakashi’s voice made my blood boil. I scowled. “You just don’t get it, Kakashi! You didn’t see it! There’s something wrong with him!”

“Obviously,” Kakashi stared at me for awhile, before his face softened into an expression of gentle concern. “Gai, you barely know this kid.”

“I know, I know. It… it’s just a feeling I can’t get over.”

Kakashi frowned. “Do you want my advice, Gai?”

I sighed. “God, I’d be grateful. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I want to connect to him, but this kid hates my very being!”

“Well, here’s the way I see it, Gai,” Kakashi leaned forward as if he were telling me a secret. “This kid obviously can see a façade from a mile away. He can tell you’re nervous or frightened of him. You look weak and now you look unskilled, too. Your goal is destroying that first impression. He will never respect you until you can show you’re worth being his teacher.”

I scoffed lightly, teasing, “I don’t think I have to worry about that, Kakashi.”

“Good, because then you’ll have to find someway to relate to him like you did with your other students. Look everywhere! It might have nothing to do with ninjitsu. And don’t force it! This kid can obviously sense a fake, no trouble. You’ve got to be honest.”

I sighed heavily. I had known all that. Acknowledging it was the problem. “I guess you’re right… I don’t even know where to start.”

“Gai.”

I looked up expectantly, but was surprised to find Kakashi’s face dead serious.

“Don’t get too involved with this kid. Relations with the Hyuugas are treacherous waters to be threading. They maybe part of Konoha, but their systems work far beyond ours. If you get wound up in this kid, you might find yourself getting dragged into political warfare and the Hyuugas are notorious for playing politics very well.”

I wanted to believe more than anything that Kakashi was trying to scare me again, but somehow I knew he was telling the truth and it bothered me more than all his horror stories. I nodded solemnly. “I’ll try, but I-”

BANG!

“GAI!”

I coughed hard, waving the smoke out of the air. “Wha-?! N-Ninkame?! What-… what happened to you?!”

My beloved summon looked terrible. He was covered in soot and paint and several sharp weapons were embedded in his shell. His scaly skin had bruises and the forehead protector around his neck was torn and lopsided and above all, he looked pissed.

“Your little brats are what happened to me!” he roared, stepping towards me. “What the hell is your problem, summoning me to watch those little demons?”

“Summon-? Wat-? I didn’t-!”

“Uh…” Kakashi rolled his eyes and reached back to scratch his neck. “Well… I may have gotten control of your affairs while you were unconscious and may have used the emergency summoning scroll you gave me to summon Ninkame to watch your kids.”

“Watch them? Why? I haven’t even been out for a day!”

“Well… I also may have okayed it with the medical staff to put you into a medically induced coma to speed up your healing process-”

“You what?!”

“Now, now, Gai. Everything was under control! Or… it should have been. I didn’t leave Ninkame all by himself. I left a couple of my ninken with him! Hold on,” Kakashi slit his finger on a shuriken, made a fast set of hand signs and placed his hand on the ground. Instantly there was a white puff of smoke and three dogs were sitting in the middle of my hospital room. They looked around expectantly, saw Ninkame and immediately looked extremely guilty. They tucked their tails between their legs and made to go behind Kakashi, only to quail under his gaze, too.

“Bisuke. Akino. Guruko.” Kakashi’s voice was stern. “What happened?”

Akino and Guruko shifted, pushing Bisuke up as an elected scapegoat. The tan colored dog seemed to swallow nervously. “Uh… we tried, really! They were too much for us!”

“Like hell they were!” Ninkame snapped viciously. “You three were bought out with cookies and belly rubs!”

“That Lee kid was good at it!” Guruko barked back, only to catch his master’s bitter gaze. “It’s not my fault! He scratched my ears and next thing I know I’m on my back and he got that spot and my leg went all crazy and-” Realizing his explanation got him nowhere, Guruko dropped his head. “Sorry. I don’t know what happened.”

Ninkame glared daggers at them. “I’ll tell you what happened! While you three were off chasing a ball that didn’t even exist, I was being tortured and maimed by those evil little demons!”

I could not believe three kids could have done all this to my brave summon. “Oh, come now, Ninkame. It couldn’t have been that bad! They’re children.”

“That bad?! Gai, those kids are evil! They attacked me with sharp objects, verbally abused me, climbed all over me and they flipped me over and spun me around!”

I frowned. “Well, did you lay down the law, Ninkame?”

“Gai, I’m a ****ing tortoise! What the hell am I supposed to do? Every time I tried to punish them, they walked out of my range! And stood there! Mocking me!”

As if to make things worse, Kakashi leaned over and pulled a sticky note off Ninkame’s shell. “‘I’m lazy’…”

Ninkame stared at him, then turned angrily around to glare at me. “Y’see that? Y’see that? Now everyone thinks I’m lazy!”

I rubbed my neck awkwardly. “Well… uh… was it any one in particular?”

“No! The little twits ganged up on me! They flipped me over! I was stuck there for twenty minutes!” Ninkame puffed himself up in his fury. “Gai, I don’t want to be summoned back here to watch your vicious children until you teach them some respect! In fact, don’t summon me to watch them again ever! I hate your kids!”

Akino suddenly looked around at everyone. “Wait, the ball didn’t exist?”

Kakashi shushed him.

Ninkame huffed angrily. “You better be back soon, Gai, because I am not watching your little demons anymore. I’ve got paint in places I can’t even reach!”

“Well, that’s not really saying much…”

Ninkame shot a vicious glare at Bisuke, who shrunk back.

“I’ll be back tomorrow, Ninkame, and I’ll address it,” I assured my precious, abused summon. “I’m so sorry.”

“You better be,” With that said, Ninkame transported himself out in a cloud of white smoke. I stared at where he had stood for a while, then turned to Kakashi.

He shrugged. “Least they’re working together, right? That’s good.”

I shrugged, too. “Yeah… that’s promising… Kakashi, how long was I out?”

Suddenly Kakashi looked as guilty as his ninken. “Uh… funny story…”