Author's Note: Sorry it took FOREVER to update. FIVE MONTHS. I still can't believe it. Anyways, thanks for waiting. I nearly lost interest in this story, but somehow felt dedicated anyhow. Well, here's chapter three! FINALLYYY! Yep, yell it out.
Disclaimer: I totally own Sasuke...just kidding.
Thanks you Reviewers:
KarmaLord, Feva Hot, Sakura4eva, djagito, Sexy.Black.Neko, sasusaku4life, Heartless Ghost, Sakura's Hope, MistyKaiba-Jessica TheIdiot, Yokaigurl, EnV, cette-FILES, Shi-Sha Hariken, jennjennr, BlackMageRose13, blackXheart, mksanime, DAK, Kaputan 911, Kunai-to-the-Heart, Sanguine Dreams, Doseimotsuko, fallen.lunar., AzNAnGeL07, Sillvy, svakee2000, daydreamer53221, Sakura558and Naruto5, Hersheys Rocks, tigerlilly396, Hatake Kayume, Cherry-chan, Roxie 101, Green Animelover, sar-animeluver, Arche-chan, and saki-kun!
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Third Chapter:
Life and Difficulties: Rock Lee
Updated: 9/05/06
By: Shanghai Honey
-----LEE-----
It was like any other day. Sakura stepped in class,
everyone ignored her
she got pissed
Naruto excuses himself to use the bathroom.
she gets mad some more
still everyone ignores her
she quietly sits down pulling out an old magazine.
The same old routine. Eventually, thought Sakura, it will soon fade. But it never did. Except this time, something different happens. Something to do with our favoritest, youthfullest guy EVER! Rock Lee sighed rocking his seat side to side. He felt a heavy load on his shoulder and felt more and more depressed every passing second.
Sakura flipped through another page and contiued. She knew that becoming a teacher would mean hard work, but she never knew it could be so easy too. She tried to teach, she really did. But those son of a bitches won't listen to a word she says!
Sure, Naruto and Kiba warmed up to her a little, but so what? They're idiots! They're grade point average is a 1.3! At least that's what she would like to think.
"Hey! Sakura-chan, I can't...open...the...door!" Naruto pulled the knob with all his strength. Sakura smirked evily into her magazine and snickered.
"Try using the bathroom now!" she laughed out loud for everyone to hear.
"B-But I really have to go this time!" he cried.
Sakura regret doing this, but she took out her keys and therw it to Naruto. Naruto grinned and made his way to the bathroom. A few minutes passed by, and that few minutes turned into twenty minutes.
"He's not coming back, is he?" Sakura sighed.
"You only notice this now?" Kiba rolled his eyes.
Lee observed Kiba and Sakura's one of many quarrels attentively and his frown instantly turned into a small smile. No one would admit it, but hearing Sakura and Kiba fight about something so stupid was very entertaining. Not only for Lee, but for everyone who attended class.
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm stupid?" Sakura's eyes flamed with rage.
Kiba snorted. "No, I'm only wondering why anyone would wanna hire you as a teacher-"
"Oh, that is it!" Sakura rolled up her sleeve.
Kiba looked Sakura, than her skinny arms. "Uh." he gulped. "I take back everything I just said." he knew of Sakura's strength despite her paper-thin arms.
Lee almost laughed.
-----LEE-----
"What the hell are you doing?" Sasuke stuffed his hands into his pockets and slapped on his usual 'I hate you all' face.
Sakura slapped on a 'Kiss my ass' face herself, and ignored him completely. Sasuke, not being able to stand being ignored, growled.
"If you don't answer me-"
"Then what?" Sakura put up the finishing touches on her painting booth. "You gonna cry and run to mommy?" she mocked him in the most irritating way. Sasuke was bewildered by his teacher's attitude and stayed silent. "Mwahaha." she laughed to herself and continued on her work.
"What was the principal thinking when he hired you." he sneered.
Sakura grinned and sighed and batted her eye lids. "Oh, I don't know? Maybe 'Wow, she's hot'." she giggled.
Sasuke continued to frown. "Bimbo." he muttered and slowly made his way away from the evil, laughing maniac.
And right on cue, Naruto showed up, finally coming back from his one hour bathroom break. "Hey, Sakura-chan, what'cha doing?" he asked, using that cute little face of his. Sakura just couldn't resist that face.
"I'm opening a face painting booth! Wanna help?" she nudged his arm.
Naruto shrugged. "Sure, why not." he said. "Do I get paid?"
Sakura glared at him. "The money goes to charity."
"...," Naruto was speachless at the moment. "Do I get paid?" he asked again.
Sakura slapped her head and sighed.
"Hey! I wanna get paid too!" a loud voice in the halls shouted.
"Aw, nice going Naruto. You attracted idiots!" Sakura bashed his blond head.
"What are you blaming me for?" he whimpered.
"I smell paint." Kiba sniffed.
"We're setting up a face painting booth." Sakura stood proudly with both hands on her waist. "You wouldn't be interested-"
Kiba interrupted. "Oh, but I would!"
Sakura coughed. "Er...Kiba, no offence, but...,"
Kiba, like Naruto, had one of his own cute whimpering face. It's called the puppy dog eyes. Sakura tried to look away, but it was too freakin' hard! Oh, he's good...
"I've seen your grades in art and...," she struggled to look away. "F's...," she said to herself over and over again. "F's...!" she cried. "ALL RIGHT!" she threw her arms in the air.
Kiba punched the air with his fist. "YES! Come on, Naruto!" Kiba threw an arm around his shoulder. "Let's set up the booth and screw people's faces up!" he laughed evily.
"This is what I get for being nice...," Sakura muttered.
-----LEE-----
"Hey! I said I wanted a dragon! A DRAGON! Not a freakin' bunny!" some guy who wanted a dragon painted on his face.
Naruto glared at the boy and stuck his tongue out. "If you don't like it, tough." he crossed his arms.
The boy's mouth dropped open. "I WANT MY MONEY BACK!" he demanded.
"TOUGH!" Naruto repeated.
Sakura shook her head and took out a magazine.
"If you don't wipe this crap off my face and give me a dragon, than I have no choice but to bring out my bodyguards." he hissed in a sinister voice.
Naruto snorted. "What? You mean the chess team?"
"No." the boy narrowed his eyes. "I mean BODYGUARDS."
-----LEE-----
Five seconds later:
"Run, Naruto, RUN!" Sakura screamed.
Naruto ran as fast as he could. Those big, scary bodyguards were catching up. "Hey!" he just realized something. He turned his head and panted. "Aren't you a teacher? Can't you just tell them to STOP!" he shouted as he kept running.
Sakura shrugged. "Sure. But what's the fun in that?"
"SAAAAAKUUUUURAAAA-CHAAAAN!" he cried
Kiba shook his head. "Seriously, what kind of teacher are you?"
Sakura smirked. "The kind that enjoys pain."
Hehe, this is what he gets for missing class to use the bathroom. That class ditching fool.
-----LEE-----
Sakura sighed helplessly in her seat and thrusted her paint brush into a bucket of water. "This is pointless. I can't even paint a decent rainbow!" she cried looking at the sight before her.
Haku whimpered. "Am I ugly?" he forcefully grabbed the mirror and screeched. "I will never be able to look at myself again!" he said running away.
Sakura watched as he ran for his life. "I can still keep the money, right?" she exclaimed.
Haku was too faraway to answer back.
"Uh...Haruno-sensei?" a voice from behind called.
Sakura looked behind her and smile. "Hey, Lee. Want to lecture about youth again-"
"Not necessarily." he coughed nervously.
Sakura took great notice in this and raised an eyebrow. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Its about the face painting booth." he said honestly. "Is it all right if I...join?" he asked bashfully.
Sakura looked confounded. This was the first time she's seen him like this. Usually, he'll hide his sadness with a lecture about youth and how happy he was and other crap like that. But this time, he looked sencere and passionate.
"Sasuke and the others will probably be un-youthfully enraged when they know that I willingly wanted to join this group. But I can't help it." he said sadly. "Art is my passion!" he made a tight fist.
Sakura quirked an eyebrow. "Art?" she said. "So you like art?"
Lee fell into a vacant chair and nodded his head. "Well, used to." he sighed.
Interested in what he had to say, she scooted closer the the sighing boy in front of her. "Go on." she made funny gestures with her hands.
"Well, you see...a few years ago, my dream was to become an artist. Gai-sensei encouraged me to do my best and to work hard."
Sakura smiled softly. "He seems like a cool guy." How wrong was she...
Lee's eyes lit up. "Oh, he is!" his voice raised. "He was the one who told me never to give up, keep trying, and everything will be all right."
he told her.
"I won many art competitions. I was the best in the city. People liked me and I thought of them as friends." Sakura noticed the hint of sadness in his voice and dared not to interrupt. "As soon as I thought everything in my life was going great, my head was full of pride. I postponed painting and instead enjoyed the life I had. It was great...until the next art competition occured."
His eyes were currently full of sorrow.
"I lost that competition." he whispered. "And the next, and the next, and the next." his eyes traveled upon the floor shamefully. "After that, I didn't seem to have a single friend. I was alone. It was like they didn't have a reason to like me anymore."
"Lee...," Sakura, at that moment, had nothing else to say.
"If Gai was able to witness this...he would most likely be ashamed."
"Where is he?"
Lee paused. "He transfered to an art school in America. I don't think he's ever coming back."
A brielf silence took place and Sakura pounded her fist on the table.
"Haruno-sensei...," Lee's eyes were wide open.
"Well then, Lee. If you think you're alone, then you are far from right! You have me." her eyes brightened.
Lee looked at her, astounded by her fiery youth.
"Naruto," she said pointed at a blond, goofy, looking guy. "at this point will have anyone as a friend. And Kiba," she said pointing to a weird looking wolf-man. "probably wouldn't mind adding another friend to his short list." she smirked.
Lee looked at his new sensei, at Naruto, and Kiba. Will they really agree to be his friend? Is it possible?
"What, you don't believe me?" Sakura grinned. She called out Naruto and Kiba's name and called them over.
"What this time, Sakura-chan?" Naruto groaned. "I was just about done with my latest costumer!" he whined.
Kiba snorted. "You mean the one that ran away?"
Naruto sneered at him and looked back. "Whoa! Where did he go?"
"Guys," Sakura grew irritated. That irritated look soon turned into a soft smile. "Don't you think Lee would make a good addition to our team?"
Naruto grinned. "Hell yeah!"
"Fine with me." Kiba smirked.
"So, you're our new friend?" Naruto asked and slung his lazy arm around Lee's broad shoulders.
"I suppose." Lee said excitingly.
"Good! I need another friend. These guys are just getting a little too old." he whispered, pointed at Kiba and Sakura.
"Hey!" Sakura and Kiba pouted.
Lee laughed genuinely for the first time.
-----LEE-----
"I don't know about this, Haruno-"
"I thought I told you to call me Sakura."
"...right! I forgot!" Lee laughed nervously.
"Fuzzy brows, don't you think Sakura's favorite list is freakishly stupid?" Naruto nudged his shirt.
Lee's eyes lit up. "No, not at all! It is quite refreshing and flattering! JUST LIKE YOUTH!" he and Sakura laughed like crazed maniacs.
Naruto's face went blank and he turned to Kiba. "This just proves we're dealing with a bunch of freaks."
Sakura, Lee, Naruto, and Kiba are currently working on Lee's talent and passion. The art competition is to be held three weeks from now, and Lee desperately has to work on his rusty painting skills. Sakura, along with the two cheerleaders, supported him to the end.
"I still have no idea why we have to wear cheerleading outfits." Kiba muttered.
"Yeah. This is SO gay." Naruto grumbled.
"You know what's so GAY, Naruto? Your attitude!" Sakura scolded him.
Naruto lit up. "Gay can also mean happy."
Sakura gave up on him a LONG time ago.
Just when Lee's painting skills were coming back to him, something made its way into Sakura's apartment and slammed the door open. And that something was very scary.
"Anko!" Sakura threw her hands in the air.
"Whoa!" Anko stepped back, looking at Sakura's three prized students. "Who let the bunch of clowns in?" she thought she was THAT funny.
Naruto and Kiba glared at her,
and Sakura tried pushing her out. "If you don't mind-"
"Hey, nice painting there, brows." she shoved Sakura away and picked up Lee's latest piece of work. "I give it a Seven out of Ten." she showed off her pearly whites.
Lee sighed. "Still not good enough."
Anko smiled. But that soon ended when she saw the cheerleading outfit Naruto and Kiba were currently in. "Nice legs." she held in her cruel laughter.
Faint blushes appeared on Kiba and Naruto's cheeks.
"Now, Sakura. If you needed cheerleaders I would have been more than greatful to participate."
She grabbed Naruto's pom poms and began a cheer.
"Give me an 'A'! Give me an 'N'! Give me a 'K'! Give me an 'O'!"
No one gave her anything.
"What does that spell?"
The room was silent.
"ANKO! Hurray-OW!" she fell to the ground, picking up a tennis ball that was beamed to her head.
Sakura lifted herself up after being shoved down and huffed. "Oh, shut up." she muttered.
"Language, Sakura, language. There are kids in the house." Anko wagged her finger and picked herself up. "Well, I have business to do, so if you don't mind-"
"Don't tell me you're going to-"
Anko traveled to bathroom. "Hey, whats this?" she picked an open note that stuck over the toilet.
Anko, you beautiful woman, never stick your head in the toilet. Not a pretty sight. Your's always, ANKO!
"What the...,"
"You wrote that to yourself after sticking your head into the toilet...," Sakura rolled her eyes.
Anko looked surprised. "Really? When?" she asked as anxious as ever.
Sakura looked at her like she was some kind of idiot. "Yesterday." she muttered.
Anko shrugged and stuck her head into the toilet.
Sakura seemed like this was nothing new to her, but the other three on the other hand, looked at Anko in disgust.
"AH!" Anko shouted.
Sakura cleared her throat and pulled out another set of paint. "By the way, that's Anko. AKA: idiot who doesn't listen to her own warnings." she muttered.
"Ew! Sick! Sick! NEVER AGAIN!" she pulled out a pen and pencil, yet agian, writing herself another warning.
Naruto cringed. "You attract a LOT of weirdos." he commented.
"Besides you guys?" she smirked. "Yeah."
-----LEE-----
It was hour three and the paintings were soon displayed among young students from many different schools. Everyone gawked and went wide eyed, seeing the fantastic paintings being showed this year. It was like being in an amazing art gallery.
And Lee was one of the many amazings.
Sakura continued to rub his shoulders, constantly trying to remind him to relax. But for some reason, he couldn't help but feel un-eased.
His eyes met up with his biggest rival.
"Lee...," he smirked.
Lee took in a deep gulped and swallowed his fears. "Sai." he let out a breath.
"Ready to lose...again?"
Naruto growled and clenched his fist. "Have a little respect!" he shouted.
"Jerk." Kiba snorted.
Sai merely chuckled. "So you formed your own groupies? Never thought that would happen."
"I'll kick your sorry ass!" but unfortunately, Sakura held the wild animal back.
Lee, surprised by Naruto's sudden outburst, felt like his spirits were suddenly strengthened. And that big burden on his shoulder has been lifted to the very least.
"You better watch your back." Kiba threatened.
Sai glared and quietly walked away.
The silence was unbearable and Lee suddenly broke down. "Friends! In the name of youth-"
"Yeah, yeah." Naruto just hated the sappy stuff. "Just win the contest and all will be good." he grinned.
Lee nodded his head. "All right!" he smiled.
-----LEE-----
"And the winner...," the announcer replied.
Sakura, Naruto and Kiba crossed their fingers and Lee took in a deep breath.
"SAI!" he shouted.
The crowd went wild and the Sai grabbed his trophy. His fake smile was plastered like glue. But the smirk of arrogance he threw at Lee was definitely real.
Lee looked down in disappointed. But something changed that...
He lifted his head when the students at his school started shouting cries of disappointment.
"BOO!" the harrassed.
Sakura seemed just as confused.
"LEE! LEE! LEE! LEE!" the chanted.
The sensation he was feeling was abnormal. It was unreal. Lee had lost, he shouldn't be feeling this way. He was surprised, yet...happy.
"LEE!" they chanted and boo'd the winner off the stage.
"What's happening?" Lee whispered.
Sakura laid a warm hand on his shoulders. "Seems they really like you after all." she smiled sencerely.
"LEE! LEE! LEE!" they cheered!
The greatest moment of his life was finally happening. It felt great. And just when things couldn't get better, it just did...
"LEE!" a voice from behind shouted with joy.
He turned around slowly, recognizing this familiar voice and tears of joy fell from his eyes. "GAI-SENSEI!" he opened his arms widely.
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
they ran.
Sakura, Naruto, and Kiba watched with a very disturbed concious. "How many of you are you as embarrassed as I am?" muttered Kiba.
Both Sakura and Naruto raised their hands.
"Lee!" Gai finally reached his precious student.
Lee bounced happily into Gai's arms and cried. "Gai-sensei! I thought I would never see you again!"
"I am so proud of you, my precious student. You did well."
"Gai-sensei!
"Lee!
"Gai-sensei!"
"We get it! 'Lee!' 'Gai-sensei!' 'Lee!' 'Gai-sensei!' Just SHUT UP ALREADY!" Naruto felt a huge headache coming.
-----LEE-----
Although the praises he recieved from the recent art compitition lasted for only so many days, he still felt that great sensation take over him like something new. He will always be greatful for the support and friendship his new and best teacher, Haruno Sakura, gave him.
And of course, Naruto and Kiba. Although a bunch of idiots, they still pretty much entertained him to no end. Lee laughed with his friends and enjoyed a bloody game of checkers.
"King me!" Kiba laughed hysterically.
Naruto pouted. "That was a cheap move. You CHEATED!"
"Why do you always assume I cheated!"
Naruto's sneaky eyes searched through Kiba's jacket and his eyes lit with fury. "Is that one of my checkers!"
Kiba coughed. "What are you talking about?"
"Wait a minute. So the reason I lost was because of you!" Lee pointed furiously at Kiba. "That is SO not youthful!" he made funny gestures with his hands.
"Oh, cry me a river." Kiba stuck his tongue out.
Lee held Kiba from the back while Naruto searched for more missing checkers pieces. "You freaks! It wasn't me!"
Sakura laughed from behind her desk and threw the 'missing' checkers pieces in the air, catching them with no problem.
Lee, Kiba and Naruto gasped. "Sakura!"
Sakura's face turned ghostly white and all three boys jumped her tickling her to the death. "It was an accident!" she cried tears of laughter.
The rest of the students in her room couldn't help but feel a bit envious. There was the three idiots and Sakura fooling around in class, and here they were sitting...bored to death.
Shikamaru yawned, thinking what everyone was thinking. "Freaks."
-----LEE-----