Obey Your Sensei Lee!

[Hrtofdrkns]

Maito Gai was known throughout his village and beyond as a somewhat eccentric, but generally good-natured man.

But looking at him now you wouldn't know that.

"LEE!" He yelled, taking his student by both shoulders. "Why did you disobey me? I told you to stay out of that bar, but you just went in anyway!"

He suddenly turned from his student, crossing his arms. "Do you have so little respect for me that my orders mean nothing?"

[*starfruits*]

?I-Iie, Gai-sensei!? Lee protested finally, having recovered from his sensei?s glare which sent rockets of perilous warning throughout his oriental-gi clad frame, and the boy quickly pursued the back of Maito Gai, clutching at one jade sleeve in order to tug and acquire his teacher?s eyes, ?Ne! Ne! I saw one of the targets move in? you had entered the opposite entrance, and? I knew I could catch them and save your chakra, Gai-sensei!?

This assumption had proved hazardous in itself, as by wicked chance, mostly due to Rock Lee?s haste in sidling into the bar and its promise of action, exercise and adventure, the young Konoha shinobi?s headband had fallen, and fallen shrilly, upon the stilted floorboards of the humble inn, causing most to fail to bat weary traveled eyelids, but to others? It had marked the position of enemy ninja in a secular scroll hoarding vicinity, much like rodent infestations were marked by nibbled grain and droppings. And the following extermination had been forthcoming and swift. For in the next instant, kunai, steel needles, pin daggers and stars had been unswervingly tossed, sought for the hot-blooded genin, and a number of fire and explosion parchments had followed shortly after, engulfing the gray, yet wholesome surrounds of the modest inn in smoke arisen from pepper chemicals and gunpowder, causing many to wheeze and tear up.

It was in that moment that the elite taijutsu-wielding jounin had come to both his student?s and civilians? aid, the smoke tossed aside by the ferocity of Konoha?s whirlwind, and the unopened parchments were hurled with vigour into the far distance of outside, before Gai went about vigorously locating and thus beating each enemy village bandit, only to return as additional aid arrived in his favour to ?pick up the pieces?.

It had taken a while to regain his teacher?s attention as they made their sombre way back to their own village, as the journey had passed quietly with few words or glances on Maito Gai?s part, leaving the jet-haired youth to fret and simmer in his own hot-blooded apprehension. This was nearly worse than that horrible corner time thing!

Then Gai had spoken of his doubting Rock Lee?s respect of him, and the raven-haired genin?s stomach turned in alarm and dismay, twisted with an incredulous shade, and he shook his head hastily in silent appeal before he maneuvered before the Konoha shinobi elite, bending at the waist, his head bowing low as his arms lay rigid by his sides, voicing with utmost sincerity and devotion, ?I respect you more than anyone in the whole world, Gai-sensei!!?

[Hrtofdrkns]

The man sighed. "That was a critical opperation Lee. We could have really used the intelligence."

He turned back to his young student. "But what's worse, you disobeyed me and almost got yourself killed, not to mention all thos innocent people."

[*starfruits*]

The genin’s head remained bowed as he took in the cruel truth of his sensei’s words, and his shoulders quaked, noting with dismay how the outcome could have emerged much differently if it were not for his sensei’s hasty streak. He whimpered out a doleful apology, head remaining downcast, unable to look into his jounin teacher’s fa?ade, “I’m really sorry, Gai-sensei…”

[Hrtofdrkns]

"Lee." He said, no more anger in his voice. "I want you to come home with me. You're gettng a spanking."

[*starfruits*]

At that announcement, Rock Lee rose himself, his fa?ade seeming to be battling to shelter the insisting onslaught of shamed tears, and he contented himself to merely nod once, and readily pursue the jounin wherever he was inclined to go, his head downcast, eyes on the backs of Gai?s sandals, giving the impression to onlookers that he had been thoroughly scolded.

[Hrtofdrkns]

They arrived soon enough at the jounin's modest home, and Gai opened the door for him. Leading his student to the couch, he bade him sit down.

"Lee, I understand that you want to prove yourself. But you have to learn to follow the orders you are given. That is part of what being a ninja means. You can't just decide that you will do whatever you please on a mission. Understand?" He asked, taking Lee's chin in his hand.

[*starfruits*]

?Hai, sensei?? Lee uttered softly, nodding slowly in the hand supporting his chin upwards, and he swallowed back tears, before retreating his fa?ade from the jounin?s touch, kneading at his right, profusely lashed eye, before he drew his knees up to his chest, keeping his sandals perched upwards from the sofa and thus avoiding dirtying the material in which he sat, ?I didn?t mean? I wanted?? he paused, finding himself at a loss for what to say, and merely resigned to fall into frustrated silence.

[Hrtofdrkns]

"Stay here." Gai told him before leaving the room for a moment. He returned shortly carrying a wooden hairbrush with a flat, oval-shapped head.

[*starfruits*]

Rock Lee emerged from his blue cloud of melancholy as his jounin sensei returned, and his dark eyes sought the hairbrush clad in the taijutsu-specialist?s hand, seemingly perplexed. His na?ve gaze found Gai?s hair, noting how it seemed to be in a fine, no-nonsense condition, needing no encounter with a bristled comb, and he soon touched self-consciously at his own.

His arms weaved from his knees as he stood up, rising a salute at his sensei?s return, his mentality blank with regards to the significance of the brush, ?Osu, sensei!?