Chapter 3
If there was anyone in Lee's life who surpassed any ideal of a woman, it was Sakura.
It had been that way since the first time he saw her, with those long pink hair, green eyes like precious jade, and the face of a princess. He felt the air leave his lungs every time he looked at her for too long, as if she could crush him with a simple, soft blink of her beautiful eyes. Of course, at first, he fell in love with her beauty, but it was her courage that truly captured his poor youthful heart, far too weak against the charms of a lovely maiden.
“Woah, you did all this in just one day?” Sakura’s impressed voice made Lee’s heart melt. He loved surprising her with his abilities, but he couldn’t take all the credit. He could do that with other things.
“I had a lot of help,” Lee scratched his cheek, shyly. “Neji and Tenten did most of it.”
Sakura raised an eyebrow.
"Neji?" she repeated slowly, not quite convinced.
"And Tenten!" Lee added.
She eyed the paper cranes scattered around the hospital room, decorating the windowsills and covering the bed like a blanket. "... Neji?"
"... And Tenten!" he repeated.
"Is it just me, or did his screws finally get tightened?" Sakura chuckled, adjusting the lily in the vase with all the care in the world. "The last time I saw Neji was in his fight against Naruto..." she murmured. "He wasn’t exactly the most charming guy in the world."
“Uh, well, he’s changed a lot.” Lee’s tone softened, a small smile slipping onto his lips as his gaze dropped to his bandaged hands. “I know, at first glance, Neji can seem pretty…”
“Snobbish? Arrogant? Stuck-up?” Sakura raised a finger for each adjective, her tone disdainful. And, mind you, perhaps Sakura knew someone who fit that description perfectly, but she would never say anything that might tarnish the reputation of her beloved Sasuke.
She liked him just the way he was, despite all the things that made him... difficult most of the time.
And Lee thought exactly the same about Neji. Except for the part about him being unpleasant—maybe someone you had to learn to deal, but not unpleasant.
“He’s also strong, intelligent, skilled, and has a natural talent for the art of origami!” Lee retorted, raising his hand.
“You didn’t deny the other things,” she pointed out with a little laugh. That laugh that threw him off balance and made him give up on any silly argument or his desire to stand his ground in a conversation. What point did he even have to maintain here, anyway? In the end, the only point that mattered was whether he could hear more of Sakura’s adorable laughter—though it wasn’t quite like the warm, sweet sound of Neji’s laughter.
Lee cleared his throat to refocus on the main topic. “What was that medicine you brought me again?” he asked.
Gai-sensei had warned him about the dangers of romance but assured him that if Lee ever needed help, he knew plenty of tricks that could come in handy. All Lee needed were the right situations to use each of Gai’s suggested lines. As you might imagine, those situations never appeared—they were all too specific and absurd, as though pulled straight out of some cheap romantic comedy.
Sakura pulled a small white bottle from the basket of fruit Tsunade had handed her before she came to visit him at the hospital. “She said it’s a kind of vitamin supplement. It’ll also help you sleep better.”
“Sleep better? I sleep like an angel. Even I know the positive values of a good night's sleep, so why should I…”
“Lee, everyone at the hospital knows you sneak out to practice in the garden.”
“Whaaaat?” He laughed it off, glancing away at a lone origami on the bedside table. “I- I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You know, you don’t make eye contact when you lie?” Her finger, with perfectly filed nails, appeared in his line of sight, pointing accusingly.
“How observant you are!—” He blinked at her, cheeks turning red.
“Don’t make this weird, you idiot!” Sakura retorted, rolling her eyes. "Tsc. You silly..." A playful smile grew on her lips. “I’m off. See you later. Take care, Lee.”
“I will,” said the boy, watching Sakura’s beautiful pink hair sway as she walked away, disappearing from his line of sight.
Lee stayed positive; after all, it must mean something that the love of his life would almost always show up with flowers, even if she insisted she didn’t return his feelings! His hope was renewed little by little, and he believed that, at some point, Sakura might see something more in him. For now, he didn’t mind staying by her side if it meant they could be just good friends.
Love always found its way from other sparks, he remembered.
It was noon, just after an intensive training session with Gai-sensei and Tenten.
Neji was covered in sweat, vaguely relieved by the cold that was settling in. His arms were heavy and aching from repeating the same strikes against the stiff trunk in the center of the field. Four hundred and one—he did four hundred and one repetitions this time. He ran his fingers through his damp hair, looking over at his other teammate.
Tenten was sprawled on the ground and hyperventilating, while Gai clapped enthusiastically, showering her with praise for finally perfecting a technique they had been working on together.
Lee wasn’t in shape to exert himself yet, so he hadn’t participated. It had been a few days since they last saw each other, all busy with their own affairs and missions outside the village. Neji wasn't entirely sure why this bothered him, but he knew Lee well enough to suppose how much he struggled with intrusive thoughts when he was alone. Lee for sure would feel upset about not being able to train with them, and believe he was being forgotten while stuck in the hospital. Overdramatic, of course—but when was Lee not?
Neji didn’t have a specific time to go home, as long as it wasn't in the early hours of the morning. And he doubted that would be the case. Also, despite the excruciating sequence of exercises Gai had put them through—making them the victims of the day in place of Lee—Neji still didn’t feel truly tired. Sore, yes, but he could stand a little longer. Something in the training he had with Lee a week ago gave him solid endurance for his sensei's relentlessness. The hospital wasn’t too far from there. Just a few meters that, with a quick walk, he could cover in less than fifteen minutes.
“You were all amazing once more, my dear students!” Gai-sensei clapped his hands together with a loud snap, causing birds to take flight from the branches of the surrounding trees. “We’ll start again bright and early tomorrow, before my mission. That way, you’ll have plenty to work on even after I leave.” Neji didn't pay much attention to what he said, focused on finishing gathering his gear to head to the hospital. His sensei, however, was paying close attention. “Positive?!” Gai suddenly thrust a thumbs-up right in front of his face, making Neji jump slightly.
“Yes.” Neji replied calmly, standing up once more.
“Good!” He smiled widely, nodding.
With everything in hand, Neji turned on his heels, ready to leave. But Tenten noticed he was heading in a different direction than home. “Where are you going, Neji? It's already getting dark.” She got up and brushed the dust off her clothes.
“Tenten is right. If you’re getting ready to train somewhere else, I admire your dedication! But every great ninja also needs rest.” Gai warned.
Waving his hand dismissively as he keep walking, Neji nodded. “Yes, I know.”
“Hmmm…” Tenten tilted her head, standing next to Gai, both watching him walk away until he turned into a tiny dot on the horizon.
A gentle breeze blew.
“He’s been really worried about Lee lately, hasn’t he?” Gai remarked, making Tenten turn to him. "Since the surgery..."
“Huh? Neji? Now that you mentioned it…”
Yet it wasn’t the desperate way Gai did, or the constant concern that Sakura and Tenten showed, visiting the hospital every day despite their many personal and professional responsibilities as kunoichis. It was a more subtle worry. It showed in the occasional questions they exchanged, with Neji bringing up Lee’s condition or asking if there was any news on when he might be released. It was present in the lingering glances toward the hospital whenever they passed the building, and in Neji’s insistence on being the one to accompany Lee during physical therapy. Neji was very discreet, as if he did it out of politeness, but he insisted whenever someone suggested otherwise.
Tenten laughed, placing her hands on her hips.
“He does have a soft heart, after all.”
She heard a sniffle.
“The perfect rivalry relationship! Ahh—” Gai clenched his fists, looking like he was about to start crying. “It's like looking in a mirror.”
The girl raised an eyebrow. Was he referring to himself and Kakashi?—
“That's not exactly what I meant, y’know…” Tenten mumbled.
"Ah, it's you."
The receptionist gave a wide smile. Most of the hospital staff were already familiar with all of Neji's visits, just as they were with Tenten and Sakura.
But she had remembered him particularly since Lee was admitted to the hospital. Of the two people who had spent hours in the waiting room during his surgery, one of them was the Hyuuga. While the girl paced back and forth, muttering under her breath, biting her nails, and glancing at the hallway every time a door opened, the boy had sat still, rigid on the bench. His hands were firmly placed on his knees, his gaze locked on the floor with such intensity it seemed like he could split it open. In his misty eyes, there was a storm of anguish that she was familiar with. Helplessness and longing. Many shinobi had sat in that same spot, desperate and uncertain whether their teammates would survive or not. He could be silent in his pain, but it was there if you were observant enough. Even when Tsunade arrived, he barely relaxed. This boy must mean a lot to him, the receptionist thought at the time.
Tsunade explained that Lee needed to stay under observation first. Neji stood up immediately, his stance remained unyielding. Short, undeniable words were exchanged before the Hokage reconsidered, on the condition that only one visitor would be allowed for the time being. That boy made sure it was him.
"He's sleeping at the moment. Tsunade changed his medication, and he's still getting used to it," she said, opening a notebook that listed the day's visitors for each patient. She turned to the young man when she reached the page titled Rock Lee, with a photo of him attached by a clip.
There were numerous signatures since the day of his admission. Most had initially come from the girls, but as time passed, Neji's name steadily filled the lines, with only brief pauses, keeping pace with Tenten and Sakura.
“That’s no issue,” he said, signing the paper with flawless handwriting.
The receptionist nodded, not bothering to set a time limit for the visit.
"He has good friends, doesn't he? That's nice." She hummed to Neji, though it sounded more like she was thinking out loud.
A good friend. Despite having heard that many times (twice, which, for Neji—someone who never fully grasped the concept of friendship, let alone excelling at it—felt like a lot), he was still far from being one. For years, Neji had belittled Lee. He looked down on him, saw him as inferior, someone who was never by his side, but always beneath him. To Neji, Lee was never truly someone. Not someone of any importance to him. He was merely a secondary player, a support—and perhaps not even that. How could someone who could barely stand on his own feet support anyone else?
Still, for some reason, Neji felt he owed Lee something. He owed several people... But Lee had been there all along, every day since they were assigned as a team. Perhaps the friendship Lee offered so openly and enthusiastically was too valuable for Neji to know how to reciprocate or even how to accept. Yet he kept coming to see him day after day. So that had to mean he was doing something about it, at least.
Returning the notebook to the receptionist, Neji gave a brief nod before heading to Lee's room. He thought he should have brought some apples or maybe...
“Oh!”
Someone bumps into him. Before muttering an apology, Neji stopped, immediately recognizing the nurse in front of him.
She hesitated, looking all awkward. “You're the boy who came to see Lee that time…” The woman laughed nervously. “Oh, I apologize for that day!” She lowered her head embarrassed, cheeks turning red.
Of course. The day he was compared to a girl... for the second time. Not that there was anything offensive about it, or that it wounded his masculine pride. He would say he was more surprised than anything. But honestly, he really didn’t understand. He had no idea what people found so feminine about him. The tone of laughter was relatively normal, and he was very observant when comparing it to other family members—and peers. His long hair wasn’t something exclusively feminine. Nor was his face. It might be less rugged and defined, but it wasn’t feminine. There was one particular time when he and Lee were talking, and the boy mentioned something about his face being very symmetrical and pretty, like that of magazine models, and how he wished he could be like that too in order to catch Sakura’s attention—although Lee didn’t have an exactly unpleasant face to Neji... just characteristic.
Both situations were buried in his mind, tucked away in a mental box labeled "impressions." They were just impressions, yes; the nurse was too far away to see him clearly and had gotten confused. Lee also didn’t hear very well, so he must have been equally mistaken.
That must have been it.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry.” Neji waved briefly, forcing a minimal cordial smile.
“It’s just that you’re so handsome and delicate!” Delicate? He furrowed his brows, not angry but confused once again. He had no idea what was delicate about him. “You really do look like a girl... In a good way, of course—” she stammered, shaking her hands dismissively.
It wasn't as if he could do anything about it. People have different perspectives on the same thing and don’t always see what others see. That’s why he didn’t necessarily get upset; he just found that impression… curious.
“It’s fine—"
“Oh, you’re going to see him, right?” She stepped aside. “He’s been sleeping for hours. I believe it’ll be a while before he wakes up.”
“They told me. I just came to check on him; I won’t take long.”
“I-I see.” She laughed softly, still very ashamed.
He climbed the last step, looking down the hallway. But before proceeding, he turned his pale eyes back to the nurse.
“Actually,” started, and she stiffened at the sound of the Hyuuga's voice. “Thank you for taking care of him.”
She eyed him for a moment before saying: “Oh, dear, but you’re the one who’s really been taking care of him lately.”
That wasn’t exactly true. Neji hadn’t done anything beyond visiting him and listening to him chatter for hours about all the plans he had for when he could leave the hospital. He didn’t think helping Lee create an extensive to-do list for when he was cleared to train was anything more than feeding his anxiety. Not to mention the times they played board games, where Lee was cruelly defeated every time... Neji had no idea what he was doing that felt so significant. All these things were quite ordinary—and yet, he could grasp a bit of what she meant.
“What you did for him that day meant a lot; he hasn’t stopped talking about it for a second!” She laughed, tilting her head slightly.
Did Lee talk about him when he wasn’t around? Wait, was she talking about the training? Which part? Neji’s mind wandered through his memories, and he couldn’t identify where the soft shiver came from. For a fleeting moment, he thought he might be feeling unwell from the effort of coming after training with Gai. But...
“With you, he lit up the moment he saw you.” The nurse sighed softly. “I heard from the other nurses that you spent the whole day with him last week making origami. You know, it's things like this that make a difference. Many patients here don't get frequent visitors, and seeing that you and the other girl work so hard to not let him feel alone... Well, what I mean is, you do a lot for him. You’re a good friend.” She gestured. “I see you later, dear. If you need anything, just call,” she said before continuing down the hall.
Neji stood frozen in the corridor until the sound of her footsteps completely faded away.
He placed a hand over his chest and felt his heart nearly colliding against his ribs. He tried to convince himself it was just fatigue, though the nurse’s words replayed in his mind so many times that they began to blur together.
He thought it wise to splash some water on his face and drink something before heading to Lee’s room.
Without letting his footsteps make a sound, he walked over to the bed where Lee was sleeping soundly, snoring softly with his mouth slightly open. It was a strange sight to see Lee like this, so peaceful in a deep sleep. Well, as peaceful as he could be. He moved around a lot while he slept; his blanket was nearly falling to the floor, and the crumpled sheets were almost slipping off the mattress. Even in a deep slumber, he was restless. If the medicine Tsunade prescribed was meant to help with this, she certainly didn't expect his hyperactivity to manifest even in the deepest sleep.
Neji noticed there was a new lily in the flower vase, and this time it had been placed on the bedside table, along with a tray that had remnants of what looked like cupcakes. Sakura should have been there before him. An peculiar feeling coiled in the pit of his stomach—sour and uncomfortable. He ignored it, looking back at Lee sprawled out on the bed.
Why was he there? He could have waited until the next morning, after training with Gai, when he would find Lee awake too. It seemed like the rush to be there had become urgent. He used to be more patient and less impulsive. But it didn’t feel like a matter of knowing how to wait. Neji just wanted to see him, that was all. Tomorrow, he will be too busy for that.
Neji frowned at himself. He blamed for extending this unnecessary train of thought and for his own self-incrimination. He sighed quietly, moving to sit in the chair in the corner, but a grunt made him freeze in place and turn his head instantly toward Lee. The boy scrunched his nose, mumbling something incoherent while lightly shaking his head in discomfort. The hair had fallen over his face and was tickling his nose. He didn’t think too much when leaned closer, extending his hand, and with a delicate movement of his fingers, brushed aside the dark strands that covered Lee’s face.
His hair was so soft, pleasant to the touch. Was it genetic or a rigorous hair routine that Gai had passed on to make them even more alike, besides the haircut? Neji hummed thoughtfully, threading his fingers through Lee’s bangs this time, pushing them away from his forehead. A soft, appreciative murmur escaped Lee, and he sinked even deeper into his sleep. The strand slipped back gently, a bit more like the way he used to wear it when they first met.
The memory of that brilliant boy, seeped bitterly into Neji's mind. For a moment, he wondered if he truly had the right to consider him something—if he deserved that right. It was still a very unknown concept to him, this whole idea. After all, what was this idea? Friendship, companionship... Having someone by your side regardless of anything. Neji was searching for a reason for it, even though he knew there wasn’t one.
He cherished, despite everything, the warm and light feeling that wrapped around his heart whenever he remembered the time they spent together, or that little anxiety that tickled his stomach at the prospect of visiting Lee again. But those were feelings and emotions that only occurred in his mind, that only happened within him. Neji never thought about the outside—about others. Suddenly, he became much more aware of his surroundings and, at the same time, of himself. His impact. This drove him a bit crazy. It was both frightening and equally motivating.
And exciting.
He tilted his head, daring to explore his hand a bit more in the sea of black hair, absentmindedly tucking a few more strands behind the boy’s ear. The fingers that had hurt him so many times now caressed the side of his cheek, slowly trailing down along his jawline to his chin. Lee had a round face. Or perhaps that was just the impression created by his haircut. Neji didn’t believe any other would suit him, though.
Lee emitted a guttural sound, squeezing his eyes shut, as if he wanted to wake up. Whether the shock was from what he had just thought or from the possibility of being caught didn't make much difference—Neji felt his heart almost leap out of his mouth. But before drawing back, Lee woke up.
"Hmm?" He blinked, his eyes slightly red, groggy from the long hours closed. Turning his head slightly, he found Neji's hand frozen in place.
"Mosquito," he muttered, saying the first thing that came to mind. Clenching his fist as he pulled his hand away, he stood up straight with tension. "There was... a mosquito on you."
Lee blinked slowly—the gears were still turning in his head. He eyed at Neji with such intensity that it was intimidating. His eyes were large and so dark they seemed like a complete void, a black hole ready to swallow you if you stared too long. Uneasy, Neji took a few steps back.
"Thank you..." Lee said sleepily, letting out a long yawn. "These mosquitoes must be eliminated for the safety of the village, yes—" His voice gradually lowered, slurring until it became inaudible. He collapsed silently onto the mattress. Had he fallen asleep again?
Neji leaned in to check. Lee snores.
"God, what kind of medicine did they give you?" Neji snorted, shaking his head softly. "Unbelievable..." He moved closer and pulled the blanket over Lee.