Training Ground Three.
A breeze stirred fine dust, spinning it across the field.
Two figures flashed back and forth, every clash raising a puff of sand.
"Hah... Hah..."
Heavy breathing echoed clearly across the open ground.
Neji and Lee stood facing each other, foreheads covered with sweat that glittered in the sun.
Sharp cracks of fists and feet meeting kept broke the quiet. Sometimes they froze, searching for openings, sometimes they leapt apart, the fight deadlocked.
Guy leaned against a nearby trunk, arms crossed, keen eyes locked on every move of his two students. As their teacher, he had to keep this spar from turning into real harm.
In stark contrast to the intensity, Tenten calmly practiced with shuriken. She focused on the distant target, each shuriken striking dead center.
"Ah—"
A sudden shout rang out across the clearing.
Lee reeled from a fierce palm strike to the shoulder, staggered back, and sat down in a cloud of dust.
"Stop! That's enough!" Guy shouted, striding into the center.
The moment the match ended, Tenten looked over and lowered her shuriken. She walked to the edge, picked up a ready towel, and, wiping sweat from her neck, moved toward them.
Guy said, hands on hips, "Lee, you rushed your attacks. Watch your opponent a bit more, that reckless charge only works for Mamoru. Don't let him lead you astray."
Hearing the familiar name, Tenten faltered for a step, then kept walking.
She asked softly, gaze drifting toward the entrance, "Guy-sensei, it's been a while since Mamoru visited, hasn't it?"
Lee said, rubbing his sore shoulder as he stood, "I heard their team escorted a merchant. They should've been back long ago. Maybe something on the roa—mmph!"
Before he could finish, Guy darted forward and put a hand over his mouth, grinning hugely. "He just got distracted along the way. You know Mamoru, his Jōnin instructor can't keep him in line."
Releasing him, Guy clapped briskly. "All right, Mamoru will be back soon enough. Your lesson isn't over, keep training!"
"We're still going?" Tenten dragged the words out, face full of reluctance.
"Of course, Tenten. How do we grow strong without effort?" Lee pumped a glowing fist, practically on fire.
"If he's absent, will you slack off forever?" Neji added solemnly.
"Ugh, you're all so loud." Tenten huffed, spinning toward the target range.
As she reluctantly lifted another shuriken, a familiar voice sounded from the woods.
"Yo!"
Tenten whirled, her scowl vanished the instant she saw who it was. She started forward, but someone beat her to it.
"Youth has returned! Mamoru-kun!" Lee shot over, waving wildly.
"While you were gone, I couldn't eat or sleep, tossing every night, dreaming of our fiery clashes…"
Mamoru stared, sweat-drops sliding down his temple.
Had the guy grown addicted to getting punched?
"Lee! What are you babbling about?"
Tenten stormed up and smacked Lee to the ground, then turned to Mamoru, voice suddenly soft. "Mamoru, why so long?"
Mamoru answered, startled by her shift, "Complications on the mission."
Then he smiled. "Miss me?"
Tenten planted her hands on her hips, cheeks reddening. "Idiot, of course not."
Mamoru chuckled and lifted several paper bags. "Here. Sweets from the Land of Grass. Share them."
Guy burst into tears, seizing Mamoru in a hug. "My beloved student! Bringing gifts for your teacher! This is youth! Invincible youth!"
He rubbed his sweaty face against Mamoru's, who frantically pushed him away. "Stop! Your stench is lethal!"
"Guy-sensei, quit it! Can't you see he's dying here?" Tenten tugged Guy's sleeve.
Though part of her wanted her own hug, shyness held her back.
"Mamoru, you're amazing!"
At that moment, Lee scrambled up from the ground, eyes blazing with fervor, arms spread wide as he charged at Mamoru. "Youth only blossoms when we stand together! For the sake of youth, I'm joining in!"
"Damn it, what kind of crazy are you on now? Both of you, cut it out!"
Mamoru blocked the two of them with one arm and one leg, anxiously looking around.
When he spotted Neji standing quietly to the side, he immediately shot him a pleading glance. "Neji, get over here and help me stop these two idiots!"
"No thanks." Neji stepped back in disgust, as if afraid of being dragged into the farce.
"If you don't stop right now, I'm going to get rough." Mamoru warned in exasperation.
The instant the words left his mouth, Guy wisely let go and retreated. The hot-blooded Lee, however, refused to back down.
"I said stop, why are you still clinging on?"
Since the warning had no effect, Mamoru didn't hold back. He delivered a clean punch to Lee's gut.
With a dull thud, Lee flew backward and rolled several meters across the ground before coming to a halt.
"Ahem... Lee, that was disgraceful." Guy coughed into his fist, putting on a stern face. "Can't you see Mamoru's troubled?"
"You're the last person who should say that." Mamoru, Tenten, and Neji retorted in perfect unison.
Guy gave an awkward chuckle and wisely averted his gaze.
"Heh-heh... as expected of Mamoru..." Lee chuckled eerily from the ground. "It's been so long since I felt a punch like that."
"Total nutcase." Mamoru muttered.
He handed the paper bag to Guy, then turned to Tenten, arms open. "No hug? It's a rare chance."
Tenten's cheeks flamed red as she turned away. "Idiot, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Just then, more footsteps sounded from the woods as another figure slowly emerged.
"Mamoru, you moron, you wandered off without a word. Took me forever to find you."
When Tenten saw the newcomer's face, she put a hand over her mouth in shock. "Wha!? Two Mamorus!"
Her gaze flicked back and forth, hunting for any tiny difference between them.
"This is my little brother, Sasuke." Mamoru said with a shrug.
"Who's the little brother? I'm the older one." Sasuke shot back, brows knitting tightly.
"You're Mamoru's little brother?" Neji stepped up to Sasuke, studying him with interest. "How old are you?"
"It's all that idiot's fault for spouting nonsense." Sasuke grumbled, hands in his pockets. "We're twins, I'm the older brother."
Neji glanced at Mamoru, who gave a slight nod, tacitly confirming the claim.
"Since you're Mamoru's brother, you must be really strong too, right?" Lee had bounced up at some point, eyes sparkling as he crowded Sasuke.
"Hmph!"
Sasuke offered no reply, hands still in his pockets, face cool and guarded.
Before anyone realized it, Sasuke, Neji, and Lee had formed a tense triangle. Where their gazes met, invisible sparks seemed to crackle, and the air felt several degrees colder.
Mamoru ruffled his hair in exasperation. What was with these guys today? Had they all swallowed gunpowder?
Given Sasuke's current strength, he probably couldn't beat Neji and Lee. If a fight started, he'd definitely come off worse.
Watching the three bristling boys nearby, Tenten spread her hands helplessly. "Boys really love to compete, don't they?"
Guy pinched his chin, beaming. "Tenten, a competitive spirit is essential for growth. Just like the rivalry between Kakashi and me."
"Oh, almost forgot."
As if struck by sudden recall, Mamoru pulled a braided cord from his pocket and tossed it to Tenten. "A return gift for last time."
Tenten caught it hurriedly and opened her palm. A delicate red cord lay there, morning sunlight warming its polished-stone beads, the weave was fine and even.
"Eh? You're giving this to me?" Eyes wide, Tenten stared at Mamoru, voice bright with surprise.
Mamoru smiled and nodded, gaze gentle.
Tenten lifted the cord, spun happily on the spot, and chirped, "That's awesome!"
She slipped it onto her wrist at once, then thrust her arm toward Guy like a proud kid. "Guy-sensei, look! Mamoru gave me a present!"
Next she dashed to Neji, excitedly showing off her new treasure, smile blazing like a field of sunflowers.
Watching her joyful figure, Mamoru couldn't help a small smile. "No need to go that wild, it's just a cord."
Guy said wisely, patting his shoulder, "Mamoru, you're still too young to understand a girl's heart."
"Hah!?" Mamoru raised a skeptical brow.
A big lunk like you playing love expert...
Really?