Chapter 15 Part 2
What do you picture when you think of a female version of such a colorful character as Might Guy? A green leotard? A wide grin covering half the face? A tall stature and irrepressible energy? Minutely shouts of the "Power of Youth" from which your head quickly begins to ache? You're right. Except for ONE essential fact!
"Ne-ne, who's that chibi-chan?" Naruko asked in a loud whisper.
"Naruko-chan, this is my sensei — Might Gaya!" Lee proudly introduced the jonin.
This was, undoubtedly, the female version of Guy, but...
"A LOLI?!" I felt my brains wave a little handkerchief at me and disappear around the nearest corner. Might Gaya turned out to be a tiny girl!
"Hey, kiddos!" She exclaimed, jumping off the rock and landing beside us. Hey, the top of her head barely reaches my mid-chest! "And I think I know you! Kids, you're from Akashi's squad, right?"
"Ano... Chibi Eyebrows-sensei, do you know Akashi-sensei?" Naruko asked politely. Wait, what did she just call her?!
"Ha-ha! Do I know her? Do I know her?!" The loli placed her hands on her hips and, tilting her head back theatrically, laughed. "Then know this!! Akashi and I are universally known as none other than the 'Eternal Rivals'!"
"Yes, Gaya-sensei's awesome!" Lee chimed in.
"And currently, our score is 46-48 in my favor! Perhaps Akashi has a plethora of various ninjutsu, but in taijutsu, I'm invincible! And I'm far stronger than Aka-chan! Ha-ha-ha!"
"Really, is that so?" Naruko tilted her head to the side doubtfully.
"Don't doubt it, Naruko-chan!"
"Eh? How do you know my name?!" The jinchuriki was surprised.
"Aka-chan told me about you kids," Gaya simply waved her hand. "A loud and rambunctious blonde — you're clearly Uzumaki Naruko-chan! And you, over there, must be Kaoru-kun, correct?"
"Yes. Pleased to meet you, Gaya-sensei," I responded with a smile, having, by then, regained my composure.
"How's my eternal rival? I thought your mission would last a little longer?"
"Ah, that. We had to fight quite seriously, and then the two of us were sent back with a report. Sensei was slightly wounded in the battle with Momochi Zabuza, but her life isn't in danger."
"Kakhh!" Uttering a choked sob, Gaya... collapsed onto her knees?!!! Streams of tears poured from her eyes: "As expected of my eternal rival! To battle such a powerful foe as the Demon of the Bloody Mist!!!.. Just you watch, Akashi! I'll defeat an even greater enemy! This round is yours, but, IN THE NAME OF THE POWER OF YOUTH, I WILL NOT SURRENDER!"
"Gaya-sensei!" Lee leaped to her, tears in her eyes.
"Lee, my student!"
"Gaya-sensei!"
"Lee!!!"
"Gaya-sensei!!!"
They embraced, sobbing against the backdrop of a sunset, as the surf tinged their silhouettes with the sparkle of water droplets.
"Ne-ne, Koru-chan," Naruko whispered, eyeing those two warily. "What's wrong with them?"
"W-well..."
"Are they idiots?"
"Just ignore it. Just... ignore it..."
This... what is this? This definitely isn't a genjutsu. But where did a sea cliff by a forest river come from?! How did a sunset appear in the middle of the day?! What sorcery is this?! I don't understand!!!
"Ne-ne, and that... that... that — what's it?"
"Ignore it, Naruko. Ignore it."
"Ghm," Gaya cleared her throat when the damn illusion-not-illusion dispersed. "So, special training, then?"
"Yes. Helping Naruko-chan with meditation," I nod without going into detail.
"Splendid! To be a splendid shinobi, not only your body — but your spirit must be strong as well!" Gaya nodded approvingly. "Therefore... LEE!!!"
"Gaya-sensei?!"
"Now we shall train in meditation! We shall do ten laps around Konoha with logs in our hands, meditating while running!!! We shall strengthen our Power of Youth!!!"
How are those two things connected?! What does she THINK "meditation" means? Meditation is tranquility, unity with one's inner self, and...
"Ah, to hell with it all. I refuse to even try to understand this," I murmured, giving up entirely. I won't even try to understand how those two think.
"Mmm... I didn't get it?" Naruko mumbled in confusion. "Chibi Eyebrows-sensei and Eyebrows-chan love training that much?"
"Of course, for that's how we demonstrate our Youth!" Gaya laughed. "You see, Naruko-chan, the fact is, Lee has no other choice but to train her body. She's got absolutely no talent for ninjutsu or genjutsu, and thus she's focused on taijutsu. She's not blessed with special talents, but she compensates for that with rigorous training and hard work! Rest assured — in battle, she won't yield!"
"Oh! Eyebrows-chan's amazing!!!" Naruko looked at the blushing Lee with admiration. "Then I can't give up! I'll train just as hard and diligently!"
"Naruko-chan!!!" Lee was literally glowing with happiness.
"Ha-ha! That's the spirit!!" Gaya exclaimed cheerfully. "The Power of Youth blazes within you like a wildfire! How splendid this is!!!"
"Heh-heh-heh!"
"Ha-ha-ha!!"
"Ha-Ha-Ha!"
"..." This is giving me a headache. I rubbed the bridge of my nose in irritation, trying not even to look at the three laughing girls.
"Ne-ne, Chibi Eyebrows-sensei," Naruko called.
"Yes-yes, what is it, Naruko-chan? Do you want me to train you?! Forgive me, but I already have Lee!"
"No, not that," the blonde shook her head. "Why are you so small?"
"Naruko!!!" Unable to restrain myself, I exclaimed in an indignant tone. Gods, why've I lately begun to feel shame on Naruko's behalf?! Perhaps it's because I've consciously taken the half-blood Uzumaki under my wing and involuntarily taken it too much to heart. Yes, that's probably it. "It's unacceptable to ask people such questions so tactlessly! It might be a very personal matter! Show at least a little sense!"
"Oh! Well, um, forgive me..." Naruko sighed, lowering her gaze guiltily. Well, even if belatedly, she understood her mistake. That's good, isn't it? At least better than not understanding at all.
"Ha-ha, it's quite alright!" Gaya waved her hand carelessly. It seemed the blonde's brashness hadn't stung her in the slightest. "You see, Naruko-chan, my Power of Youth is so immense that my body stopped growing at age twelve! And now I'm forever Young and beautiful! Ha-ha-ha! I, Might Gaya, am the Eternal Maiden of Konoha!!!"
"Gaya-sensei's awesome!!!" Lee hollered, looking at her sensei with adoration.
"Oh, awesome!" Naruko, naturally, misunderstood everything, or didn't understand at all. "I want to be forever beautiful and young too! Teach me, sensei!!!"
"Naruko." This is becoming almost physically painful for my mind.
"Ha-ha, forgive me, Naruko-chan, but for that, one must possess boundless Youth, like me! Ha-ha!"
"Gaya-sensei's the coolest!!!"
...or maybe Gaya really is... well... like that. But that can't be, right? Although, looking at Akashi...
"Ghym! Right," Gaya coughed, unflappable, having finished laughing. Now she was regarding us with great curiosity, repeating her question: "Training, you say? Tempering your Youthful spirit?"
"Gm, almost. It concerns Naruko, for the most part," I attempted to dispel any vagueness. "The problem is that Naruko has brute strength to spare, but it's pretty... hard to control. Well, you understand," I said with a hint that Gaya undoubtedly caught. The little jonin nodded understandingly. "Therefore, we're training willpower and self-control. I'm more of a mentor here, showing Naru-chan some simple techniques, since I've got certain skills in self-knowledge and self-discipline."
"OOoh! I barely understood, but Naruko-chan is so strong that she can't control her power, yes?!" Lee literally bounced on the spot, blazing with enthusiasm. Oh, I fear that... "Let's fight!!! Naruko-chan, I challenge you to a duel!"
Kami-sama, I just knew it. Well, I hope that Gaya...
"Ha-ha-ha!! This's our Youth!!!" Gaya laughed theatrically once more, looking at her student.
"... Can I return to the monastery?"
"But, Lee!" The jonin continued her speech.
"Gaya-sensei?!"
"You're an IDIOT!"
Wham! With a palpable gust of wind, Lee flew into the river, spinning in flight like a rifled bullet. In the silence that followed, the sound of Gaya's feet touching the ground was very loud.
Okay, that was unexpected. I couldn't make out anything — it all happened far too suddenly! Though, I doubt I would've had any chance even if I'd been prepared. Gaya's a master of taijutsu, and that says it all. Her physical speed must be on an entirely different level.
"Sensei?!" Lee, having scrambled onto the shore, cried out in bewilderment, pressing a hand to her cheek, upon which the red outline of a tiny foot stood out with the utmost clarity.
"Lee!!! My heart sings seeing how brightly your Flame of Youth burns, but you must not cause trouble for others! Naruko-chan's diligently training to become stronger! Right now, you're hindering her in that! Is that proper?!"
"Forgive me, sensei! Forgive me, Naruko-chan!!!" Lee prostrated herself in a dogeza. She bowed so sharply that gravel sprayed in all directions! "I was too hasty, wanting to fight you right this moment! Let's do battle when you finish your training! I promise, by then, I too will have grown stronger!!!"
"LEE! The Flame of Youth burns so brightly within you!! I'm so proud of you!" Gaya yelled, dropping to her knees beside her student, shedding streams of happy tears with an exalted expression.
"Sensei!" Lee raised her head, sobbing in an identical manner. A thin trickle of blood ran from beneath her black bangs.
"LEE!!!"
"Sensei!!!" They embraced, summoning the sunset...
"...." I suddenly felt very tired.
"Guys, lend me your strength," I called quietly, making a directing wave of my hand. The fish spirits, up to that moment frolicking in the waterfall, responded to the call eagerly and with enthusiasm: a powerful stream of water surged forward, washing away the two noisy idiots, knocking them into the river. And then the current carried them away.
For some time, I just stood, tilting my face to the sun, almost physically feeling the tenderness of Amaterasu-sama's hands. The roar of the waterfall, the trilling of little birds in the treetops.
Kami-sama, how pleasant.
"Come on, Naruko," I called, picking up the scroll dropped by the clone. "Time to eat! Afterwards, we'll take a short break and return to our lessons."
"But... Koru-chan?.."
"Time. To eat," I smile amiably. Strange that she's standing so... hm... bundled up? Usually, nothing in the world can come between a hungry Naruko and ramen, and she hasn't eaten since morning for the sake of training. "Come on, look how big the bowls are!"
"Gulp" U-uh-huh... Mm? Why is she staring past my back?
"What is it?"
"What's that?"
"What's 'what'?" I tilt my head to the side in puzzlement.
"That... that THING. There, behind your back!" The girl shouted, pointing her finger.
Hm? I glanced back.
Nothing.
Turning my whole body, I looked around more carefully, paying attention to every bush and tree.
No, no signs. No spirits, aside from a few tiny kodama, are visible either.
"There's nothing here," I state the obvious.
"But it was there! I saw it!!!" She exclaimed with fervent conviction. "A white, super-creepy flying thing!"
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"But I saw it!"
"Naruko, I think you need to spend less time with Lee and her sensei. You're having hallucinations," I spoke with concern, trying to sound as gentle as possible. Could it be that these... little green humanoids have some strange psycho-field that drives people mad?.. "Alright, forget that nonsense! The ramen is waiting. Or've you decided to fast just a little longer? In that case, I'll eat it all myself!"
UUUuuuurrk! A thunderous rumble from the blonde's direction was extremely eloquent.
"Waaa! MY ramen! Wait-wait-wait, I'm running already!" The girl finally came to her senses.
Thank the kami — she's fine, and that was apparently just a temporary lapse. Well, never mind; better to give due attention to lunch now, and then focus on training!
Now, at last, I can calmly study the treasured scroll! I can't wait to begin studying those techniques.
***
Notes:
* Dogeza — a deep, almost humiliating, prostration. Usually used to express the deepest of apologies.