章 7: Jonin sensei

The Academy was abuzz with anticipation. Freshly graduated students gathered in the hall, eager to discover their assigned teams. It was a day that marked the transition from theory to practice, from student to shinobi. For many, it was a time to bond with familiar faces. But for Rock Lee, the unknown lay ahead.

Lee sat quietly, his long black hair brushing his shoulders. His intense eyes, once filled with pure, youthful enthusiasm, now burned with the focus gained from years of solitary training. His thoughts were distant, yet grounded in the present moment. He had fought hard to reach this day. But while many of his peers mastered ninjutsu and genjutsu, Lee's strength lay in taijutsu—his relentless physical discipline and his growing mastery of the Eight Gates technique.

As Lee glanced across the room, his eyes fell on Neji Hyuga. Lee knew of him—everyone did. Neji was the top student, confident in his abilities, and a firm believer in destiny. There was a tension between them, though unspoken. Lee didn't believe in destiny. He believed in hard work. Still, Lee knew they could be formidable allies—or rivals.

The Academy instructor stood at the front of the room, his voice firm. "Today, you will be assigned to your genin teams. From this point forward, you'll train under the guidance of a jonin, learning what it means to be a true shinobi. Teamwork will be your greatest asset."

Lee's heart pounded. This was it.

"Team 9: Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten. Your jonin sensei will be Hayate Gekko."

Lee's eyes widened for a moment. Neji and Tenten? He didn't know much about Tenten, but Neji… that would be interesting. Lee shot a quick glance at Neji, who remained stoic, his face betraying no emotion.

The door slid open, and their jonin sensei, Hayate Gekko, entered. He was quiet, composed, and carried an air of wisdom. His long brown hair framed his pale face, and his sharp eyes quickly assessed his new students. The katana on his back, though untouched, hinted at his skill. But as he stepped forward, a soft cough escaped his lips.

"Team 9," Hayate said, his voice raspy but firm. "Meet me outside. I want to learn more about each of you." He coughed again but didn't miss a step as he walked past them, motioning for them to follow.

Outside, under the clear afternoon sky, the team gathered at a quiet training ground. Hayate stood before them, his sharp gaze sweeping over each of them in turn.

"Before we begin, I want you to introduce yourselves," he began, coughing softly. "Your strengths, your goals, and what drives you to be a shinobi. Let's start with you, Neji."

Neji's expression remained calm, but his eyes were sharp, brimming with quiet confidence. He took a slow breath, his voice smooth yet firm. "I am Neji Hyuga, a member of the Hyuga Clan. My focus is the mastery of the Gentle Fist technique, passed down through generations of my clan." His pale eyes flickered slightly as he continued, "I believe in destiny. That we all have a path we must follow. Some are born to rise, and others… are born to serve."

Hayate nodded, understanding the weight behind Neji's words. "And you, Tenten?"

Tenten stepped forward confidently. "I'm Tenten. My goal is to become as skilled with weapons as the legendary kunoichi Tsunade. I believe that mastering every tool available to a ninja is the key to success."

Lee listened closely. He had yet to see Tenten in action, but her words carried conviction. She seemed determined, just like him.

"Good," Hayate said, nodding approvingly. "Now, Lee."

Lee stood tall, his voice firm but filled with emotion. "I am Rock Lee. My dream is to prove that hard work can overcome any challenge. Even though I cannot use ninjutsu or genjutsu, I will become a splendid ninja through taijutsu alone."

A brief silence followed, and then Hayate smiled softly. "I've heard about you, Lee. Your determination is admirable." He coughed again, pausing to collect himself before continuing. "Now that we know each other, let's see what you're capable of."

Hayate motioned for them to prepare. "Before we begin, I want to see how well you can work together," Hayate said, his voice low but clear. "I won't be using my sword, but I want you to come at me with everything you have. Show me your strengths, your weaknesses. I need to know what you're capable of." He coughed, briefly placing a hand to his chest before continuing. "Whenever you're ready."

Neji raised an eyebrow, his voice calm. "You want us to attack you, sensei?"

Hayate nodded. "Yes. Let's see how well you can work as a team." Another cough, softer this time, slipped from his lips as he stepped back into a defensive stance.

Lee glanced at Neji and the girl who was now his teammate, Tenten. His gaze lingered on her for a moment. He didn't know much about her yet, but there would be time for that later. Right now, they had a task.

"I'm not familiar with your abilities," Lee admitted, addressing Tenten. "But if we combine our strengths, we can create an opening."

Tenten gave a quick nod. "Just follow my lead. I'll keep him busy from a distance."

Neji remained silent, his pale eyes narrowing as he activated his Byakugan, scanning Hayate for weak points. "I'll engage him up close. Tenten, provide support. Lee—don't rush in blindly."

Lee grinned. "I'll give it everything I have."

Without further discussion, they sprang into action. Lee took the lead, rushing forward with blinding speed. His taijutsu flowed with precision as he closed in on Hayate, his body a blur of motion. Neji was right behind him, his Gentle Fist ready to strike, while Tenten hung back, preparing to assist.

Hayate moved with effortless grace. He sidestepped Lee's punch, deflected Neji's palm strike, and evaded Tenten's kunai. His movements were fluid, calculated.

Lee's frustration mounted. His speed wasn't enough. He needed more power—more agility. His heart pounded as he tapped into the First Gate of the Eight Gates technique, the Gate of Opening. A surge of energy flooded his body, and his speed doubled instantly.

His strikes became faster, more erratic, as he shifted into the Serpent's Lash. His body twisted and flowed like water, making it hard for Hayate to anticipate his next move.

For the first time, Lee's fist grazed Hayate's side. The jonin's eyes flickered with surprise.

"Good," Hayate muttered between coughs. "But still not enough."

Neji and Tenten worked in perfect sync, Neji applying pressure with close-quarters attacks, while Tenten's weapons forced Hayate to stay on the move. Even with his enhanced speed, Lee found himself struggling to land a decisive blow.

"Neji! Tenten!" Lee called out, catching his breath. "Let's corner him!"

Neji's eyes narrowed. "I'll create an opening."

With a sudden burst of chakra, Neji attacked with a series of precise strikes, forcing Hayate to block. Lee followed up with another rapid attack, moving like lightning as he targeted Hayate's vital points. Tenten's kunai whistled through the air, cutting off Hayate's escape routes.

For a brief moment, their combined efforts seemed to trap the jonin. But just as Lee was about to land a powerful kick, Hayate twisted his body, narrowly dodging the blow. His coughing intensified, but he managed to remain composed.

"Impressive," Hayate said, his voice rasping with fatigue, "but you need to trust each other more. Work on your timing and coordination. It'll be your greatest strength." He coughed once more, placing a hand on his chest before straightening up. "That's enough for today."

Lee stood panting, beads of sweat rolling down his face. He had given it everything he had, but it still wasn't enough. Yet, there was a glimmer of satisfaction in his chest—they were only just beginning as a team.

Neji remained silent, his Byakugan deactivating, but his expression softened ever so slightly. Tenten wiped the sweat from her brow, offering Lee a small smile.

"We'll get better," she said, her tone confident. "We just need to practice."

Lee nodded, his fiery determination returning. "We will. Together, we'll become stronger."

As Hayate turned to leave, he coughed again, but this time there was a faint smile on his lips. "Tomorrow, we'll work on strategy. Rest up."

And with that, Team 9 had taken their first steps toward becoming a formidable unit, though much work lay ahead. For Lee, Neji, and Tenten, this was only the beginning of their journey together.

What's your thoughts on the chapter I was quite conflicted about who should be the jonin sensei for the team. At one point, I even considered choosing Asuma, but eventually, I decided to go with Hayate Gekko.