(WIP)The Hidden Dragon Chronicles: Series 1

Episode 20: The Chunnin Exams! The Bond of Sensei and Student!

Gaara held his head with a terrible anguish, attempting to calm himself.

He said hoarsely, "Why...... Why did you save him?"

"Because he is... my student and the one who is precious to me," Guy said calmly to Gaara.

Gaara had a bewildered expression on his face and couldn't say anything to him. Instead, he simply narrowed his eyes with hatred.

"He's precious to him?" Temari questioned herself. Her pity-filled gaze drifted across to Gaara.

'That's something Gaara could not even begin to understand." Baki had a thought.

Gaara scoffed as the sand covered his body, then walked away unemotionally, stating, "I quit."

"The winner is..." Genma was about to pronounce him the winner when he stopped and turned to look at Lee's vulnerable state, which appeared to be attempting to resume the fight.

Everyone was shocked by this and thought Lee shouldn't be able to stand up. Not after Gaara smashed his left arm and leg.

Guy moved towards Lee and spoke. "That's enough. It's over. You shouldn't be standing."

He blinked for a second when he discovered Lee's eyes were cold, then cried in regret. "Oh, Lee... Even after losing consciousness, you still strive to prove your ninja way." He embraced his student with affection and was proud of him for fighting despite his physical limitations.

Gaara studied the spectacle in front of him, unsure how to react.

Izumi and the others were too surprised to speak as they observed the mentor and his adored student together.

Izumi was going to descend to their level, but Kakashi stopped her.

"What can you accomplish by getting there? You consoling him will only make things worse-" he said, but she interrupted him.

"-I just wanted to see if he was okay," she said, jumping down when Naruto went to check on him as well.

Naruto dashed towards Lee and scowled at Gaara, who returned his stare and watched him flee.

Izumi observed Lee's unconscious state as she proceeded towards them, stopping abruptly when she passed Gaara.

Gaara was walking away from them, not looking back over his shoulder. He didn't care whether she was near him. She listened his footsteps until he was out of range.

A single tear fell from her eyes onto Lee's cheek below.... a single gesture of concern from the blonde was all Lee's unconscious needed to fight for his life.

Genma summoned the medical team to check on Lee and carefully placed him on a stretcher.

One of them questioned Guy. "You are his mentor, right? Please come over here." He drew Guy into a private conversation as Naruto and Izumi eavesdropped.

"He is breathing properly, but he has broken bones and torn muscles all over his body. We could help, but his left arm and leg are severely damaged. I'm sorry to say this, but....he'll never be able to live as a shinobi."

Guy, Naruto, and Izumi were taken aback, unable to believe Lee's ninja career had come to an end.

"No way....." It must be a lie," Naruto exclaimed in surprise, while Izumi shook her head sadly and closed her eyes as the medical team led Lee away.

"Please forgive me, Lee. For being unable to stop you," Guy reasoned hopelessly. He dropped his head down, full of regret and guilt for allowing his student to acquire deadly practices.

Naruto protested to the medical team. "He kept stating he wanted to fight Sasuke and that Neji guy! Can't you do something about it?"

Kakashi came behind him in a hurry, preventing him from struggling and complaining. "The decision to use even illegal jutsu to win comes at a cost. This is the outcome of Sasuke and now Lee. To keep the unspoken vow you all made to one another. He risked his life to reach the last level and fight all of you."

After releasing Naruto, he patted his head reassuringly. "Do not forget that."

Naruto sulked and thought about it.

Izumi, on the other hand, stood still as she watched Lee be carried away. She knew that the worst had happened, and she felt terrible.