Dream #1 [Public]
Somewhere in the midst of his one hundred and seventeenth lap around Konoha on his hands, Maito Gai's arms gave out. Grunting, he crumpled to earth, raising a cloud of dust with the impact; he, like his student, was wearing leg weights heavy enough to probably be considered brutally inhumane by nearly every other jounin in the village. Said student, Rock Lee, had loyally followed him on his rounds; he too was looking bedraggled, though not quite as much as his master--Lee hadn't committed himself to this promise, and so was free to switch means of movement whenever he needed, from walking on his hands, to cartwheels, to (currently) normal walking. "Gai-sensei! Are you alright?" He immediately dropped to his knees to help his teacher up.
"I'm fine, Lee.... This is just a little breather." He flashed a smile and thumbs up; even on his knees in the slanting evening light, his teeth still sparkled.
"But Gai-sensei...." Lee still looked dubious. "You really.... you shouldn't hurt yourself! Why don't you go home for the night and finish tomorrow? You've done nearly a quarter of your laps already!" Five hundred laps around the entire village, walking on his hands.... It all seemed a little excessive as a self-punishment for losing a simple match of paper-scissors-rock.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Lee." Gai looked down at his hands, intently studying the mottled bruises and scrapes that had started to collect on them.
"But why--"
"Lee! Listen to me!" Gai surged to his feet, one fist outstretched and flung up to the heavens; a few clouds parted to bathe him in a golden shaft of sunlight, bowl cut gleaming in a radiant halo. Birdsong welled up as a flock of doves took flight in the sky above him; the branches of the tree they had been roosting in trembled from the momentum of their departure, showering the area with sakura blossoms which got caught in the breeze, fluttering around him dramatically. Truly, this man was a splendid ninja, magnificent and statuesque, an indomitable force made in the very image of the gods, such that all of nature would bow to his whim when an inspirational speech needed to be made.
Neither master nor student noticed. Such miracles wrought from pure will were daily occurrences.
"I made this promise to Kakashi using my NICE GUY POSE! 'If by some chance I lose our match, I will complete five hundred laps around Konoha on my hands! This is my promise to you!' Promises made as such are binding--I'll fulfill it even if I die!" The wind picked up dramatically, ruffling his hair and flak vest. "Do you understand why I make such oaths, Lee?"
He plunged ahead. "Because I am a man of HONOR! To be have a true and honorable heart, a strong and noble spirit, to be pure in intentions and uncompromising in your morals, to live your life with passion! To courageously face both yourself and your life with open arms, and embrace it! To forever strive to surpass yourself and everything expected of you, to forever work for the betterment and protection of all that you hold dear! THIS IS A LIFE WELL AND TRULY LIVED!"
Someone must have been practicing powerful fire jutsus in the distance; that was the only possible explanation why Gai suddenly seemed to be silhouetted against a backing of crackling, passionate flames as he clenched his fists.
"But Lee! A life can never be fully proved if lived in ease and prosperity! Mere good intentions must have EFFORT to back them! To be worthy of a shinobi wielding it, a blade must be folded many dozens of times, to be tirelessly and skillfully hammered and shaped, to be forged in the HOTTEST FLAMES OF ADVERSITY!" He was demonstrating his point actively now, pretending to hammer and forge a sword; without a prop, it seemed a bit strange. "This is why we must always work hard, harder than anyone may demand of us, for the ones who wield our lives are NONE BUT OURSELVES! WE ALONE control the hammers and anvils of our own experiences! It is our SOLEMN DUTY TO OURSELVES to stoke this forge, to make ourselves BURN WHITE-HOT WITH THE VIGOR OF YOUTH!"
"Yes, Gai-sensei!" Lee was saluting now, starry-eyed with admiration--a pen was clutched in his pumping fist, a notebook in the other. Soon he went back to taking notes.
"By turning all of our problems into OPPORTUNITIES, all of our obstacles and troubles into CHALLENGES, we are able to CONTROL our destiny! Nobody but YOU can tell you who and what you are or what you may become! This is why I make these oaths, Lee--because there is NO situation that is only bad! You must learn to see the good in all things, my beloved student, before you can bring that good out in yourself and others! These punishments I give myself, they are painful, but they shape me mind, body, and SPIRIT! By punishing myself so harshly, I give myself incentive not to lose, permission to STRIVE to my UTMOST, and a TOOL to overcome my own weaknesses! Each punishment I complete refines me, purges the imperfections, to leave something GLORIOUS! By VIGOROUSLY SHAPING MYSELF as one would only the finest weapons, I can better compete with my enemies and MY ETERNAL RIVAL!"
"YES, GAI-SENSEI!"
"When life is lived this way, every day is better than the last! Every day, YOU are better than the last! You will overcome all obstacles, and become a TRULY WORTHY MAN for all to see, who all will smile in pride for! In this way, Lee, always respect yourself, always have faith in yourself, set upon yourself tasks that will constantly force you to shatter all limits and barriers that stand in your way! With hard work, ANYONE may truly SHINE! Now come, Lee! Come--LET US SOAR!"
"OSSU!" Tears streamed down both of their faces as they sobbed openly, passionately enthralled by the wondrous majesty of Gai's vision; neither seemed to notice.
Whoever had been practicing must have switched to water jutsus now; a spray of water was whipped up by a particularly dramatic gust of wind, throwing a curtain of mist about Gai, shining with a glorious rainbow light as the setting sun at his back refracted through the droplets. The sun pulsed all the brighter, and the doves returned to their perches with brilliant song, bringing with them a fresh shower of soft pink blossoms.
"Feel the WILL OF FIRE burn within you, Lee! WE WILL EXPLODE WITH THE POWER OF YOUTH!" Gai sprang forward to land on his hands once more, Lee following suit. Together, they galloped off into the sunset, strength and determination renewed and redoubled, spirits revitalized by Gai's inspiring words.
Truly, the philosophy of hard work and self-rules must be a god-given path for becoming an excellent ninja and real man.
[The sound of a quiet groan marks Gai waking up; he sits up and rubs his head, looking down at the Dreamberry in his hand for several long moments without comprehension. He pushes himself to his feet soon enough, the contraption momentarily ignored as he cups a hand over his mouth and starts calling, a bit worriedly.]
Lee! Neji-kun! Tenten-chan!