Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Under the Sea ❯ Chapter 2

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N: I'm still sorry for subjecting everyone to this, but it sure won't leave me alone. . .

----

Days later, outside of King Gai's underwater palace, Princess Lee is going through his daily training regimen. Unknown to him, the King and the other mermaids are watching him.

“There is something different about him.” Gai stroked his chin, staring at the black haired man that had just slammed his fist through a boulder, shattering it.

The girls looked at each other.

“What is it? What is different?”

Tenten started to snicker, but Sakura slapped her on the shoulder.

“Maybe there is something different about his hair.”

Ino slapped a hand to her face.

“I have it! New seashells!”

“Oh, enough already!” Tenten swam around to face Gai. “He's humming! He's been humming “Dude Looks Like a Lady” for days!”

“Really?” Gai tipped his head to the side. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, we're sure, because we're going to kill him if he doesn't knock it off soon!” Ino slammed her hands on her scale covered hips. “And he's been grinning like crazy.”

With a loud crack, Lee destroyed another boulder, and the pieces went flying through the group. The kunoichi hit the floor, and Gai had to scramble backwards to avoid getting hit in a very unyouthful way.

“Sorry, King Gai!” Lee gave the group a bashful smile, but he was still humming.

“There is definitely something different about him.”

The kunoichi collapsed together in a pile.

“I have it! He has found his eternal rival!”

Ino patted Tenten on the shoulder. “I'm so sorry.”

----

“If I can snatch all twenty of these sea urchins without being poisoned, then it means that Gaara wants to face me again!”

Lee bunched up, coiled like a spring, before flashing into motion. A blur of green flicked along the rocks before coming to a stop, hands full of carefully gripped urchins. “Success!”

“I don't suppose you know how to prepare those, do you?” Chouji slurped up the dangling tentacle that had been hanging out of his mouth.

“No, I am sorry, but I do not.” Lee started to reattach the spiny creatures.

“What a waste.”

“My training has been going very well. And now that I have accomplished this task, it is time to face Gaara!” Lee adjusted his seashells, then struck a pose. “I will have Naruto run up to the palace and issue my challenge, and . . . “

“Don't even think about it, Lee.” Neiji emerged from the rock he had been hiding under.

“Neiji!” Lee went flat on the sand sea floor, looking the crab in the eye. “Why would I not challenge Gaara?”

“The narrator told you to stay away from the surface and King Gai assigned me to make sure you do not get in trouble with the narrator.”

“But . . .” The Princess's expression fell. “I want to fight Gaara again, before the end of the story since he will go back to Suna.”

“Why are you so obsessed with fighting him again? There are plenty of shinobi in Konoha that you can challenge.”

The music was swelling, and Neiji looked around like a trapped animal. “No way. You can't be serious.”

I'm going to fire the lot of you!

The Sound Four were rocking out again, this time to the epic ballad “You've Got to Fight For Your Right to Party!”.

I'm not giving up so easily this time. Hit it, Neiji!

“I don't know the words.”

ARRGGHH!

Forgotten in the verbal tussle, Lee was bobbing along to the beat. His hips and tail switched from side to side. “I think I rather like this one. What an inspiring message!”

Chouji nodded along, slurping up some very, very fresh calamari.

Damn it, Neiji, it's not like the words are hard. I want a musical number!

The crab crossed his claws. “Get your orchestra under control, and I will do my part.”

Look, I still know where those pictures are, so sing!

Neiji's jaw dropped. “You wouldn't dare.”

You know I would. Your fangirls would never recover.

Neiji jumped on top of a boulder. “You've gotta fight! For your right! To PARTY!”

The little crab had an impressive set of lungs when he put his mind to it.

“Yes, Neiji! Let the spirit of youth move you!” Lee was completely rocking out now, black hair waving about in the water as he moved to the beat. Chouji was just staring at the crab.

“PAAAAAAARTY!”

“Hey, Lee?”

“Hmm?” The Princess looked to his friend.

“While Neiji is busy, I've got to show you what I did for Naruto.” Chouji gestured towards their secret cave.

“Sure, Chouji. I am certain that Neiji will treat us to another rendition later.” Lee set out after the red and green fish.

“PAAAAAAAARTY!”

Neiji sagged down on his rock, relieved to hear the music wandering to a stop. “As I was saying before someone interrupted me . . . Lee?”

The crab was all alone.

“I should have knocked his ass out and locked him in that cave.” With a final muttered curse about the fates, Neiji started to make his way back to the palace.

----

`I wonder who the lucky shinobi is that has my Lee as his eternal rival. He is acting just like I did when I first met Kakashi all those years ago. I thought Neiji was his eternal rival, but now? Who is lucky enough to earn that place?'

Gai spotted Neiji sulking about. “Neiji! I am so sorry to hear about Lee!”

The crab's eyes flew wide. “What?”

“How did it happen? I was so sure of you!” The King rushed forward, grabbing Neiji in a tight embrace.

“I tried to stop him, but he just keeps taking off!” Neiji was struggling in the tight grip. `How does he know about Lee heading off to the surface?'

“I know you are jealous, but you must allow Lee to follow his heart in these matters!”

“Jealous? I'm not jealous! Why would I be jealous?”

“There is no need to deny your feelings, Neiji! Losing Lee will be hard for you, but you will come out stronger for these trials!”

“I am not jealous of Gaara! Let the sand freak have him!”

Gai froze, brows dropping. “Gaara? When did Gaara arrive?”

“He's cast as the Prince, of course, since the narrator is out of her . . . “ Neiji trailed off. `Uh oh.'

“Neiji.”

The crab, despite his best efforts, flinched back. “Yes, King Gai?”

“What was Lee doing on the surface?”

----

“When did you see Naruto, Chouji?”

The little fish led the way to their secret cave. “While we were looking for you, after the ship sunk. He asked me for a favor.”

“I am glad that you were able to help our youthful friend.” Lee pulled the boulder aside with barely a thought.

“You're gonna bust a gut.”

Lee froze when he saw the new centerpiece of his cave. “Oh, my.”

“Yeah, no kidding. I burst out laughing every time I see it!” Chouji swam up and made a face at the statue. “It was a complete pain hauling it here, but Naruto really wanted it. I think he's going to torture Gaara with it.”

Lee swam up to the statue, touching the side of its face. “It does not really look like him. Gaara never makes an expression like this, but they got the hair right.”

“I wonder if the rest is accurate.” Chouji blatantly stared at the front of the Kazekage's boxers.

“Chouji! That is not an appropriate way to look at a Kage!” Despite his best efforts, the Princess's eyes were dragged down. “Umm, wow.”

“Yeah.”

Lee gulped.

“Lee!”

The Princess spun around. “King Gai!”

“Lee!”

“King Gai!”

Chouji slapped his face with a fin. “Oh, geez.”

The King swam into the cave, Neiji perched on his shoulder. “Did you go to the surface, Lee?”

Lee snapped to attention. “Yes, King Gai, and I saved Gaara from drowning!”

Gai gasped dramatically, falling back. “Truly? Amazing! How did this happen?”

“He was knocked from a ship in a storm!”

“Well done, Lee! To save your eternal rival's life is the greatest of accomplishments!”

“Yosh!”

Are you two completely incapable of fighting?

“What?” Gai looked up at the ceiling. “Why would I fight with him?”

He disobeyed orders.

“But he saved his eternal rival's life!”

Look, either you get mad and scare him straight, or I will.

Gai heaved a dramatic sigh, setting his trident aside. “Lee.”

“Yes, King Gai?”

A fist slammed into the Princess's face. “Pay attention!”

Lee slammed into the far wall. “King Gai!”

“You were ordered to stay away from the surface by the narrator.”

“But . . . but Gaara . . . “

Gai grabbed Lee by the shoulders, shaking him until his seashells almost fell off. “I said no, Lee! Listen to your youthful instructor! Stay away from the surface and Gaara, before the evil narrator does something truly despicable and unyouthful to you! I will not risk my adorable pupil in such a way!”

Head snapping back and forth, Lee tried to respond. “K-ing G-ai . . . “

With a might kick of his tail, the King snagged his trident and left, accidentally knocking Neiji off of his shoulder as he squeezed through the opening.

Chouji's expression went dark. “Come here, Neiji.” The fish dragged the crab out.

Lee was left staring at the opening, very confused. “But I was going to have King Gai help me. How will I face Gaara now? I am stuck in the ocean, and he cannot swim.”

“Oh, poor little Leaf, can't do the jutsu to become human again.”

“Who's there?” Like magic, a kunai appeared in Lee's hand. “Show yourself!”

“Settle down, princess. If we wanted you dead, we would have done it already.”

An eel slid in to the cave, gazing at him from behind round glasses.

Lee blinked twice. “Kabuto?”

“You're almost as bad as the narrator.” A second eel, sporting a pair of red, spinning eyes, glared at Kabuto.

“Sauske? What happened to you?” Lee let his kunai dip a bit, staring at the missing-nin turned eel-nin.

“What do you think happened?” Sauske turned his glare onto the Princess. “Orochimaru is the sea witch, so we got stuck as eels.”

“See? This is proof that evil does not pay!” Lee threw his chest out as he posed. “I was not turned into an eel!”

“You're wearing seashells.” Sauske dropped his glare in favor of a smirk. “I'd rather be an eel.”

“What is wrong with my seashells? They are a lovely color . . . “

“Is that a serious question?”

“My seashells are a youthful display of . . . “

Just tempt the Princess already!

“Tempt me?” Lee looked up to the ceiling. “What am I being tempted with?”

“What, did you forget the script?” Kabuto curled around him.

“Ms. Narrator took my script away after the first chapter. She wants it to be a surprise.”

Sauske glared at the ceiling. “That's retarded, even for you.”

Sticks and stones, eel boy.

“Lee, if you want to face Gaara, you need to ask the sea witch.” The light glinted off of the eel's glasses, obscuring his eyes.

“Orochimaru? No! That is impossible. No self respecting shinobi would do such a thing.”

Sauske snarled. “Watch it, fish eyes.”

“Sauske.” Kabuto sighed. “Look, no one in Konoha is going to help you, since King Gai doesn't want you to go. If you're serious about challenging Gaara, this is your only shot. But if its not that important to you . . .”

“I never said that.” Lee looked down at his tail, rolling the options around in his mind. “I will not join Sound.”

“Like we would want you.”

Kabuto bit Sauske, electrocuting him and stunning him into silence. “No one's saying you have to join. What's the harm in asking, since it is to prove your ninja way . . . “

----

“What the heck are you doing, Neiji?”

“It was an accident! I thought King Gai already knew! It's not like the narrator would have just skipped that scene, anyways.” Neiji crossed his claws and upped his glare.

“Fair enough, but don't be a tattle tail!” Chouji turned away with a huff.

Lee emerged from the cave, escorted by the two eels, and took off.

“What the . . . oh, hell. Let's go, Chouji. His royal highness just took off! Again!”

The two ninjas masked their chakra and took off after the Princess. They followed him to the darkest part of the ocean and through the entrance of a cave. All along the walls were snakes, grafted right onto the rocks. The snakes tried to grab them as they passed, using their tongues and making Neiji go green. They struggled on, dodging killer frenching snakes, until they could see into the main chamber. In the middle of the chamber were Lee and his escorts.

“Oh, look. The lost little Princess has found his way to me. What a surprise.”

Orochimaru dropped from the top of the cave, making Lee snap his kunai up.

“Where the hell was he hiding that?” Kabuto examined the weapon. “He doesn't have any pockets.”

“I don't want to know.” Sauske swam off to sulk in the corner.

Lee held his ground, even as the sannin touched his cheek. “And what can I do for you, princess?”

Lee shuddered. “I want to fight Gaara again.”

“So you need to be human.” With a hissing laugh, Orochimaru released his face. “Simple enough.”

“You can do it?”

“There is not much I can't do.”

Every occupant in the room flinched when the music started.

When I get my hands on you four . . .

“He's a cold hearted snake! Look into his eyes . . “

Especially you, Tayuya! You're not supposed to be warning him off!

“Do not worry, Ms. Narrator. I will not be swayed from proving my way of the ninja!” Lee struck a pose, offering a thumbs up to the ceiling.

Listen to the terms first, genius.

“Why, thank you, Ms. Narrator!”

Orochimaru's eye twitched. “Here is the deal. I will turn you into a human for three days. Got it? Three days. Before the sun sets on the third day, you have to get the Prince to kiss you.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“What the fuck?”

Yo, snake freak, what the hell are you doing?

“It is your foolish plot device, and if it will help me with my plans, I will use it. That is the deal. Lee must get Gaara to kiss him.”

There's no way he is going to agree to that.

“I will do it!”

Huh?

“It will be a difficult challenge, but I accept!” Lee offered up a good guy pose for the sannin.

Orochimaru's other eye twitched. “If you accomplish this challenge, you will be released from the jutsu and will be able to go on your way. If you fail, you belong to me.”

Neiji and Chouji moved to interrupt, but were tangled up by Kabuto and Sauske.

“That is a difficult decision, fraught with peril.” Lee worried his bottom lip while he thought.

“And you still have to pay me.”

Lee's brows dropped. “Pay you?”

In the entrance to the cave, Neiji started murmuring, “Please take his voice, please take his voice . . . “

“High level jutsus do not come for free. You will give me your voice.”

High above the negotiations, several minor characters whispered, “Yes!”

“My voice?” The Princess looked thoughtful. “How about I pay with money? I ran some high rank missions recently, and I have a nice trust fund from my parents . . . “

Orochimaru dragged a hand over his face. “I do not want money. I want your voice.”

“I do have some . . . “

“This is not a negotiation! It is your voice, deal or no deal?”

“He's a cold hearted snake! Look into his eyes . . . “

And suddenly the freed and completely healed Kisame charged through the orchestra!

The music stopped.

“Fine. If I must give up my voice to prove my ninja way, then I will.”

“Then we have a deal.” Orochimaru unfurled a scroll and handed a pen to Lee.

With a flourish, he signed `Rock Lee'.

Orochimaru smiled, his tongue flicking out, before turning away to find a pendant in the shape of a snake. He set it on a boulder, then flashed through a series of hand signs and slammed his hand over the pendant. “Sing.”

“Huh? Oh, well, I am not sure what I should . . . “

Hell, the orchestra's still running away from Kisame. Lee, define youth.

“Yosh! Youth is the source of energy and power in the universe, and is able to improve . . . “

Will that work, snake freak?

“Perfect. Voice Steal no Jutsu!”

Lee was thrown against the wall as chakra slammed into him, ripping a green glow from his throat. The ball of light floated across the room to settle on the pendant, making the eyes glow. The Princess gripped his throat, eyes wide.

Orochimaru smiled at his pendant before snapping his eyes up to the stunned shinobi. There was another flurry of hand signs. “Fish No More no Jutsu!”

Chakra exploded in the cave, knocking the eels away from their captives. Finally free, Chouji and Neiji barreled into the cave. The crab activated his Byakugen, locating Lee in the chaos. The Princess was limp in the water, knocked unconscious by the jutsu.

Damn it, Orochimaru, you didn't have to do it like that! No fair killing the lead on page eleven!

Slipping the chain holding the pendant around his neck, Orochimaru smiled. “I didn't have to, but it's more fun this way.”

Chouji, Neiji, get him out before he drowns!

“What do you think we're doing, idiot?” Neiji took one arm while Chouji ducked underneath the other one. Both of them tapped into their chakra and hurtled out of the cave, dragging the unconscious man to the surface.

----

As the sun rose, it cast a warm glow over an exhausted man, sprawled on the beach, and an exhausted fish and crab recovering in the shallow waves.

“He - weighs - more - then - he - looks,” Chouji panted, listing onto his side in the water.

Neiji just lay in the sand and wheezed.

With the sun shining in his eyes, Lee slowly stirred. He brushed his hair from his eyes with a scarred hand, trying to figure out just where he was. When he sat up, he noticed that he was not in the water. And, more to the point, he had knees.

His fist punched into the air and his mouth opened for a youthful exclamation, but nothing came out. Lee blinked in confusion for a second before he remembered what he had traded for this shot. He couldn't even groan when he was forced to hold back his proclamations.

“Hey, Lee!”

The Princess jumped to his feet, happily waving at the approaching shinobi.

“You missed out on ramen, man! You haven't been over to see me in days. What gives?” Naruto easily walked on top of the waves.

Lee shrugged helplessly.

“Been busy, huh? That's okay. You'll just have to buy me lunch to make it up to me. Wait a second . . . “

Chouji rolled his eyes. “Three, two, one . . . “

“Hey, you've got legs!”

“Welcome to the party, Naruto.” Neiji glared up at the blonde. “He traded his voice in for some legs so he can fight Gaara again.”

“That ain't all he got. Have you considered moving those seashells a little further down? You're kinda dangling in the breeze.” Naruto scrunched his face up.

Lee looked down at himself and blushed crimson. He slapped his hands over the dangling bits and looked around franticly for something to wear. Seashells had sharp edges, after all, and that did not sound youthful, comfortable, or safe.

Snorting, Naruto started shrugging off his jacket. “You owe me for this.” He yanked his shirt over his head and handed it over. “You're way too tall to fit in my pants, so let's see what we can do with this.”

Lee held the fishnet shirt in one hand, staring at it.

“Ugh. Here, I'll help. And if anyone asks, this never happened. Got it?”

The black bowl cut swung as Lee nodded his head franticly. He practically held his breath as Naruto flipped the shirt sideways and tied it around his hips.

“Eh, it's better then nothing, and with it doubled up, it's keeping things pretty much hidden.” The blonde tipped his head to the side. “Did you ask for an upgrade while you were getting the new legs? You're almost hanging out the bottom.”

Lee put his hands over his eyes, certain he was going to have a heart attack and die of embarrassment.

“Well, it explains the bulge.” Naruto's head popped up, looking towards the palace. “That felt like Gaara. Bet'cha he just noticed us.”

Neiji scrambled across the sand and pinched Lee on the ankle. “Get your ass back in the water. We will find someone to turn you back, and King Gai never has to know.”

Hopping on one foot, Lee shook his head defiantly.

“Damn, bushy brows, put your leg back down, I've already seen it all!”

“This is ridiculous! You need to get back to Konoha! Your ninja way is not . . . this . . . important . . .” Neiji trailed off at the heartbroken expression that his teammate had acquired. He just could not crush him like that. He settled for pouting instead. “Not like I could actually move you as a midget crab, anyways.”

“Better make up your minds, kids, because he's on his way.” Naruto folded his hands behind his head, settling in for the show.

Scram, Naruto.

“Hey, Lee owes me ramen!”

Later! Get out of here, seagull.

Naruto's face scrunched up. “I'm not a bird.”

That can change! He's supposed to meet the Prince alone!

“Fine, fine, don't get your panties in a twist.” The blonde pulled his jacket back on, bare chest still on display. “I'll catch you later, princess.”

With a poof of smoke, Naruto disappeared.

Lee fidgeted with his improvised sarong. This was not what he had in mind when he thought about challenging Gaara. A youthful proclamation? Yes. Silently squirming in a fishnet mini skirt and seashells? Not exactly.

The sand in front of him whipped to life, forcing him to cover his eyes. When he lowered his arms, a pair of green, narrowed eyes was staring at him. There was also a wall of sand closing in around him, making his pulse jump.

“What are you doing here?”

Normally, Lee would have a lot to say to a question like that. Unfortunately, there was nothing about this situation that was normal. He winced at the approaching sand and tried to keep his fishnet skirt from falling.

“Do I know you?” The sand paused as its master approached the silent shinobi.

Lee nodded his head franticly, black hair waving.

“I have seen you before, somewhere.”

The nodding became even more frantic.

“You pulled me from the water. Where are you from?”

The words were right on the tip of Lee's tongue, but they did not get any further.

“I asked you a question.” The sand began to close in again, hissing.

Lee franticly tapped at his throat and shook his head.

“You are mute.” The sand fell away again. “You are not who I thought you were.”

`Oh no! He will not accept my challenge if he does not remember me!' Lee began to franticly communicate this, trying to let Gaara know that he was, in fact, a taijutsu master, and they had fought each other years ago, and he had been there when the Kazekage was killed, and now he was also in the story, and he had traded his voice for a pair of legs so that he could challenge him . . .

“Are you having a seizure?”

Lee froze, staring at Gaara. `Huh? Seizure?'

“You seem unwell.” The sand picked the fishnet and seashell clad man up and began to haul him away, following the Prince.

Squirming around, Lee wanted to ask questions, or protest, but there was not much he could do but he hauled away to the palace. `Well, it is where I wanted to go. I will be able to sort this out once I get there.'