Bonds

Honor

*Two Weeks Prior*

Naruto looked out the window with his arms crossed. The slow rhythmic ticking of the clock was burned into his head. He didn't want to be here but after hearing it from the Third, he knew he had to. Shikimaru had mentioned it as well. He pried himself away from Jiraiya's training for this and it was eating it's way into his time.

"You were wanting to see the patient in room 244, correct?" Naruto turned his head and acknowledged the nurse who held her clipboard nervously. Naruto nodded. She then pointed behind her. "Go straight until the end of the hall. It's the last door on the left."

Naruto smiled at her before walking past, choosing not to say anything. He followed her instructions and found himself in front of room 244. Without wasting any time, he opened the door and walked in. His eyes immediately found the unconscious boy who lay almost lifelessly on the bed. His left arm and leg stuck out of the blankets being concealed by a large cast for both.

Naruto approached the broken shinobi with a frown on his face. He glanced to the table nearby, flowers completely covered it. Cards from his team and Naruto's graduating class. He smiled once he noticed Sakura's name on a pink card.

"I assume you came to drop off a gift of some sort." Naruto turned his head once he heard the voice, his eyes landing on the shinobi who sat off in the corner. The man's eyes hardened. "Oh, it's you. Kakashi's wickedly strong student. Naruto was it?"

"Naruto Uzumaki, yes. I remember you as well, you're..." Naruto trailed off, the name of the man slipping him. He stood and approached the blonde with a smile adorning his features.

"The name's Might Guy! Nice to meet you!" he exclaimed as he extended his hand towards Naruto, who followed in his footsteps and shook his hand. "Lee here is my student. I will watch over him until the day he wakes up, the day he is back up and kicking again!"

So he hasn't woke up... It's been two weeks since his fight. The injuries must be quite serious.

"I'll be honest with you Guy-Sensei, I didn't come here to leave a gift. I came here to speak to Lee about something." Naruto explained. Guy offered him a puzzled look in response. "But since he isn't awake, maybe you can answer my question."

Guy looked at the blonde for a moment. He studied the blondes calm demeanor. It was one of a Chunin, maybe even a Jonin. The way he carried himself was so much different than that of a Genin. He showed that much during his fight with the Inuzuka.

"Of course. I will answer to my best abilities, but only because you are the student of my long-time rival!" he exclaimed while pumping his fist. Naruto sweat dropped at the statement, but quickly regained his composure.

"This may be fresh still, and I apologize for that, but I have to know..." Naruto trailed off. Guy nodded and prepared for the blondes question. "How did the sand shinobi do this to Lee?"

Guy was surprised by the full-on bluntness of the Genin but sighed after a moment.

"You are right, the wounds are still fresh. It hurts still, knowing that Lee may very well be unable to honor his village after he recovers from his injuries." Guy said calmly, his eyes trailing on Lee. He then looked back up to Naruto. "Both shinobi had given their all. It appeared that Lee had ended the fight, but Gaara had caught himself by cushioning his fall. Lee saw what was coming, but wasn't fast enough..."

"He sent sand towards Lee. It grasped all it could, his leg and arm. It crushed every bone it could get ahold of. He called it the Sand Coffin. If I hadn't interfered, the kid would have killed Lee." Guy whispered the last part, tears streaming down his face as he walked past Naruto and knelt in front of his student. Naruto looked down with a sad look in his eyes. He placed a hand on his shoulder.