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In the last months Neji had realized it was going to happen.
Lee had challenged him for years and lost, again and again. The fights' outcomes were getting closer, though, which the young genius hated having to acknowledge.
Last year, Lee had gone through a growth spurt that, for a time, threw off his excellent balance a bit, but now the added inches improved his reach.
Lee remained incredibly fast, but was now finally close to his adult growth and his lean body had packed on muscle. He outweighed Neji and was a little bit the taller, as if nature had at last decided to reward his years of dedicated training.
Still, the fights weren't quite even until recently. Now each spar grew a little more serious. Even when they weren't training, Rock Lee studied Neji with appraising eyes, seeming to grow increasingly confident.
Neji felt increasingly trapped, pinned by his teammate's very gaze. Lee would defeat him one day soon. He felt strangely anxious about what would follow, like the world had begun to tilt on a new axis.
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He was training with his uncle Hiashi that morning. Lee came up the path towards the house, just returned from a mission.
He was dirty, his usually neat hair unruly and oily, green jumpsuit torn in several places, although the injuries beneath must be minor. There was little blood.
"Today," was all he said.
Neji licked his dry lips. He was embarrassed to have the Hyuuga Lord standing by while his stomach fluttered and his pale skin flushed. He could feel its warmth.
He didn't want to say yes, but Neji was too proud to back down from a fight with Rock Lee.
"This afternoon?" he asked, clearing his throat. He ignored Lord Hiashi's frown. "You're just back and I've been training."
"Then neither of us has the advantage. Come with me."
Neji followed, not even bothering to beg off the rest of the day's training. Flowing through his body beside the anxiety was a current of excitement.
Years of one-sided fights, hopeless challenges and determined vows to try again had done the impossible. His ungifted teammate had become a worthy opponent at last.