niceguypose | Second Gate [Video/Action]

[Video]

[The video feed clicks on to show this young ninja grinning exuberantly. He's happy to be on the ground instead of falling from the sky into different timelines this time around.]

Greetings, people of Luceti! My name is Rock Lee. I am a ninja from the village of Konoha, and I am also known as the "Green Beast of Konoha". I have been here for around two months now, and I am ashamed to realize that I have never made a proper introduction over the journal. Please forgive me for being so impolite. I assure you all that, as I have served Konoha in the past, here I shall also risk my life to protect any of you from threats, to the greatest of my abilities!

Although most of my time is dedicated to my intense and vigorous study, being caught in the springtime of youth has also made me inclined to constantly seek out new bonds to form with comrades. I anticipate many a new friend, so please converse with me! Lastly, let me tell you my 'way of the ninja': I believe that when it comes to abilities, "hard work" can overcome "genius"! Please, tell me what you think about it.

[He then flashes the camera a nice guy pose - a thumbs up accompanied by a shining smile.]

[Voice: Filtered to Sasuke - 50 % hackable]

[He just... breathes heavily for several moments, not knowing what to say at all. Then he panics and cuts off the feed.]

[Action]

[Lee can be come across almost anywhere, as his daily jogs take him all over the place. He will spend a majority of the day training at the Battle Dome, however. Feel free to observe and approach him as he constantly sets up new simulations for himself. All this simulated training is the closest to the effect of an addictive drug that he'll be experiencing.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No.

[That goes for the part of "please converse with me", it was asking for it, okay. Ironically, though, Ikki continues speaking.]

Your 'way of the ninja' sounds more like 'common sense of the ninja' to me. Do the people in your world have the habit of thinking that they can do anything without hard work?

Hello there! It is not so simple. When you divide the ninja into two categories, you have those most perform hard work to meet their goals. Then there are genius types who have natural ability that already puts them vastly ahead of others, so there is a large gap which must be breached. ...I must admit it is particularly applicable to me, as having been unable to learn ninjutsu or genjutsu already puts a considerable handicap on me. I have been working hard using only taijutsu.

Who the heck would divide people into categories like that?

[Ikki's just... He's not sure if he's more shocked or annoyed at the thought.]

So your world is divided into people who are geniuses since birth and have never had to do more than bad an eyelash to achieve what they want and people who have to work to get what they want? If so I hope there's more of the later because the first ones must be a bunch of lazy egocentric guys who will throw a tantrum the moment they don't get what they want with their awesome natural abilities.

Just curious, what happens if you happen to actually be a genius at taijutsu after all?

Well, this does not mean that genius types cannot work hard as well. It rather means that they start off with a very substantial advantage! They are rarely as temperamental as you suggest, but they do not have to work so hard considering how potent some of their abilities can be. [Although considering Sasuke could fall into that camp, perhaps Lee is being generous.]

If I was a genius at taijutsu, I would not be me. Everything I am has been made through the struggles I have undergone to become as skilled as I am today in the only form of ninja techniques that I have ever showed any type of promise in. I would not be able to call myself Rock Lee in that case!

Are there many others who are as good as you are in taijutsu?

Most ninjas, while they practice taijutsu to advanced levels, place it as secondary to ninjutsu or genjutsu. I believe that there are not many ninja aside from those of higher rank who could best me in taijutsu. One person in particular is my own mentor, Gai-Sensei, who taught me everything about taijutsu and inspired me to come as far as I have today.

You said you're unable to even learn ninjutsu or genjutsu. Was taijutsu as difficult as the other two or was it easier compared to those two?

Taijutsu was the only one I could even come close to performing. It was not expected that I would become a ninja at all. Only Gai Sensei saw promise in me. I am not sure if "easier" would be the best words when the alternatives were out of my reach completely. Training and hard work became my life to get me this far.

I don't see how that denies the possibility that you may have a talent for taijutsu. You don't have a talent for those other two things, that much is clear [Not only he doesn't have a talent he just is unable to do them but it's the same difference for him.], but you can do taijutsu and unless you're a liar you're pretty good at it. I don't say you didn't work hard for it, but have you ever thought that maybe you're a genius at hard work?

I know people who have worked harder than anyone and have ended dead before they achieved anything they wanted. And people who will never be able to work hard because they just can't wrap their minds about what it means.

A... genius at hard work? I have never considered it as that. Of course, it was not until Gai Sensei supported me that I applied myself that much, but... it truly is a unique way to look at the situation! It is truly a pity when others cannot properly utilize hard work.

Just because you're a genius at something it doesn't mean you will naturally do that something without some extra support, so I don't think it matters if this Gai guy was the one that got you to apply yourself and find your true potential. Everyone is good at something and a genius at something specific, it may be something big and useful or something small and silly. And being a genius at hard work isn't that strange of an idea.

[A heartbeat.]

Neither it's an insult to your effort or a negation of who you are.

You make much sense, sir. Thank you for these kind words. It gives me more confidence in my abilities and potential. I have yet to overcome my greatest rivals, but if I am truly a "genius at hard work", then my goal seems all the more obtainable. May I ask your name?

If you have patience and don't slack, I don't see why you wouldn't one day obtain it.

[There's no such a thing as an absolute impossible after all.]

My name? It's Phoenix Ikki... Now that you have my name I hope you won't ever use "sir" with me again, it's too weird to hear that about me without you being five years old.

[You know, the age when everyone is a "sir" basically.]

Thank you for your faith! It is nice to meet you, Phoenix Ikki! I assume you are unrelated to that small female child I met who also goes by the name of Ikki. And I see nothing wrong with paying respect to others regardless of my age.

It's not faith, it's a fact.

[He has helped to kill deities, he can't see why anything lesser than that would be impossible for anyone after all. It's just a matter of time. He pauses at the next part, though. A female child with his same name? That's news to him.]

If we were related our parents would be subject to a serious case of lack of originality, don't you think?

[And respect is wrong when the one you're showing it to isn't used to get it. At least not this way.]

Words don't serve to pay respect to anyone. I could say perfectly fine "Good day, sir, I hope you're faring well" while wishing that a thunder strikes him and fries him on the spot. If you want to pay respect, do it when it really counts.

Well... it could have been a shared surname. But then, if that were the case she would have used her given name instead. Or she could have been a form you were changed into as a result of Malnosso experimentation!

But... I would like respect to always count! I never use it in any manner of falsehood. If I wished for someone to make contact with lightning, I would state it directly!

[... Okay, those are actually very valid and legit reasons.]

So far out of everything they have done to me, making me a girl hasn't been among them. Don't give them ideas.

[They don't need them, really.]

I didn't say that you are faking respect or anything. I also prefer to state it directly when I want someone to get cut in half by a thunder... I guess you could say I just don't have much respect for respect itself. I've never used it and most definitively don't want it directed to me, at least not verbally, it's just weird.

Second Gate [Video/Action]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]