Naruto: Call Me Akuma

When Tenten saw Akuma, she smiled and asked, "Is that flower bouquet for me?" while pointing at the bouquet Akuma was holding. 

Akuma looked at her and calmly shook his head. "This is for Brother Lee, to congratulate him on becoming a true Genin." 

Hearing this, Rock Lee's eyes sparkled with happiness. He quickly approached Akuma, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "How did you know I would pass Guy-sensei's test and become a true Genin?" 

Akuma looked at Rock Lee with confidence and replied, "I didn't know—but I believed in you. So, I came to congratulate you." 

Hearing those words, Rock Lee burst into tears and hugged Akuma tightly. "You are truly the best little brother I could ever have!" 

Feeling a bit awkward, Akuma remained still in Rock Lee's embrace. However, before he could react, Might Guy suddenly joined in, wrapping his arms around both of them with teary eyes. "Seeing the love between you two brothers makes my youthful spirit cry tears of joy!" 

Squished between the two, Akuma grinned awkwardly, feeling discomfort from the tight hug. After a while, both Rock Lee and Might Guy finally let him go. 

In the background, Tenten watched the scene with an uneasy smile. While their emotional display was touching, it was a bit too much for her. Meanwhile, Neji, standing beside her, looked away with a sigh. The whole scene made him feel awkward and embarrassed to call them his teammates and sensei. 

Seeing that he was finally free from the tight hug, Akuma handed the flower bouquet to Rock Lee. However, as he did, he noticed that the bouquet had been squeezed during the hug—many of the flowers were falling apart. 

Noticing this, both Rock Lee and Guy-sensei looked at Akuma with guilty expressions and said in unison, "We're sorry." 

Without saying a word, Akuma simply handed the damaged bouquet to Rock Lee, showing that he didn't mind. 

Afterward, Akuma held out the bag he had been carrying. Rock Lee looked at the bag curiously and asked, "Akuma, what's in the bag?" 

Akuma, not wanting to hide anything, replied plainly, "Brother Lee, you've become a true ninja. And every ninja needs a weapon—so I bought you a kunai." 

Hearing this, Rock Lee burst into tears again. With renewed emotion, he rushed forward to hug Akuma, and Guy-sensei followed closely behind, ready to join the embrace. 

However, before they could hug him again, Akuma swiftly stepped aside and walked toward Tenten and Neji. Seeing this, both Rock Lee and Guy-sensei paused and, realizing Akuma didn't want another hug, reluctantly gave up. 

Seeing all of this, Neji couldn't help himself and said in an annoyed tone, "This is ridiculous. I'm heading home." 

As Neji turned to leave, Rock Lee's voice rang out firmly, "Take back what you said about my brother." 

Neji stopped in his tracks and glanced back at Rock Lee, meeting his stern gaze. With a cold expression, he replied, "I won't take it back. A person without a chakra network is born to be a loser. He can do whatever he wants, but he'll never change the fact that he was born without chakra network. There's a reason why people judge others based on their appearance, intelligence, abilities, size, personality, and family background. All of these are unchangeable factors. People use them to discriminate, and they suffer within their own means." 

With those harsh words, Neji turned his cold stare toward Akuma. But suddenly, his expression shifted to shock. 

Akuma was looking back at him—not with anger or defiance, but with eyes filled with pity and understanding. 

The look unsettled Neji. Without thinking, he subconsciously activated his Byakugan, glaring intensely at the boy who dared pity him. 

"I always thought I was born unfortunate," Akuma said calmly, his gaze steady. "But looking at you… I've changed my mind. I'm grateful for who I am. Thank you." 

With those words, Akuma bowed his head toward Neji. 

Neji's eyes widened further. His hands began to tremble. His anger rose, but something else welled up inside him, making it hard to even take a breath. The look in Akuma's eyes both angered and comforted him. Akuma's gaze was piercing, as if looking straight through him, seeing into his very being. For the first time, Neji felt deep fear from someone's stare, because in it, he saw his own helplessness reflected back at him. 

Rock Lee, sensing the tension, was about to step forward to defend Akuma. But he froze. 

A single tear rolled down Neji's cheek. 

Even Might Guy and Tenten stared in stunned silence. 

Realizing his own tear, Neji quickly turned away. Without another word, he walked off toward his home, refusing to meet the gazes of Akuma or the others. 

Realizing that Neji had left, Tenten, already exhausted from the fight, decided to head home and rest, leaving Guy-sensei, Rock Lee, and Akuma behind. 

"What was that? Why was Neji crying?" Rock Lee asked Akuma, confusion written all over his face. 

Akuma simply replied, "If I was born to be a loser then he was destined to be born as slave" not wanting to discuss the matter any further. After congratulating Rock Lee once more and saying goodbye to Guy-sensei, Akuma quietly headed home. 

== 

The Next Morning 

The next morning, Akuma started his day by making his bed and completing his daily chores. As usual, he headed toward the training ground. However, when he arrived, he was surprised to see that neither Rock Lee nor Guy-sensei was there—a rare sight. Shrugging it off, he decided to start his training routine. 

Just as he was about to stretch, Rock Lee and Guy-sensei suddenly jumped out from the woods, shouting, "Surprise!" 

Guy-sensei was holding two gift bags, while Rock Lee carried a cake. Even Akuma couldn't hide his surprise. 

"What is this?" he asked, puzzled. 

Rock Lee, with his usual cheerful voice, replied, "We're celebrating your birthday!" 

Akuma blinked in confusion. "But… today isn't my birthday." 

Guy-sensei stepped forward, smiling warmly. "When I asked you about your birthday, you said you didn't know the exact date. So, I decided that the day I found you would be your birthday—and that day is today!" 

With that, Guy-sensei placed the cake on a large tree stump, and together, they celebrated Akuma's birthday. 

After enjoying the cake, it was time for presents. Rock Lee stood up with excitement, handing Akuma a large, heavy gift. 

"I noticed you were curious about my ankle weights," Rock Lee said with a grin. "So, I thought I'd buy you a pair! Do you like them?" 

Akuma nodded, appreciating the thoughtful gesture. Rock Lee beamed with joy. 

Next, it was Guy-sensei's turn. Akuma opened the second gift to find a martial arts book and a green jumpsuit identical to Rock Lee's. 

Akuma forced a smile. A tight green jumpsuit… Internally, he wasn't thrilled about the design or the fit. But seeing Guy-sensei's proud expression, he didn't have the heart to say anything. 

"Thank you," Akuma said with a polite smile, accepting the gift. 

The three of them spent the rest of the day together, laughing and training—celebrating a birthday that wasn't truly his but still felt special. 

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