He bowed his head, collecting his thoughts. Regrettably, one of them would be his test run and that was going to be Neji. Gai didn't plan his words so much as speak from the heart, off the cuff, despite deliberating his speech on the walk over. He raised his head again and decided he would have to hope to find the right words.
"And yes. I apologize for that," he said, wondering if he had ever been so humble in front of any of his students before. It scared him, because he wanted to be the pillar of strength sensei he thought he always had been. "And for what I said. I am proud of you, Neji. I meant no insult to your skills or your accomplishments." He crossed his arms over his chest to keep from fussing with his hands anymore.
Neji was his student, but he was not a child, and in many ways, maybe, Gai could be open with him. "I do not want you to think I do not support you--regardless of where your path takes you. I was upset. I was bitter. I spoke hastily and I was insulting. It hurt to see Kakashi go down that path again, to not be able to do anything--" His voice choked up. "I am sorry, Neji. I did not mean to include you in my insecurities or my issues with ANBU."
no subject
He bowed his head, collecting his thoughts. Regrettably, one of them would be his test run and that was going to be Neji. Gai didn't plan his words so much as speak from the heart, off the cuff, despite deliberating his speech on the walk over. He raised his head again and decided he would have to hope to find the right words.
"And yes. I apologize for that," he said, wondering if he had ever been so humble in front of any of his students before. It scared him, because he wanted to be the pillar of strength sensei he thought he always had been. "And for what I said. I am proud of you, Neji. I meant no insult to your skills or your accomplishments." He crossed his arms over his chest to keep from fussing with his hands anymore.
Neji was his student, but he was not a child, and in many ways, maybe, Gai could be open with him. "I do not want you to think I do not support you--regardless of where your path takes you. I was upset. I was bitter. I spoke hastily and I was insulting. It hurt to see Kakashi go down that path again, to not be able to do anything--" His voice choked up. "I am sorry, Neji. I did not mean to include you in my insecurities or my issues with ANBU."