Even as Neji's sensei and equal in rank, Gai still expected Neji to not mince words. His Hyuuga student had always been polite, but stern, and not afraid of speaking his mind if he thought he was allowed to. Gai saw no reason Neji should be afraid of him now, and after the verbal reprimand from Obito, Gai didn't expect anyone to hold back anymore.
Some history with Kakashi was an understatment, but leave it to Neji to casually downplay the incident. He had always had a civil and fairly diplomatic way of putting things.
"I assume you joined to improve your skills, to advance your position--perhaps even to escape, or show up, your family or to find a place you felt like you fit in." And even as Gai said that, he winced, just a little, as that tore into old wounds about Kakashi. He wanted Team Gai to feel like a home to all his students. Had he failed in that regard? "I trust you, Neji. You have a good head on your shoulders--not that Kakashi does not, but... ANBU was never about his own ambitions, at least not as far as I have seen. It always felt as though it had been required of him, expected, needed... That is a heavy burden for a man to undertake. I felt he lost focus of who he is, and like ANBU's methods and requirements of him were to blame."
He shook his head. They were not here to discuss Kakashi. Or Gai's disjointed thoughts on his Rival. Nor should he be trying to justify himself. He should be apologizing for the way he conducted himself. "I am sorry. I should not speak on things I do not understand. You were saying...? Why did you join?"
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Some history with Kakashi was an understatment, but leave it to Neji to casually downplay the incident. He had always had a civil and fairly diplomatic way of putting things.
"I assume you joined to improve your skills, to advance your position--perhaps even to escape, or show up, your family or to find a place you felt like you fit in." And even as Gai said that, he winced, just a little, as that tore into old wounds about Kakashi. He wanted Team Gai to feel like a home to all his students. Had he failed in that regard? "I trust you, Neji. You have a good head on your shoulders--not that Kakashi does not, but... ANBU was never about his own ambitions, at least not as far as I have seen. It always felt as though it had been required of him, expected, needed... That is a heavy burden for a man to undertake. I felt he lost focus of who he is, and like ANBU's methods and requirements of him were to blame."
He shook his head. They were not here to discuss Kakashi. Or Gai's disjointed thoughts on his Rival. Nor should he be trying to justify himself. He should be apologizing for the way he conducted himself. "I am sorry. I should not speak on things I do not understand. You were saying...? Why did you join?"