No matter his original intentions it seemed the truth was going to come out. They were at a bar, after all. A juice bar, but the only viable bar as far as Lee's tolerance was concerned.

He set his glass down and stared into the bright liquid. Even now it felt painful to think about. "Neji... He thinks I am not worthy of promotion. That I am not ready, but that I can accept. It is that he also implied that I should give it up altogether that I could not bear."

Lee looked up, his expression grave. "I expect this means he cannot see me as a rival anymore, and that I just... cannot..."

Lee's voice trailed off and he had to look away, blinking. It seemed, no matter how hard he had trained to do his best to keep up, he was left behind. And Neji was too good for him now.