The arena was flat, no towering mounds or obstacles in sight. Rock Lee stood calmly, removing the weights from his hands and feet. He placed them on the ground with a dull thud. Despite this, many onlookers remained skeptical.
Can shedding a bit of weight really make that much of a difference? they wondered.
However, the upcoming fight was about to prove them all wrong.
"Yosh! Now I feel much lighter!" Locke Lee exclaimed, stretching out his legs and arms, getting used to his body's newfound agility. Sasuke stood quietly, observing his opponent with a patient gaze.
Rock Lee grinned at Sasuke after his brief warm-up. "Thank you for waiting! In return, I'll use my strongest technique to defeat you!"
Sasuke smirked coldly. "I hope you're up to the challenge."
Rock Lee's adjustment had already revealed a significant boost in his speed, but Sasuke remained unfazed.
Then, with startling swiftness, Rock Lee vanished from sight. The Chunin in the crowd gasped, unable to track his movements.
"So fast!" the spectators murmured in amazement. They had clearly underestimated the boy in green.
Rock Lee reappeared beside Sasuke, launching a powerful kick. Sasuke barely managed to block the blow with his arm, but the force sent him sliding several meters across the ground. Before he could fully recover, Rock Lee was already on his other side, delivering another high-speed kick. This time, Sasuke was more prepared, catching the blow with his hand and remaining unmoved.
"So this is the power of the thick-browed kid,"
Sakura thought, watching the battle unfold. Despite his goofy appearance, Rock Lee was proving to be a formidable fighter.
"Rock Lee's fast, but he's still no match for Sasuke,"
Kazuki remarked, standing beside her, a knowing smile on his face.
"And Sasuke hasn't even begun to take this seriously."
Sakura blinked in surprise. "He's not serious yet?"
"Not even close," Kazuki said. "Sasuke's been holding back this whole time."
Why, though? Sakura wondered, remembering Sasuke's intense training. What's he waiting for?
"Maybe he's testing Rock Lee's strength," Kazuki continued, eyes never leaving the battle.
Indeed, Rock Lee's speed and strength were commendable, but as the match dragged on, it became clear that he wasn't pushing Sasuke to his limit. After letting Rock Lee land several more attacks, Sasuke suddenly grabbed his opponent's ankle mid-kick and flung him across the arena.
"Is that all?" Sasuke asked, disappointment creeping into his voice.
He had expected a tougher fight. Rock Lee, while fast, was nowhere near a life-threatening challenge.
Rock Lee skidded to a stop, panting as he stared at Sasuke with a serious expression. His usual technique—Shadow of the Dancing Leaf—weren't enough to break through Sasuke's defenses. If he wanted to stand a chance, he would have to resort to his last option: the Eight Gates.
"But should I really use it?" Rock Lee hesitated, recalling his sensei's words:
"Only use the Eight Gates to protect what's truly important."
From the stands, Guy's booming voice interrupted Rock Lee's thoughts.
"Lee! Now is the time!"
"But Sensei… Is it really time?" Rock Lee wasn't sure what he was protecting in this moment.
Guy seemed to read his thoughts. "You must continue for your team! Tenten and Neji have fallen—carry their hopes with you!"
For… my team…
Rock Lee's eyes sharpened with determination. I must win!
"Eight Gates! First Gate—Gate of Opening, open!"
Immediately, Rock Lee felt the flood of power. His brain's limitations were lifted, allowing him to access the full strength of his body. His speed increased dramatically, and with it, his chances of victory.
Sasuke's expression shifted. The boost in Rock Lee's abilities was undeniable. But would it be enough?
"Second Gate—Gate of Rest, open!"
Rock Lee's energy surged again, allowing him to recover from the fatigue caused by opening the first gate. Sasuke, watching closely, realized Locke Lee wasn't just stronger—he was faster now, almost dangerously so.
"Third Gate—Gate of Life, open!"
With the third gate open, Locke Lee's power reached a new height. His body glowed with green energy, and for the first time, Sasuke felt the pressure. Rock Lee's relentless physical strikes were pushing him to the edge of his limits.
So this is the power of the Eight Gates, Sasuke thought, his hands quickly forming seals. "Lightning Style—Chidori Stream!"
Lightning crackled across Sasuke's body, forcing Rock Lee to break off his assault and dodge the deadly current.
"I finally made you use ninjutsu!" Rock Lee grinned. Although exhausted, he felt a sense of pride. He had pushed Sasuke to fight seriously.
Sasuke met Rock Lee's gaze, his face calm yet serious. "You can't maintain that state for long, can you?"
Rock Lee's breathing was ragged, but his spirit was far from broken. For my comrades… I will endure!
The true test of their strength had only just begun.
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+86 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg