Look, we're here!" Tenten's voice snapped Lee out of his thoughts as they arrived at the exam hall. She glanced at the crowd up ahead and frowned. "Whoa, why are so many people just standing around? Why aren't they going in?"
With Sion Mun's memories vivid in his mind, Lee raised his gaze and took in the scene. The hallway was packed with Genin from different villages, all seemingly blocked by two Chūnin. Occasional gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd, hinting that something was happening up front.
Boom!
A dull thud echoed through the hallway as one of the Chūnin's fists connected with a Genin's jaw, sending him stumbling to the floor. Lee's sharp eyes caught the motion, and he realized someone was picking a fight.
"Hmph! You think you can take the Chūnin Exam with that level of skill?" sneered one of the Chūnin, his voice dripping with disdain. "Why don't you all go home and drink your milk instead? This test isn't for a bunch of whiny little kids."
Lee, Neji, and Tenten pushed their way to the front and saw the scene unfold. Two Chūnin stood arrogantly in the corridor, glaring down at the gathered Genin with smirks of superiority.
On the floor lay a young Genin with messy hair, clutching his bruised face. A female ninja knelt beside him, helping him up, her expression pleading as she looked up at the two Chūnin. "Please… let us pass. We're here for the exam, just like everyone else," she said, her voice shaking.
Lee felt his heart skip a beat as he looked at her. What's happening? he thought, feeling an unexpected surge of protectiveness. His pulse quickened as he clenched his fists, almost stepping forward. Could this be… love?
It was a strange, foreign feeling. Though Sion Mun had been admired by many in his previous life, he had never truly known love or companionship, devoting himself solely to martial arts. Now, this girl stirred something new in him, leaving him momentarily at a loss.
The two Chūnin sneered at her plea, showing no sympathy. Without a word, one raised his hand and struck her, knocking her back.
Anger flared up in Lee, his fists tightening. This is too much, he thought, struggling to keep his emotions in check.
"Why do they even let weaklings like you in here?" one of the Chūnin sneered. "The Chūnin Exam isn't for everyone. People fail all the time, and some even get crippled or killed."
The other Chūnin nodded with contempt. "If you can't handle this, you should just leave now. Do you really think you're ready to lead a team when lives are at stake?"
The hallway fell silent as the Genin around them seemed to absorb the Chūnin's words. Lee watched the scene carefully and realized something. This must be part of the test. He understood now that these two Chūnin weren't random bullies—they were there on purpose to intimidate and weed out the weak.
His gaze shifted to the number on the door behind the Chūnin. "301?" he thought, raising an eyebrow. A simple genjutsu to make us think we're on the third floor. Is this part of the test too?
Just then, a cold voice cut through the silence. "Move aside."
Lee looked up to see Uchiha Sasuke approaching, flanked by Naruto and Sakura. Sasuke's piercing gaze fell on the two Chūnin as he spoke with calm confidence.
"You can drop the act. This is just a genjutsu to make us think we're on the third floor. We're still on the second."
The Genin around them gasped, murmuring in confusion. "Genjutsu? What does he mean?"
The two Chūnin smirked, one of them nodding slightly, acknowledging Sasuke's insight. "Not bad, kid. You caught on. This is, in fact, only the second floor."
With a shimmer, the number "301" on the door faded, revealing "201."
The female Genin who had been knocked down looked at Sasuke with admiration in her eyes. "Wow… he's so cool!" she whispered, gazing at him in awe.
Lee felt a surge of irritation. What's so cool about that? he thought, unable to ignore the pang of jealousy. Seeing Sasuke praised for something so simple irked him, especially with the girl looking at him that way. Show-off.
One of the Chūnin scowled at Sasuke, clearly annoyed. "Think you're clever, huh?" he sneered, launching himself forward in a powerful kick aimed at Sasuke.
But Sasuke was ready. He quickly countered, lifting his leg to meet the Chūnin's kick head-on, showing no sign of backing down.
The female Genin watched in awe. "That's amazing!" she murmured, her admiration only growing.
Lee's irritation boiled over. That's it. I can't watch this anymore! In an instant, he sprang forward, his body a blur. With one smooth motion, he intercepted both Sasuke's and the Chūnin's kicks, his left hand blocking the Chūnin's strike and his right stopping Sasuke's with ease. Lee stood firm between them, as if he had just blocked the kicks of two children rather than a seasoned Chūnin and the Uchiha prodigy.
The Genin around them gasped in surprise.
"So fast! And so strong!" Sakura exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement.
Naruto stared at Lee in awe, though he wasn't as surprised. "I always knew Lee was strong," he muttered.
The female Genin's gaze shifted from Sasuke to Lee, her eyes filled with admiration. "He… he's incredible," she whispered.
Lee met her gaze briefly, his heart racing. Focus, Lee, he reminded himself, forcing his attention back to the exam.
"Enough games," Lee said calmly, glancing at the Chūnin and Sasuke in turn. "We're all here for the same reason. Let's not waste time fighting each other."
The two Chūnin glared at Lee, but after a moment, they backed off, realizing they couldn't intimidate everyone present. Without another word, they moved aside, allowing the Genin to pass.
"Let's go," Lee said, gesturing for Neji and Tenten to follow as he released his grip on Sasuke's leg.
Sasuke shot him a hard look but stayed silent, adjusting his stance as he stepped back. Naruto was brimming with excitement. "That was awesome, Lee!" he shouted, giving him a thumbs-up.