As they moved forward, Lee stole a final glance at the girl, who smiled faintly at him. His heart skipped a beat again, but he pushed the feeling down. There's more at stake than impressing people.
As they approached the exam room, he felt a renewed determination. Sion Mun's memories reminded him that true strength was more than skill—it was about resilience, compassion, and knowing when to protect others. He was ready for whatever challenges the Chūnin Exam would bring.
But before they could enter, a voice called out behind them.
"Rock Lee!" Sasuke's voice rang across the hall, fierce and filled with unmistakable resolve. His eyes were intense, and his stance exuded an undeniable fighting spirit.
"I want to fight you!" Sasuke declared, his gaze never leaving Lee.
"It's him," Neji muttered, his eyes narrowing as he watched Sasuke with a mixture of irritation and interest. He was unsettled to see the last Uchiha survivor directing his challenge at Rock Lee rather than himself. Neji, being the Hyuga clan's brightest young talent and the top of his previous class, felt Sasuke's challenge should have been his to accept.
He knew that Sasuke was the sole surviving descendant of the famous Uchiha clan, inheriting their formidable bloodline and praised as a true genius. His prowess was clear from the fact that Sasuke had graduated at the top of his class.
Rock Lee turned to face Sasuke, meeting his challenging gaze with calm indifference. "You want to fight me here? Are you sure?" he asked, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"I am," Sasuke replied coolly. "In the name of Uchiha, I challenge you."
"Uchiha…" Lee mused, his tone almost dismissive. "It's a well-known name, but I wonder—how strong is Uchiha Sasuke?"
"Rock Lee, I know you're strong. But I'm from the Uchiha clan, and my abilities aren't for nothing," Sasuke said, his voice resolute. "I want to see if your skills will work against me."
Lee's gaze grew sharper. "Are you challenging me in your own name, or the Uchiha's?"
"Both," Sasuke replied proudly. "The name Uchiha stands for strength in the ninja world, for invincibility. I'm still weak, but as a Genin, I'll be unbeatable."
"Humph!" Neji scoffed, a trace of contempt in his eyes. Sasuke's boast of becoming an "unbeatable Genin" sounded arrogant to Neji. Even he wouldn't make such a bold claim—and Sasuke had just graduated.
Sasuke caught the scoff and shot Neji a glare.
Lee chuckled, gesturing at Neji. "That's Hyuga Neji," he said to Sasuke. "They say he's the strongest on our team."
Sasuke's expression shifted as he looked at Neji with a hint of caution. The Uchiha and Hyuga clans had always been rivals, each with their unique dojutsu, and as last year's top rookie, Neji's reputation was well-known.
Neji gave Sasuke a cold glance but said nothing. Although part of him wanted to take up Sasuke's challenge himself, he chose to hold back, watching the encounter unfold. Besides, he was curious to observe Lee's true strength firsthand.
Inheriting the Eight Inner Gates, Lee's physical prowess was unparalleled among their peers. Even Neji, with the pride of his Hyuga heritage, respected the power of such a technique.
Lee sighed, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "I'm lucky," he remarked. "It's not every day that I get to spar with the most promising rookie of Konoha—and an Uchiha, no less."
"Or perhaps that's your misfortune," Sasuke replied coldly.
Lee's smile widened. "Then let's see it—the famous Sharingan."
"I'll make sure you never forget the name Uchiha Sasuke or the power of my Sharingan," Sasuke declared as he stepped forward, assuming an offensive stance.
"Bring it on," Lee replied calmly, his gaze unwavering.
"Whoa…" Naruto whispered nearby, his wide eyes fixed on the two. "This is gonna be awesome!"
Sasuke's face tightened with determination as he prepared to charge. "Then I'll show you what it means to challenge me." With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, closing the distance swiftly.
"His explosive power isn't bad,"Lee noted, watching Sasuke draw near.
"Ha!" Sasuke leaped, his right fist aiming straight for Lee's chin with impressive strength.
Neji observed with narrowed eyes, a hint of disdain creeping into his gaze. Attacking head-on, without any subtlety? Is this the best the Uchiha heir can do?
Neji's mind raced with multiple ways to counter Sasuke's move if he were in Lee's place. Each would allow him to neutralize the attack and strike back effortlessly. The Uchiha clan has really declined if this is their best.
Sasuke's fist was mere inches from Lee's chin when, in an instant, Glossi moved. His right hand shot up, fingers closed tightly together like a crane's beak, lightly tapping the back of Sasuke's hand to deflect the punch.
Using the precision and agility of the crane-style technique from the Martial World, Lee executed the movement fluidly and decisively. In his life, Sion Mun had been a god of Martial arts, possessing unmatched combat skills. Although Lee couldn't access his full power, he could still draw on martial techniques that were more than enough to handle a Genin like Sasuke.