"Is this really the famous Uchiha clan? From what I see, it's nothing special," Rock Lee said blankly.
"You…" Sasuke's eyes filled with fierce anger, glaring at Lee like a wounded beast. Lee's words were like nails driven into his pride, filling him with a sense of humiliation he'd never felt before.
To Sasuke, the honor of the Uchiha clan was everything, more important than himself. The pride of his clan was deeply rooted in his soul, and being looked down upon felt like an unbearable insult.
As he lay on the ground, the pain in his body reminded him that Lee was, indeed, a terrifyingly strong opponent. He wanted to attack and prove his strength, but his injuries made it impossible.
Is he really this strong, or was I just careless? Sasuke wondered, analyzing every moment of their fight as he struggled to stand. "Am I only able to beat him if I use the Sharingan?" he muttered bitterly.
Neji stood nearby, observing silently. He could tell Sasuke was on the edge of using his clan's powerful dojutsu, but he said nothing.
I defended myself well, Sasuke thought as he got to his feet, ignoring the pain. But his kick still got through. How did he do it? Was it some kind of jutsu or illusion?
Naturally, he tried to fit Lee's moves into the categories he knew—ninjutsu or genjutsu—never suspecting that Lee's pure taijutsu could be so powerful. Outside of Might Guy and a few others, almost no one could perform taijutsu to such a level.
"So you managed to stand up," Lee said, nodding slightly. "I'm glad you didn't disappoint me."
"Hmph!" Sasuke grunted, hearing Lee's words as mockery rather than a compliment. "If you're really that strong, then I'll just have to use the Sharingan."
"Oh?" Lee replied with a faint smile. "I hope it lives up to the legend. Otherwise, this fight will be too boring."
"As you wish," Sasuke said coldly. "I'll use my Sharingan to defeat you."
He focused, and his dark eyes turned a deep shade of red. In each eye, two tomoe marks appeared, spinning slightly, and an intense aura seemed to fill the air around him.
"So that's the Sharingan…" Lee murmured, feeling the strange, almost ominous energy radiating from Sasuke. He became more serious, knowing he'd have to be cautious.
"Is that the legendary Sharingan?" Tenten whispered in awe, gazing at Sasuke's scarlet eyes.
"Sharingan is the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit, known as one of the strongest in the ninja world," Neji explained. "It's said that only a few Uchiha can unlock it, and it has different levels: one tomoe, two tomoe, and three tomoe. Each level makes it stronger."
"Sharingan lets its user see through all kinds of techniques—ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu," he continued. "They can copy and counter any move instantly. And that's not all…"
Neji fell silent, but his tone had a hint of warning.
"No wonder Sasuke's so confident," Tenten muttered, amazed. "Now that he's using his Sharingan, does that mean Lee doesn't stand a chance?"
"Not necessarily," Neji replied, shaking his head. "Even powerful techniques depend on the user's skill. Sasuke's Sharingan may be strong, but it's still new to him. Let's see how he handles it."
Sasuke, his Sharingan now active, felt a new wave of confidence. He ignored the pain and rushed at Lee, determined to win this time.
With my Sharingan, I can see through his moves, he thought, his eyes fixed on Lee, watching his every movement. He was determined to restore his clan's honor and prove that the Uchiha were indeed the strongest.
Lee shook his head slightly as Sasuke charged. "Relying too much on a bloodline limit like Sharingan… you'll never reach true strength that way," he muttered. In his past life as Sion Mun, Lee had seen many young martial artists held back by relying too heavily on family techniques rather than their own growth. They were talented, but their dependence on inherited skills kept them from reaching their full potential.
To Lee, Sasuke was just like those young prodigies who believed their clan's power alone made them strong. "This is a mistake," he thought. "Power isn't something you inherit; it's something you earn."
Suddenly, Lee disappeared in a flash of green light, moving with lightning speed. To Sasuke, he seemed like a blur.
"Boom!"
Lee's kick connected with Sasuke's jaw, sending him flying into the air. This time, Lee didn't hold back, using more of his power. Sasuke soared over five meters into the air before crashing back down.
"So fast!" Neji's pupils shrank as he watched, feeling an unexpected pressure from Lee's speed and strength.
"He's incredibly strong!" Tenten and Naruto were both wide-eyed as they watched Lee's performance.
How is this possible? Sasuke thought, wincing in pain. Even with my Sharingan, I couldn't see it!
As he lay on the ground, stunned, the reality hit him hard. The Sharingan, the very power he thought would make him invincible, hadn't helped him at all.
How could his moves escape the Sharingan? Isn't he using ninjutsu or genjutsu?
Then, the painful realization dawned on Sasuke—Lee's attacks weren't ninjutsu or genjutsu. They were pure taijutsu, perfected to a level Sasuke had never faced before.
"This… is the strength of a true taijutsu user," Sasuke muttered, his pride taking a heavy blow.