"Tōsu, Zaku! There's a new enemy!" Kin screamed, her voice trembling with both anger and fear. The stranger had shattered her grip with a single stone, drawing blood and leaving her stunned. Such power was beyond anything she had anticipated.
She called for her teammates, desperate for backup. Yet the cave behind her remained silent.
"What's happening inside?" Kin muttered, her heart sinking. "Tōsu, Zaku! A powerful enemy is here! I can't handle them alone! Come out and help me!"
The silence from the cave persisted.
From the tree above, Rock Lee gracefully leaped down, landing softly on the ground before Kin. His expression was calm but carried an undeniable authority.
"Shouting won't do you any good," Lee said, his tone even but firm. "Even if you scream until your throat goes hoarse, they won't be coming to save you."
Kin's eyes widened, her gaze locking onto the Konoha forehead protector Lee wore. "You… you're a ninja from Konoha!" she stammered.
Lee smirked faintly. "A quick observation. You must be proud of yourself."
Kin's face flushed with anger. She wanted to retort but swallowed her words, wary of provoking him further.
Lee's gaze darkened as he continued. "Jealousy over someone's appearance? How pitiful. You thought tearing apart someone's life over hair was worth it? How low can you go?"
Kin snapped. "You…!" she started, but before she could finish, Lee vanished from her view.
She spun in panic, searching for him, only to feel the sharp sting of his palm across her face.
"Slap!"
The impact sent Kin flying, her scream echoing through the forest. She crashed to the ground, blood trickling from her swollen face, half her teeth knocked out.
Lee stood in place, his posture relaxed, yet his eyes burned with quiet intensity.
"Not so fun being humiliated, is it?" Lee said coldly, stepping closer.
Kin, dazed and humiliated, clambered to her feet. She let out a garbled growl, her mouth full of blood, and lunged toward Lee with reckless abandon. Her anger had consumed her, erasing any sense of strategy or composure.
"You're wasting your life," Lee muttered, his tone almost pitying.
With a flick of his wrist, Lee sent a kunai hurtling through the air. The blade struck Kin's throat with unerring precision, silencing her instantly. She collapsed, blood pooling beneath her as her body twitched violently before going still.
Lee turned away without a second glance, walking toward Sakura, who was still kneeling on the ground in shock. He extended a hand to her.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently.
Sakura looked up at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. Tears shimmered as she whispered, "Y-you saved me…"
"It wasn't about saving you," Lee replied, his tone steady. "If you want to thank someone, thank yourself for enduring as long as you did."
Sakura blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Think back to last night," Lee said, crossing his arms. "I told you that if you were in trouble, you could call out to me for help."
"Yes," Sakura nodded. "I remember."
"But you didn't call out for help," Lee pointed out. "You faced them alone. That's why I decided to step in. If you had simply given up and screamed for help, I wouldn't have intervened."
Sakura's eyes widened as she processed his words. "But why?"
"Because the only person you can truly rely on in this world is yourself," Lee said firmly. "Do you understand?"
Sakura's face clouded with confusion. It was clear she didn't fully grasp the weight of his words, but she nodded nonetheless.
"Write it down and remember it," Lee said with a sigh. "And work harder. Become stronger. If you don't, you'll always be dragging Sasuke and Naruto down, and you'll never stand as their equal."
"I will," Sakura said quietly, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I'll work harder. But please, Lee… save Sasuke and Naruto! Two Sound ninja entered the cave, and they haven't come out. I'm afraid they might be hurt… or worse!"
Lee's expression softened. "Don't worry. They're fine," he assured her.
"But how can you be sure?" Sakura asked anxiously.
"Think about it," Lee said with a faint smile. "When Kin screamed for help just now, why didn't they respond? Why didn't they come running to her aid?"
"Why?" Sakura whispered.
"Because they're a little preoccupied," Lee said, his smirk growing. "The moment those two stepped into the cave, Sasuke woke up."