Too Strong!
The overwhelming combat power displayed by Rock Lee left everyone present in utter shock. Their eyes widened, mouths agape, as they stared at him in disbelief, their faces a mixture of awe and terror.
Aiko, however, was filled with joy, her eyes shimmering with gratitude and admiration as she gazed at Rock Lee. Relief washed over her, knowing that she had been saved from a cruel fate.
"This person is so strong!" Aiko thought, her large, beautiful eyes fixed on him. "He saved me... How could I ever repay him?"
While Aiko's heart brimmed with gratitude, the three ninjas from Kusagakure Village were paralyzed with fear. They stared at Rock Lee as though he were a monster. Their panic was palpable.
"This guy is terrifying," the scarred leader thought, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Who... Who are you?"
Moments ago, the bald ninja—who was as strong as a Chūnin—had been slapped aside by this teenager as if he were nothing. That moment alone struck fear into the hearts of the Kusagakure ninjas. If the bald ninja, who rivaled the scarred man in power, was dispatched so effortlessly, what did that say about Rock Lee's strength? Could it be that this boy, no older than thirteen, had the abilities of an elite Chūnin—or even a Jōnin?
The scarred ninja shuddered at the thought. A young warrior of this caliber was unheard of in the modern ninja world. Only a few legends had achieved such power at this age: the Sage of Six Paths, the Hyūga clan ancestor, Senju Hashirama, and Uchiha Madara—mythical figures who had shaped the history of the ninja world.
"Who am I? You don't deserve to know," Rock Lee said coldly, his voice steady and unyielding. "You're just three dying men. There's no need for words."
"Wait!" the scarred man cried. "We are Kusagakure Village ninjas! Our leader is here in Konoha to discuss an alliance. If you kill us, it could jeopardize relations between our villages!"
Rock Lee smirked. "You think I care? Dead men tell no tales. Who would ever know what happened here?"
The scarred man's face went pale, and his companions exchanged horrified glances. Rock Lee's words mirrored their own from earlier, when they had taunted Aiko. Now, those very words had come back to haunt them—a cruel twist of fate.
"If that's the case," the bald ninja growled, stepping forward despite his injuries, "then let's fight to the death!"
With a wild cry, the bald man charged at Rock Lee, kunai in both hands. His movements were desperate but calculated; he hoped his offensive strategy could bridge the gap between their power levels.
"You're not fighting to the death—you're rushing to meet it," Rock Lee sneered, stepping forward with precision.
The bald man swung his kunai in a defensive net, but to Rock Lee, his movements were riddled with flaws. Two swift steps brought him face-to-face with his opponent. With a single, devastating strike, Rock Lee's open hand smashed into the man's face.
"Broken Tablet Palm!" he muttered under his breath.
The sound of bone shattering echoed through the air. Blood and fragments of bone sprayed as half of the man's head caved in. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
The remaining two ninjas froze in terror, their faces pale. Without another word, they turned and fled into the forest, driven by one desperate thought: escape. To them, Rock Lee wasn't just a powerful opponent; he was a demon.
"You think you can escape?" Rock Lee's eyes narrowed. With a burst of speed, he activated his "Divine Step Technique," his movements blurring as he pursued the scarred man.
The scarred ninja glanced over his shoulder, his heart pounding as he saw how effortlessly Rock Lee closed the distance. "Stay away!" he screamed, throwing every shuriken and kunai in his arsenal.
But Rock Lee's movements were flawless. With two light steps, he evaded the projectiles, plucking a kunai from midair.
In a flash, he was beside the scarred man. A swift slash across the neck silenced him forever. The man collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing briefly before lying still.
Rock Lee turned his attention to the final ninja, who was already running deeper into the woods. Without breaking stride, Rock Lee hurled the kunai in his hand.
"Ahhh!" The fleeing ninja let out a strangled cry as the kunai pierced his chest, embedding itself in his heart. He staggered a few steps before collapsing, blood pooling beneath him.
The forest fell silent. Rock Lee stood among the carnage, his expression cold and unyielding.
Aiko stepped forward hesitantly, her voice trembling. " Thank you for saving me."