"Huh? That guy is fast enough to dodge Gaara's sand arms!" Kankuro exclaimed in disbelief.
In his experience, no one had ever avoided Gaara's attacks, except perhaps Jōnin-level ninja.
"This person's taijutsu is incredible," Temari murmured, equally shocked. She could tell that Rock Lee's evasive maneuvers were powered purely by his physical strength, without the use of any ninjutsu or chakra-based techniques.
It was the first time she had witnessed someone with such exceptional physical abilities.
"It's because he's strong that I'm excited to kill him!" Gaara said with a sinister smile. His dark-ringed eyes gleamed with madness as he stared in the direction where Rock Lee had disappeared. His laugh echoed eerily, sending chills down the spines of those nearby.
With a soft whoosh, yellow sand poured from the gourd on Gaara's back, forming a floating platform beneath him. He leapt onto it and began to pursue Rock Lee.
"Gaara, no!" Kankuro shouted, alarmed. "If you chase after him, Temari and I will be left vulnerable. If we die, you'll be disqualified from the exam!"
"Shut up," Gaara replied coldly, his gaze icy. "If you die, it's none of my concern. All I care about is killing him. He makes me... excited."
A maniacal gleam filled his eyes, his murderous intent thick and oppressive. Even his teammates, who knew him well, were uneasy, ready to defend themselves if necessary.
"Gaara, that's enough!" Temari interjected. She didn't want Kankuro's desperate pleas to provoke Gaara further. Though fear clutched at her heart, she forced herself to speak. "Can't you listen to your sister for once?"
"I've never considered you family," Gaara said flatly. "If you try to stop me, I'll kill you too."
The chilling finality of his words made both Temari and Kankuro shudder. Everyone in Sand Shinobi Village knew that Gaara's fury didn't spare anyone—not even family.
"Gaara, have you forgotten the mission assigned to us by the village?" Temari pressed, her voice trembling but firm. "If you fail to complete it, even you will face punishment."
The mention of the mission caused Gaara's killing intent to waver. For ninja, missions were sacred, often valued more than their own lives. Even someone as ruthless as Gaara couldn't ignore that fundamental truth.
After a moment's pause, Gaara relented. "Fine," he said, stepping down from his sand platform. "Let's head to the central tower and finish this."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged relieved glances.
As they walked, Gaara cast one last glance toward the bushes where Team Ino-Shika-Chō had been hiding. "The mice got lucky this time," he sneered.
Later, at the Meeting Point
"Lee, you're late!" Tenten said, clearly annoyed as Rock Lee arrived at their agreed meeting spot. She and Hyuga Neji had been waiting for a while.
"Sorry, I ran into some trouble along the way," Rock Lee replied with an apologetic smile.
"Oh? What kind of trouble?" Neji asked, his curiosity piqued. He respected Rock Lee's strength and knew that if Lee described something as trouble, it had to be significant.
"The three from Sand Village," Rock Lee said casually.
"Gaara of the Sand?" Neji exclaimed, his voice tinged with surprise.
"You know him?" Rock Lee asked.
"How could I not?" Neji said seriously. "Gaara once completed a B-rank mission as a Genin and returned unscathed. He's infamous for his brutality and skill."
"And he's the biological son of the Fourth Kazekage of the Land of Wind," Tenten added.
Rock Lee raised an eyebrow in surprise. "The Fourth Kazekage's son? I wouldn't have guessed that."
"Not just Gaara—Kankuro and Temari are also children of the Fourth Kazekage," Neji explained. "Their team might be the strongest in this year's Chūnin Exams."
Rock Lee chuckled. "They're strong, no doubt, but if you're calling them the strongest team, then what does that make us?"
Neji laughed heartily. "Good point! That's the spirit."
As one of the Hyuga clan's most promising young members, Neji prided himself on his abilities. With Rock Lee's growing strength, he felt a mix of rivalry and reassurance, convinced that together, they could overcome any challenge.
"By the way, Neji, did you get the scroll?" Rock Lee asked.
"We did," Tenten said proudly, pulling two scrolls from her pack. "Shortly after you left, we ran into three Genin from Kirigakure. They were weak—Neji took them out in less than ten moves."
"Impressive," Rock Lee said with an approving nod.
"Lee, did you fight the Sand team?" Neji asked suddenly, his sharp eyes scanning Rock Lee.
"I fought them and took some hits," Rock Lee admitted after a pause. His injuries from earlier were evident, and he decided to attribute them to Gaara instead of revealing the encounter with Orochimaru.
"You're injured?" Neji activated his Byakugan, and the veins around his temples bulged as his eyes turned completely white. His gaze sharpened as he assessed Rock Lee's condition.
"Your injuries are worse than you let on," Neji said with concern.