Chapter 53: Drunken Fist!
"Damn it!"
Watching Rock Lee suddenly stand up in a drunken stupor, his eyes and expressions changing in an instant, Katsuragi suddenly remembered something—Lee has poor alcohol tolerance and even worse behavior when drunk.
"Lee, what are you doing?"
At this moment, Tenten and Neji also noticed Lee's abnormality. Observing him adopting a combat stance, Tenten couldn't help but ask in confusion.
Katsuragi quickly got up, looking seriously at Lee, and said to Neji and Tenten nearby, "Tenten, Neji, something seems very wrong with Lee. You guys go find Guy-sensei quickly!"
Hearing Katsuragi's serious tone, Neji and Tenten exchanged glances, sensing that the situation was indeed serious, and nodded. Tenten then said, "I'll go find the teacher, you guys watch Lee here."
"Let Neji go instead!"
Katsuragi quickly added, "Guy-sensei went to the bathroom..."
"Uh!" Tenten paused, her face flushing as she realized the implication—if Guy was in the men's restroom, she couldn't enter. She immediately told Neji, "Then you go quickly!"
"Alright, be careful here!"
Neji didn't waste any time. Seeing Lee wobbling but ready to strike, Neji nodded and tried to bypass him to get out and find Guy.
However, as soon as Neji got close, Lee suddenly made a move. His bandaged right hand struck towards Neji in a bizarre posture, catching Neji off guard.
"This guy!"
Katsuragi didn't know what to say about Neji standing there in a daze. He instantly rushed over. At this moment, Lee was not fully aware, and if Neji got hit with a combo, it could result in serious injury.
Fortunately, Katsuragi's greatest strength was his speed, allowing him to intercept Lee's attack in time. However, this act inadvertently triggered Lee's hidden talent—Drunken Fist—and he began a relentless assault.
"What are you waiting for, go find Guy-sensei now!"
Katsuragi couldn't help but comment on Neji's hesitation, urgently prompting him while telling Tenten, "Tenten, please help clear out the customers, Lee seems to be drunk!"
"Understood!"
Although Tenten was extremely surprised by Katsuragi's ability, she understood the urgency of the situation and quickly followed Neji out, starting to clear out the restaurant's patrons.
"Lee, wake up..."
In truth, Katsuragi could have knocked Lee out instantly if he wanted, given that Lee had just graduated and probably hadn't learned the Eight Gates from Guy yet, making him not as strong as he was during the Chunin Exams in the original story.
But doing so would expose his strength, and even though there was no one around to see this time, Katsuragi preferred to play it safe. After all, it was just a spar.
"This restaurant, though!"
Katsuragi took a moment to look at the already ruined booth and then at Lee, who was slowly retreating outside. He couldn't help but feel sympathy for Guy's wallet.
Finally, when Katsuragi and Lee had nearly destroyed the barbecue restaurant, Lee passed out from exhaustion, and Neji managed to bring Guy back just in time. Fortunately, Tenten had managed the crowd well, and with Katsuragi's help, no one was injured.
"Guy-sensei, I have other things to handle, so I'll be leaving now. See you next time!"
Seeing the restaurant owner approaching with a furious face, possibly looking to make Guy (and potentially Katsuragi) pay for the damages, Katsuragi quickly said his farewells to the still dazed Guy and made a swift exit.
"And that guy Neji!"
On his way home, Katsuragi didn't forget the true instigator of this day's events. If it weren't for Neji, none of this would have happened. He silently vowed to settle scores during their next spar, planning to knock Neji out and teach him a proper lesson.
Returning home, Katsuragi felt an urge to fight someone, a lingering effect of his encounter with Lee. After some thought, he decided to head to the courtyard, where he found Yanyanro and the Three-Tails under the cherry tree.
"Fox sister, Smoke sister!"
Katsuragi greeted them cheerily.
"Katsuragi!" The spirits greeted him back warmly, especially the Three-Tails, who jumped excitedly to his side and suggested, "Katsuragi, let's play cards since training is over!"
"Uh..."
Katsuragi scratched his head awkwardly. Truthfully, he had come to the courtyard hoping to spar with the spirits, and frankly, he was tired of playing the same card games for years.
"Alright, Katsuragi seems to have something on his mind, let's not bother him now," Yanyanro intervened, always more mature and perceptive. Despite her playful and voyeuristic traits, she was essentially a reliable older sister figure, unlike the Three-Tails, who despite a similar physique, acted more like a playful rabbit.
"Actually, I came to spar with you two!" Katsuragi confessed, still feeling unsatisfied from his earlier fight with Lee.
As the day ended, Katsuragi left the courtyard, knowing that serious challenges awaited him after graduation, and there might not be much time left for constant training.
"Who will the future SSR be?" Lying in bed, Katsuragi couldn't help but wonder about the ultimate reward—the SSR spirit. If even the least appreciated SSRs in the game had godly backgrounds, whoever he would summon would greatly enhance his strength, ensuring his survival in this perilous world.
Another quiet day passed, and the next morning, Katsuragi was already out looking for Neji, eager to settle their score. After contemplating all night, he had come up with a fitting punishment for Neji's mischief.
End of Chapter 53