[Stamina: 50%]
Sitting in the farthest corner of the classroom at the Shinobi Academy, Lee couldn't help but listen intently to the lecture. Their teacher, a clanless Chūnin with light bangs and a forehead protector tied around his neck, was going over key concepts. After all, Lee wanted to experience the life of a ninja-in-training firsthand, rather than rely on fragmented memories or anime episodes that trimmed down so much of the real experience. Now, this world was his reality, and the journey ahead would last a lifetime.
The lesson covered fundamental principles, which was crucial—after all, in just a month, every student in the class would be taking the Genin exam, including Rock Lee himself.
But then came the pressing question: how was he supposed to become a Genin when he didn't just lack talent in chakra manipulation—he couldn't even perform Ninjutsu or Genjutsu to pass the three basic techniques required for the exam?
"This is ridiculous… I might have to negotiate with the teacher or go straight to the academy director—who, by the way, I haven't even seen yet… Then again, if I prove my Taijutsu skills to be superior to the rest of these fledgling shinobi, there won't be any room left for doubt!" Lee thought with determination, gripping his pen and meticulously noting down everything that would be useful for the theoretical part of the Genin exam.
Finally, the much-anticipated break arrived, offering a chance to rest from the relentless writing. But things rarely go as we hope…
Lee's thick eyebrows furrowed for the first time under the weight of his classmates' stares. Seriously? It felt as though everyone had abandoned whatever they were doing just to gawk at him, their expressions laced with something between curiosity and amusement. Low murmurs spread through the classroom, their hushed tones making it obvious that he was the subject of discussion. However, Lee chose to ignore it. He wouldn't lower himself to the level of petty children.
He would become a master of martial arts—there was no room for foolish squabbles with arrogant brats that might stain his honor as a warrior!
"Hmm… Have you guys noticed? Something's different about Lee…"
"Yeah? Well… now that you mention it, he's weirdly quiet today."
"It's not just that. He seems way too serious, don't you think? Feels like his usual hyperactive energy has… changed."
"What are you guys even talking about? This is just typical Lee. He's probably just in a bad mood because the Genin exam is next month, and he knows he won't be able to pass it!"
That was the kind of chatter that Lee stubbornly refused to acknowledge. It turned out that people had stopped teasing him outright about his so-called "weakness" because, on some level, they sensed the shift in him. Still, they quickly dismissed the thought and decided not to bother him that day. Something about his hardened gaze and the weight of his presence made them uneasy.
Speaking of Lee's iconic thick eyebrows…
If the twelve-year-old kids had once found them comical or outright ridiculous, now they carried an unexpected effect. Just the subtle movement of his brows or a properly executed frown was enough to trigger an instinctive sense of unease among his peers.
"Neji, what do you think? Do you think that loser Lee has any chance of becoming a Genin?" one arrogant student asked another, smirking.
"I don't care. He's just another piece of trash from a small, insignificant family. No matter how hard he tries, he won't escape his fate as a worthless weakling," replied Neji Hyūga in an impassive tone. His dark brown hair fell past his shoulders, and his pale, lavender-tinged eyes—framed by thin, willow-like brows—betrayed no emotion.
Byakugan in the flesh. A dōjutsu so revered that it was known even beyond the borders of the Land of Fire, an ability granted only to those born into the prestigious Hyūga Clan—the most influential family in Konoha. The only ones who could have rivaled them were the now-extinct Uchiha…
…
[Stamina: 80%]
It was time for practical training. The teacher gathered the students in the academy courtyard and instructed them to complete a rigorous physical regimen under the scorching Konoha sun for the next thirty minutes. Running, squats, pull-ups, stretches, and core exercises—everyone participated, regardless of gender.
And, naturally, the most impressive student was none other than Rock Lee, an expert in body conditioning!
Second place went to Neji Hyūga, whose usually composed expression darkened slightly. He found himself questioning how a so-called failure could have reached this level of physical prowess. But Neji quickly masked his irritation with a smug smile when the teacher announced that the next exercise would involve shuriken and kunai throwing.
"He's definitely going to fail at this. There's no way he'll succeed like before… Worthless. With my Byakugan, hitting the target is effortless," Neji mused, feeling his pride wounded by someone he deemed inferior—even though he had previously claimed that Lee didn't matter to him. A lie, it seemed.
And indeed, Lee completely bombed the Bukijutsu training.
Unlike the other students, Lee—just a day ago—had been a regular person who merely dabbled in karate and other martial arts. He had never held a throwing weapon before in his life. Even muscle memory offered no advantage here. But he wasn't discouraged. If anything, his determination flared even brighter. He swore to himself that he would master the art of throwing shuriken and kunai!
"Alright! Good job, everyone! Take a few minutes to rest, and then we'll begin sparring!" the teacher clapped his hands, signaling the next phase of training. He motioned toward a chalk-drawn circle on the field—the designated area for student duels.
Lee's classmates buzzed with excitement, and even he felt a rush of adrenaline. This was it—his first fight in this new world, on his very first day of truly living in it! How could he not be nervous? Finally, he had a chance to test how earthly martial arts translated into the physical abilities of chakra-enhanced shinobi.
"The original Lee often lost sparring matches because he was clumsy and held back. But I won't make that mistake! Even if they pit me against a Hyūga, I won't back down!" His spirit burned with resolve.
One by one, the teacher called names, and pairs of students stepped into the circle. They exchanged the Seal of Confrontation before engaging in battle, the match ending only when one emerged victorious. At the end, they would solidify their sportsmanship with the Seal of Reconciliation.
The class was a mix of clan-born and clanless students, making the matchups all the more interesting. An Akimichi went up against an Aburame. A member of the Sarutobi Clan fought a nameless opponent. Neji Hyūga effortlessly defeated a blond boy from the Yamanaka Clan. Meanwhile, the diligent and sharp-eyed Tenten was paired with a dark-haired girl from the Nara Clan.
Even at their young age, some of these students already demonstrated a skill level close to that of Genin. And as for Lee…
"Get ready to be beaten, loser!" sneered an Inuzuka boy, cracking his knuckles in a display of confidence.
Not a single classmate wished Lee good luck. Only Tenten glanced his way, a hint of concern in her expression. For some reason, she didn't share the same eagerness as the others to see him get knocked down for their amusement…