"Leaf Whirlwind!"
The moment the battle began, Rock Lee immediately charged forward, leaping into the air, and delivered a swift and fluid spinning side-kick directly at Neji's face!
However, in front of the Byakugan, such a linear attack trajectory was perfectly clear. Neji simply shifted his body slightly and raised his arm, effortlessly blocking the powerful kick.
Immediately after, he flipped his wrist, his fingertips imbued with a faint Chakra, and counter-attacked with a Gentle Fist strike aimed directly at Lee's chest pressure points!
In an instant, their figures rapidly intertwined in the center of the arena. Fists whistled, and legs blurred like whips! Lee's offense was like a fierce storm, powerful and swift, while Neji remained composed, using Gentle Fist to counter every move. His blocks and dodges were perfectly timed, even allowing him to seize tiny openings in Lee's attacks, constantly attempting to suppress him with pressure point strikes.
Amidst the fierce exchange, Neji calmly analyzed the situation. Indeed, Lee's Taijutsu speed and strength had improved significantly since the last time he challenged him several years ago.
But with the Byakugan's insight, keeping up with Lee's movements was still effortless.
Neji was confident that Lee lacked effective long-range attack methods. As long as he continued to engage in close-quarters combat, relying on Gentle Fist's ability to seal Chakra points, the scales of victory would eventually tip in his favor!
Under his sustained pressure, the initially aggressive Lee gradually shifted to defense, constantly blocking and dodging the fingers that relentlessly targeted his pressure points like a persistent parasite.
Lee knew very well that once his Chakra pathways were sealed by Gentle Fist, preventing him from channeling Chakra, his final trump card would also be unusable.
"As expected, that bushy-browed kid can't hold on much longer, can he?"
"After all, with a Hyuga Clan member, he can only fight in close quarters. There's no way for him to break through."
In the stands, Konoha Ninja commented on the advantages and disadvantages of the situation. However, Kakashi didn't believe that this Ninja, who was so similar to Might Guy, would be defeated so easily—especially when he glanced at Might Guy beside him, whose face showed no worry but instead a look of immense confidence.
On Kakashi's other side, Satsuki had a calm expression, as if the fierce battle in the arena hadn't stirred much emotion in her. The only thing she cared about was the upcoming duel.
"Lee, is this all the progress you've made over the years?" Neji said in a low voice after forcing Lee back once more, his tone carrying the confidence befitting a strong opponent. "At this level, you won't be able to defeat me!"
Lee used the recoil from his block to leap backward, simultaneously throwing a few shuriken to temporarily impede Neji's pursuit, landing steadily a few meters away.
He took a deep breath, his expression becoming incredibly serious.
"Neji... as expected, you are very strong," he said, looking directly into Neji's eyes. "This time, before the battle began, I already asked Teacher Guy for permission. I will go all out, and I will not disappoint you!"
As his voice fell, to the astonishment of everyone, Lee slowly squatted down, revealing something unnatural beneath his shin guards. Everyone understood what it was.
"...Weights?"
Neji clearly saw the objects on Lee's legs, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned upward, forming a battle-hungry smile filled with fighting spirit. Indeed, his teammate would never give up so easily!
In the waiting room, Naruto, watching Lee begin to remove his restraints in the arena, and Neji's undisguised battle-hungry smile... hoped he would still be able to smile so happily later.
"Alright! This is much easier!"
Lee stood up, loosening his hands—
"Bang!!!"
The next moment, a scene that made almost all the spectators' faces change drastically occurred! The two seemingly ordinary weighted leg guards, the moment they left Lee's hands and free-fell to the ground, slammed down like two heavy boulders, emitting a deafening roar!
As the dust slowly settled, two shallow craters were clearly visible on the solid ground! Carrying such heavy objects for daily training and combat? This insane sight even caused a flicker of unconcealed astonishment in the eyes of the usually aloof Satsuki.
"Might Guy... you really are reckless."
Kakashi looked at the craters on the ground, unable to help but complain to his friend beside him. Might Guy, however, had already excitedly stood up, waving his fists and shouting loudly like the most fervent spectator.
"Go, Lee! Show everyone your Ninja Way!"
Neji's battle-hungry smile instantly froze. He never expected that his teammate, with whom he spent every day, had been fighting him while carrying such terrifying weights all this time?!
Before he could even fully process the fact that Lee had only been slightly at a disadvantage under such restraints, his vision blurred! After removing the weights, Lee's speed underwent a qualitative leap. His figure instantly closed in like a ghost, his fist already striking towards his face with a sharp gust of wind!
"Bang!"
Neji barely managed to block the punch with the instinctive reaction of his Byakugan, but his arm was left slightly numb. However, Lee's figure retreated after one strike, almost simultaneously appearing behind Neji as if teleporting, and the second wave of attack followed immediately!
"This is bad!"
Neji clearly realized that Lee's current speed had surpassed the range his Byakugan could comfortably handle! In this critical moment, he did not choose a futile block. Instead, he made a decisive move, lowering his center of gravity, rapidly stomping his feet, and instantly releasing a massive amount of Chakra from all his pressure points!
In the stands, Hyuga Hiashi watched Neji's movements in the arena, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes. There was pride for the family genius, but even more, a deep-seated guilt and helplessness. He slightly turned his head and spoke to his young daughter beside him.
"Hanabi, watch closely. This is your cousin, Hyuga Neji—the genius who has, to this day, most perfectly inherited the Hyuga Clan's bloodline and talent."
"Revolving Heaven!"
In the arena, Neji, through high-speed rotation and Chakra release, instantly formed a spherical, azure Chakra shield, protecting his entire body impenetrable!
Lee's pursuing side-kick couldn't be retracted in time, and his leg was instantly caught in the violent Chakra vortex! With a grinding sound, Lee's figure was violently flung away by the force of the Revolving Heaven, tumbling clumsily several times on the ground before he barely managed to regain his footing.
A chorus of gasps and exclamations of regret immediately erupted in the stands.
"It's still not enough, is it? That move just now was..."
"Revolving Heaven! But isn't that an absolute defense technique that only the Hyuga Main Family is allowed to learn? How can he..."
Amidst the murmurs, Neji slowly stopped spinning and stood steadily. After recovering from his initial shock, his mindset had returned to calmness.
The high-intensity training he had undergone over the past month with Tenten's assistance had allowed him to master Revolving Heaven to an almost flawless degree. He thought with certainty.
No matter how fast Lee was, facing this almost perfectly impenetrable absolute defense, for Lee, who only excelled in Taijutsu and lacked long-range attack methods... he... had no reason to lose!
However, Lee not only showed no sign of distress or frustration, but his face instead showed a sense of affirmation, as if thinking, "As expected of Neji, I really need to use my true abilities."
He stood up, first looking up at Might Guy in the stands, then slowly began to unwrap the white bandages on his hands.
Immediately after, an unusually rapid, visibly green stream of energy began to rise from around Lee's body! The intense surge of Chakra even disturbed the surrounding air, emitting a low hum.
Lee crossed his arms in front of his body. Neji's expression was incredibly solemn, his Byakugan locked onto his opponent, and alarm bells rang in his heart. "What is this technique...? This Chakra..."
"Neji... I swear I will surpass you!"
Lee's voice trembled slightly with the surge of power. "Teacher Guy! Please acknowledge me! It's now—at this moment, I will uphold my Ninja Way!"
Feeling the continuously rising, heart-pounding pressure around Lee, like the calm before a storm, Neji finally clearly realized that this moment was when Rock Lee was truly holding nothing back, going all out!
"Third Gate, Gate of Life, Open!"
Lee's roar thundered like a clap of lightning, and the surging green energy around him instantly became violent and dazzling!
"Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain—Open!!!"
Lee's aura surged wildly! The moment the Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain, burst open, a violent Chakra far exceeding anything before swept across the entire arena like a volcanic eruption!
Lee's skin turned crimson, his blood vessels bulged hideously, and his entire being seemed to transform into a war god burning with green flames!
A powerful shockwave spread outwards from him, and even distant spectators could feel the scorching heat and oppressive sensation washing over them!
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"