"It's actually a sand clone!" Everyone was shocked.
In the huge pit below, Gaara's body had shattered into pieces, scattered like broken porcelain.
"When exactly did it happen?!" Guy said with difficulty. "How is this possible?!"
Lee's move was already extremely harmful to the body, but to think he was only attacking a sand clone—that was hard to accept!
"Just when he closed his eyes and prayed," Haruto said lightly.
Everyone nearby turned to Haruto, eager to know when Gaara had used the sand clone.
"When Lee was performing consecutive flying kicks, his movements slowed slightly due to the pain in his legs," Haruto explained calmly. "It was at that moment."
"Sou ka!" Everyone suddenly understood.
Lee pause had lasted only a second, but that slight moment gave Gaara the perfect chance. His insight was terrifying!
"Lee!" Guy looked at Lee below with concern.
At this point, the situation had reversed. Lee's ferocious attack had only stirred Gaara's cruelty, and now Gaara's eyes were turning unhinged.
But due to the side effects of the Lotus,Lee's physical stamina was now below average. He could only dodge, and barely at that.
"Haha!" Gaara sneered. "Is this all you can do?!"
"Weren't you fast? Come on, run!"
He condensed a massive sand hand and began swinging it at Lee like a cat toying with a mouse.
"Lee, stop fighting!" Sakura finally couldn't stand it anymore and cried out. "Give up!"
"You're no match for him!"
"Yeah!" Shikamaru added, his face heavy. "If this continues, he'll be killed!"
But lee ignored them, continuing to search for a chance to counterattack Gaara.
Unfortunately, the strength gap was simply too great. No matter what he did, he couldn't land a blow.
"Am I really going to have to use that technique..." Lee thought with pain in his eyes.
He remembered the promise he made after graduating from the Ninja Academy and his determination every time he saw Neji.
He didn't want to give up—not now.
Who cares about genius?
He just wanted to prove that even without talent, he could surpass genius with sheer effort!
That was his way of the ninja.
In the stands, Guy felt lee's unwavering determination. After a long pause, he nodded slowly.
"Lee, I'll allow you to be reckless—just this once," Guy murmured.
"I understand, Sensei!" Lee saw Guy's signal. As if rejuvenated, he regained his strength and agility.
"Watch closely. Konoha's lotus will bloom once more," Guy said softly.
"You don't mean..." Kakashi was shocked. "Don't tell me you taught him that move."
"You guessed right," Guy replied. "I did."
"Unbelievable!" Kakashi said gravely. "How many gates can he open?!"
"Five," Guy answered.
"Five gates?! Are you insane?!" Kakashi immediately activated his Sharingan, pulling up his headband to verify for himself.
"It's true... five gates!"
"I'm not going to question what that boy means to you, or tell you not to get emotional—but this is too far. I misjudged you, Guy!"
"What is it, Kakashi-sensei?!" Sakura asked, confused by Kakashi's seriousness.
"The Eight Gates formation releases the chakra limiters placed throughout the body," Kakashi explained. "If all eight are opened, Lee could wield power beyond even the Hokage—for a short while."
"But he'll die afterward."
"What?!" Sakura and the others were stunned. Even Neji and Tenten looked aghast.
They hadn't expected Guy to teach such a dangerous move!
"Hmph!" Guy retorted. "What do you know about that child?"
"That child!" he continued, eyes fixed on lee, "Even if he dies, he wants to protect something, to prove something!"
He remembered the look in lee's eyes when they first met. That determined gaze had moved him, made him take Lee in as his student.
And since then, Lee had never disappointed him.
"So I want him to become a man who can protect what he cherishes! That's all."
Below, lee was still dodging Gaara's attacks, but now he was smiling.
"Thank you, Sensei..."
He turned to look at Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji in the stands, making his final decision.
"Sensei Guy, watch me!"
Lee shouted and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Chakra surged around him like an aura, generating powerful wind pressure.
"I don't know what you're doing," Gaara growled, "but this is over!"
"Yes," Lee replied calmly, "After this move... everything will be decided."
"Everyone!" he called out, voice booming with power. "I won't lose here!"
"Now, I will walk my path!"
"Gate of Opening—open!"
"Boom!"
A shockwave erupted from Lee's body, blasting sand and debris away as if from a bomb.
"What the—?!" Gaara was visibly shaken.
Lee's voice changed. His skin flushed red. His hair stood on end. Green energy spiraled around him, rising like a vortex.
It was like a demon had descended.
But Lee didn't stop.
He crossed his arms again and roared:
"Gate of Healing—open!"
End of Chapter.
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