In the arena.
Rock Lee, dressed in his signature green jumpsuit, his eyes beneath thick eyebrows burning with fervent fighting spirit, gave a thumbs-up to Naruto, who stood casually opposite him. A dazzling white flash gleamed from his teeth: "Naruto! Today is the day I uphold my Ninja Way! Even against you, I will not back down!"
"Let me show you the fruits of my desperate hard training over the past month!"
When Rock Lee said 'hard training,' it undoubtedly meant an even more arduous regimen, one that ordinary people could not endure.
Perhaps the battle at the central tower in the Death Forest made Rock Lee realize the gap between him and a Jinchuriki, prompting him to strive even harder.
"A month of hard training?"
Naruto smiled brightly, remembering that he hadn't been idle this month either.
Aside from the un-unlocked dungeon on the dark side of the Red Moon, he had practically cleared the Underworld.
Under the sweep of the Black Dragon Monarch and the Shadow Army, the Underworld was not only cleared out, but the Shadow Army grew to the limit of the Shadow Monarch's dominion. Naruto himself also leveled up from LV45 to LV80.
A full 35 levels, meaning he gained 350 free attribute points!
Uzumaki Naruto
Race: Human
Level: LV80
Class: Shadow Monarch
Strength: 300
Agility: 300
Constitution: 800
Spirit: 360
Naruto chose to allocate the 350 free attribute points to Agility and Spirit.
"You're not the only one who's improved in a month's time."
"Lee, come at me with everything you've got. Go all out and let me see your progress."
Naruto stood casually, with no sign of Chakra surging around him, as if he were just an ordinary sunny teenager. Only his deep, azure eyes occasionally flashed with an inhuman, calm luster.
The proctor for the official Chunin Exams was Shiranui Genma.
Shiranui Genma, wearing a blue hat, a blue tight-fitting combat suit, and a green Jonin mesh armor outside, held a senbon in his mouth. He raised one hand high, shouted the word "Begin," and then instantly left the arena.
Rock Lee didn't rush to make a move. Instead, he waved to Might Guy in the audience: "Guy-sensei, I want to go all out from the very beginning."
Others were confused, but Might Guy understood what he meant.
He extended a thumb, baring a mouthful of brilliant white teeth, and gave his signature smile, encouraging him with passionate words: "Don't worry, I allow it! Fight with confidence and boldness!!"
"Oh~"
"Thank you, Guy-sensei!"
Rock Lee's eyes sparkled with excitement. He sat down on the spot and took off the orange leg warmers on his calves.
Inside the leg warmers were beige weighted bags tied to his ankles and calves, each inscribed with the characters for 'Guts'.
"Alright, now it's much easier to move around, and I can unleash my full strength."
Rock Lee held the weighted bags, feeling a sense of relief.
"Just two weighted bags, what difference can they make?"
"Tch, just putting on a show. Konoha Village Ninja don't seem to be anything special."
"Hmph! It's just a little lighter, that's all."
Voices of disdain or doubt constantly came from the audience.
However.
These noisy discussions vanished as Rock Lee released his hands, allowing the two weighted bags to drop to the ground, leaving only a resounding "thud" that echoed through the arena.
The weighted bags created two spiderweb-cracked craters, and a cloud of dust rose.
The audience was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, then a huge uproar erupted.
Including the Konoha Village Jonin instructors, and the Genin who were also participating in this Chunin Exams with Rock Lee, all were dumbfounded.
"What—what the hell are these weighted bags?"
"They're too heavy——"
"If I tied on such heavy weighted bags, I'd probably have trouble walking, let alone jumping around."
Kakashi Hatake's peripheral vision glanced at Might Guy, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
"That Guy is really reckless!" Might Guy shouted with boiling passion, "Go, Lee—!"
Rock Lee relaxed and jumped in place, stretching his muscles, looking at Naruto who had remained still, allowing him to remove his weighted bags.
"Indeed, without the weights, I feel much lighter."
"Naruto, thank you, but next, you must be prepared not to get too badly hurt, because—I won't hold back!"
"Konoha Whirlwind!!"
After a brief warm-up, Rock Lee showed no hesitation, starting with his signature high-speed taijutsu.
"Swish"
His figure instantly transformed into a blurry green afterimage, carrying a tearing shriek through the air, his right leg sweeping horizontally like a steel whip towards Naruto's waist!
The speed was so fast that even ordinary Genin—no, Chunin—couldn't track it! Gasps erupted from the audience!
This strike's ferocity far exceeded the preliminary round level!
However—
"Clap!"
A crisp sound, like swatting a fly.
Naruto didn't even move his feet; he merely raised his left hand in a flash, casually flicking it outwards with the back of his hand. The movement was fluid and natural, as if brushing away a wisp of breeze.
Rock Lee's full-force strike, which could have kicked down ancient trees, was actually diverted by this seemingly casual flick!
The immense force made Rock Lee lose balance in mid-air, spinning as he landed and retreating several steps before steadying himself, his face filled with shock!
"So—so strong! And he completely saw through my movements?" Rock Lee looked incredulous.
"Again!"
Rock Lee growled, his fighting spirit completely ignited!
He no longer held back, pushing his speed to the limit!
"Konoha Style Taijutsu!"
Rock Lee once again charged forward at high speed, leaving several afterimages around Naruto.
Fists, feet, elbows, and knees rained down on Naruto from various tricky angles like a furious storm.
Each attack condensed with tempered power and speed, and the air exploded with dull thuds!
However, Naruto remained standing in place, like the most steadfast reef at the center of a storm. His hands, and sometimes even just one hand, drew simple yet incredibly precise trajectories in front of him.
"Clap, clap, clap"
Block! Parry! Guard!
Every block was perfectly timed, effortlessly deflecting Rock Lee's attacks, which were strong enough to shatter stone.
Those heavy blows, capable of breaking the bones and tearing the muscles of ordinary Ninja, landed on the back of Naruto's hands, but only produced dull thuds like striking fine steel, unable to even make his body sway an inch!
The more Rock Lee fought, the more startled he became.
He had taken his opponent, Naruto, seriously and had removed his weighted bags from the start. His speed was already at its peak, and his strength was unleashed without reservation, but Naruto's defense was like an insurmountable chasm!
The opponent's reaction speed, physical toughness, and power level were all completely beyond his comprehension.
It was as if his full-force attacks were merely tickling a mountain!
"If that's the case—!"
Rock Lee suddenly leaped back to create distance, breathing heavily, a determined fire burning in his eyes.
He crossed his hands over his chest, and the Chakra within his body began to surge in a violent manner!
"First Gate: Gate of Opening! Open!"
"Second Gate: Gate of Healing! Open!"