"Your chakra reserves are small," Sasuke said flatly, his eyes focused. "But your control—your precision—is excellent. You should follow a refined path, one that squeezes every last drop of power out of what you have."
He raised one finger. "Watch closely."
A sharp crack of lightning erupted at his fingertip. The air hummed as a spear of condensed electricity formed, vibrating with lethal precision.
He thrust lightly—
BOOM!
A small, blackened hole appeared in the boulder beside them, its edges still sizzling.
Then Sasuke extended all five fingers. Lightning danced between them, crackling violently. He slashed the air once—five deep, smoking grooves carved themselves into the stone.
"This is control," Sasuke said calmly. "Refinement. Each strand of chakra condensed, focused, shaped until one unit of chakra can hit like five. Understand?"
His tone was cold as ever, but there was patience beneath it.
"Yes," Sakura said quickly, nodding hard. Her eyes were wide, shining. She understood—and she was determined not to embarrass herself in front of him.
She listened to every word as though her life depended on it.
"The better your control, the more you can do," Sasuke continued. "Channel chakra to your feet for balance and speed—walking on water, running on walls. Channel it into your fists to increase striking force. Multiply the power behind every single motion."
His instructions were crisp, exact—the kind of lessons earned through countless battles. Every detail came from experience fighting monsters like Kakashi, Guy, and Naruto himself.
Back then, he had been forced to grow through pain. Now, teaching someone else, Sasuke could see his past mistakes with clarity—and he felt something shift inside him.
"…Naruto was right," he thought. "Helping others train really does sharpen your own blade."
For a moment, a rare smile touched his lips.
Sakura nearly fainted.
"S-Sasuke smiled! He actually smiled!"
Then she slapped herself hard. "No, focus! Focus!"
Sasuke blinked. "What are you doing?"
"Getting my head straight," she muttered, cheeks red.
On the other side of the field, Naruto faced Rock Lee.
"I know you, Rock Lee," Naruto said softly. "Guy-sensei's prized student."
His tone wasn't mocking—just quiet, understanding. But there was a flicker of regret in his eyes.
"You're not a genius," Naruto continued. "You're an ordinary man trying to climb a mountain meant for gods. You push, you bleed, you burn—just to keep up. But at some point, you'll hit your limit. And when that happens, hard work alone won't be enough."
Lee's fists trembled. The words stung because they were true.
Naruto—the golden prodigy, Jōnin at twelve, Konoha's brightest star—stood before him like a wall he could never climb. Compared to him, Rock Lee felt small.
But then, in his heart, a voice echoed—Guy's voice:
"You are a hardworking genius!"
Lee straightened, his eyes burning with renewed fire.
"I understand," he said. "I won't back down."
Naruto smiled faintly. "Good. Because your one real strength is that fire inside you."
His tone hardened, turning sharp.
"So let's see it burn."
He stepped forward, his presence suddenly immense.
"Right now, you're mud—weak, soft, shapeless. I'll forge you in fire until you're reborn as steel. What comes next will hurt worse than anything you've felt before. It'll break you, scorch you, kill you if you hesitate even once."
Lee clenched his fists tighter. He didn't flinch.
Naruto's voice thundered: "If you want to surpass the gifted, then burn yourself to the limit! Blaze so bright you consume everything around you. That's what it means to go beyond!"
Lee's breathing quickened. His pulse roared in his ears.
Finally, he shouted, "Then bring it on!"
Naruto's eyes gleamed. "Take off the weights."
THUD!
Lee unlatched the metal bands from his legs and let them fall. The ground cracked beneath them.
"Guy-sensei taught you the Eight Inner Gates, didn't he?" Naruto asked. "Then open them. All of them. Push yourself past your limits."
Lee froze. "W-What?!"
Guy's warnings rang in his head. The Eight Gates were forbidden—each gate unlocked drew on life energy, shredding the body from within. Only in moments of absolute desperation could one open them safely.
But Naruto's voice cut through his hesitation.
"If you never burn, you'll never shine. The Eight Gates are your path—ignite it!"
Lee's eyes widened. Then he took a deep breath.
"…Is it time," he whispered, "to prove my way of the ninja?"
He shouted, "Eight Inner Gates! Open—The Gate of Opening!"
BOOM!
A wave of wind burst from him as his chakra flared violently.
Naruto's cold voice followed. "Not enough. You're not burning yet."
Lee roared again, chakra blazing brighter.
"Gate of Healing—OPEN!"
"Still not enough!" Naruto shouted. "Burn harder!"
"Gate of Life—OPEN!"
Chakra exploded from Lee's body like green fire. His hair whipped around, eyes glowing with fierce resolve.
Every muscle screamed, every nerve burned—but he didn't stop.
Outside the field, Guy's heart seized.
"Enough, Lee!" he shouted. "You'll destroy your body!"
He knew exactly what those gates did—how they boosted strength at the cost of tearing flesh and rupturing organs.
But Naruto's calm voice rang out again, cutting through the chaos.
"On this level? Not enough to fly."
His words struck deep.
"If you want to surpass your limits, go beyond your pain. Tear down every wall inside you! Burn yourself alive, Rock Lee!"
Lee's eyes blazed. His teeth clenched.
"Gate of Pain—OPEN!"
"Gate of Limit—OPEN!"
The earth trembled. Crimson steam burst from Lee's pores, wrapping him in a blazing red aura. His skin flushed dark, veins bulging.
He looked like a living inferno—like a man possessed by pure will.
Naruto's golden eyes gleamed in awe.
"Yes," he said softly. "That's it."
Then he raised his voice, the sound echoing across the training field.
"Now, show me!"
Lee's voice roared like thunder.
"COME ON, NARUTO! HIT ME WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE!"
Naruto's lips curved into a fierce grin.
"Rock Lee," he said, his voice trembling with excitement, "burn yourself to the ultimate flame! Transcend your limits—and show me your true self!"
The ground shook as the two lunged toward each other—one, a genius who burned like the sun,
the other, a mortal who refused to stop chasing it.
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