Chapter 230: Team Guy's Specialty
The current Inuzuka Kiba partnered with Akamaru—though he hadn't yet mastered "Fang Over Fang," his "Piercing Fang" combined with Four Legs Technique meant his comprehensive abilities were already among the best of his peers, solidly reaching chunin level.
So then, what was Rock Lee's current strength, standing across from him?
The answer might be somewhat astonishing—even while wearing his heavy weights daily, Lee's strength was enough to crush the Uchiha Sasuke from the original work who'd awakened his Sharingan at this time.
If he removed his weights, his speed could even surpass Gaara's so-called "absolute defense" sand. And when he went all out, opening the fifth gate "Forest Gate" of the Eight Gates, he could treat Gaara like a punching bag, kicking him repeatedly in midair!
If Naruto was a "cheat character," Satsuki a "genius," and Gaara a "monster," then Lee was a "hardworking ordinary person" with no natural talent, built purely through sweat and perseverance.
Yet it was precisely this "ordinary person" who, at such a young age, already possessed terrifying taijutsu abilities comparable to elite jonin! In the original work, he'd practically crushed all candidates except Gaara.
However, aside from Naruto who knew the inside story, the other spectators hadn't realized this would be such a lopsided match.
Most even favored Inuzuka Kiba from his prestigious clan.
"It's finally time for me to shine! Akamaru! We have to win!" Kiba shouted confidently, leaping into the arena alongside Akamaru.
"Woof!" Akamaru responded with equal fighting spirit.
In the arena, the two stood opposite each other. Lee assumed a standard steel fist ready stance, his gaze focused. Though he hadn't encountered Naruto, Neji, or Gaara—the opponents his heart most desired to face—he absolutely wouldn't underestimate his opponent because of it.
"Then... ahem... please begin, you two." Gekko Hayate gave the command to start the match.
Battle erupted in an instant! And this is what happened over the next minute.
Kiba immediately formed hand seals with both hands, calling out in a low voice, "Beast Mimicry Ninja Art: Four Legs Technique!" Chakra rapidly strengthened his limbs, his fingertips becoming sharp, his entire being like a beast ready to pounce.
"Here we come!"
Before his words finished, Kiba and Akamaru lunged fiercely at Lee!
However—their swift combined assault was dodged with just a casual sidestep from Lee.
What?!
Kiba's heart dropped with shock. His opponent had so easily neutralized their joint attack, and that face topped with a bowl cut and thick eyebrows didn't show even the slightest change in expression, remaining so calm it was chilling.
As Kiba's first attack missed and his body charged forward from momentum, Akamaru launched another assault, lunging straight for Lee's arm!
However, this swift bite appeared in Lee's vision like slow-motion replay—crystal clear. He simply bent his elbow slightly, letting the fangs graze past, while simultaneously transforming his other hand into a knife-hand strike toward Akamaru's neck.
"Whine—!"
Akamaru let out a short yelp, his small body sent flying by the force, tumbling to the ground unconscious.
"Akamaru!"
Witnessing his partner's unconsciousness, Kiba's pupils contracted violently from shock and worry. What's with this guy?!
He finally clearly realized that this seemingly unremarkable thick-browed person before him possessed strength far beyond what he could reach.
Kiba instinctively wanted to rush toward Akamaru to check his condition—of course, Lee had already held back against a fellow village ninja; Akamaru was only temporarily unconscious—but the moment he became distracted, Lee's figure had already closed in! That speed exceeded Kiba's dynamic visual capture ability! He could only rely on combat instinct to hastily throw a punch in response!
However, all his movements appeared to Lee as if trapped in viscous mud—full of openings, slow and powerless.
The difficulty of this battle... was truly disappointing.
A trace of disappointed loneliness flashed through Lee's heart. He easily deflected Kiba's non-threatening punch, then pushed off with his feet, his body lightly rising into the air, tracing a perfect arc.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
The fierce side kick carried the sound of cutting through air, sweeping toward Kiba's chest and abdomen! Kiba frantically raised both arms trying to block, but Lee's leg speed far exceeded his reaction limit! His defensive posture hadn't fully formed when an irresistible force already slammed heavily into him!
Bang!
Kiba's entire body flew backward, his back hitting the wall with a dull thud before sliding to the ground, completely losing consciousness.
"..."
The entire preliminary venue fell into dead silence. Had all of that just lasted a minute? No, probably not even thirty seconds! This genin named Rock Lee... his strength was actually this terrifying?!
The jonin in the proctor seats naturally saw clearly. From the speed and momentum Kiba initially displayed, his strength wasn't weak—even commendable. The only explanation for such a crushing result could only be—this thick-browed boy was simply too strong!
"Then... the winner of this match is Rock Lee."
After confirming Inuzuka Kiba was indeed unconscious, Gekko Hayate couldn't help but take another look at the thick-browed youth in the arena before announcing the match result.
"Lee—!"
Suddenly, a voice loud as a bell and brimming with passion resonated throughout the entire exam hall. As Hyuga Neji and Tenten seemed to anticipate something, simultaneously retreating several steps and turning their faces away in tacit understanding, trying to distance themselves from the center—
Might Guy descended directly from the spectator seats like a green whirlwind!
"Sensei!" Lee immediately turned toward the voice, responding excitedly, the same light shining in his eyes.
Under everyone's astonished and somewhat stunned gazes, Might Guy actually began crying without warning, bean-sized tears rolling down his resolute, thick-browed cheeks.
"Lee... you kid..." His voice carried a sob.
As if infected by this emotion, Lee's eyes instantly brimmed with tears, tears streaming out. "Sensei... I... I succeeded!"
Is this genjutsu?! Naruto rubbed his eyes in horror, because he seemed to truly see surging ocean waves and a blood-red sunset background effect behind that passionately gazing master-student pair!
"Good! Don't say anything more!" Guy spread his arms wide.
"Sensei!"
"Lee!"
The next moment, under the complex gazes of all candidates and proctors in the venue, two figures with bowl cuts and equally thick eyebrows—one large, one small—charged toward each other and embraced tightly, sobbing loudly.
This overly "passionate" expression of youth made most onlookers feel an inexplicable chill, the air thick with an atmosphere of intermingled awkwardness and confusion.
Perhaps disturbed by the commotion, or perhaps because Lee had indeed shown mercy, Kiba—being carried on a stretcher by medical ninja—slowly regained consciousness.
He struggled to lift his head, his blurry vision gradually clearing to reveal that embracing, sobbing pair of green figures...
I... I actually lost to these kinds of people...
An indescribably complex emotion—mainly shame and disbelief—instantly rushed to his head. His throat caught, his eyes rolled back, and unable to catch his breath, he was actually stimulated into fainting again...
Finally, even the Third Hokage felt his old face couldn't hang on anymore. He cleared his throat several times, signaling the nearby ANBU to quickly escort that master-student pair still releasing "youthful energy" back to the spectator seats.
Gekko Hayate cleared his throat as if relieved of a heavy burden, striving to maintain his proctor's dignity as he signaled the electronic screen to draw the next match.
The screen flickered, names freezing—
[Hyuga Neji VS Hyuga Hinata]