Naruto: The new beginning

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"I admit defeat," Tsubame said, feeling that he could still be rescued.

"The winner, Kankuro," Hayate announced.

The audience began to discuss, "What was that? Is he a puppet master?"

"That's pretty rare."

"It should be quite common in the Hidden Sand Village."

Naruto didn't get involved in the conversation. Instead, he wondered if, in the future, when relations between the villages improved.

He could ask Kankuro to perform a puppet show or even make a cool puppet with him and practice his puppet tricks.

Only Rock Lee didn't care much about puppet masters. He was only concerned about when it would be his turn to fight.

But instead of continuing to pray like he did before, he suddenly figured out a pattern and wanted to try it.

He watched the names on the screen flash by until they finally stopped.

[Inuzuka Kiba vs Akimichi Choji]

"As expected!" Lee punched his left hand with his right fist, a triumphant expression on his face as if he had seen through everything.

Gai is likely on the same wavelength as Lee, as he immediately asks, "Oh? Did you discover something, Lee?"

"Yes, Gai-sensei! I realized that every time I desperately prayed for my turn in the next match, it would not be my turn.

So if I don't pray then maybe it will be?"

Lee looked like someone who believed in reverse psychology, convinced that his desperate "cursed" prayers worked.

But Gai didn't quite get it: "Ah, to figure that out, as expected of you, Lee!"

"Sensei!"

"Lee!"

Inexplicably, the two of them started hugging each other and crying, "Oh, oh, oh! This is youth!" x2

Neji and Tenten slapped their foreheads. Here they go again.

Kakashi chuckled awkwardly. Gai and Lee were still the same. Well, as long as they didn't bother him, it was fine.

"The ninth match of the preliminaries begins!"

Kiba and Choji were familiar with each other.

"Choji, Akamaru and I have gotten a lot stronger, so don't be scared!"

"Woof!" Akamaru barked fiercely.

Choji clenched his fists, steam puffing out of his nostrils.

"I'm ready, Kiba! Asuma-sensei said if I won, he'd treat me to a barbecue! For the sake of barbecue, I won't lose!"

"Stop boasting, Beast Human Clone!"

Kiba dropped down on all fours, his fingernails extending like claws, and then he charged, elbowing Choji.

Choji blocked with his arms crossed, and Kiba jumped back.

"Not bad, but try this! Fang passing Fang!"

Without giving Choji a chance to breathe, Kiba spun like a tornado and charged at him.

Naruto wanted to ask Kiba's family if they sold those toy four-wheel drives—the voice-activated ones.

Choji couldn't take it anymore. He got hit in the stomach, flipping several times before he finally got up.

"Give up, Choji, you can't beat me!"

"I swear on the honour of the Akimichi Clan; I will eat the barbecue Asuma-sensei promised!"

Choji's fighting spirit ignited, and he transformed into a giant ball:

"Expansion Jutsu!"

"Akamaru, Beast Human Clone!"

"Woof!"

Kiba was ready to fight head-on:

"Fang passing Fang!"

"Human Boulder!"

Boom! Boom!

Two white tornadoes collided with a massive rolling meatball. At that moment, countless scientists in the ninja world must have lifted their coffins, ready to shout, "Now the momentum theorem will apply!"

Choji, who had the greater mass, gained the advantage, sending Kiba and Akamaru flying, unable to get back up.

"The winner, Akimichi Choji."

"Yes!" Choji cheered, his joy evident as he trotted up the stairs and hugged Asuma's leg. "Asuma-sensei, barbecue! Barbecue!"

"Alright, alright." Asuma wiped away a cold sweat, realizing this would be a pricey meal. This is the power of food lovers.

The names on the screen shuffled again, and now only three were left: Rock Lee, Dosu Kinuta, and Misumi Tsurugi; whoever wasn't chosen would get a pass.

Misumi Tsurugi was praying for the pass, sincerely hoping for it.

Lee was also praying for the pass, but because he was trying to curse himself with his reverse psychology.

He even asked his two teammates to pray for him to ensure it worked.

Neji wasn't interested in Lee's antics and didn't bother.

Tenten, unable to refuse Lee's plea, whispered, "Please let Lee pass, please let Lee pass..."

So... Lee miscalculated because Tenten was lucky, and under her sincere prayer, Lee got the pass...

[Dosu Kinuta vs Misumi Tsurugi]

When the match was announced, Lee burst into tears, collapsing into an or posture and pounding the ground: "Why! Why!"

"Uh..." Tenten reached out a hand, unsure how to comfort Lee. She knew he wanted to fight. A bye might be lucky for others, but to Lee, it was disappointing.

Just as Tenten was at a loss, a fist suddenly connected with Lee's face, sending him flying into the wall, where he slowly slid down.

Lee clutched his face, looking up with tear-filled eyes, "Gai-sensei?"

Gai embraced Lee, "Lee! Youth is always accompanied by loss and sadness. You just have to believe in the path you're walking and take big steps forward because hard work will never betray you!"

"How inspiring, Gai-sensei!"

"Lee, your youth is just beginning!"

"Sensei!"

"Lee!"

...

Naruto didn't know if it was his imagination, but when Guy and Lee embraced, it seemed like he could hear the sound of waves crashing against rocks and see the afterglow of the setting sun...

The wind snapped Naruto out of his thoughts: "Winner, Dosu Kinuta."

What? What did I miss?

Naruto turned his head. Several senbon needles were scattered around Dosu.

Did I... miss a match because I was watching Gai-sensei and Lee's antics?

Was Gai-sensei's shout of "youth" an illusion? 

Hayate continued, "Now, would the victorious contestants and Rock Lee, please come forward."

Of the eleven contestants, only ten gathered, Zaku had gone to get treated and hadn't returned.

Hayate looked at the ten in front of him and said:

"The preliminaries are over. You will all participate in the final test in a month. Congratulations."

After a brief pause, Hayate continued, "The reason you must wait a month is that important people from various nations will be invited, and they will need time to travel and prepare. You can use this month to improve your skills and gather information on your opponents."

"Cough cough..."

"The final matches will also be one-on-one, with opponents determined by drawing lots."

"Come forward to draw your lots."

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