Naruto: The new beginning

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Naruto was pleased with Sasuke's performance. Though the scale of the Fire Release isn't on Madara's level, it's still strong enough to roast a layer of skin if used on the One-Tailed Shukaku.

As the flames dissipated, a figure stood in the centre. Rock Lee, arms crossed in front of him, hair spiked, skin reddened, and his clothes tattered.

In the stands, Kakashi looked at Gai in shock. "You actually taught him that technique?"

Gai grinned proudly. "Lee and I are similar, but his perseverance surpasses even that of stone, iron, and steel!"

"You're insane!" Kakashi rubbed his forehead, revealing his Sharingan to observe Lee closely. "How many gates can he open?"

"The fifth gate. Lee is my most prized student," Guy said with a thumbs up. "But don't worry—Lee won't use the fifth gate recklessly against comrades."

Sasuke was startled at the sight of Lee. "Is he... cooked?" No, his Sharingan could see the chakra surging through Lee, intense and erratic. "What is this?"

"This technique was meant to defeat Neji. Sasuke-kun, you're strong, but I want to win!" Lee's foot struck the ground, shattering it as he charged toward Sasuke.

"Uh-oh." Sasuke immediately recognized Lee's speed was beyond his own. Using the fastest seals he'd learned in 12 years, he created a dozen clones to scatter.

Lee struck a clone, only for it to disappear. "A clone technique? Even my eyesight can't tell the difference, but if I break them all…"

Lee moved like an afterimage, smashing through Sasuke's clones, but none were the real ones.

"What is this?"

Sasuke's voice echoed around Lee. "It's my Body Flicker Technique. None of these are real... or maybe they all are."

"Isn't this Shisui's signature move?" Kazekage commented, glancing at Shisui behind Minato.

"Exactly," Shisui replied, while Minato did not object. "Sasuke's talent is remarkable."

Kazekage watched Sasuke with admiration. "Such talent… Uchiha Sasuke, eh? I'll have to find an opportunity to bring him under my wing or maybe his body..."

In the arena, Lee continued his assault, but he couldn't catch Sasuke. Despite his speed, Sasuke's strategy was making Lee desperate.

Sasuke, for his part, is genuinely frightened. Even with the Sharingan, he could barely track Lee's movements, and his body couldn't keep up. 

If his real position were exposed, one punch from Lee would be the end of him.

But Lee's body had reached the limit. Opening the fourth gate had torn his muscles, and the strain on his bones was immense.

Sasuke noticed Lee's movements becoming sluggish. When Lee's fist passed through another clone, Sasuke suddenly appeared, grabbing Lee's wrist with his left hand.

He hadn't anticipated the sheer force behind Lee's movements. 

Sasuke barely managed to stay standing and immediately struck Lee in the face with his right fist. At the same time, Lee's knee smashed into Sasuke's abdomen.

Lee collapsed to the ground, the violent chakra dissipating. His hair and skin returned to normal as he struggled to stand.

Sasuke was thrown back, coughing up blood, but he managed to rise first, breathing heavily as he held a kunai to Lee's neck.

Lee's eyes dimmed as he said, "I lost."

"The winner, Sasuke Uchiha!" Genma announced, and the crowd erupted in applause.

Sasuke sheathed his kunai and extended a hand to Lee, who looked up at him, his eyes dull.

"Rock Lee, you're incredibly strong. If you had gone all out in that last attack..." Sasuke trailed off. He knew Lee had been at his limit, and if the final blow had been at full power, Sasuke wouldn't be standing.

"Next time we meet, I'll be even stronger!" Lee grasped Sasuke's hand and stood.

"Me too." Sasuke helped him to the stands, stopping the medics. He waved to Sakura in the audience, trusting her medical ninjutsu more than the team's.

The medical staff recognized Sakura as a disciple of Tsunade and allowed her to assist. After examining them, she said, "Sasuke's injuries aren't serious. Just a few days of rest. But Lee has torn muscles and a small fracture. He should go to the hospital for proper treatment."

Lee was placed on a stretcher, his spirits low as he passed by Guy. "I'm sorry, Gai-sensei for letting you down."

"That's right, Lee. To punish you for losing to Kakashi's student, run 500 laps around the training field!" Gai declared dramatically. "But, Lee, youth is defined by failure and tears. Never let a single defeat stop you!"

"Oh, Gai-sensei!" Lee, reinvigorated, tried to jump off the stretcher, but the medics pushed him back down.

"Stop messing around, you idiot!" one of the medics snapped at Guy. "If you're his teacher, let him rest properly!"

"Huh?" Gai blinked, stunned as if someone had unplugged his power. He then bowed deeply. "I'm so sorry!"

He gave Lee a thumbs-up. "In that case, Lee, your punishment can wait until you've recovered."

"Yes, Gai-sensei!"

Lee was carried away obediently.

"The next match is Hyuga Neji vs. Kankuro!" Genma called out. "Competitors, please enter the arena!"

In the stands, Sakura and Sasuke joined Naruto.

"Sasuke, are you alright?" Naruto asked.

Sakura frowned. "He should rest, but—"

"I can teleport you with my Flying Thunder God," Naruto offered, placing his hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

"No need. This is nothing," Sasuke shrugged him off. He didn't want to miss Naruto's match over something so minor.

Naruto rolled his eyes, prepared to force Sasuke to rest, when Kankuro's voice interrupted him.

"I forfeit!"

"What?!" The crowd erupted, was the Sand Ninja backing out?

Kankuro, adjusting the puppet on his back, muttered to himself, "I don't want to reveal too much before the plan starts."

"Tch," Neji clicked his tongue in frustration as he slapped the railing, clearly dissatisfied.

Shino, standing a few meters away from Kankuro, perked up. Plan? His sunglasses glinted with a knowing light.

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