Konoha, Death Forest.
THUD!!
Digging his feet into the ground Lee stopped his backward stride and raising his head gave Isagi a shocked look. "He's strong…. there's a genin in the village this strong and completely fameless?"
Thought Lee as before the exam he had thought only Sasuke Uchiha and his teammate Hyuga Neji from the village could give him a challenge but this genin about the same age as him was equally dangerous, he was confused why such a guy had no fame among the genin circle.
"And he easily neutralized my attack and didn't show any sign of trouble at my speed, with just two gates its impossible for me to take him down but…I need to take my weights off."
Lee remembered how Guy Sensei had told him that he could only take off the weights when it involved protecting those close to him and now clearly was the time, if he didn't and tried to open more gates it will put too much strain on his body.
Swish!
BOOM!!!
But as Lee reached towards his legs, his danger instinct screamed and he brought his hands before his face, crossing them as next second a fist hit his arms carrying immense force.
"Aghh!!"
Even though his trained body was very durable, Lee still felt pain as the fist hit his arms and he groaned in pain, blown away again.
"Huh…do you really think I'll give you time to power up?" Thought Isagi with a smile on his face, not wasting time and rushing towards Lee again, not intending to give him any breathing space and take him down quickly.
Isagi didn't care about a fair fight, he hadn't told Lee to put weights on and now that had become a clear weakness for him to exploit, there was no way he would risk fighting Lee at his maximum strength, at least not now.
DAMN!!
Lee skidded backward, dust pluming around his sandals. He grit his teeth, reaching for his weights—but a shadow flashed before him. Isagi was already there, fist gleaming with chakra, Lee cursing in frustration and once again bringing his aching arms before his face, Isagi's punch like before landing and on the same spot.
Crack!!
Ahhh!!!
This time there was a clear sound of bones cracking, Lee somewhat immune to physical pain due to his hellish training unable to hold back his scream from the pain, his bones hadn't just been broken but it seemed like they had been cracked to pieces, the pain way more than a normal dislocation.
The force of the punch once again blew Lee away who was trying to keep his mind focused on the battle despite the pain but the level of pain too much for him to completely ignore and focus solely on the battle.
Digging his feet into the ground Lee stopped his backward movement but, on his face, a frustrated look, a kunai placed on his neck as Isagi right behind him with a smile on his face.
On the other hand, Mei and Ryota's simultaneous attack was once again deflected by Neji using 128 divine strikes, both showing a clear exhausted face with some wounds on their bodies though Neji aside from dust and torn clothes due to the earlier explosion, completely fine.
"You've done enough…let me put an end to your misery." Neji could see his opponents were barely hanging on, with a look of indifference in his pale eyes announcing their fate in a cold tone, taking a step towards them but it halting half-way due to a sudden voice.
"Yo Hyuga Kid!" The casual voice devoid of any fear for him fell in Neji's ears, his eyes tracing the source and widening immediately at the sight, Mei and Ryota looking at it even more shocked.
Isagi stood tall, his fingers tightening around Lee's throat as he held him suspended in the air. Lee's limbs hung powerless at his sides, his body devoid of any motion — his life and death now resting solely in Isagi's grasp.
Neji's pale eyes at the scene first showed shock and then replaced with anger and disdain. "Lee…you weakling."
He spat with only anger and disdain for his teammate in his tone, his weakness now resulting in such a situation.
"How about you hand us your scroll and we go our way? I would like to avoid killing a fellow village shinobi though it's not absolute."
"Moreover, if he dies, you'll be out of the exams, would be shameful if a prodigy from the famous Hyuga clan couldn't even clear the second exam…"
"Hehe"
Saying that Isagi let out a mocking laugh on purpose, knowing what would rile this bitter man full of frustration towards his clan and the world.
As expected by Isagi, this man who on the surface talked about fate and destined outcomes in this situation clearly showed anger with his pale eyes nearly turning red from frustration, his nails digging into his palms and blood dripping down slowly, so much not wanting to lose here, especially to the people he had deemed unworthy and lower than him.
Isagi saw Neji struggling for a while but eventually reason prevailing anger and his clenched fists loosened, reaching into his ninja pouch and taking out a scroll and it exactly what they needed, a heaven scroll.
Swish!
Neji threw the scroll towards Mei who caught it immediately and along with Ryota she flashed back and appeared next to Isagi still holding the unconscious Lee.
Swish!
"Well~ Till we meet again." Saying that Isagi threw Lee towards the silent Neji like a piece of garbage and flashed into the dense forest, disappearing and only Neji left standing while holding the unconscious Lee in his hands.
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