"Unexpectedly, Lee's actions just now triggered an epiphany in Ryūshi. The power of Swift Release has become even stronger because of it. This could be troublesome," Kakashi said, though his expression showed no real concern.
"The stronger the opponent, the more Lee can unleash his youthfulness. That strength—he hasn't even used it yet!" Guy stared intently at the two fighters below, whose movements were becoming increasingly unpredictable.
The incredible transformation displayed by Lee particularly—and to some extent, Ryūshi—shocked many spectators. Especially in Lee's case, almost nobody had expected that this guy, who dressed so oddly and often spoke irrationally, could possess such overwhelming power. Recalling the things Lee had said before, many people couldn't help but feel a newfound admiration for him. After all, how many people in this world could push themselves so hard in their training of Taijutsu?
Temari's feelings, however, were far more complicated. Her heart raced as she watched the constantly shifting tides of battle—after all, the outcome between these two men directly affected her future marriage plans.
Chapter 200: [Final - Konoha's Lotus Will Bloom Again]
Two figures darted back and forth across the battlefield. The Genin watching could barely follow their movements anymore; only the Jonin present could still track their actions clearly.
After another fierce clash of fists, the two fighters sprang apart, each standing at opposite ends of the arena, panting heavily.
"Heh, this kind of fight is truly exhilarating! I'm already looking forward to our next battle!" Ryūshi exclaimed excitedly. However, thinking about his true mission here in Konoha, he sighed inwardly, his eyes briefly showing a complex mix of emotions.
"Youth never fades! Whenever you come looking for me, I'll always accept your challenge!"
Lee's chakra began to slowly calm down, and obvious signs of fatigue appeared on his face.
"I bet that move of yours doesn't last long either," Ryūshi mused aloud after a moment. "It looks like I'll be the one claiming victory this time."
"Is that so?" Although clearly exhausted, Lee's tone held no real concern over the possibility of losing. "Your current speed matches my state when I open the Fourth Gate. But I forgot to mention something—what you saw earlier wasn't even my limit."
"Huh? What do you mean?" A sudden chill ran through Ryūshi's body as a bad feeling crept into his mind.
"I originally thought using the Fourth Gate would be enough to defeat you. Now I see—I was being too arrogant!" Lee smiled as he continued, "Now I'll show you my true limit—my ultimate speed! Are you ready?"
Down below, Temari paid little attention to their conversation. When she saw Lee's chakra begin to fade, she finally let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Well well, looks like I took the bet. Ready to pay up, Sakura?" Temari asked excitedly—the Sand Village had really struck gold this time with supplies worth one billion.
"Are you sure you've won?"
Sakura chuckled, "That Ryūshi fellow actually achieved a transcendence of his Kekkei Genkai at the critical moment, allowing him to rival Lee's Fourth Gate state. But the Fourth Gate isn't even the limit of Lee's speed! His true speed can reach a level similar to Quicksilver's!"
Lee's evolved special ability was speed, just like Quicksilver from the Marvel Universe. Though Lee was nowhere near Quicksilver's level yet, he could still momentarily achieve speeds much greater than his Fourth Gate state—easily overpowering Ryūshi.
"Huh?!" Temari had a giant question mark over her head. She didn't understand who this 'Quicksilver' Sakura mentioned was, but deep in her heart, she felt her heartbeat quicken with an ominous premonition.
Lee vanished. Right under Ryūshi's and everyone else's watchful eyes, he suddenly disappeared, as if he'd instantly relocated.
"How is this possible?!"
Ryūshi cried out in alarm. Swift Release didn't just boost his speed—it sharpened his vision too, especially his ability to track fast-moving objects. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to attack or defend while moving at such high speeds. At this moment though, Ryūshi discovered that even his superior dynamic vision couldn't track Lee's movements. The only possible conclusion was that Lee was moving so fast that it exceeded the limits of his visual tracking capabilities.
[Blossom forth, the Lotus of Youth!]
A strange cry echoed through the air. No figure appeared, but Ryūshi felt pain—as if an invisible person was hitting him. Yet Ryūshi understood that this wasn't a case of invisibility; rather, his opponent was simply moving too fast for his eyes to follow, creating an effect similar to invisibility.
"Phew!"
A mouthful of blood spat from Ryūshi's lips. After taking over a dozen blows from Lee's lightning-fast attacks, his already battered body from the Primary Lotus was starting to fail him. His internal bones and organs began aching.
Crash!
Lee drove a powerful kick into Ryūshi and sent him flying. Lee reappeared at his original position, looking at Ryūshi lying on the ground, unable to get up, and declared, "This match is mine!"
"Cough cough," Ryūshi coughed up a couple mouthfuls of blood. His bruised and swollen face broke into a smile though. "I lost. Your Ninja Way is correct—hard work really can surpass talent. This time I lost, but next time might be different. Don't ever let your guard down, or next time the winner will be me!"
"I'll be waiting for your challenge. And next time, the winner will still be me!" Lee said confidently. "Because youth will never allow me to slack off!"
"You really are something else, aren't you!" Ryūshi smiled through his wounds, making his injured cheek twitch painfully. He must've gotten seriously hurt this time—he'd probably need at least a month to recover. That meant he wouldn't be part of the plan set for next month. He no longer needed to feel conflicted about whether to stand against this guy or not. This was the best defeat he'd ever tasted.
"The winner is Rock Lee from the Hidden Leaf Village."
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>