"What kind of ninja technique is this?" Ryūshi was startled by the visible chakra. Such wild chakra was something he had hardly ever seen before.
"This is the only forbidden technique I've devoted all my energy to cultivating. It's also the Ninja Way handed down by Mr. Guy. Only those who work hard can master this move."
Lee was engulfed in chakra, yet his voice remained firm. "Now, I can finally prove to Mr. Guy that my efforts have enabled me to surpass even geniuses!"
Chapter 199: [Konoha's Lotus Will Bloom Again] [Keep Going Full Force]
"Delusional!" Perhaps provoked by Lee, Ryūshi instinctively roared and charged at him. This time, his fully unleashed Swift Release made him dart forward like an arrow, reaching right in front of Lee within a blink. The kunai in his hand ruthlessly slashed toward Lee's neck, clearly intending to kill.
"Your speed is way too slow."
Yet Lee just glanced at him and said something that infuriated Ryūshi. His figure vanished in an instant, like a blur.
"Where'd he go? Where is he?!"
Ryūshi looked around in astonishment, desperately trying to spot Lee.
"Behind you."
Lee's voice came from behind Ryūshi, immediately followed by a powerful flying kick crashing into Ryūshi's back. By the time Ryūshi looked back, Lee had already vanished again.
"How is this possible? How could your speed become so fast?" Ryūshi wore a deeply shocked expression, looking somewhat lost. After all, he was a renowned genius from the Sand Village. His Kekkei Genkai of Swift Release had made him one of the strongest among his peers. Except for Gaara, who had a monster sealed inside him, he'd never been defeated before. Yet this Chunin Exams had truly shaken him—being surpassed by someone considered nothing more than a freak, especially in speed, which was supposed to be his greatest strength.
"Because I've dedicated all my effort solely into Taijutsu!"
Lee shouted fiercely while kicking Ryūshi's body like a sandbag flying back and forth with almost no resistance.
"I don't know any ninjutsu or genjutsu, so all my time has been spent training Taijutsu with Mr. Guy. As the saying goes, the slow bird flies first—I may not be a genius, so I must work harder than others. And it's precisely this effort that allowed me to surpass you, the so-called genius!"
"A genius, huh?!" Feeling continuous pain across his body, Ryūshi couldn't help but reveal a self-mocking smile. Indeed, he was widely recognized as a genius by everyone around him. He awakened the Swift Release at an early age, always shining brighter than his fellow students at the Ninja Academy and among rookie Genin. Countless people believed he was a prodigy—including himself.
[Leaf Gale!]
Lee suddenly kicked Ryūshi under the chin, sending him flying into the air. Lee then swiftly followed, delivering kick after kick.
[Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!]
"This technique is... [Primary Lotus]?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. He had originally thought Lee would keep pummeling the Sand Village boy until he passed out, but instead, Lee chose to end the fight using the ultimate art of the Eight Gates.
"Lee has always wanted to prove himself to me!" Guy exclaimed emotionally. "His effort has surpassed talent itself. He did it! Now Konoha's Lotus will bloom again!"
[Primary Lotus!]
As Guy spoke, the bandages wrapped around Lee's arms instantly unraveled. With quick precision, he wrapped Ryūshi in them and grabbed him from behind. Both bound in cloth, Lee spun rapidly, and together they shot downward like a powerful drill aimed directly at the solid arena ground.
BOOM!
A heavy thud echoed as dust filled the air from the point of impact. Lee nimbly leapt out from the smoke, catching his breath slightly.
The cloud of dust slowly cleared, revealing a large crater left in its wake. Inside lay Ryūshi, sprawled on the shattered battlefield surface now radiating cracks like a spiderweb.
"Is it over?" Hayate Gekko started stepping forward to check on Ryūshi, but surprisingly, the figure inside the crater trembled and slowly climbed back up.
"Heh... Heh... You're seriously strong, weird bowl-cut guy. I admit it—you've proven that effort can truly surpass genius."
Scratches and bruises covered Ryūshi's face and body, yet at this moment, his eyes gleamed brightly.
"That was you who punched me awake. I used to work just as hard as you do now. But after obtaining the Kekkei Genkai, I became arrogant and looked down on others. I actually thought I was a real genius, but just now I finally realized... I'm not a genius after all. Gourdhead, thank you for waking me up. In return, I'll take you down with this new power!"
[Swift Release — Enhanced!]
As soon as Ryūshi finished speaking, he vanished from sight. But Lee suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He crossed his arms in front of his face defensively. In the next second, Ryūshi reappeared right before Lee and threw a punch forward.
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