"One thousand nine hundred seventy-seven, one thousand nine hundred seventy-eight, one thousand nine hundred seventy-nine... If I can't do two thousand handstand push-ups, then I'll do three thousand frog jumps."
Lee sweated profusely.
His team had no missions today… the whole team was resting.
How could Lee waste such precious time?
So he immediately began intense training.
However, while running, he unconsciously ran to a place not too far from the village.
There weren't many people around, but it was very spacious.
So he decided to continue training here.
But unfortunately, someone arrived and disturbed his training.
"Hmm?"
Lee, in the midst of training, sensed someone approaching from a distance at high speed.
He immediately stopped training and focused his gaze in the direction of the newcomer.
Soon, the figure appeared in his sight.
'Someone I don't know... but his clothes look familiar...'
Lee frowned.
Kimimaro, seeing someone, also stopped.
But after clearly seeing Lee's appearance, his eyes showed clear disappointment. "You don't look like Takumi."
"Takumi?"
Lee immediately assumed a fighting stance. "Although I don't know who you are, you clearly don't seem like a friend of Takumi-kun."
"In that case, I cannot let you proceed. If you wish to advance, you must step over my corpse."
"Please move aside. I have no time to waste on someone like you."
Kimimaro said and immediately accelerated, trying to pass by Lee.
But how could Lee let him?
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Lee spun and lashed out with a kick to block Kimimaro.
But Kimimaro's next move made Lee's scalp tingle.
Kimimaro extended his arm as if to block Lee's attack.
However, sharp white bones sprouted from his palm.
Lee forcibly halted his attack, performing several consecutive backflips to create distance.
"What was that? Bones growing from his palm?"
Lee's expression was grave. The enemy's ability was very strange.
Without understanding it, rashly attacking was unwise.
"Excellent Taijutsu. But that's all."
Kimimaro stood up and said again, "I'll say it once more. Please move aside."
"I won't move!"
Lee declared loudly. "Betraying my comrades is absolutely impossible!"
"Then die here."
Kimimaro said flatly, extending both hands and aiming his fingertips at Lee.
"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets."
Whoosh!
Several white streaks shot through the air.
But the prepared Lee dodged immediately.
However, this was just Kimimaro's feint.
His goal was to close the distance with Lee.
Lee excelled in Taijutsu… as a user of Shikotsumyaku, he was even more adept at it.
In using Taijutsu, Kimimaro had yet to meet an opponent he couldn't defeat.
"Willow Dance!"
Swiftly closing in on Lee, sharp white bone spikes protruded from Kimimaro's limbs, joints, and palms.
He moved his body as if dancing, the bone spikes on him carrying a deadly threat.
Lee could only dodge continuously. Fortunately, his Taijutsu skills were astonishing. Even with Kimimaro close, he didn't fall behind immediately.
But if this continued, Lee's chances of winning would only diminish.
"First Gate, Gate of Opening, Open!"
Lee decisively activated the Eight Gates, quickly creating distance from Kimimaro.
If it continued, he would eventually be injured by Kimimaro's increasingly swift movements.
"Who are you exactly? That thing on your back looks very familiar..."
Lee had been somewhat concerned about the purple bow-like object on Kimimaro's back.
"Me? I am Kimimaro. My purpose here is to take Konoha's Takumi to Orochimaru-sama."
Kimimaro did not hide his identity.
He disdained hiding such things.
His attire clearly marked him as a Shinobi from Otogakure.
Only someone as slow-witted as Lee couldn't distinguish Kimimaro's identity.
"Orochimaru!"
Lee's expression changed. Of course, he knew Orochimaru had attacked Konoha several times, only to be driven away by Takumi each time.
Now he was sending such a Taijutsu expert. It seemed he still hadn't given up.
But Lee felt something was off.
Was Kimimaro strong?
Undoubtedly.
But was he stronger than the opponents Takumi had faced?
Definitely not.
"I advise you to give up. With your strength, you are no match for Takumi-kun."
Lee attempted to dissuade him.
If possible, he didn't want to fight Kimimaro.
Not because he was afraid, but because Kimimaro's ability was too strange.
It heavily countered Taijutsu Shinobi like him.
If bones sprouted all over his body, Lee would have to attack cautiously, fearing he might injure himself with his own strength.
"Orochimaru-sama needs Takumi's body. So even at the cost of my life, I will bring Takumi back."
Kimimaro's eyes were filled with indifference.
Indifference towards his own life.
In fact, the disease-ridden Kimimaro didn't have much time left.
If he could use his remaining time to repay Orochimaru, he wouldn't hesitate for a moment.
"You're willing to sacrifice yourself?"
Lee frowned. "What's so great about Orochimaru? If he were truly a good person, he would never send you on a suicidal mission."
"Takumi is a good person. Everyone in the village respects him."
"I may not be your match, but I will absolutely not step aside. Even if you step over my corpse, behind me are many more willing to give their lives to protect Takumi."
"Because Takumi is the hero and pride of us all."
"Because of him, we have survived crises time and again and protected our village."
"So, please leave. You will absolutely not achieve your goal."
Lee's gaze was incredibly serious.
When Lee learned that his severed limbs had been completely healed by Takumi, he was filled with admiration for him.
Not to mention Takumi's subsequent series of dazzling achievements, which etched an image of invincibility in his mind.
Even so, he was willing to stand before Takumi, blocking even the slightest danger for him, to repay Takumi's kindness.
If not for Takumi, according to Guy, he might never have been able to be a Shinobi again.
For Lee, who had dreamed of being a Shinobi since childhood and had put in unimaginable effort, this would have been a death sentence.
It was Takumi who saved him from that sentence.
Therefore, he would never allow anyone to pass him to harm Takumi.
"You have your convictions, I have my mission."
Kimimaro said. "I am Kaguya Kimimaro. And you?"
"Konoha Genin, Rock Lee!"
Lee assumed his trademark stance again: one hand behind his back, one hand in front.
"I will remember you, Rock Lee."
Kimimaro said, then charged forward. "Camellia Dance."
He drew a sharp bone blade from his left arm, closing in on Lee with extreme speed.
Then he unleashed a series of elegant yet deadly sword techniques. Lee hurriedly dodged but soon had several cuts from the bone blade on his body.
"So fast!"
Lee gritted his teeth.
But he was still in recovery and couldn't use higher levels of the Eight Gates.
Otherwise, he could open another gate to create distance.
For now, opening the Gate of Life was his limit.