Chapter 32 The Eight Gates
Ino bounced back happily. {Miss Yamanaka is back with a perfect victory,} her voice rang through the telepathy seal.
Naruto grinned. {A good match, though you got some eyes on you by showing Illusion Steps. Your father will be very interested in having a very long chat with you, Miss Yamanaka.}
"You really had to ruin the mood?" she asked, deadpan. Naruto shrugged. "You messed up. Your fault."
She looked at Hinata, who was clearly enjoying the bickering. "What about her? Didn't she show her Twin Lion Fists?"
Hinata rolled her eyes. {I live in the Hyūga compound, blondie. You know, the clan with the Byakugan.}
Ino's mouth twitched. {So your Twin Lion Fists were never a trump card? Your father already knew you were working on it?}
{Congratulations, but no rewards for our show-off girl,} Hinata replied sarcastically. Then her telepathy shifted to a private channel. {So, how was she?}
{Acceptable. Her wind mastery is pretty good. She has trained a lot.} Ino admitted.
Hinata nodded silently. Though she didn't want to doubt Naruto, she couldn't help but think about it.
Hiruzen looked at Naruto laughing with Ino and Hinata and nodded thoughtfully. Hiashi was also watching Naruto closely.
Even with Naruto being a jinchūriki, Hinata's displayed talent made him hesitate. His performance will decide the future, he thought.
Inoichi was also looking forward to Naruto's match. His daughter had already chosen, and personally, he didn't dislike Naruto.
The boy was hardworking, kind, and took care of Ino.
"Next match: Naruto vs Rock Lee," Genma announced. Naruto blinked. Well, that's a surprise, he thought as he jumped into the arena.
"The number one of his class… so I can finally fight you, Naruto! My youth is burning brighter than ever!" Lee declared passionately.
"Lee, show everyone your burning youth!" Guy gave a thumbs up. "Sensei!" "Lee!" thay hugged dramatically.
Naruto sighed at their exchange. "Oi, Lee, if you don't come here, I won't fight you."
"Oh, I'm coming!" Lee rushed into the arena. The crowd watched eagerly, excitement building for the match.
"Start!"
Lee dashed forward instantly. "Leaf Whirlwind!" he shouted as he attacked. Naruto grinned and met him head-on.
A fierce taijutsu battle began. Fists and kicks clashed rapidly, each strike blocked or countered with precision.
Hiashi observed carefully. Though it seemed equal, he could see the difference. Naruto was ahead.
His reaction speed… don't tell me… His thoughts drifted to Minato before he shook his head. No… it's even faster.
Naruto was using his Six Eyes. His perception allowed him to read, analyze, copy, and improve Lee's attacks in real time.
After several minutes, they separated. Lee took a deep breath, smiling. "Such an exciting fight!"
"Lee!" Guy called out. Lee turned as Guy gave a thumbs up. "Remove them."
Lee froze. "But you said never to use that against friends…" he hesitated.
Guy smiled proudly. "Without it, you won't stand a chance. This is the greatest respect you can show Naruto."
Tears formed in Lee's eyes. "Yes, Sensei!"
He removed the training weights from his legs, wrists, and waist.
"Just some weights?" Kiba scoffed.
The weights hit the ground with a massive crash, cracking the arena floor and sending dust flying.
"No way… how heavy were those?"
The crowd stared in shock.
Lee crossed his arms. Kakashi's eye widened. "No, you don't…" he muttered, looking at Guy.
Guy grinned. "Yes, I did!"
"Eight Gates Formation: First Gate of Opening… Open!"
A surge of blue chakra exploded around Lee as his body strained under the sudden increase in power. Veins bulged, and his speed skyrocketed.
He moved around the arena, adjusting to his new strength. To most, he became nothing but a blur.
Sasuke clenched his fists. "This kind of strength…"
"No way… he's only one year older than us," Kiba said in disbelief.
Neji also clenched his fists. "Even Lee has grown this strong…"
Naruto smiled, rolling his shoulders as the gravity seals on his body deactivated.
{Brat, how about you let me deal with him?} Kurama asked.
{It's my fight. Just enjoy the match,} Naruto replied.
Lee stopped, now fully ready. "I'm coming, Naruto!"
He attacked again. As his fist neared Naruto's face, Naruto tilted his head slightly, dodging by mere inches.
"Wow… he dodged that?" Kiba shouted.
Even Sasuke gritted his teeth. Even with my Sharingan… I might have hard time dodging that.
Lee attacked again and again, but every strike missed by a hair's breadth.
Hiruzen nodded. "His reaction speed surpasses even Minato. Combined with his Uzumaki lineage and jinchūriki chakra…"
Lee panted. "Second Gate of Healing… Open!"
His speed and power increased again as he launched another assault.
Naruto smiled. "Enough playing around."
Red chakra burst around him as a single tail formed behind him.
Hiruzen, Kakashi, Guy, Inoichi, Hiashi, and other elite shinobi immediately stood up, ready to intervene.
Naruto dashed forward, matching Lee's speed, and their taijutsu clash resumed at an even higher level.
To most genin, they were too fast to even see. Only Hinata, Ino, and Sasuke could barely track their movements.
Hiruzen's back was drenched in cold sweat. "He's controlling it… as expected of Naruto. He has learned Tailed Beast Chakra Mode on his own."
Lee gritted his teeth. "Third Gate of Life… Open!"
His chakra turned red, veins bulging as he roared and attacked again with overwhelming force.
Naruto countered effortlessly, using both fists, legs, and the chakra tail in combat.
"Earth Style: Soft Earth Jutsu!"
The ground softened instantly. Lee jumped to avoid it and attacked mid-air. "Primary Lotus—"
Naruto was already in front of him, striking before the move could complete.
Lee landed and stepped back. "Amazing… you can still match me. Then—Fourth Gate of Pain… Open!"
His muscles began tearing under the strain as his power surged again. Naruto responded as a second chakra tail formed behind him.
Just as Lee prepared to open the Fifth Gate, Naruto decided to end it before he destroyed his own body.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Golden chakra chains burst out and wrapped around Lee, instantly suppressing and sealing his chakra.
Everyone stood up in shock. "Adamantine Chains?!"
"Did Naruto awaken the Uzumaki kekkei genkai?"
Hiashi and Inoichi were stunned. Hiashi's hesitation vanished, while Inoichi sighed in relief.
Now, he no longer had to worry about Ino's future.
Just then, feathers began falling from the sky as the entire stadium started falling asleep.
A figure appeared above.
"Greetings… Konoha."