Feeling Rorin's fighting spirit, Chen immediately grew serious and fixed his gaze on him.
"You also want to break the Leaf Dragon God?" Chen asked softly.
Rorin nodded, his eyes firm as he readied himself. Although he already knew the weakness of the Leaf Dragon God lay in the dragon's eye at the center of the wind dragon, he had never experienced it firsthand, so he treated it with full seriousness.
Chen said nothing more. He spun his body and unleashed the Leaf Dragon God.
Rorin clenched his fists, quietly lifting his chakra restrictions as bone spikes protruded from his body.
Eight Gates · Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit—open!
As he felt the howling wind dragon rushing toward him, Rorin finally understood why the Leaf Dragon God lived up to its reputation. As long as its weakness could be eliminated, it would become a one-hit killing move.
Without hesitation, Rorin leapt forward to meet the wind dragon. With the Gate of Limit open, his speed was astonishing. In an instant, he reached the dragon's eye, shaping the bone spike in his hand into a spiral and driving it straight into the core.
Perhaps opening the first gate and using the Front Lotus could also break this move, but the cautious Rorin chose the most reliable method. Besides, he hadn't even learned the Front Lotus.
The result did not disappoint him. He successfully broke the Leaf Dragon God and at the same time avoided Chen's body, causing him no serious harm.
When the wind dragon dissipated, Chen stood stunned for a moment before letting out a wry smile.
"You succeeded," Chen said with a smile.
"Isn't this what you wanted as well?" Rorin replied calmly, glancing meaningfully at Rock Lee lying on the ground.
Chen paused, then scratched the back of his head and laughed.
"Well, how should I put it? I didn't hold back at all."
"But you already told us the weakness of the Leaf Dragon God just now—the dragon's eye," Rorin said softly.
"Hahaha!" Chen threw his head back in laughter. Then he turned and walked toward the forest, waving his hand casually. "Take him back. Don't come again."
"Wait, Chen-sensei! Are you really unwilling to pass down the Leaf Dragon God?" Rorin called out urgently.
Chen stopped and asked, "A technique born with a fatal flaw—does it really need to be passed down?"
Rorin answered earnestly, "If there's a weakness, then just remove it. In my view, the Leaf Dragon God is a very powerful taijutsu."
Chen was surprised. He hadn't expected the boy before him to say something like that. Remove the weakness? Interesting. A faint smile curled at his lips.
...
While the two were talking, Rock Lee gradually regained consciousness. Struggling to his feet, he pleaded with Chen for another chance to try breaking the Leaf Dragon God.
Chen shook his head. Looking at Rock Lee, he was reminded of his late disciple and was about to persuade him again to give up being a ninja. But before he could speak, Rorin cut in.
"Chen-sensei, please give him another chance. Maybe in your eyes you're doing this for his own good, but what he truly wants is simply to stand equal with others."
Chen looked at Rorin in silence.
Rorin continued, "Even if Lee can't master ninjutsu or genjutsu, he still wants to become an outstanding ninja. He works desperately hard to prove to everyone that even relying only on taijutsu, he can become an excellent ninja and stand shoulder to shoulder with the others. I believe that completely—he will become a great ninja."
Hearing Rorin speak up for him, Rock Lee burst into tears. He struggled to stand, wiped his eyes, and bowed deeply.
"Please… give me one more chance."
Chen fell into thought. To stand equal with others… a belief worth protecting even at the cost of one's life?
After a moment, he shook his head and looked at Rock Lee.
"Tomorrow," he said softly. "Remember, this is your last chance."
When Chen and Rorin met eyes again, Chen smiled.
"So? Are you willing to carry out what you just said—remove its weakness?"
Rorin was briefly stunned but quickly recovered. He glanced at Rock Lee, then back at Chen, and said confidently, "I am. I believe I can do it. But can we talk about it after tomorrow?"
Chen gave Rock Lee a long look, then waved his hand and left.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Rock Lee, completely confused, looked at Rorin and tilted his head.
"Rorin-kun, what are you talking about?"
Rorin didn't explain. He simply hoisted Rock Lee onto his shoulder and left.
...
He took Rock Lee to the Hidden Leaf Village hospital. By coincidence, they ran into Haruno Sakura, who was studying there, so he entrusted Rock Lee to her care.
After leaving the hospital, Rorin returned home. It was already late. He applied the new facial mask the system had left him before it disappeared, enjoying the cool sensation on his face as he drifted off to sleep.
...
The next day, the sky had just begun to lighten.
After a night of rest, Rock Lee had mostly recovered. He quickly completed his discharge procedures, rushed to Rorin's home, and dragged him—still fast asleep—toward the agreed meeting place.
Rorin yawned and said irritably, "Lee, what's the rush? It's barely dawn. Even if you get there, Chen probably isn't awake yet."
Rock Lee scratched his head and gave an honest smile. Then he seriously began thinking about how to break the Leaf Dragon God.
They waited until nearly noon before Chen finally arrived.
As expected, Rock Lee used the Front Lotus to break the Leaf Dragon God, but Chen's left hand was slightly injured.
"Damn it, you young people! No respect for your elders. You should learn from your fellow disciple," Chen grumbled.
Rock Lee looked confused and turned to Rorin, who explained how he had broken the technique the previous night.
Only then did Rock Lee understand.
Rorin stepped forward and asked, "Chen-sensei, can you teach us the Leaf Dragon God?"
Chen nodded in satisfaction—this kid was clever. Then he looked at Rock Lee and shook his head. Still a bit slow, huh.
A beat late, Rock Lee also stepped forward and made his request.
"No problem. But as for its weakness, you'll have to improve it yourselves. I'm old—I don't have the energy anymore. Hahaha!" Chen laughed.
Both Rock Lee and Rorin were overjoyed. From that moment, they officially began their journey of training the Leaf Dragon God.
After half a month of learning, Rorin began training on his own. He realized he was about to master opening the Seventh Gate—the Gate of Wonder—and it was time to develop a new technique. The Leaf Dragon God would serve as the foundation for it.
Time passed quietly.
...
End of Year 61 of Konoha.
Just as Rorin was about to head out today, a knock came at the door.
He opened it and, seeing who it was, greeted warmly,
"Hiashi-san, what brings you here? Come in, it's cold outside."