The fifteen-minute break passed quickly.
Kitazawa walked back to the Lottery Box.
Only eight students had made it to the third round, which meant there would be four winners advancing.
Even though he knew each of them well, it was impossible to say who the final victors would be.
Sasuke and Naruto should be able to enter the fourth round.
As for the remaining six, it was hard to predict. Anyone could advance—it would mostly come down to luck.
Kitazawa reached into the box and drew two slips of paper.
He glanced at the names and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Hyuga Neji and Rock Lee.
In the original Chunin Exams, Lee had always wanted to challenge Neji, but that wish was never fulfilled because Gaara interrupted.
"Third round, first match: Hyuga Neji vs. Rock Lee!"
Kitazawa announced on the spot.
"Great!"
Lee's eyes lit up. "Neji, we finally have the chance for a battle full of youth!"
Even though his lifelong rival had now become Naruto, the chance to challenge a genius still made his blood boil.
Especially since, before joining the Genius Class, he and Neji had been in the same class.
Neji simply nodded, face calm.
Since entering the Genius Class, the ones he was aiming to catch up to were Sasuke and Naruto.
That didn't mean he underestimated Lee.
After Rock Lee learned the Eight Gates, the threat he posed had risen sharply.
Even so, Neji was confident he could defeat him.
"Aren't you going to take off the weights on your body?"
Neji asked once they stepped into the field.
During Lee's first-round match against Chino, he had already noticed the weights.
"As expected of Neji!"
Lee gave him a big thumbs-up. "I'll take them off now. If I don't, I definitely won't be able to beat you!"
He unfastened the weights strapped to his body.
Two heavy thuds shook the ground.
Many spectators stared in disbelief.
Those things were clearly anything but light.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Lee vanished and then reappeared in front of Neji like a green blur.
Neji took a calm step back, letting the spinning kick slice through empty air.
He didn't use the life feather bow. Instead, he raised his hand and struck Lee's right leg with a Gentle Fist palm.
Lee's right leg went numb.
'Damn it, I forgot about Neji's Gentle Fist in my excitement!' he realized.
"Violent Leaf Hurricane Strong Whirlwind!"
Lee twisted his body with force, his left leg wrapped in green chakra as it whipped toward Neji.
Eight Trigrams Vaccum Palm!
Neji didn't take it head-on.
He thrust out his left hand, releasing an invisible shockwave.
Boom!
Palm and kick collided in mid-air.
Ripples of compressed air burst outward, accompanied by a piercing whine.
"Eight Gates! First Gate: Gate of Opening—open!"
Chakra erupted within Lee's body as he forced open the tenketsu in his right leg.
Neji didn't rush in to press the attack with the Gentle Fist. Instead, he used the moment to leap back and widen the distance.
Multiple Arrows!
Once he steadied himself, he immediately drew his bow.
Nine Yin Release Arrows screamed through the air, cutting off all of Lee's escape routes.
"Bring it on!"
Lee shouted, thrilled. "Konoha Gale!"
The First Gate of the Eight Gates allows the user to exert 100% of the body's potential.
Right now, he was fighting at his absolute peak within his normal form.
Lee blurred into motion, leaving afterimages as he unleashed three consecutive kicks.
All nine Yin Release Arrows were knocked aside.
"Hirenka!"
The moment he cleared the arrows, Rock Lee's leg snapped toward Hyuga Neji.
His movement whipped up an invisible airwave.
Neji's vision flickered—Lee's right leg was already inches away.
At the critical instant, Neji spun and unleashed Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.
The Hirenka was abruptly cut off, and Lee was blasted backward.
Neji immediately stopped Revolving Heaven and drew his life feather bow.
Explosive Arrow!
A Yin Release Arrow shot out and detonated in mid-air.
Lee's body stalled.
Spiral Arrow!
Seeing the explosive arrow take effect, Neji seamlessly followed up with another shot.
"Aaaah!"
Lee's entire body shook as he forced himself back into focus.
"Second Gate: Gate of Healing, open! Third Gate: Gate of Life, open!"
In an instant, a torrent of chakra erupted from him, forming a shimmering green aura that wrapped around his body.
Neji's pupils shrank. The pressure pressing down on him felt suffocating.
Lee's face twisted with strain as the chakra storm roared off his body.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
He vanished from his spot and appeared in front of Neji in a blur.
His speed was so extreme it looked like he'd teleported.
Neji reacted on instinct, raising his Bow.
Boom!
Lee's kick smashed into the bow.
The impact sent a shockwave bursting through the air.
Neji's right arm went numb as an overwhelming force crashed into him, driving him backward.
"Konoha Gale!"
Lee roared, chasing after him without giving him a chance to breathe.
Yin Release Chakra Mode!
In that instant of crisis, a massive surge of chakra erupted from Neji's body.
But the moment the Yin Release chakra current formed, Lee was already on top of him.
Neji's body jolted as Lee's kick slammed into him. Pain lanced through his side.
Luckily, the Yin Release chakra coating his body provided some defense; without it, he might have blacked out on the spot.
Gritting his teeth, Neji forced the Yin Release power inside him to gather.
In the next moment, Yin Release Arrows materialized out of thin air all around him.
But Lee weaved through them with blinding speed, dodging every arrow.
Explosive Arrow!
Neji focused—and three of the arrows detonated at once.
The blast caught Lee, forcing him to falter for a brief moment.
Neji seized the opening, retreating quickly to widen the distance.
The heart-stopping exchange came to a temporary halt.
If not for the instantaneous attacks granted by Yin Release Chakra Mode, he knew he would have already lost.
"He actually pushed Neji this far?" Kiba stammered, stunned.
"I really didn't expect Lee to get this strong," Ino said in amazement.
In the Genius Class, Lee's combat exam scores had never been particularly impressive.
Since joining, he had rarely managed to break into the top ten.
The reason was the inherent weakness of a pure taijutsu ninja: almost no long-range capability.
Now, his sudden leap in strength was all thanks to the Eight Gates.
The explosive speed granted by the Eight Gates let him close the gap instantly and force the battle into close quarters—exactly where a taijutsu specialist thrived.
And the Eight Gates boosted more than just speed.
"The Eight Gates really is the strongest taijutsu," Yakumo said with a nod.
But for her, she could only watch with envy.
For someone like her, mastering the Eight Gates was almost impossible.
"This is youth!" Naruto clenched his fists, eyes burning. "It's getting me all fired up!"
"Neji has already activated Yin Release Chakra Mode," Tenten said worriedly. "But I don't know if Lee can still open the Fourth Gate of the Eight Gates."
"The Eight Gates puts a massive burden on the body," Shikamaru said, watching Lee closely. "He looks really worn out already."
"You won't be able to hold out much longer."
With his Byakugan, Neji could see Lee's condition far more clearly than Shikamaru.
Even though the first three gates were considered the 'safe zone,' running his body at that level for so long was still brutal.
In other words, the fatigue he was feeling was doubled.
"Then let's settle this in one go!"
Lee drew a deep breath and roared, "Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain, open!"
The green aura around him surged again, growing even more intense.
Once the Eight Gates reached the Fourth Gate, the body began to take real damage.
Neji's eyes narrowed, worried that Lee might keep going and open even more gates.
Fortunately, Lee stopped at the Fourth.
First, because he hadn't fully mastered the Fifth Gate yet.
Second, because Might Guy had told him, sparring between classmates didn't need to become a life-or-death battle.
"Watch out, Neji!"
Lee exploded forward, shouting, "Hidden Lotus!"
The instant the Fourth Gate opened, Neji slapped his hands together.
A massive tree erupted between them, blocking Lee's path.
Boom!
Lee slammed into the trunk at blinding speed.
A piercing crack split the air as his blows landed. Wind howled into shockwaves, and under his relentless strikes the massive tree splintered, then exploded into fragments.
Neji's heart lurched.
This power… was truly terrifying.
At that moment, Lee began unwinding the bandages from his arms.
He burst forward again, even faster than before, right fist driving straight for Neji while his left hand snapped the loosened bandage toward him like a whip.
Neji instantly understood.
He plans to bind me with the bandages… then finish it in one blow.
He immediately gathered all the Yin Release within his body and formed a Wood Dragon out of thin air.
Yet unease still gnawed at him.
"Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven!"
Neji spun, releasing chakra in all directions and forming a spherical barrier around himself.
Lee shot toward the Wood Dragon like a fired arrow.
Each strike made the dragon's wooden body shudder violently.
Catching that opening, Lee flung out his bandages, aiming to entangle Neji.
But in the very next second, the spinning chakra of Neji's Revolving Heaven shredded the bandages to ribbons.
With no other choice, Rock Lee forced his body to move one last time.
He dropped from above, driving his fist down toward Neji.
The air warped with the impact. The ground shook, dust roared upward, and shockwaves rippled visibly from the center where the two stood.
"What an amazing battle."
Jiraiya couldn't help but praise.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think this was a Jonin Exam."
Hiruzen stroked his beard and chuckled.
As the instructor of the Genius Class, nothing pleased him more than seeing his students shine.
"Who won?" Shikaku asked, curious.
"It's Neji." Hiashi activated his Byakugan, then let out a quiet breath of relief. "The burden of the Eight Gates is simply too great, after all."
Fugaku shook his head. "Lee has already collapsed from exhaustion."
As the dust settled, their words were proven true: Lee lay unconscious on the ground, while Neji still stood where he was.
"Even so, Lee did very well," Tsunade said with a small smile. "He'll surely become the next Guy."
"The winner: Hyuga Neji!"
After Kitazawa announced the result, he walked over to Lee, crouched down, and reached out to help him.
Lee's injuries weren't from Neji's attacks, but from the strain of the Eight Gates. Fortunately, he had only opened the Fourth Gate, so his condition wasn't too serious, and he soon came to.
"Neji, let's fight again next time!" Lee said, giving a thumbs up.
"I'll be waiting," Neji replied with a nod.
After this battle, he recognized Lee as a rival on his own level.
The Eight Gates were even more terrifying than he had imagined.
"Third round, second match: Naruto vs. Akimichi Choji!"
Waiting until Neji and Lee had left the arena, Kitazawa raised his voice again.
"Choji, good luck!" Ino cheered, pumping her fist.
"Don't push yourself too hard. Just stop when it's enough," Shikamaru said lazily. "After all, your opponent is Naruto."
"I understand," Choji replied, scratching his head. "I'm already satisfied with making it to the third round."
"Choji, come on, let's release our youth!" Naruto called out, grinning from ear to ear.
"I will give it my all!" Choji answered with a smile.
"Yang Release Chakra Mode!"
"Butterfly Choji Mode!"
Just as he had said, Choji went all out from the very start.
A terrifying surge of chakra erupted around him. Glowing butterfly wings spread from his back, making him look like a god descending to the battlefield.
Choji shot forward, accelerating until he was right in front of Naruto.
He clenched his right fist and drove it straight at him.
"Violent: Leaf Hurricane Strong Whirlwind!"
Naruto twisted his body and whipped out a fierce kick.
Boom!
The collision of their powers sent both of them skidding backward.
Choji, however, retreated two steps less.
It was enough to show that, in this state, his strength far surpassed Naruto's normal form.
"Partial Tailed Beast Transformation!"
Seeing this, Naruto stopped holding back. Blood-red chakra erupted from his body, and four tails whipped wildly behind him.
"Again!"
Naruto leaped in, launching a flying kick. "Dynamic Entry!"
Choji roared, clenching his fist once more. As he swung, his fist suddenly swelled to three times its original size.
Their attacks crashed together again in a thunderous clash.
"Konoha Gale!"
Naruto skidded back two steps, eyes shining, his voice bursting with excitement.
Choji charged in again.
With Yang Release Chakra Mode stacked on top of Butterfly Mode, he could draw out his full power anytime, anywhere. Combined with Expansion Jutsu, it let him trade blows head‑on with Naruto.
"Is that really Choji?" Sakura stared, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Choji had used Butterfly Mode before, but back then his opponent had been Shikamaru, so the impact hadn't been as shocking. Now that he was clashing with Naruto, it felt unbelievable.
Everyone in the Genius Class knew exactly how strong Naruto was.
"Choji's at a disadvantage," Sasuke said evenly.
Naruto was only using a four‑tailed partial tailed beast transformation; he still hadn't gone all out. Even so, Choji's performance made Sasuke reevaluate him. In his mind, Choji had always been just a snack‑loving ordinary classmate.
"Naruto is still way too abnormal," Shikamaru muttered, shaking his head. "Choji's already doing really well."
Ino hesitated, then added softly, "Much better than me."
It wasn't even her turn yet, but she could already see herself losing. Her possible opponents now were only Sasuke, Hinata, and Yakumo. No matter who she faced, winning would be difficult.
At this moment, the happiest person present was Choza.
Choji's display was dramatically boosting the Akimichi clan's reputation. The quickest way to become famous was to stand against someone already well‑known.
And Naruto's name spoke for itself. In Konoha, everyone knew him: son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze; Jinchuriki of the Nine‑Tails; the "Dragon of Konoha" who had defeated Sasori of the Red Sand.
"Naruto!" Choji pulled back, chest heaving. "One last strike!"
Thanks to Yang Release Chakra Mode, he could enter butterfly mode without the usual forbidden drugs. But just like the Eight Gates, Butterfly Mode couldn't be maintained for long—it doubled his chakra consumption.
"Butterfly Bullet Bombing!"
Choji raised his left hand.
Butterfly‑shaped chakra markings bloomed across his arm. Chakra burst from his legs as he poured his entire strength into that single fist. He leveled it at Naruto and swung.
The air howled.
"Good! Let me see your youth, Konoha Dragon God!" Naruto shouted. He spread his arms and began to spin.
A blood‑red giant dragon roared forth and swallowed Choji whole.
An instant later, a violent shockwave exploded across the arena. Choji's punch tore a hole in the dragon's side—but that was as far as it went. The blood‑red dragon blasted him away, and his left arm was slick with blood.
"The winner, Naruto!"
Kitazawa's figure flickered. He caught Choji in midair, set him gently on the ground, and began emergency treatment.
"Kitazawa‑sensei!" Naruto dispelled Konoha Dragon God and the Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, hurrying over. "How bad are Choji's injuries?"
"Minor," Kitazawa replied coolly.
Even if Choji had died on the spot, Kitazawa was confident he could bring him back, let alone treat injuries of this level. Of course, that only applied to him. An ordinary jōnin‑level medical‑ninja would probably be flustered and need an hour or two.
"Alright, you two can head down," Kitazawa said, withdrawing his hands.
"Thank you, Kitazawa‑sensei." Leaning on Naruto for support, Choji turned and walked off the field.
Kitazawa looked away and moved to the lottery box. He reached in casually and pulled out two slips of paper.
Sasuke. Yamanaka Ino.
How should he put it… Even with Darkness Genjutsu under her belt, Ino would have a hard time defeating Sasuke.
Darkness Genjutsu was a powerful counter to most Uchiha—just not against the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. After all, even Senju Tobirama hadn't been able to defeat Uchiha Madara back then.
With Sasuke and Ino decided for the next match, the fourth pairing was clear: Kurama Yakumo versus Hyūga Hinata.
For Hinata, Yakumo was a troublesome opponent. Genjutsu on the level of a Mangekyō Sharingan was a serious threat.
However, Hinata had already mastered Yin Release Chakra Mode. Because of that, her loss was anything but guaranteed.
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