Even though Kazama hadn't thrown a single attack from start to finish, anyone with eyes could see the gap between him and Rock Lee was massive.
If you can't even break through someone's defense, how are you supposed to fight them?
"Omote Renge!"
With a fierce shout, Lee opened the Gate of Life and Gate of Rest.
Kazama's heart leapt with excitement. He immediately dropped the Xuanhuang Flame defense surrounding his body.
His goal? To absorb Lee's Omote Renge.
That way, he'd gain the power of the Eight Gates.
And let's be real—fully opening all Eight Gates makes you *way* stronger than a Kage-level ninja, like, ten times over!
Since Kazama had dropped his defense, Lee's kick sent him soaring into the air in an instant.
"Is Lee nuts? He's using his ultimate move already?!"
At this point, Hyuga Neji had been drawn over by the clash between Kazama and Lee.
"No choice. His opponent's the so-called monstrous genius, Sanada Kazama!" Tenten muttered with a sigh.
"But Kazama's Fire Release defense is gone. Looks like he can't block Lee's Omote Renge. If this keeps up, Kazama's out of the Chunin Exams, and we'll have one less tough competitor."
Just as Neji and Tenten were convinced Kazama was done for, Kazama—still airborne from Lee's kick—flashed a sly grin.
He'd already absorbed Omote Renge.
*Ding! Successfully absorbed Omote Renge. Congratulations, Host, for obtaining Ura Renge and the power to open the Third Gate of Life!*
*Ding! Absorb two more ninjutsu to unlock a fourth type of Strange Fire!*
As Lee prepared to slam Kazama headfirst into the ground, Xuanhuang Flames flared up around Kazama's body again.
Burned by the flames, Lee had no choice but to halt his follow-up attack.
"Damn it! I was *this close* to beating Kazama!"
Tenten sighed, feeling bad for Lee.
"Your defense is insane, but you haven't attacked once. What, can you only defend?" Lee challenged.
Kazama just smirked at Lee's words.
"I'm just worried I'd go too hard. If I crippled you, how'd you compete in the Chunin Exams?"
"Then I'll forfeit the exams!"
"Alright then—Ura Renge!"
"What?!"
Lee, Tenten, and Neji were all floored.
Ura Renge was a move only Lee and their teacher, Might Guy, could use.
And now Kazama was pulling it off?!
Before Lee could process his shock, Kazama's supersonic strike was already barreling toward him.
"Is this the gap between me and a genius? Guess I'm out of the Chunin Exams…"
Lee knew how devastating Ura Renge was. There was no dodging it.
But at that critical moment, a blue-clad figure leapt in front of Lee, perfectly neutralizing Kazama's attack.
It was none other than Lee, Tenten, and Neji's teacher—the Blue Beast of Konoha, Might Guy.
To outsiders, it looked like Guy had effortlessly countered Kazama's Ura Renge.
But Guy knew better. Blocking Kazama's attack was no walk in the park.
Every one of Kazama's strikes carried the burn of Strange Fire.
And the Yin-Yang Dual Flames Kazama now wielded were hundreds of times stronger than his old Xuanhuang Flames.
The Yin Fire, in particular, could reduce an enemy to nothing—not even bones would remain.
Kazama had gone easy, knowing Might Guy had been lurking nearby and would step in to save Lee at the last second.
Otherwise, forget Lee—even Guy might've been incinerated by the Yin Fire.
"No wonder you're Kakashi's student. Impressive!"
"Holy crap! There's a guy with even bushier eyebrows than Lee?!"
Naruto couldn't help but blurt out in shock.
"Shut it! Don't mock Sensei Guy!"
"You shut it! Your eyebrows are already ridiculous, and now there's a teacher with even thicker ones? How am I supposed to react?!"
Naruto might not be the strongest, but when it came to trash-talking, nobody could touch him.
"Alright, enough. Get to the exam hall already!"
"Sensei, I lost…"
After Kazama and the others left, Lee looked utterly dejected.
"Don't beat yourself up, Lee. Losing to him's no shame."
"Why's that?"
As Lee puzzled over Guy's words, he suddenly noticed his teacher's hands—bloodied and battered from blocking Kazama's Ura Renge.
And just like that, it all clicked.
read more inpatreon
belamy20