Everyone watching quickly retreated farther away to avoid being caught in the aftermath of the clash.
When Rock Lee finished his barrage of Peacock fists under the power of the Sixth Gate, smoke and dust swallowed the training field. For a moment, nothing could be seen. Then, as the wind cleared the haze, Naruto emerged—completely unscathed.
Lee dropped to the ground, panting heavily. His wide eyes trembled in disbelief.
"This… Naruto, you actually blocked all of my Morning Peacock? And you're not even hurt? Impossible… I opened the Sixth Gate!"
The gap in strength felt insurmountable. Lee had always believed that with the Sixth Gate open, he possessed the might to threaten even jōnin of the highest caliber—perhaps even Kage. Yet every strike, every blazing punch had been stopped cold.
"You shouldn't be discouraged," Naruto said seriously. "Your Asa Kujaku is incredibly strong. To withstand it, I had to use up nearly a fifth of my senjutsu chakra."
Even a fraction of Sage Mode's chakra was vast—greater in volume than all of Kakashi's reserves combined. Lee's assault had not been meaningless; it had forced Naruto to dig deep.
Still, Rock Lee shook his head. "If even the Sixth Gate can't move you, then I have no choice. I'll go further—beyond my limits. I'll open the Seventh Gate."
Naruto frowned, the corner of his mouth tightening. He's really going that far… risking permanent damage to his body just for this match.
Might Guy's eyes lit up as he watched his student's resolve. "That's it, Lee. He's using the pressure Naruto created to break past his limits. That's the true spirit of taijutsu."
"I just hope his body can handle it," Guy added under his breath.
Kakashi, standing beside him, offered calm reassurance. "With Lady Tsunade here, there's no need to worry too much."
A roar tore from Lee's throat. Blue veins bulged across his body as steam and chakra erupted from his frame like a raging inferno.
"The Seventh Gate—Gate of Shock… open!"
The ground trembled as Rock Lee's aura spiked violently, his chakra flooding the field. For the first time, he had entered the state of the Seventh Gate.
"He really did it," Tenten gasped, her heart swelling with pride. She knew better than anyone the blood, sweat, and determination Lee had poured into training. To see him finally push past the wall into the Seventh Gate—it was the proof of his unyielding will.
Naruto felt the oppressive aura crash against him and silently clenched his fists. This power… It's on a whole different level. After this, I need to learn the Eight Gates for myself. Even if it's dangerous, more lifesaving skills are better than fewer. And who knows—its limit-breaking potential might be useful for my own path ahead.
In an instant, Lee vanished from sight.
"So fast—" Naruto barely had time to react. Even with Sage Mode heightening his perception, Lee's speed under the Seventh Gate forced him to stay sharp. For the first time in this spar, Naruto felt real pressure.
Lee's fist swung from behind, but Naruto whipped his leg back in a counter-kick.
Boom!
The collision shook the ground, and then they were moving—fist against fist, kick against kick. Every clash rang like thunder.
Lee's attacks were relentless, raw power channeled through perfect taijutsu form. Naruto met him head-on, no ninjutsu, no tricks—just his body, enhanced with senjutsu chakra, trading blows in pure combat.
"This is insane…" Shino muttered, watching as the two blurred across the battlefield. "Naruto can match Lee's Seventh Gate with taijutsu alone. That's the difference between us now—the gap has widened beyond imagination."
Neji's Byakugan tracked every strike. "You're right. Naruto's progress… It's something we all need to learn from."
Kiba clenched his fists, his eyes burning with both frustration and admiration. "That idiot… he finally has the presence of someone who could be Hokage."
Hearing the words of her peers, Sakura's chest tightened. She could see it too—Naruto had changed. The foolish boy who once chased after her had become someone beyond her reach. Her admiration grew, even if she couldn't yet put it into words.
Hinata's gaze was softer, full of quiet pride. The stronger Naruto became, the more her heart swelled with happiness. She had seen him struggle alone in the shadows; now she saw the results of that hidden effort.
Ino muttered under her breath, barely audible. "If you look closely… Naruto's actually kind of handsome, isn't he?"
The battlefield echoed with one explosion after another as the two fighters clashed.
"You're incredible, Lee," Naruto called out between blows, his voice alight with excitement. "To push me this far—you truly embody the spirit of the Eight Gates!"
Lee's breathing grew ragged, his body screaming in protest under the strain. Every muscle ached, every vein throbbed, but his spirit did not waver.
"Naruto… you're truly strong. I can't last much longer," he admitted, gasping for air. "So this will be my final strike. Let's end it with this!"
Naruto's eyes narrowed. He already knew what was coming—the Seventh Gate's ultimate technique.
Lee drew in one final breath, his aura blazing violently as he thrust his fist forward.
"Hirudora!!"
The roar of a giant tiger made of compressed air split the sky as it hurtled toward Naruto.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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