Chapter 251: Rock Lee VS Hyuga Neji
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
The moment the battle began, Rock Lee charged forward, his form leaping into the air as he executed a swift and fluid spinning side kick directly at Neji's face!
But before the Byakugan, such linear attack trajectories were crystal clear. Neji simply sidestepped slightly, raising his arm to effortlessly block this powerful kick.
Immediately after, he flipped his wrist, condensing faint chakra at his fingertips before launching a Gentle Fist counter-strike targeting pressure points on Lee's chest!
In an instant, the two exchanged positions rapidly across the arena. Fist winds howled, leg shadows whipped like strikes! Lee's offense was like a violent storm—fierce and swift—while Neji remained composed, using Gentle Fist to meet technique with counter-technique. Each block and dodge was perfectly executed, even capturing small gaps in Lee's attacks to continuously attempt pressure point sealing.
Through the intense exchanges, Neji calmly analyzed the situation. Indeed, Lee's taijutsu speed and strength had made considerable progress compared to their last challenge years ago.
But with the Byakugan's insight, keeping pace with Lee remained effortless.
Neji was confident that Lee lacked effective ranged attack means. As long as he maintained close-quarters grappling, leveraging Gentle Fist's characteristic meridian sealing, victory would eventually tip in his favor!
Under his continuous pressure, the initially aggressive Lee gradually shifted to defense, constantly blocking and dodging the finger strikes targeting his pressure points like a persistent disease.
Lee understood clearly that once his meridians were sealed by Gentle Fist and he couldn't mobilize chakra, his final trump card would become unusable.
"Indeed, it seems that thick-browed kid can't hold on much longer, right?"
"After all, only close-quarters combat against the Hyuga clan—there's no breakthrough to be found."
In the spectator stands, Konoha ninja commented based on the match's apparent advantage. However, Kakashi disagreed that this ninja, so alike to Guy, would lose so easily—especially when he glanced at Might Guy beside him, whose face showed not worry but unwavering confidence.
On Kakashi's other side, Satsuki remained expressionless, the intense battle seemingly not stirring much emotional response. The only thing she cared about was the coming confrontation.
"Lee, is this all the progress you've made these years?" After forcing Lee back once more, Neji spoke solemnly, his tone carrying a strong person's natural confidence. "With only this level, you cannot defeat me!"
Lee used the reaction force from his block to leap backward, simultaneously throwing several shuriken to temporarily impede Neji's pursuit before landing steadily meters away.
He took a deep breath, his expression becoming incredibly serious.
"Neji... you're truly strong, as expected." He met Neji's eyes directly. "This time, I've already consulted with Guy-sensei before the battle began. I will fight with my full strength and won't let you down!"
With those words, to everyone's astonishment, Lee slowly crouched down, revealing something unnatural beneath his leg guards. Everyone understood what it was.
"...Weights?"
Neji saw the objects on Lee's legs, yet his mouth corners unconsciously rose, forming a smile full of fighting spirit. As expected, his teammate would never surrender so simply!
In the waiting room, Naruto watching the match began to smile as Lee started removing his restraints, and at Neji's unconcealed combative smile on his face... he hoped he'd still be smiling that happily soon.
"Good! That makes things much easier!"
Lee stood up, releasing his hands—
Bang!!!
The next moment, a sight that nearly made the entire crowd change their expressions occurred! Those two seemingly ordinary weight guards, when released from Lee's hands and free-falling to the ground, crashed with the weight of massive boulders, producing an ear-shattering roar!
As the dust slowly cleared, the solid ground showed two shallow craters! To carry such weight during daily training and combat? This insane sight made even the usually cool Satsuki's eyes flash with barely concealed shock.
"Guy... you're really reckless, aren't you?"
Kakashi, seeing the craters, couldn't help but complain to his friend. Meanwhile, Might Guy had already excitedly stood up, waving his fists and shouting like the most passionate spectator.
"Go! Lee! Let everyone witness your ninja way!"
Neji's combative smile instantly froze. He never expected his daily training partner to have been carrying such terrifying weight while fighting him all this time?!
Before he could fully process that Lee had been only slightly at a disadvantage even under such restraint, his vision blurred! After removing his weights, Lee's speed underwent a qualitative leap, his form appearing ghost-like as he instantly closed distance, his fist already carrying sharp force to Lee's face!
Bang!
Neji barely managed to block with his Byakugan's instinctive reaction, though his arm went slightly numb from the impact. However, Lee's form withdrew immediately, and almost simultaneously appearing behind Neji, the second wave of attacks came immediately!
"Not good!"
Neji clearly realized that Lee's speed had exceeded what his Byakugan could comfortably handle! At this critical moment, instead of attempting futile blocks, he decisively lowered his center of gravity, feet rapidly moving, releasing massive chakra from all his pressure points simultaneously!
In the spectator stands, Hyuga Hiashi watching Neji's movements had complex emotions flash through his eyes—pride in his family's genius, but more so, guilt and helplessness buried deep.
He turned slightly to his young daughter beside him. "Hanabi, watch carefully. This is your cousin, Hyuga Neji—to date, the most perfect inheritor of the Hyuga bloodline and talent."
"Kaiten!"
In the arena, Neji, through high-speed rotation and chakra release, instantly formed a sapphire-blue spherical chakra shield, protecting him with airtight defense!
Lee's pursuing side kick couldn't be withdrawn in time, his leg instantly caught in this violent chakra vortex! With a friction sound, Lee's form was violently flung away, tumbling several circles across the ground before barely stabilizing.
The spectator stands erupted with gasps and sympathetic sounds.
"Is it impossible after all? That move just now was..."
"Kaiten! But isn't that an absolute defense technique only the Hyuga main family is qualified to learn? How did he..."
Amid the discussion, Neji slowly stopped rotating, standing steadily. Recovered from his initial shock, his mindset had returned to calm.
This month of high-intensity training with Tenten's assistance had brought his Kaiten to nearly flawless mastery. He confidently thought.
Even if Lee's speed increased further, facing this almost-perfect absolute defense... for Lee, who only mastered taijutsu and lacked ranged attacks...
I have no reason to lose!
But Lee not only showed no signs of trouble or discouragement—his face instead displayed acknowledgment, as if thinking "as expected of Neji, truly requiring my real power."
He stood up and first looked toward Might Guy in the spectator stands, then slowly began unwrapping the white bandages wound around his hands.
Immediately after, an abnormally urgent, visible green energy aura began rising from Lee's entire body! The violent chakra surge even disturbed the surrounding air, producing a low humming sound.
Lee crossed his arms before his body. Neji's expression became extremely grave, his Byakugan dead-locked on the opponent, alarm bells ringing in his mind. "This move... what exactly is it? This chakra..."
"Neji... I swear I will surpass you!"
Lee's voice trembled with the surge of power. "Guy-sensei! Please acknowledge me! Right now—I will demonstrate my ninja way here!"
Sensing the constantly rising, storm-like oppressive feeling around Lee, Neji finally clearly recognized that this moment was Lee's true, unreserved, full-power state!
"Third Gate: Life Gate, open!"
Lee's roar exploded like thunder. The green energy raging around him instantly became violent and dazzling!
"Fourth Gate: Injury Gate—open!!!"
Lee's aura crazily exploded! When the fourth gate's Injury Gate roared open, a chakra surge far exceeding before erupted like a volcano across the entire arena!
Lee's skin turned crimson red, blood vessels prominently bulging, his entire being transforming into a war god wreathed in burning green flames!
Powerful air waves spread from him in all directions, so much so that even distant spectators could feel the scorching heat and pressure washing over them!
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