Guy's face fell as he poofed the green jumpsuit back into… wherever. Ayato now had hard evidence the man knew storage jutsu.
"Let me test how brightly your youth burns!" Guy dropped into a stance.
Here we go. Jonin tailor their teaching. Konoha's full of passionate sensei, but step one is always: show me what you've got. Ayato didn't expect hand-holding—just a few pointers to grind on his own. Taijutsu had no shortcuts.
Before he could answer, Lee vaulted off the pull-up bar and planted himself in front.
"Let me discuss youth with the rookie!" The enthusiasm made Ayato feel like he was about to be part of a very weird ritual.
Lee had barely spoken to him all morning, yet already considered him squad-adjacent. Hot-blooded idiot logic.
Guy nodded. Neji and Tenten paused mid-pull-up to watch.
Neji:Thick-skinned enough to beg for coaching—let's see if he's dead weight.Tenten:If he's trash, I'll coach him up. Future Tsunade helps village genin, right?
They moved to an open patch. Lee settled into stance.
"Ready?"
Ayato nodded—ramrod straight, zero form.
No training scars. Weak. Neji already wrote him off.
Start from zero. Annoying, but noble. Tenten's mental syllabus was ready.
Lee lunged.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Textbook opener. Telegraphed.
Ayato raised his left arm—Whirlwind's wind-up was long. Anyone with half-decent reflexes could block before contact. Most victims got launched with their guard, not through it.
The kick connected—
—but Lee's leg slipped free the instant Ayato tried to trap it. Right fist to gut? Air.
Lee dropped low, palm on dirt, then up-kicked Ayato's stomach.
Float. No real damage—Lee was holding back—but the surprise stung.
Combat experience = night and day. Ayato had been brute-forcing with raw stats. Zero tactics. Current Sasuke? Sure. Post-Kakashi boot camp Sasuke? Maybe not. Chakra efficiency? Garbage.
Should've sparred more in academy. Lazy.
He reset. Lee waited—most genin wouldn't eat that kick and stand.
"How was that?"
"Fine. Again." Ayato grinned.
This was why you sparred specialists.
Spar: Round 2–??
Lee attacked nonstop. Ayato evolved in real time:
Phase 1: Grab → counter.Phase 2: Predict landing → preemptive strike.
Lee got pumped, cranking power. Even full-force hits barely scratched Ayato—vitals locked, attacks scraped. Ayato's counters? Still whiffed. Looked even—wasn't.
Neji's eyes narrowed. Untapped monster. Just unpolished. Tenten: He's keeping up with Lee?! Only Neji manages that.
Guy's grin faded into serious coach mode. Growth curve = insane. Minutes in and he's returning blows.
Climax
Ayato finally read a tell—clean counter. Fist → Lee's guard.
BOOM. Lee flew two meters, skidding.
Silence.
Lee popped up, thumb blazing, teeth flashing. "You're strong!"
Neji and Tenten forgot pull-ups. He beat Lee?! Why no team?!
Neji's Byakugan flared.
"WHAT?!"
"What?" Tenten asked.
"His chakra… more than a jonin!" Neji choked.
"WHAT?!" Tenten's turn. He meant the proposal. Dead serious.
Post-Fight
Guy approached.
"You're strong—just can't use it."
Nod.
"Combat sense, chakra control—grind those. Easy fix: fight more. Missions, sparring, wild beasts—life-or-death sharpens fastest."
Ayato blinked. Missions for XP? Huh.
"Can I train here every afternoon?"
"OF COURSE!" Lee cut in. Neji and Tenten stayed quiet—jonin call.
"No missions? Sure. Sparring boosts the team. You're strong—motivation. Helping village youth is our mission!"
Ayato bowed. "Thank you, Sensei.