Merry Christmas all my lovely readers. It certainly has been a while since a uploaded another chapter, but hey, I'm in college so my laziness level has shot up. However, the story must go on, and so it shall. Just think of this as a late Christmas present from me to all of you (I tried doing it yesterday, but the site was PMSing). Well enough of me, let's get back to some action.
Chapter 14: Self-Loving Carnage
Like a raging lightning bolt, Lee managed to close in on Theodore (Gaara) and before the sand could react, landed a solid blow to his face. This led to an expression of amazement throughout the audience. On cue, Eleanor began to make her way back from the infirmary. Curious as to why the entire stadium was dead silent, she turned to the arena and find out why.
"I don't believe it…" she said to herself in utter shock. The others caught wind of this and were desperate for answers.
"Eleanor, what's going on with Theodore?" Simon asked.
"To be honest, I have no clue. It started three years ago, after one of our first nights here in this world. One night, he became some terrible monster made of sand. He attacked me and destroyed a good part of the forest. Though I did manage to change him, he never returned his normal, cheerful personality. I think something is possessing him and whatever it is, gave him the ability to manipulate sand…and also turned him into a maniacal monster. In the three years we spent training, nothing has been able to come near him due to the sand…not even me…" It's hard for the group to picture Theodore as a bloodthirsty demon, but all they have to do is turn to the arena. "Alvin, what's going to happen to him?"
"I…I don't know," he really didn't know. At this point in time, he's the embodiment of their enemy. But Theodore is still his brother and would never turn his back on him. "I don't know how, but we'll bring him back to us." They all remained silent for a few more seconds before returning their attention back to the fight.
Rock Lee's dramatic burst of speed gave him a clear advantage. His opponent's sand couldn't react fast enough and Lee could now make contact. After landing a few more kicks and punches, Lee launched Theodore (Gaara) in the air with a devastating kick. He suddenly appeared behind the sand ninja before quickly wrapping him in bandages. Lee then flipped himself and Gaara so that now they began falling headfirst towards the ground. And to add insult to injury, he spun with the ferocity of a whirlwind. Even though Alvin knew the situation they were all in, that didn't stop him from admiring Rock Lee's attack.
"I can't believe I get to see the legendary…"
Primary Lotus!
The pile driver sent a massive cloud of smoke covering the whole stadium. After a few more seconds of dust in the air, it looked like Lee was the clear winner. But when he looked down to see his fallen adversary, all he saw was a shattered sand clone. He looked up and saw Theodore emerge from a pile of sand, sporting a demonic grin.
"What?!" he questioned in disbelief. His attack did nothing to the sand ninja. Up in the stands, Alvin and the rest of the group noticed Theodore's deranged demeanor and knew it could only mean trouble. Even Alvin, the one who knows the most about this world and its outcomes, had his fur on ends.
"I can't b-believe it…" Brittany said.
"That smile…the demon inside him has finally awakened," Eleanor explained, on the verge of tears.
"Now it's my turn," Theodore put his hands together and summoned wave after wave of sand. Due to the after effects of Lee's Primary Lotus, his body has gone beyond its limits. His body is in so much pain, he can barely use his strength to block Theodore's sand attacks. Before Lee could even stand properly, he would get blasted away with more sand.
"Alvin, Theodore's just toying with him now. He might be our brother, but if he keeps up any longer, Lee's going to get killed," Simon frantically stated. Yet, Alvin knew better.
"Look at Lee, Simon," he directed his brother over to arena.
"He's…smiling?!"
"Right, you guys are new to this world and don't know much about these people's backgrounds. Years ago, Rock Lee was considered a loser because he lacked ninjutsu and genjustsu. But through sheer determination and effort, he strives to prove to the world that he can be a great ninja using only his skills in taijutsu. Just watch; he's about to unlock his full potential." Back in the arena, Lee somehow managed to get out of the range of Theodore's sand. Lee caught his breath and crossed his arms.
"Gaara of the Sand, this fight has proved to me that you cannot be defeated under normal circumstances. Guy sensei warned me that I can only use this technique under one strict condition. And that condition is…," massive amounts of chakra began to build up inside of Rock Lee; so much that the air started to ripple. The increased blood flow turned his fur red and his previously matted fur was now on ends. "…TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE MY NINJA WAY! THIRD GATE OF LIFE, OPEN!" Lee's unbelievable chakra pressure literally shook the entire stadium.
"The Third Gate of Life? He'll attack now, right Alvin," Simon asked.
"Not just yet. Keep watching," They all had their eyes on Lee he was still building up more chakra.
"THE FOURTH GATE OF PAIN, OPEN!" Upon releasing the fourth gate, his speed and power increased far beyond anything anybody his ever witnessed. Approaching Theodore, he tore open the stone floor with his speed and delivered a seemingly fatal kick that sent him in the air, paralyzed.
What is this?! No human can move like that! Just what is he?!
Lee's assault was just beginning. Before Theodore's sand could protect him, Lee's speed allowed him to appear before him and deliver countless blows, while still in the air.
"This is unimaginable! Compared the Lee I saw a few minutes ago to this, it seems like a totally different person! Such speed…such power…," Simon said in awe.
"Theodore's sand armor can't withstand this amount of destruction. Rock Lee just might win this," Eleanor replied.
"It is time to end this, Gaara! FIFTH GATE OF CLOSING, OPEN!" While still in the air, Lee snagged Theodore by the waist with a bandage before drawing him in to deliver the final attack.
"The Hidden Lotus, a taijutsu combination of such blinding speed, that no one could defend themselves against it…not even the supposed genius, Neji..." Alvin said to himself.
"Now to finish it…"
Hidden Lotus!
With an open palm strike and a kick delivered simultaneously, Theodore plummeted to the ground with the power and speed of a rocket. Surviving would be a miracle. However, not in this case. After the smoke cleared, Lee was struggling to move and Theodore…lying in a pile of sand and began to signal the sand towards his opponent.
"What?! His gourd thing changed into sand in order to cushion his fall! He's still able to fight!" Brittany stated in utter shock. She wasn't the only one surprised. Lee saw the sand and used what little power remained to try and crawl away. But that didn't stop the sand from closing in on him. Inevitably, the sand latched on to his left arm and leg.
"Alvin, what's Theodore gonna do?!" Eleanor cried frantically. Alvin only watched in fear at what his younger brother had truly become.
Sand Coffin!
Theodore's sand crushed Lee's limbs as if they were nothing, causing unbearable cries of agony from Konoha's genin. The sand didn't stop there.
"Rock Lee, today's the day you die," Theodore wasn't satisfied with defeat. He wanted blood. He rained down sand on his fallen foe hoping to get his sick wish, only to have it vanquished by Lee's teacher, Might Guy (basically an older version of Lee).
"This fight is over," Guy firmly stated.
"Why? Why did you save him?" Theodore demanded an answer. Why save someone else's life?
"Because…because he is my student, and he is precious to me."
"Precious…to you?" Theodore was plagued by thoughts of his former life before scoffing at the concept and leaving the arena. "I'm outta here."
"The winner of this match: Gaara of the Sand."
How was that for kickin' action? Rock Lee fought hard but was no match for Theodore's sand. How can anyone stop him if his own family is terrified of him? You'll find out soon enough. Read, Review, Follow, all that good stuff. Until next time, HIDDEN LOTUS!