Hey guys, it's been awhile.

Over the last X amount of months, I've read the comments that come in occasionally and I'd just like to say...

I'm not dead yet, so don't worry. Here's the next chapter.

"Winner, Tenten!"

After the proctor's declaration, Tenten yanked on her wire and the windmill shuriken that had trapped Shikamaru's neck returned to her.

Up in the stands, amid the cheering spectators, Ino was scooping her jaw off of the floor, "Choji, I thought you said Shikamaru was gonna win."

"I only said that is shadow could reach farther than you thought." Choji pointed with his empty snack bag, "Didn't you see that? It stretched way farther than we've ever seen, right?"

Ino held her head back and kicked her legs, "You meant that literally?! Hey! Where do you think you're going?!"

Choji had started walking away, "I'm gonna meet up with Shikamaru. Let me know how the next match goes."

"Oh. When you see him, tell him I said good try!" Ino waved, then she turned to Sakura, "Our Shikamaru actually made it to the final stage of the exams on his first try. Can you believe it, Sakura?" She wiped a tear from her eye and waited for affirmation from her friend. Then she looked over and couldn't help but grumble, "Why are you so smug?"

Sakura sat up straight with her arms crossed over her chest, "As expected of my rival! Hahahaha!"

"Why you-! Show a little support for your own classmate!"

Sakura rolled her eyes, "Whatever. Check it out, Neji and Lee are about to fight."

"Those guys? The do seem strong." Ino eyed Sakura, "And you seem to be close with them all of a sudden. Did something happen between you?" Ino gasped, "You didn't start dating that Lee kid when my back was turned, did you? Oh yeah, what did you find out from that journal?"

Sakura leveled a stern glare at Ino, "Now is not the time."

"Fine." Ino sat back, "But you are telling me everything as soon as there's a break."

"We'll see, Ino."

Neji and Lee stood across from each other on the packed dirt.

Watching his teammate's cool confidence, Lee jabbed a finger at his teammate, "Neji! This is the day that I have waited for! Today I will prove that with enough hard work, even someone without talent can defeat a genius!"

Neji settled into his fighting stance, and the veins around his eyes pulsed, "What are you blathering on about? Have you forgotten that in all of the times we have fought, you have never won even once? You have no talent. You've repeated your mistakes on nearly every mission. You can't even use chakra, the lifeblood of a shinobi! Face it already. From the day you were born, you were destined to be a failure and there's nothing you can do to change that fact."

Lee grit his teeth and took up his own fighting stance, his muscles tense and bulging under his forest green jumpsuit, "Today, I am fighting for my beliefs in front of the whole village." He closed his eyes for a moment, "...Guy-sensei." Then he glared at his teammate and opponent, "I won't hold back! I will show you the results of my effort! NEJI!"

The proctor's hand descended and the two fighters launched themselves at each other.

Jiraiya soared through the air atop of his toad's back, high above the rooftops of Konoha. He scanned the horizon, "No signs of struggle, no obvious traces either. Whoever did this is definitely a professional." Jiraiya road out the feeling of weightlessness as the toad fell out of the sky and landed in the middle of a main street. The toad launched itself into the air once more, and Jiraiya's eyes focused on the precise movements of a tree hopping shinobi, "Catch up when you can, Gama. I'm going to have a talk(to the death) with our mystery person."

"First, GATE OF OPENING!" In a flash, Lee had removed his leg weights and sent them flying toward Neji.

"It's not a bad idea, starting with your trump card. It's your only chance at defeating me." The leg weights crashed into the dirt in front of Neji and blasted dust all over him. Neji shielded his face from the resulting cloud, and scowled, "I will admit, had I not been present when Sensei tried to teach us the primary lotus then you might have even gotten the drop on me." Neji lowered his arm from the bulging veins on his face and smoothly twisted away from the kick that would've sent him into the air. In the same movement, Neji's hand darted toward Lee's body crouched below where he stood, "You are a fool to attack a Hyuuga directly."

Neji's hand accurately struck Lee's shoulder, and his chakra struck through the bowl-cut boy's flesh directly at his chakra point. Lee struck back at the same time, trying to counter with a punch of his own but his fist was caught, as if it was sucked into Neji's palm. Pain bit into the boy and his launched himself backward, out of Neji's range. Neji didn't follow. Instead he stood calmly as the dust settled.

As his clean form was slowly revealed to the audience, Neji began to speak, "Have you finally understood, Lee? This is exactly how fate determined our battle would end, as all of our battles have ended. You may have been able to defeat a weak and untalented girl, but when faced with true talent your efforts will always fall short. Your skill in Taijutsu is considerable, but mine is to an even higher degree. You will tire as the battle goes on and soon enough, you won't even be able to move your body at all." Neji tilted his head back and seemed to look down his nose at Lee across the stadium, "This is the limit of hard work without talent, so just give up. Face it. You'll never beat me."

"You're wrong, Neji. I have always seen you as a rival, and no matter how many times you beat me I believed that as long as I work hard enough I will eventually win." Lee grit his teeth, "I will become a splendid ninja. As long as I am alive, that is what I believe!" Lee crossed his arms and tried to hold back his tears. He whispered so quietly that Neji barely heard his words, "Forgive me, Guy-sensei." Then Rock Lee unleashed a roar, "Second, GATE OF HEALING!"

"What?!" The gears in Neji's mind turned, mulling over the lesson he received alongside the rest of team 8, and he rapidly came to a conclusion, "I don't know how many gates he can open, but I absolutely must stop him!" Before the words had even finished coming out of his mouth, Neji was charging at Lee as fast as he possibly could, "I have to catch him within my range!"

Veins bulged all over Lee's face, and his blood began to boil beneath his skin. Lee's skin turned red all the way from his face to his fingers and toes, "Third, GATE OF LIFE! OPEN!"

Neji slid to a stop with his arms stretched out from his body in an open stance, "You are within my range."

Lee bent over and flexed his legs like a runner, "As are you." The dirt flew from beneath his feet, and Lee disappeared.

At the same time, Neji shouted as he began to spin and emit chakra from all over his body, "Eight Trigrams! Rota-ugh!" But he was too slow, Lee's foot was already planted in his stomach. Neji went flying, and Lee followed at high speed. Still, Neji had managed to cushion the blow somewhat and tried to counter, "Eight Trigrams! Two-!"

"It's over Neji!" As he charged at Neji, Lee shouted something ridiculous, "GATE OF PAIN! OPEN!"

Before, Neji had at least been able to somewhat read where Lee was going, but after opening this new gate, Lee completely disappeared from Neji's view. He felt pain all over his body, and then nothing.

After confirming that Neji was unconscious, he declared, "Winner, Rock Lee!"

And the crowd went wild.

As Lee stood, trying to suppress the shaking in his body, his chest filled with emotion. He'd finally proven for once and for all, in front of the whole world, that effort and hard work really could beat natural talent. The cheers of the crowd gave him goosebumps, and there was a light feeling like he might become a cloud and be taken away by the wind. There was also the pain lancing through his limbs, the backlash of opening four of the Gates. That pain brought him back down to earth, and Lee reminded himself of the other battle that he would surely wage that day.

As he followed the lead of the medics who came to collect Neji, Lee muttered to himself with a severe look on his face, "Ryuto... Surely you will not run away from our match."

As the crowd around them cheered, Ino cast a sidelong glance at Sakura, "Did you know he could do that?"

Sakura shook her head and licked her lips. Her mouth was suddenly dry, "No, I didn't." Sakura showed a complicated face.

And he wants to fight Ryuto...

Ino watched her friend's face contort, and shifted a little closer to her friend, "Are you worried?"

Sakura huffed, "You know that's a loaded question. Let's just get ready for the next match."

Jiraiya landed ahead of his target and rested a hand on the tree trunk, "Where are you going in such a hurry?" He eyed the ninja. Black clothes, with a chain shirt peeking out from beneath the sleeves. Basic shinobi gear. Their head was covered by a black tube mask, and narrow brown eyes stared back at him. Suspiciously, he wore no headband.

The ninja didn't stop, and brazenly tried to charge past Jiraiya.

They got as far as the branch Jiraiya was standing on before he caught the ninja by the back of the neck, "Why don't you get comfortable? We're gonna have a long chat." Then he slammed the ninja face first into the tree, directly into the seal he placed on the bark. The ninja burst into smoke in his hand, and there was a thump on the forest floor below that branch.

"Wha-?"

"You thought I wouldn't recognize your little trick? That's the hidden leaf's jutsu your using, buddy." Jiraiya quickly descended the tree, "I used a seal to disrupt your chakra through that shadow clone of yours. Now, you are going to answer my questions." Jiraiya grabbed the ninja's mask, "Where is-" He yanked off the mask and couldn't help but gasp, "-Naruto?"

Jiraiya's mind locked up for a moment, and that was all the time Naruto needed to slip away. With a vicious smirk Naruto called out as he fled back into the trees, "Surprised? What else should I expect from a fool?"

"What?" Jiraiya snapped out of his stupor and made to chase the boy down, "Naruto, what are you doing?"

"Kyaha! I should've done this a long time ago!" Naruto's voice rang out through the forest, "There's nothing left for me in this oppressive village!"

Watching that golden hair bounce through the trees at breakneck speeds filled Jiraiya's heart with nostalgia, and he clicked his tongue, "That brat, he's so fast." In an instant, Jiraiya summoned Gama the large toad, "Grab him! He can't leave the village!" With a deep croak, the toad launched itself into the air with Jiraiya on it's back and unleased it's tongue to catch the boy as if he were a fly.

The toad's wart covered tongue rocketed toward Naruto and caught the boy's arm, yanking him high over the trees. As he was whipped up into the air, the boy's eyes locked onto Jiraiya and lit up with an intense hatred, "You!" Naruto pulled out a kunai and stabbed it into the tongue. A red flower bloomed, and Naruto was released.

"Naruto!" Jiraiya reached out for his falling godson, but he was already among the trees.

Sssss

Then he noticed the burning paper bomb attached to the kunai stuck in Gama's tongue.

Another red flower blossomed in the sky.

After the doctors finished their initial examination of the two boys, Lee and Neji were left in beds next to each other in the medical ward located inside of the coliseum.

The twitching had stopped, but the doctor had informed Lee about the muscle tears and bone fractures all throughout his body. With that sort of damage, Lee would be facing a long recovery period before he could properly return to the ranks of ninja in the village.

"..." Neji hadn't said a word since he woke up and was informed of his broken ribs and damaged organs. His road to recovery wouldn't be as long as Lee's, and he'd already received a summary of the physical therapy he'd be going through.

Lee stared at the ceiling with a serene look on his face, "Even though I won, it seems I won't have the chance to compete in the next round."

"..." Neji didn't look at Lee. He was focusing on a stain he'd discovered on the wall in front of him, as if his eyes would develop the power to eradicate stains if he just stared hard enough.

"I may not be able to continue here, but this victory prooves it." Lee fist pumped and tears of joy streamed down his face, "With enough hard work, even someone without the use of ninjutsu or genjutsu can become a splendid ninja!" He showed Neji his best Nice-Guy-pose and immediately winced, "Ow." Then he imagined the face of another opponent, and his face became serious, "Still, this is only the beginning of my road." Then he leaped out of the bed and roared, "Just you wait, Ryuto! As soon as I'm recovered I'm going to beat you and show Sakura just how much she means to me! Owowow-!" Lee collapsed after his impassioned speech and medical personnel poured into the room.

"..." Neji looked on silently as the doctors and medics rushed to restrain Lee before he hurt himself any more. He watched his teammate who had grown far more than he'd ever expected, before closing his eyes and laying back on the bed.

"I forfeit!" Kankuro, the black puppeteer, called out in his resignation in front of a packed stadium of onlookers and was immediately met with a chorus of boos and jeers. He turned away from the crowd with his arms crossed and sighed, "With this, I haven't shown what Crow can do." He looked at his sister Temari, "Are we still going through with this?"

"Baki-sensei already talked to Dad. The Sannin are on equal terms, remember?" Temari shrugged, "The plan is still on."

"But..."

Temari faced her brother, "But what?"

Kankuro tucked his chin into his chest and whispered, "What about Ryuto? I couldn't find him anywhere all month. He's not even here."

Temari crossed her arms, "What about that jerk?"

"Don't be like that, Sis. You like him just as much as I do."

Temari fiddled with her fan and huffed, "He's smart. He wouldn't go anywhere dangerous enough to get himself killed. We'll designate him as a high priority political prisoner, and we'll be his guards. That way he'll have nowhere to escape to when he cheats at monopoly."

Kankuro stared at his sister, "Do you hear yourself?"

Temari clicked her tongue and looked away, "What else am I supposed to say? That we'll stay friends no matter what happens? Be realistic, Kankuro."

Kankuro whispered, "Temari..."

Just then, a suffocating aura pressed down on Kankuro and Temari, "Kankuro."

Sweat beaded on Kankuro's naked face, "G-g-g-gaar-!" He quickly corrected himself when he saw the sand swirling around his younger brother, "T-t-to what do I o-o-owe that t-t-the Gallant G-Gaara would grace me w-w-with his a-address?"

Particles of sand danced through the air around Gaara, who'd taken Kankuro's makeup to draw two lines on his face mimicking the Sannin Jiraiya's style. The sand began to gather at Kankuro's feet, "You gave up before you even tried, Kankuro. Such cowardice is the opposite of the path of the gallant."

Kankuro felt the sand creeping up his legs and tried to talk his way into keeping his legs, "W-wait just a moment! Surely the G-gallant Gaara remembers the plan! It's n-n-necessary in order to protect our comrades! Isn't that on the path of the gallant?!"

"Simple words will not protect you from the reality of the world." The sand closed in on Kankuro's body, before pausing. Gaara noticed something, "Hm?"

Down on the stadium floor, the proctor had been counting down until the disqualification of Sasuke who hadn't shown up yet. Just before he finished counting, in a whirlwind of leaves Sasuke appeared back to back with his tall one eyed sensei, "We aren't too late, are we?"

The crowd went wild, and even Gaara relinquished Kankuro from his sand. He moved past his older siblings and muttered, "Reflect on yourself." And as he descended the stairs leading to the ground level of the arena he raised his voice, "The Gallant Gaara has an entrance to make!"

Kankuro could only gulp, and Temari looked like she was going to be sick.

There it is. Lee stomped Neji, Jiraiya failed to grab Naruto, and it's almost time for the new and improved Gaara to take the stage.

Thank you for reading, I'll see you next time.

Peace.