Precious Things and How to Protect Them
It didn't work. It didn't work.
That's all I can think about right now. It didn't work. Is this my fate? To never be able to conquer my enemies, to never be able to rise above the label of loser?
Gai-sensei, please!
I've always been a loser. I couldn't perform ninjutsu or genjutsu at all, and my taijutsu was below average. Even when my taijutsu skyrocketed, I still couldn't do anything against the likes of Neji.
Can I ever defeat someone like this? Can my taijutsu break through an absolute defense? Can might alone foil the sublety and grace of Jyuuken?
Hop, jump, hold your arms and hope it doesn't hurt too bad.
Sand everywhere, everywhere…who is this devil? Who wields the sand like the gods molded the universe?
Help!
I see you, Gai-sensei! I see you smiling!
I feel warmth and strength return to my limbs. I can move them effectively again; no more pain, no more stiffness. Your smile is everything to me, Gai-sensei.
It's time.
The Heal Gate has been opened. It's time for the third.
Yes, Gai-sensei! I'm doing it! I can feel it flowing, I can feel my muscles aching with power!
But it's not enough. I know that. I'm sorry, Gai-sensei. But this is for my nindo; no matter what, my nindo is more important to me than anything else.
I just need to…
Harm Gate…OPEN.
And I explode.
The arena cracks beneath me, dust rising as a salute to me. My foot connects with his chin, and we go upupupupupupupupupup into the air.
Hit him, hit him, keep going, ignore the rush of pain in your limbs, and keep going…
It's time.
LIMIT GATE, OPEN!
Keep going, keep going, it's the last blow…then you can rest, and everything's fine…
The limbs connect, and everything fades.
I'm sorry, but…
…he will never live as a shinobi again.