bugaboo13: I stated several times that Sakura is nowhere near Sasuke's level. He toyed with her that entire fight practically. You will see Sasuke's true strength soon enough, along with Naruto's.

ZyiareHellsing: Why thank you. I shall continue to hopefully give you this amount of awesome.

Nogs28: You're the Earl? The Millennium Earl? DIE! I SHALL BURN ALL YOUR AKUMA!

SPeCTeR-ll7: You mean...Danzo and Orochimaru aren't pedophile's?

Omnipotent Anomaly: Badass name my friend. Anyways, yeah I'm slowly grasping that...I still find trolls rather annoying. I'm actually still rather positive that even after Gaiden Kaguya is stronger than the duo, separately. However, if we're going to argue about this (please no), can we not do it on this sight? I don't even wanna argue over the topic anyway, it's just a personal belief. Naruto was kinda being easy to manipulate...in the sense that he completely forgot about his displeasure at Sakura losing because Sasuke is now a better challenge for him. And the fact that Sakura still did really well in the fight.

Wolvmbm: Of course she does...she's Temari. She's a jerk as of now. Oh trust me he will...comic relief during wars is necessary! Yes Sakura does. Even though Sasuke held back she still gave him a decent challenge. Everyone in the Konoha 12 will know of Naruto's Jinchuriki status before the timeskip, that I can assure you.

bloodsword007: I don't remember mentioning castration in that chapter...nor do I see it in the chapter...but damn that's evil man!

OfficerShadowcat: Welp you'll find out. Both questions are answered.

Eight Gates! Invasion?

Lee stood in front of Gaara his eyes narrowed as Gaara's lone arm draped at his side. His gourd's cap blasted out at Lee, who caught it.

"You should wait until the match has begun to get so excited." Gaara said nothing, his eyes simply narrowing in anger.

XxX

"Kazekage-dono…I must admit your son is fairly…eager to fight my shinobi." The Kazekage gave a slight shake of his head. "I would have to disagree. After what you told me about Gaara's fight in the preliminaries…I would have to say that Gaara seems to be eager to fight the Uzumaki child again. After all, he did take off an arm."

Hiruzen frowned at the suggestion…that he couldn't deny was wrong. "If so…Kazekage-dono please remind your son that we are allies."

The Kazekage sighed. "I'm afraid my son does not care about allies. He is unstable as you can see." Hiruzen frowned. "Then I guess it is not wrong of me to worry about my shinobi's survival." The Kazekage shook his head. "Remember Hokage-dono we are allies are we not?"

XxX

Genma frowned as he noticed Gaara's hasty behavior. Genma didn't know if Lee felt it but he knew he did.

'Such bloodlust…it's more than even Anko usually radiates…this kid is disturbed.'

Genma sent out a prayer for Lee's sake before he raised his hand.

XxX

Naruto gulped as the match was about to begin, sweat falling from his brow despite the fact he had done no form of physical exercise. Was it him or were things getting hot in here?

"Come down Naruto," Kakashi said. "Lee is strong…he can win..."

Naruto frowned at Kakashi, wondering if the Jonin believed his own words before he looked at Gaara. Tenten couldn't help but agree with Naruto. She had seen Gaara fight, against Naruto no less. Gaara was a monster.

Kiba frowned. "Gai-sensei…if Lee is in a bad situation-"

"Lee will not be put in a bad situation," Gai stated, confident in his students capabilities. "You doubting his capabilities is the only bad situation he is in."

Kiba clamed up, but Kurenai couldn't help but agree with her young student. She knew was Gaara was, unlike Kiba…and she feared for Lee's life.

XxX

"Match begin!"

Gaara's sand surged out of his gourd, a look of insanity in his eyes. Lee's eyes widened as he shot backwards, attempting to get away from the quickly approaching sand. However, the sand split into two tendrils that whipped around Lee, trapping him in the first couple seconds of the fight.

Lee frowned, drawing a kunai that he launched at Gaara. Gaara's sand instinctively rose to defend him, stopping the kunai midair, however Lee smirked, shooting towards a tendril to escape his imprisonment. However, as if the sand had a mind of its own, the tendril acted separably from the rest of Gaara's sand, coming at Lee with intent to bat him out of the way. Lee jumped before the sand hit him, causing it to miss and allowing him to get out of his trap.

Gaara frowned. "You are in my way."

Lee gave a light smile. "Well this is a battle correct? I am supposed to want to be in your way."

Gaara's eyes lit alight with rage at Lee's comment. "You are in my way! Get out of my way so I can kill Uzumaki!"

XxX

Naruto suddenly felt very uncomfortable as everyone who knew who looked at him. "Damn insane Jinchuriki," Naruto mumbled, ignoring the fact that those sitting around him other than the Jonin had any idea what a Jinchuriki was.

XxX

"Uh Sasuke," Sakura said, getting his attention. "You did hear that right?" Sasuke nodded his eyes narrowed. "He wants to kill Naruto. Can't blame him…I want to do it myself sometimes."

"Sasuke!"

Sasuke sighed as he became very serious. "Seriously though Sakura…going by what Kankuro and what Kabuto said…Gaara isn't used to being hit and usually completely crushes his opponents. And then he came across Naruto…and Naruto took his damn arm off…and lived. Not to mention he's an insane Jinchuriki…"

Hinata silently nodded. "Sasuke-san is right…Gaara is likely being driven to kill Naruto-kun because of his own goals and partially because of his Bijuu."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Hinata you know about Jinchuriki and Bijuu?" Hinata nodded. "Naruto-kun told me before the finals."

Sakura nodded before looking back onto the field where Lee attempted to get in close with Gaara only to be repelled by his sand once again. "I hope Lee puts a stop to those plans."

XxX

Gaara sent a wave of sand at Lee, clearly irritated by Lee's continuous ability to dodge his attacks. Lee smirked, shooting to the side as he attempted to outrun Gaara's attack. However Gaara's sand once again acted as if it had a mind of his own, and without even as much as a mental command it turned, chasing Lee. Lee's eyes widened as he noticed the sand was gaining on him placed a foot on the wall and proceeded to run upwards. The sand crashed into the wall, shaking it before it receeded to reveal a massive dent.

Lee's eyes widened.

XxX

"Hokage-dono I'm afraid this boy cannot defeat Gaara. The Uzumaki seems to be the special case, but as long as this genin continues to try taijutsu he shall never break through Gaara's shield of sand."

The Hokage simply smirked. He knew who Lee's sensei was…he wasn't willing to put it past Gai to do something ridiculous in order to make sure Lee was a capable shinobi. He wasn't the type of Jonin to put his entire team up for the Chunin Exams if he didn't think all of them were ready.

XxX

"I told you," Kankuro said, drawing Sasuke's and Sakura's attention. "No one can beat Gaara. That Uzumaki kid definitely came the closest, but even your teammate was weak compared to Gaara. There's no way anyone can beat Gaara."

Sasuke glowered at Kankuro before glancing at Lee. 'But I can't actually fault him in his thinking. Lee can't use ninjutsu like Naruto…there's no way that he can match Gaara.'

XxX

"Lee! I give you my permission!" Gai called, pumping his fist in the air.

XxX

Lee's eyes widened even further, if that was even possible. "Really Gai-sensei? I will make sure you don't regret this!" And with that Lee sat down against the wall, removing his ankle-warmers to reveal large weights.

XxX

"What the hell Gai!" Kurenai yelled. "What are you giving your Genin!" Gai simply laughed, punchinghis fists. "I am simply allowing Lee to reach his dream! To be an excellent shinobi without ninjutsu or genjutsu!"

Asuma sighed at Gai's response. "You know Gai…I can't actually blame Kurenai. That's insane. He was moving that fast with the weights on? Just how fast is he?"

Gai smirked, glancing at Naruto. "Without his weights he and Naruto are about equal." Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Last time we checked Lee was faster…I mean I did amp up the Resistance Seal level over the month and add another seal to slow me down-"

Tenten looked at Naruto in a shocked fashion as if she couldn't believe he was still restricting his body's movement to such a heavy degree just to make him faster. He definitely couldn't have done any more without damaging himself.

"-and I did get some weighted clothing-"

She stood corrected.

"-But Lee is pretty fast."

Gai smirked. "I think Lee has you actually beat in speed overall…" Naruto's eyes widened. "Damn…he really improved then huh?" Gai nodded. Kiba however looked at Naruto in shock before looking at Lee. "Are you and him even human!"

Naruto laughed uproariously. "No! For we and Lee exist in a world of our own! Every second to you is like a minute to us speed demons ahahahaahaha!"

Tenten sighed in relief.

Naruto was still an idiot.

She was getting worried there for a second.

XxX

Sasuke sighed. "He's still wearing those…" Sasuke mumbled.

Temari laughed. "Losing weight won't help him outpace Gaara's sand."

Hinata simply looked at her pointedly. "Naruto."

"Shit."

XxX

Lee then dropped his weights. "So much better!"

The weights hit the ground, causing two large craters and an explosion of dust to shoot into the air.

XxX

Kakashi, Anko, Margaret, Naruto, Kiba, Kurenai, Asuma, Choji, and Ino all looked at Gai as if he was an idiot.

"THE FUCK IS THAT!"

XxX

Temari's eyes widened as she had to grip the railing of the box to stop herself from falling. "What the hell is wrong with that guy! There's no way he can lift that much!"

Sasuke's eyes widened. 'This is what it would have felt like if he had dropped those in our spar?'

Sakura's eyes widened as did Hinata's.

"What?"

"That…should not be physically possible."

XxX

Lee then disappeared, clearly having moved judging by the slight crater his feet left as he moved. Gaara's eyes widened in remembrance of fighting a Konoha shinobi of similar speed before his sand shrouded him, leaving the top being the only opening in the guard. Lee frowned as he circled around Gaara's guard.

"I see, you have learned from your fight with Naruto that your sand is not capable of keeping up with people with speed such as ours. Still, this will not stop me."

Lee jumped, appearing directly above Gaara before he fell, his leg raised for a heel drop. Gaara's sand reacted just in time to block Lee's kick, however Lee kicked off of the sand, landing on his feet before he rushed forwards, barely out-speeding Gaara's defense and landing a solid punch on the Ichibei Jinchuriki.

Gaara was sent flying, however sand rushed around him, cushioning his fall. Lee smirked.

XxX

"No way…he hit Gaara." Temari mumbled. Kankuro groaned. "This crap again."

XxX

"He hit him," Naruto mumbled. Gai smirked, looking at Naruto. "See what I mean? Lee can win." Naruto frowned. "I'll put more faith in him…but Bushy Brow-sensei…speed isn't enough to beat Gaara…if anyone would know I would."

Gai smiled. "Naruto you had your jutsu to come close to beating Gaara…Lee has his taijutsu."

XxX

Lee shot forwards, not allowing Gaara to regain awareness, having learned from Naruto's battle. Gaara's sand shot forwards in an attempt to guard, however Lee shot a punch forward, the force scattering the sand before he disappeared once again in a burst of speed, appearing behind Gaara.

Gaara's sand rushed backwads in three tendrils in an attempt to form a wall to defend Gaara, however Lee shot a punch out once again, scattering it with the force. Gaar's eyes narrowed as Lee circled around him, repeating this pattern of punches, and even adding in a few kicks, to scatter Gaara's sand. Eventually an opening lasted long enough for Lee to rush in and knee Gaara in the face, however lee wasn't done, grabbing Gaara and throwing him. Gaara's sand caught him midair before Gaara cried out in rage.

"I'll kill you! Mother will have your blood!"

Lee's eyes widened before he shot to the side, avoiding several bullets of Gaara's sand. However, the tower of sand Gaara stood in suddenly collapsed, sending a wave of sand in all directions. Lee's eyes widened as he jumped away, rolling. Lee rolled to his feet, trying to regain his balance, however the wave of sand converged down upon him. Lee's eyes widened before he shot away, barely making it out in time.

Lee gave off several deep breathes, sweat trailing down his brow. "Gai-sensei! Forgive me!"

XxX

Gai's eyes widened before he nodded. "Lee I give you permission to use what you think to be within reason to defeat Gaara!"

XxX

Lee smiled before he began to unwrap the bandages around his arms. He glanced at Gaara. "Prepare yourself. Kaimon, Kai (Gate of Opening, Release)!" Gaara raised an eyebrow. "Whatever you're planning….it won't work."

Lee nodded. "You're correct…whatever you are planning…won't be able to stop me."

With that Lee shot off, disappearing even faster than he was before, shocking the crowd. Gaara's sand instinctively set up a trail of sand circling Gaara, however Lee appeared around him, shooting dust in the air as he circled Gaara.

"Prepare yourself!" Lee called before he shot inwards, Gaara's sand to slow to react. He then spun, launching a kick that sent Gaara into the air, however Lee's eyes widened as Gaara didn't go as high as expected.

'He's so dense,' Lee thought before he pushed off on his hands, kicking Gaara several times before his head snapped back in pain. Gai clapped his hands together and prayed at that very moment. Lee snapped his head back forwards to look at Gaara, kicking him to more times before Gaara finally floated in the air, Lee directly under him.

Lee's bandages slowly began to bidn Gaara's body before Lee tilted them towards the ground head-first. They slowly began to rotate as they shot towards the ground. "Omote Renge (Front Lotus)!" The duo hit the ground, resulting in several chunks of it to destabilize and shoot into the air, and causing the walls on the arena to crack badly.

XxX

"What the hell was that!" Temari called, looking at the massive crater in the ground with worry. Dust filled the air, covering the two who were in the epicenter of the attack, however it was obvious that both of them would be pretty banged up after that.

"That's gotta take him down," Sakura said, looking at the smoke cloud. Sasuke's Sharingan was on, however he couldn't see through the cloud. "Hinata, do you see anything?" Hinata nodded. "Gaara is in the ground face first, but his body is cracking. Lee is slowly getting out of the cloud right now."

Sasuke nodded before he glanced at Kankuro whose hands were twitching. He got a look from Shino, at least he thought so has the boy's head turned his way, before they both subtly nodded. A silent pact had been made between them.

If Kankuro or Temari tried anything they would handle it.

XxX

"No way!" Ino cried, her eyes wide. "Lee's that strong?" Tenten gave off a light smile. "Yeah. He was the only one out of our team that managed to learn this technique. Even Neji couldn't do it."

Naruto smirked. "So Lee knows something Neji doesn't? How bad did that get under his skin?" Tenten rolled her eyes at Naruto attempting to pry more information out of her to get under Neji's skin even more than he did now. Kiba however looked at her.

"How the heck did he do that?"

Tenten shrugged. "I still don't really understand the explanation, I just know that it involves the Eight Gates."

"Eight Gates?"

"The Hachimon (Eight Gates)," Gai began. "Eight specific tenketsu in the chakra pathway system that limit the overflow of chakra in the body. They stop the body from dying to quickly in return for not being able to use all the power a shinobi can wield. However, these tenketsu can be opened, allowing massive increases in strength and speed."

"However, the more gates you unlock the more damage you cause your body," Margaret said, glaring at Gai. "Gai what you taught that boy was completely irresponsible! How many gates can he open?"

Gai sighed. "I do not have to justify my actions to you…but you're question deserves an answer. Lee can open five of the gates."

"FIVE!" Asuma roared. "What the hell is wrong with you Gai! That's three more than I can open and one more than Kakashi can! We can take that burden, he's just a Genin! Opening five gates is likely to kill him!"

Ino couldn't help herself. "Um, what happens if you open all the gates?"

The Jonin grew silent before Asuma opened his mouth. "The Hachimon Tonkō no Jin (Eight Gates Released Formation)…it happens one you open the final gate. You are granted insane power, putting you far above the realm of a Kage-"

The Genin all looked awe-struck at that. A realm above even a Kage? That was legendary!

"However," Asuma continued. "the consequence for opening the eighth gate…is death."

The Genin grew somber at that before Tenten glared at Gai. "Gai-sensei what the hell are you thinking! I can understand maybe teaching us to open a couple of them, sure why not, it's better than outright getting killed, but teaching Lee to open five of those things! That's gotta be really dangerous!"

Ino and Choji were silent, simply staring at the match in shock. Naruto sighed. "This is gonna be a problem."

XxX

"Hokage-dono…the Eight Gates…is that not a rather irresponsible move to be teaching a mere Genin?"

Hiruzen was silent as he felt the Kazekage take another jab at him and how he ran his village. He was getting severely ticked off at this point. The Kazekage was taking anything even remotely deemed irresponsible leadership and prodding Hiruzen with it to test where the line was.

After all, to remember where the line was you had to cross it.

XxX

Lee panted as he looked at Gaara who was cracking slightly. "I knew you had sand armor…but to be able to withstand such a devastating attack..."

However, Gaara was not simply cracking, eventually he dissolved into a mere pool of sand. Lee's eyes widened. "What?"

XxX

"What the!" Gai said, looking at Gaara with wide eyes. "Impossible! There's no way he could have managed to substitute himself in time!"

Kakashi frowned. "Yes…it was the time Lee's head snapped back in pain…and the time when you closed your eyes to pray. Gaara instantly substituted himself with a clone of sand. The density actually increased, so Lee never noticed it I think."

XxX

Gaara rose from the sand, an insane grin on his face. "I'll kill you," he mumbled. "I'll rip you apart! You are definitely strong! Mother will enjoy feasting on your blood!"

With that several tendrils of sand shot out, slamming into the unprepared Lee, sending him flying into a wall, denting it with the force. Lee groaned, slowly attempting to stand, however the sand wrapped around his ankle before it threw him around like a rag doll, beating him against the walls. Eventually Lee was thrown to the ground, severly thrashed.

XxX

"What's going on," Kiba aksed as he watched Lee get thrashed. "Just five seconds ago he was kicking Gaara's ass so why is he getting so badly manhandled right now?"

"It's the punishment for opening the first gate and using the first lotus," Kakashi said. "Opening the first gate is enough of a strain on the body as it is, as it removes the restraints in the brain so muscles can be used at maximum capacity instead of the measly 20% we get from normally using our muscles. This gate also allows the first lotus, which when combined is tiring to the user, even someone as skilled in taijutsu as Lee."

Kiba's eyes widened. "So essentially Lee pushed himself to hard." Kakashi sighed. "Not necessarily. Although opening any of the gates is foolhardy in a competition such as this one there is a way to counteract the effect of the first lotus immediately…by opening the second gate."

Kiba's eyes widened. "So all Lee has to do is open the next gate? That shouldn't be so hard right? I mean he can open five of them."

Kakashi shook his head. "It's not that simple Kiba. Each gate requires a massive amount of focus and buildup to open, not to mention it's tiring just to open them. In a fight like this, when Gaara isn't giving him a break, it will be very hard to open the Kyumon (Gate of Healing)."

"Three minutes."

The Jonin and Genin turned to Gai confused. "Three minutes is the longest its taken Lee mid-battle to activate the second gate."

Kakashi's eyes widened in worry. "That's much to long against someone like Gaara…he needs the second gate in mere seconds."

XxX

Gaara's sand began to converge around him, swarming like bees to the slaughter…only not. Gaara looked at Lee. "I would love to tortue you…and I usually would…but the faster this tournament is over…the faster I can kill Uzumaki!"

The sand converged around Gaara shot towards Lee in a wave, battering everything out of its way. Lee silently looked up at the wave. 'I will continue to do it…I will continue to forge my own path! Gai-sensei entrusted me with the Eight Gates and I will not fail him! I will continue to live in my own ninja way!'

Lee suddenly shot forwards in a blast of speed that was faster than what had happened even when he opened the first gate and appeared behind Gaara, launching a kick that sent the redhead stumbling to the ground.

"It is time to flip the tables," Lee said as he rested in his stance. Gaara's eyes danced with amusement as Lee maneuvered around him, trying to find an opening. "You amuse me…dance…dance until you die!"

Gaara sent his sand out in a concussive blast towards Lee, however Lee easily dodged and just kept dodging as the sand attempted to chase him.

XxX

"Such speed," Naruto mumbled as he watched Lee, even with his trained eyes unable to keep up. "I won't even doubt it…Lee's faster than I am!"

Gai smirked. "He's about to take it up a notch anyway. This match is over."

Kakashi frowned. "Still Gai…I never thought I'd have to tell you this but we're never supposed to involve our personal feelings when training our genin!"

Gai glared at Kakashi. "Oh really Kakashi? Then what about your team! We both know how you chose them! You have no right! You know nothing about that boy nothing at all! Do you even know what it's like to be born with no talent in ninjutsu or genjutsu?"

Kakashi shook his head, frowning. "No…I don't…and there's no way that I could ever know what that's like…but this is just wrong Gai! He's a mere Genin!"

"That boy has something important to prove, and he's determined to prove it even at the cost of his life!"

(-Flashback-)

"I want to prove that I can be a splendid ninja as well even if I can not use ninjutsu or genjutsu! I want to prove it to the whole world!"

(-Flashback-)

"That boy has a goal, and I am determined to help him reach that goal. Not for his sake, but because that goal is worth reaching."

(-Flashback-)

"Alright Lee, I'm gonna be teaching you a new technique so listen up." A younger-looking Lee cheered, pumping his fist chanting. Gai sighed. "Alright Lee enough of that."

The Jonin was rather serious, something unusual. Lee snapped to attention. "Let me first say one thing. This technique is even more forbidden than the Primary Lotus. It is not without danger, but it will be your trump card."

"It will?"

"But listen you can only use this forbidden technique on one condition, one very strict condition, and that is…"

(-Flashback-)

Lee stood in front of Gaara, fists in front of his face as his forearms crossed. 'And that is…'

Suddenly a heavy pressure of chakra began to swirl around Lee, looking like air was rushing around him. Gaara watched. "I don't know what you think you'e planning right now…but this match is over for you."

"You are right. It is over. One way or another! Neji, and Sasuke, and even you Naruto…I am not going to lose here!"

Lee began to crouch as his chakra began to emit a sound and the air around him started to swirl high into the air. "Gai-sensei, please let this work! It is now or never!"

Lee's skin slowly began to change color, its usual shade changing as it became a fierce red. His chakra grew so thick that it could be visibly seen to the naked eye, appearing as wisps shooting around his body and trailing off of his arms, legs, and head. Lee brought his hands down, standing tall with his arms at his sides.

"To protect and maintain one's own ninja way! The Third Gate! Seimon, Kai (Gate of Life, Release)!"

XxX

"Why was I an even," Naruto mumbled, slightly irritated. However his slight anger was ignored by Gai. "He has entered it," Gai stated. "The Hidden Lotus."

XxX

"No way!" Sakura said as she watched Lee's chakra continue to spike drastically. "His chakra's so dense you can see it with the naked eye!"

Sasuke and Hinata both had their hands in front of their eyes, barely able to see as they both were using their respective visionary kekkei genkai. Temari and Kankuro however looked terrified. 'This kid is even stronger than Uzumaki!' Kankuro thought. 'Could Gaara…lose?'

Shino frowned as the bug he had placed at Lee came flying back to him. He had already been unable to place a bug on Gaara, his bugs simply refused to do as ordered when it came to the maniac, however now that he had lost his bug on Lee he realized that there was a serious problem out on the field.

XxX

Chakra swarmed around Lee's feet, reaching up in tendrils around him. The sheer force of the chakra had already cratered the ground. Slowly, a green aura began to manifested Lee as he grunted audibly, obviously attempting to open the next gate.

XxX

"He's opened the Third Gate…now he'll attack."

"No," Gai said. "Not yet."

XxX

Lee crouched, glaring at his fists as his eyes became pure white, his pupils and iris seemed to be devoured by his sclera. "The Fourth Gate! Shomon, Kai (Gate of Pain, Release)!" The veins around Lee's arteries began to bulge, as did his arteries. His body was trying to keep up with the extra power it was using. Small specks of dirt and rock began to float up around Lee, giving him the look of an angry god before he continued onward. Lee crouched obviously preparing to charge before he simply vanished, leaving an explosion that created a crater in his wake. Suddenly the very ground of the arena seemed to explode, the walls of the arena looking heavily damaged, some parts even falling to the ground. Gaara's head snapped backwards as a foot suddenly appeared, his sand completely unable to react.

The air pressure from the kick was so intense that everyone had to hold onto something not to be blown away by it. The entirety of the audience tried looking for them, however they had no luck until they appeared from the smoke cloud generated by the kick.

Gaara floated in the air, groaning in pain as his sand armor began to crack, surprisingly able to hold up from the force of the blow. Lee suddenly appeared running up the wall. "Hiding behind that sand armor again ay? Well we will see about that!" Lee appeared in front of him, battering him before he quickly shifted behind Gaara before he hit the ground, battering him again. Gaara floated in the air before he was bounced around like a volleyball by Lee, being sent flying several places in the air as Lee maneuvered around the battlefield.

Gaara couldn't even open his eyes due to the ferocity of the attack. 'My armor…can't withstand this,' Gaara mumbled as it slowly but surely began to break apart. 'My sand…can't keep up.'

And with that Gaara's armor on his legs and arms shattered.

Lee didn't care as he kept up the assault.

'It's crumbling away.' His very thoughts represented his pain now.

More attacks.

"You are a tough one!"

More.

"Try this!" Lee batted Gaara high into the air before Lee climbed the crumbling walls of the arena, jumping high above even Gaara.

XxX

Kakashi couldn't believe his eyes as he appeared in the competitor's booth along with Asuma and Gai, getting the Genin trapped in there out before the box caved in under the pressure. He reappeared, the Suna and Konoha Genin safe as Lee continued his assault.

"His muscles," Kakashi said, not caring for the audience. "they're tearing themselves apart!" Lee slowly formed a fist with one of his hands as he descended, coming at Gaara like an angry god.

XxX

"One more and we are finished!" The Fifth Gate! Tomon, Kai (Gate of Limit, Release)!" A blue aura surrounded Lee briefly before his speed increased furthermore, along with his power. Lee suddenly vanished as he slammed into Gaara.

'I was saving this ace in the hole against Neji…but since he was defeated…Gaara will have to do!'

Lee descended quickly again, catching up to Gaara before he hit the ground. "Now to finish it!"

Lee seemed to push against the air as his descent actually increased. This also seemed to cause a form of updraft as Gaara was forced upwards. Lee lashed out with an open-hand strike and a kick at the same time towards Gaara, striking harshly.

"Ura Renge (Reverse Lotus)!"

The duo hit the ground, uprooting the entire arena as the walls fell completely, erecting a massive amount of dust. The audience was only saved thanks to some quick-thinking shinobi using a combination of Doton jutsu to save their lives.

The smoke suddenly cleared as Lee rolled out of hit, the gates having been completely resealed as the strain was too much for the boy to maintain, however he was completely unconscious, and, although few knew, his muscles had been shredded beyond belief.

Gaara was laying in a crater in the ground, almost completely out of it. Only the stamina of being a Jinchuriki was keeping him conscious, even if just barely. Even his stamina had nothing compared to a Jinchuriki with the Kyuubi in them.

Gaara slowly raised a hand as sand began to move towards Lee, albeit very slowly thanks to Gaara's pain.

XxX

"Gai!" Kakashi said, however there was no need for a warning, Gai had already disappeared.

XxX

Gaara's sand prepared to crash down towards Lee before it was batted away, being sent flying in all directions. Gai appeared, Lee in his arms as he looked at Gaara whose eyes were wide.

Gaara grabbed his head painfully as he saw Gai hold Lee, painfully memories surging into his head as his world seemed to shatter.

XxX

Temari smirked. "Hmph. I knew he couldn't beat Gaara."

Temari clearly seemed to have forgotten her situation as glares from not only the Konoha ninja around her but also the civilians bored into her head, as if imagining her death in a thousand different ways.

Temari wisely shut her mouth.

XxX

Gaara slowly stood, his sand armor reconstituting itself, albeit slowly as he did not have much chakra left as he began to walk away, sand reforming his gourd.

However, that was not the only thing that seemed to shatter.

White feathers suddenly began descending from nowhere like rain. At that very moment two explosions rang out, one in the Hokage box and one that sounded like a crash with a hiss appearing.

The unnoticed masked Anbu suddenly moved out and flashed towards important characters in the crowd, deadly weapons in hand. The Jonin immediately acted, blocking the assault.

"Defend the nobles! We're under attack!"

Sorry this chapter took so long to get out...I've just had a real lack of inspiration lately and I don't know why. It's even affecting the mood of this authors note...it's why I don't wanna talk much...anyways...later.