Strong Fist
"You guys are weak!" Naruto had tied up the bandits and tossed them into a cart. "If I catch you here again, then you'll have to eat through straws for weeks." Naruto threatened them, which frightened them. "Now, bye-bye!" Naruto grinned as he kicked the cart which rolled the hill, making the bandits scream in terror. The townsfolk cheered and congratulated him.
"You're tough!"
"Thanks for saving us!"
"You remind me of the Lee kid! He's tough too!"
'Lee? Maybe I can recruit him. The old man finally gave me permission to form my own group.' Once the crowd dispersed, Naruto went to talk to the person who mentioned Lee.
"Oh, that Lee kid. Yeah, he's a tough one! He's about your age, just a little bit older and he gets challengers. A lot of them." The man told Naruto, though his friends chimed in.
"Yeah! The kid manages to beat them back. They're just thugs who wanted to own the joint." Another person stated.
"Where can I find this town. I want to meet this Lee guy." Naruto asked them and they gave him the directions to the dojo.
(A few hours later)
"So, this is the place?" Naruto looked at the worn-out dojo with a sign that says Might Gai's Youthful Dojo. 'Youthful Dojo? I'm gonna regret this.' Naruto did not bother to knock first and entered the dojo.
"198. 199. 200!" A young boy with a bowl haircut was doing push-ups as Naruto watched the boy work up a sweat.
"Hey. Are you Rock Lee?" Naruto's voice made the boy stop and loop up at him. 'Whoa. He's got bushy eyebrows.' Naruto thought to himself and saw the boy swiftly stand up.
"Greetings! Yes, I am Rock Lee! Master of this dojo!" Lee sounded quite energetic to Naruto. "Have you come to challenge me? I will be happy to oblige!" Lee took a fighting stance, but Naruto put his hand forward.
"I don't want to fight. Well not just yet. I want to talk with you." Naruto told him, halting the older boy. Naruto saw that the boy wore a green jumpsuit with orange legwarmers, a blue waistband and bandages over his wrists and hands. Naruto saw that he was already panting and had a few scratches.
"Very well. Let's talk." Lee sat cross-legged on the floor. "Please sit down. Would you like some tea?" Naruto shook his head.
"You doing alright? Because you look like you got run over by a carriage." Naruto showed some concern to a boy only just met.
"Please do not concern yourself with this. I simply have a lot of challengers and only just managed to gain the free time to train." Lee was an honest person and to him he did have a lot of challengers.
"Then that explains it. You haven't had a chance to rest up. Even the strongest guys need rest. Oh, my name is Naruto by the way. Naruto Namikaze." Naruto had forgotten to introduce himself earlier.
"It is nice to meet you Naruto. Since you mentioned my name, I don't think I need to introduce myself. What you say is true, I will try to rest up tonight." Lee told Naruto. "So, if you have not come to challenge me, then why are you here?"
"Well, some guys from last town told me about you and then I knew that I had to meet you. I came to ask you to join my Guild." Naruto told him with a straight face, something which surprised Lee.
"So, you're a wizard too? I'm sorry, but I cannot leave this dojo. Gai-sensei left me this dojo to look after." Lee looked at the picture displayed behind him, which Naruto only took notice of.
'The guy in the picture has even bushier brows than this guy!' This was Naruto's first thought. "I see. So, your dad left you his dojo after he passed away and you feel like you need to protect it." Naruto can understand that.
"Oh, Gai-sensei is not my father. And he's not dead. He simply retired after a leg injury." Lee told him, making Naruto trip up comically.
'Are you kidding me!? They look almost exactly like each other!' Naruto picked himself up. "My bad. But you two do look alike."
"I get that quite a lot. My eyebrows have always been like this, but I modelled my attire after his own. I idolise him as he helped me train and become a skilled fighter and wizard." Lee admitted.
"So, you do use magic then? Cool! How about tomorrow you show me your magic! and I'll show you mine!" Naruto surprised Lee, who hesitated at first but then smiled and nodded.
"Very well." Suddenly, thunder sounded. "It seems that the weather will take a turn for the worst. Have you a place to stay? You are welcome to stay the night."
"That's nice of you. But I already found a place in the forest to stay, so don't worry about me." Naruto replied to him with a wave of his hand.
"Fair enough. Then I would like to discuss why you want to recruit me? You know nothing of me and only the fact that I faced people who are after my dojo. And to be honest, I am nothing special, you could easily find someone else to join your guild." Lee told him, only to make Naruto laugh.
"Special? I don't care about that. I didn't know if you would be strong or not? I still don't. Today's the first day I've met you and you seem like a good guy. Gramps, that's what I call my Guild Master trained me and now he says I'm ready to recruit whoever I want." Naruto told him the truth.
"I see. However, I cannot join you. I must protect this dojo, I owe Gai-sensei and this all I can do to repay him." Lee told Naruto, which sounded more like a burden.
'Okay. I think I'm starting to get him now. If he was anyone else, I would have left him alone. But now, I know what to do.' Naruto stood back up. "Then how about this, Rock Lee, I challenge you for this dojo!" Lee looked at him with wide eyes before the narrowed.
"When and where?" Lee stood up and looked ready for a fight.
"In two days and at noon. I found a clearing outside of town, that way we can go all out. That way you'll be at 100% and you can't whine when I beat you fair and square." 'And what better way for me to see your magic then fighting you first hand!' Naruto smirked. "What do you say?"
"I accept your challenge! This will the best way for me to see your magic and for you to see the difference in our abilities!" Lee told him with complete confidence, but he then suddenly yawned.
"I see somebody's tired!" Naruto gave his usual cheeky smile, luckily turning the tense situation into a more carefree one. "Well, I'll see you around. I need to head to the forest before it starts raining." The thunder sounded again. "Oh crap! See you in two days Bushy Brows!" Naruto said it a cheeky yet a nice way and left.
'What a strange boy.' Lee looked at Gai's picture again. 'Sensei. I will not abandon your dojo and I will win.' Lee went to sleep, still thinking of Naruto's challenge.
(10 Minutes later)
Naruto stayed inside tree hollow and looked at the rain.
"This brings back memories. Has it really been 2 years already?" Naruto remembered the time he met Wendy and how they took shelter in the tree. 'I wonder if you're thinking about me Wendy? Because I always think about you.' Naruto smiled as he saw the rain and image of Wendy appeared to him.
(Fairy Tail Guild)
'This rain. It reminds me of that time.' Wendy looked at the rain and thought about her friend Naruto. Wendy had gotten taller and her hair grew, reaching up to her waist now. She had two bangs framing her face which reach down to her chest alongside her brown eyes. She is now wearing a dress with two wavey stripes running across the dress and ending in small pointed edges at the bottom. Around her arms and legs, she wears wing like attachments. She now bears the Fairy Tail guild mark on her right shoulder.
"Wendy?" A cat appeared beside Wendy. It was quite young and only born a year ago. The cat is female and had white-coloured fur. The cat also wore a red dress.
"Oh, sorry Carla. I was just thinking about something." 'Or rather someone.' Wendy missed her friend but was glad that she made new ones too. Carla hatched from an egg Wendy found and the young cat had the ability to sprout wings from her back, enabling her to fly.
'Flying cats? Who knew?' Makarov downed a mug of ale. Carla was not the only cat with wings, as Natsu has also found an egg and another cat with blue fur hatched from it, except it was male. The cat is named Happy, and he had some affection for Carla. Makarov saw the new generation cause a commotion.
Natsu was arguing with Gray Fullbuster, a black-haired boy who has a habit of stripping randomly. They were stopped by a redheaded girl who armour, only for said girl to start a fight with a white-haired girl that wore a gothic attire.
'These brats are too destructive!' Makarov thought to himself, but then saw his biological grandson, Laxus. 'He still won't talk to me properly since I excommunicated Ivan. But Ivan left me no choice.' Makarov sighed, but he decided to think of something else. The potential candidates for the S-Class Trials. 'Laxus may have become colder, but he still shows potential. Maybe the trial is what he needs. And I still can't believe that Laxus found Naruto and he joined a guild. But that doesn't mean he's safe, Laxus noticed that he acted weirdly near the end. I just hope he hasn't joined a Dark Guild.' Makarov recalled the conversation they had two years ago.
(Flashback, 2 Years Ago)
"You met Naruto!? Where is he!?" Makarov asked or rather demanded from Laxus. Laxus had mentioned Naruto at the guild hall and Makarov told Laxus to come to his office.
"What's your problem Gramps? He just went back his guild. Though he did act strange when he decided to head back." Laxus told his grandfather.
"That boy Naruto. I knew his father, but unfortunately, he passed away. We were searching for him for two years and you managed to find him. Please tell me what you know." Makarov pleaded with Laxus, who would normally ignore that, but he saw his grandfather's eyes.
"I'll tell you what I know, but you have to tell what is going? And what do you mean we? There are more of you looking for Naruto?" Laxus' question would be answered and he would not like them.
(Flashback Over)
'Laxus. Please forgive this foolish old man for his mistakes.' Makarov thought to himself. 'But it is good that he cares about Naruto and isn't too cold to his guild mates.'
(Two Days later with Naruto)
"Okay, this is the clearing. I hope you aren't going to hold back, because that would be insulting." Naruto told Lee with confidence.
"No, I have too much in stake. I will be going all out." Lee was kicking the air and then took a fighting stance.
"Then we'll go on the count of three. You ready?" Naruto saw him nod. "3. 2. 1. Go!" Both boys rushed each other, with Naruto being kicked. Naruto crossed his arms to block the kick.
(Fairy Tail OST-Invoke Magic)
"You should have dodged, your arms will be bro….What!?" Lee was surprised to see Naruto's arms coated in darkness and minimised the damage. Suddenly, Lee was pushed back as the darkness burst and sent a shockwave. 'He manipulates the shadows? No, it's darkness.' Lee was still standing as he skidded back.
'His kick. It packed a punch. And he's fast too.' Naruto was surprised to Lee disappear from his sight almost instantly and Naruto did not notice until it was too late as Lee was by his left side and kicked him. Naruto was sent skidding back, but he landed on his feet and then saw Lee rush him. 'Great. Superhuman strength and speed. But….' Naruto channelled darkness into his right hand and punched the ground, causing it to crack, making Lee lose his footing. '…I'll still win!'
'Tripping me up wo….' Lee was surprised as a blast of darkness came out of the cracks and hit him straight on. Lee was sent flying back and landed on his back. Lee then flipped himself back up. 'If I did not use my magic to strengthen my body, that attack could have done a lot more damage.'
'He really is tough. Good! You have to be if you're going to be part of my group!' Naruto saw that Lee disappeared from his view again and now right in front of him. He was hit by a left hook, however, unlike last time, he was not sent flying back. Lee kept up his assault and landed many hits on him.
'He's withstanding my attacks despite my earlier blows sending him flying!' Lee's right wrist was grabbed by Naruto, surprising the older boy. 'What!?' Lee was surprised, only to see Naruto channel darkness in his right hand. 'I have to increase my defence!' Lee's body was outlined by blue aura, only for it to break as Naruto hit him with a darkness-enhanced fist. Lee felt pain and landed on the ground, skidding back.
"Just because you got some hits in, doesn't mean you can get so cocky!" Naruto had bruises on his body and blood falling from his lip, but he had a grin. 'Easier said then done, feels like I got run over by a stampede.'
(OST End)
"Y-Your magic, you possess the power of darkness." Lee coughed out and had a bloody nose. "And I can sense it. You're fighting me seriously, but you aren't going all out. You have more powerful spells."
"I could day the same to you. I know your magic involves making your body stronger and faster. Otherwise, you would have been taken out just now. My magic is Darkness Magic and what's yours called?" Naruto smirked as he wiped blood from his face.
"That is correct. My magic is known as Enhance. My physical prowess increases, but if I had not trained my body, my attacks would not be as effective." Lee then had fire in his eyes. "But, with my training and the fighting style Gai-sensei taught me, I shall be the victor!"
"Oh? And what do you call this fighting style?" Naruto asked him, clearly impressed.
(Fairy Tail OST-Salamander Theme)
"Strong Fist." Lee simply said and rushed Naruto again. Naruto jumped back before Lee could hit him. "Leaf Hurricane!" Turned his body to perform a spinning kick, which released a small shockwave. Naruto hit but managed to rebound as Lee followed up with another Leaf Hurricane, only for Naruto to duck underneath and uppercut Lee. Lee then rolled and landed a kick on top of Naruto's head. Naruto held his head and then rolled out of the way from Lee's next kick, which cracked the ground. Naruto then dropkicked Lee, who skidded back.
"You really are strong, you know that Lee?" Naruto was out of breath.
"Same to you, Naruto." Lee was also out of breath. He began to undo his bandages. "However, this will end it. I will be the victor." Lee focused as aura surrounded his body once again. Lee moved faster than before and ducked from Naruto's right swing. Naruto avoided Lee's kick and jumped up to avoid another one. However, this was what Lee wanted as Lee's aura increased and he was now behind Naruto. "Shadow Dancing Leaf!" Lee was now behind Naruto and wrapped bandages around his body. Lee spun rapidly with Naruto and dropped down to the ground.
"Sorry! But an attack like this…..won't work on me!" Naruto covered his body in dark aura and burned through the bandages.
'What!? No!' Lee's aura was broken as Naruto released a dark wave from his body. Naruto undid his aura and headbutted Lee. He grabbed Lee and twisted his body before landing a final kick as they hit the ground. Lee could not move as his body as he was slowly about to lose consciousness.
(OST End)
"You know, it's okay to protect your teacher's dojo, but I'm sure he wanted you to find your own way. I won't force you to join me and you can keep your dojo, but is it what you really want?" Naruto asked him with a smile.
"Lee. The Springtime of Youth has more than one path. If you want the dojo, it is yours. But remember to make friends and follow your own path."
'Sensei. I have been a fool.' Lee the gasped one last thing before he fell unconscious. "Y-You are the victor. I accept your offer." Lee said to Naruto as his eyes closed.
"You won't regret it, Bushy Brows!" Naruto smiled and laid down beside him. "Welcome to the team!"
End. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Naruto's group is being formed and I do wish I could have made this longer, but I want to bring in Naruto's own squad soon. Lee is one of my favourites from the original anime and I wish Naruto was done differently.
Lee's magic basically is like the Eight Gates but styled differently. Enhance will also have the same effect as the Eight Gates eventually and Enhance is only effective as it is because of Lee's training. Lee is strong but Naruto was stronger this time around. But the durability of Fairy Tail's characters and Naruto himself is greater than Lee's.
