I don't own Naruto! If I did I wouldn't have to use this fine print.

Chapter 7

The stanine's eyes looked around wildly, his face was etched in anger.

Ino jumped down from the tree she was hiding in. She landed only a few feet away from the stanine, her fingers in an "O" shape just in front of her. "Now I've got you," she said beaming broadly.

"And not a moment too soon," added Chouji, jumping down next to Ino, and followed by Lee.

"You will pay for what you've done to Gai-sensei!" Lee said fiercely clenching his fist and raising it. He ran over to the stanine, fire burning in his eyes.

"Wait Lee, stop!" Ino shouted. Lee abruptly stopped short.

"What?" he asked impatiently.

"If you hit him, you'll knock him out of my control," Ino explained.

"Yeah, so be sure to make it a good hit!" encouraged Chouji.

"No!" shouted Ino, "Wait, until I'm finished," she knelt down and closed her eyes. Suddenly the stanine started moving. Lee turned to face him, very confused. The stanine lifted his sword high above his head. Lee's eyes bulged, but Lee quickly shook it off and assumed his battle stance. Then the stanine threw his sword over the trees and out of sight.

Lee's mouth nearly fell off. "Wha- wha- why? Why did he just throw away his sword!" said Lee, pulling himself together.

"It's my jutsu!" said Ino cheerfully. "Now I'll get rid of the rest of his weapons."

"Will you hurry, my legs are falling asleep," said the stanine, rolling his eyes.

"What!" shouted Ino throwing up her arms, "I have you practically at my mercy! I can't believe-"

"Ino," said Chouji in horror.

"that you would show such disrespect to- not now Chouji!" Ino continued. The stanine cracked his neck.

"INO!" shouted Chouji, his eyes widening. Ino stopped ranting, then her eyes went wide as she realized what trouble she was in. She immediately made an "O" with her fingers again, but the stanine was too fast. He seemed to disappear right before her eyes.

Lee assumed his battle stance, and Chouji's face got serious. Ino took one look around, then leapt to her feet.

Lee's eyes widened. "From above!" he shouted.

Ino and Chouji looked up in shock. The stanine was right above Ino holding a kunai knife. Ino screamed and covered her head.

The stanine was just about to strike when Lee came out of nowhere and punched the stanine in the face. Lee landed gracefully next to Ino, and the stanine flew to the ground.

"That was for Ino!" Lee shouted at the stanine, clenching his fist. Tears sprang into his eyes, and this," fire appeared in his now tear drenched eyes, "this is FOR GAI-SENSEI!" Lee charged at the stanine, showing his white gritted teeth.

The stanine looked up. 'This kid is more trouble then he's worth.' He thought to himself. The stanine quickly straightened himself.

Lee disappeared, then reappeared behind the stanine, and kicked at the stanine's face. However, the stanine blocked it with his arm.

"Playtime is over kiddies," he said quietly.

Lee disappeared again, but so did the stanine. Lee reappeared in a tree, and began looking around for the warrior.

"Looking for me?" said a voice behind him.

Lee's eyes widened. The stanine was faster than him!

Chouji and Ino looked around trying to find Lee, and the stanine.

"Cho- Chouji. Ino," said a voice behind them.

They turned to see Gai leaning against a tree.

"Gai-sensei!" they exclaimed together.

"Where is Lee?" asked Gai seriously.

"He's fighting that man somewhere," said Ino, rushing over to Gai.

Suddenly they heard a scream. They all turned to see Rock Lee flying into the dirt.

"Lee!" shouted Gai.

"Trust me," said the stanine, while jumping out of a nearby tree, "He can't hear you now."

Chouji's face turned to a scowl as he clenched his fists. The stanine smiled. Then a bandage appeared around the stanine pinning his arms to his sides. The stanine's smile disappeared as he turned to see Lee standing right behind him, using some of the bandage on his arms to bind the stanine. Chouji saw his chance.

"Multi-size jutsu!" Chouji shouted. "Arm!" Suddenly, Chouji's arm grew till it was as big around as a tree! Chouji let out a mighty yell as he punched the stanine with his now huge fist. The stanine went flying through the air. Once the bandages grew taunt Lee swung the stanine around straight into a tree.

Lee stumbled over to Gai while rewrapping his arms. "Gai- Gai-sensei. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Lee," said Gai smiling down at his student.

Lee's eyes began to water uncontrollably. "Oh! Gai-sensei!" he said, running over to hug his sensei.

"Lee," Gai said quietly hugging him back. His eyes also watering. "There is something that I must tell you about our opponent. He is a stanine."

The stanine got up and shook his head. "Those brats!" he muttered angrily. "That's it! It's past time for them to die!"

"They can't feel pain?" said Ino, shocked.

"Or get tired?" Chouji added.

"Yes," said Gai sadly, "I'm afraid so."

Lee looked at them for a minute. "I won't give up! Even if it costs me my life!" he said firmly. Everyone looked at him. "I will never give up! That is my way of the ninja!" he finished, a fire burning in his eyes.

"Lee," Gai whispered underneath his breath. His eyes became wet. "Lee," he sobbed out. Lee looked at him in confusion. "You have inspired me! I won't give up either! My soul still burns with fiery youth!"

"I won't give up either!" said Ino, smiling.

"Neither will I!" shouted Chouji.

"Well isn't that touching?" said the stanine clapping his hands. They all turned to face him. "You've managed to inspire them to fight me. Too bad you will ALL DIE!" he said, screaming the last part.

Everyone stood ready for his attack, but it never came. "TIME FOR YOU TO DIE!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "FIRST GATE! GATE OF OPENING! RELEASE!" Gai and Lee's eyes widened, surely he couldn't- "SECOND GATE! GATE OF REST! RELEASE!" He definitely couldn't- "THIRD GATE! GATE OF LIFE! RELEASE!" He could, this man could open the Eight Gates!

Ah! Sweet Irony, and a cliff-hanger too! Awsome!