May 9th 2002:
Multiple individuals on the upper-platform of the arena witnessed the general intensity of the match between Rock-Lee and Ryomen Sukuna increase. Dense silence paraded itself around the sector.
Naruto Uzumaki had his hand clenched over the guardrail in front of him in excitement, confident in his teammate's skills. Kakashi Hatake was much more casual than his student, mask crinkled in anticipation.
Might-Gai was rooting for both Sukuna and Lee to prove themselves. Neji Hyuga was indifferent like usual. Kankuro was impressed by them. Temari was uninterested. Gaara was flat-faced and bored.
Down in the middle of the arena, Sukuna was feeling the potency of his power surge because of the Black-Flash he had landed on Lee. Determined to win, Lee assumed his stance and prepared himself.
Despite everything, Sukuna was focused on the sensation of his Black-Flash and managed to block off a number of Lee's punches. Mouth stretched out into a grin of excitement, Sukuna disappeared.
Lee positioned himself as though he were in a marathon, kicked himself forward, and sprinted after Sukuna. All anyone stood above them on the upper platform could see were two blurs of pure speed.
Halting himself in his tracks, Sukuna manipulated Cleave to take out a large chunk of stone from the wall ahead of him and hurtled it back. Lee leaped over the lump of stone, maintaining his inhuman velocity.
"Lee can't pull off any advanced techniques on Sukuna." Gai observed them. "It's not possible to predict the winner of this match."
Digging his foot into the surface underneath them, Lee shot himself towards Sukuna and closed the distance he had established earlier. Lee flipped onto the palms of his hand, then lashed his leg outwards.
Hit in the back of his head, Sukuna endured the short-lived flash of pain and turned around a mere moment later. Lee flipped back onto his feet, elbow extended out to redirect Sukuna's punch downwards.
Sukuna shouldered Lee in return, karate-chopped his head, and roundhouse kicked his hip. Amidst the barrage of attacks, Lee pushed himself out of Sukuna's range in a burst of agility and punched him.
Clouds of dust had formed around the two of them. Cracks stretched out across the concrete of the arena as far as the eye could see. Sukuna and Lee glanced at each other before their bodies vanished.
They met in the middle of the arena once more. Sukuna jabbed Lee in the neck while Lee pressed a kick into his abdomen. Unrelenting, he used the second impact of Divergent-Fist to propel Lee backwards.
"This has become a stalemate." Lee realized. "Sukuna's courage has inspired me time and time again to push myself beyond my limits…"
Breaking into Lee's guard, Sukuna upper-cut his jaw, flung him upwards, and axe-kicked him into the surface of the arena. Lee was buried in a small crater, bruises plastered across the rest of his body.
Much to Sukuna's anticipation, Lee fought through the pain and rose to his feet in an impressive leap of athleticism. Settling himself down on the hands of a statue in the arena, Lee looked over at his mentor.
A nod was Gai's simple response to his student. Pumped up and motivated beyond comprehension, Lee closed in on Sukuna and struck his palm into the middle of his opponent's chest.
Breath hitched for a moment, Sukuna staggered backwards before Lee buried his foot into his jaw and shot his head upwards at a painful angle. Naruto closed one eye, feeling like he had heard a bone break.
"His determination to win has gotten more intense." Sukuna pondered to himself, patting his bruised jaw. "Why did he look at Gai, though?"
Unbeknownst to most of the people in the sector, Lee had recieved permission to activate the Eight-Inner-Gates whenever he saw fit. Relentless in his hope of victory, Lee front-kicked Sukuna backwards.
Resettling himself into a stabler position on his feet, Sukuna flexed his clawed fingers in obvious excitement.
Drilling the meanest of right hooks imaginable into Lee, Sukuna grinned at the lack of pain presented on his resolved features. The two of them had turned into blurs, fists moving around the air at top speed.
Struck by Sukuna on the shoulder, Lee failed to maintain his stance and was flung into a lump of rock from the second impact of Divergent-Fist. Sukuna then widened his four eyes in pure interest.
Having climbed to his feet in a split second, Lee sucked in a deep breath of concentration and opened the Second-Gate. Body cleared of all exhaustion, Lee adopted the stance of an experienced combatant.
At the moment, the one who was at a disadvantage in this fight was Sukuna since his body had been hindered by injuries alongside his own mounting exhaustion. Lee wasted no time in vanishing from his view.
An aggressive barrage of punches were drilled into Sukuna's chest. Four crimson eyes looked down at Lee—who roundhouse kicked Sukuna up into the air, bent his knees, and followed after him.
Unable to contend against this level of incredible speed, Sukuna maintained the flow of cursed-energy around his body to reinforce his inhuman durability beyond its natural parameters. Sukuna grunted.
"What the hell?!" Naruto clenched his jaw in shock from the upper platform. "How did bushy-brows get so damn strong all of a sudden?!"
Curious, Kakashi glanced at his Taijutsu-oriented friend and said. "I'm surprised you taught Lee the Eight-Inner-Gates, Gai. How dangerous."
"Huh?" Naruto's blue eyes blinked at his masked teacher, suspicious. "Hey! Don't keep me out of the loop! What are these stupid gates?"
Correcting his student, Kakashi replied. "The Eight-Inner-Gates, Naruto. Just think of them as natural limiters to the human body."
"I would have taught Sukuna it if I could." Gai shook his fist. "Alas! His wondrous bloodline limit prevented him from being able to learn it!"
"Incredible." Kankuro remained somewhat impressed. "I guess these chumps really are monsters, huh? Rock-Lee's strength is no joke."
In the arena, a commendable amount of cracks had been formed in the concrete and numerous chunks of stone rose upwards. Sukuna was elbowed on the top of the head and crashed into these cracks.
Sunken into the cracks of the arena, Sukuna scoffed in amusement. "Man — you don't plan on holding anything back against me, do you?"
Approaching his crimson-eyed friend, Lee chuckled and smiled. "Of course not! But, Sukuna, I don't feel like you are giving it your all."
"I made an oath to prove to everyone I was a splendid Shinobi." Lee spoke. "My next move will be the one to finish this match of ours!"
Ascending into the air above Sukuna, Lee twisted his leg until it was pointed downwards at his chest to cave it in. Scoffing, Sukuna outputted more and more cursed-energy throughout his muscles.
"The Third-Gate?" Sukuna watched Lee access the Third-Gate and saw his skin gain a hue of red. "Let's see just how far Lee can go."
Flipping towards a downed Sukuna, Lee exerted his stamina and steadied his foot to bash it into his chest. Descending upon Sukuna in a blur of inhuman movement, Lee extended his leg out for a final kick.
Naruto glared ahead. Kakashi was nonchalant. Gai was proud of Lee for proving his prowess to everyone who had witnessed his match. Shikamaru Nara shrugged. Ino Yamanaka harrumphed at all of this.
Despite his outward demeanour, Gaara had—for some odd reason—expected much more from Sukuna than this. Kankuro and Temari were enjoying the match for what it was — a huge spectacle.
A multitude of stones were ejected from their spaces in the ground. Cracks extended across the arena's surface like no tomorrow. Dust clouds had formed in the atmosphere because of Lee's last attack.
Hayate Gekko had been prepared to call Lee the winner of this match until the dust clouds surrounding the arena cleared up. Having lifted his fore-arm, Sukuna fended off what everyone had assumed was the final kick.
Teeth gritted in exertion, Sukuna widened all four of his vermillion eyes, clenched his other fist, and punched Lee in the jaw. Black-Flash was what originated from this blow as Lee endured it without trouble.
Sukuna stayed unrelenting in his pursuit of a fun battle. Slapping the leg that Lee had aimed at his chest earlier aside, Sukuna directed cursed-energy into his knuckles and slammed a punch into Lee's face.
A second Black-Flash soon followed. Lee had been knocked backwards—but had kept his footing on the cracked ground. Sukuna's intensity had reached another level of potency. Lee's excitement grew.
This had been the type of match he had expected from Sukuna—a fight of nothing but violence and concentration. Tenacious like normal, Lee went forward and engaged him in a round of Taijutsu.
Fists clashed once again in blurs faster than an ordinary person could track. Sukuna landed a manji kick on Lee, returned to his feet, and redirected a left hook to the face downwards. Lee head-butted him.
Knuckles planted into Sukuna's shoulder, Lee buried him into the wall behind him and moved his head backwards so that Sukuna's knee to the nose would miss. Sukuna crouched low, upper-cutting Lee's chin.
A third Black-Flash somehow came out from the aftermath of this attack. Taking it in stride, Lee elbowed Sukuna in the nose. Blood poured out from his nostrils—but he forged onwards and grinned.
Dismantle was launched into Lee's solar-plexus. Staggering away for a brief moment, Lee succeeded in blocking a roundhouse kick. Sukuna lowered his leg, then bashed three punches into Lee's head.
"I've been ignoring Cleave and Dismantle in favour of Taijutsu." Sukuna thought to himself. "What better time to use them than now."
"Astonishing, Sukuna!" Lee praised his friend in his mind. "He's matching me in the Third-Gate! But I can tell he's becoming exhausted."
Grabbing Sukuna by the wrist, Lee dug a ruthless kick into his abdomen and propelled him into a wall once again. Releasing his wrist, Lee pressed his knuckles into the stones thrown at his face.
Lee maintained his speed, grasping the back of Sukuna's head and smacking it into the wall until his stomach became lacerated. Sukuna had touched Lee on the abdomen and had activated Cleave on it.
Palm pressed onto Lee's shoulder, Sukuna readied himself to unleash Cleave upon it. Lee was too rapid, however, and kicked his hand away. Sukuna breathed out—but two kicks crashed into his nose.
"Lee's too fast for me to land Dismantle at this point." Sukuna's hands were clenched into fists. "I landed it earlier, but he's expecting it now."
Sukuna was punched into one of the stones on the concrete. "I also landed Cleave on him earlier, but he's stopping any physical contact."
Blood pooled out from Sukuna's closed mouth. "Damn it. If he opens up the Fourth-Gate or Fifth-Gate, then this fight is pretty much over."
"Who gives a shit, though?" Sukuna's wide grin of excitement was all teeth. "When have I ever let the strength of my opponent scare me?"
"Sukuna." Lee approached his friend—who was ingrained into one of the walls in the arena. "Your youth still shines bright like usual, huh?"
Not letting him respond, Lee announced. "I will strive to surpass you in this battle and in the future! To beat you, I shall use the Fourth-Gate!"
Once he had opened the Fourth-Gate, everyone on the upper platforms could sense Lee's overall intensity rise as if there was no limit to his incredible strength. Sukuna's four red eyes were squinted.
Nose bleeding a little from the strain of opening the Fourth-Gate, Lee disappeared in a flash of destructive speed. Most of the Genin of the Chunin-Exams lurched back after Lee created a small shock-wave.
"What the hell!" Naruto screamed out loud. "Kakashi-Sensei! How powerful are these stupid gate things supposed to make you, huh?!"
Kakashi was less shocked by Lee's inhuman speed. "I told you, Naruto. The Eight-Inner-Gates remove the limits of the human body."
Choji Akimichi gulped. "I'm glad I didn't have to fight either Sukuna or Rock-Lee. I never realized just how powerful everyone here was…"
Proud of his student, Gai thought. "Yes, Lee! Everyone is witnessing the flames of your youth! You truly are the most splendid of Shinobi!"
Shikamaru sighed to himself, stunned for a moment. "I doubt Sukuna will be able to counter him this time. This fight is about over, I'll say."
Ino huffed, relieved. "I'm glad we didn't try and steal the scroll that Lee's team had. I doubt we could fight him off if he did that to us."
"Lee." Neji's demeanour stayed stone cold. "Despite proving your strength to everyone here, you cannot escape your true destiny…"
Sukuna had been grabbed by the back of his head and dragged through each of the walls in the arena. Exerting himself, Lee pushed his foot into Sukuna's jaw and propelled him upwards into the air.
Spinning higher and higher into the air, Sukuna felt a calloused palm strike itself into the top of his head and hurl him downwards. Lee descended to the surface of the arena where Sukuna's imprint in the concrete had been formed.
Pulling himself out of the perfect imprint in the ground, Sukuna blinked as Lee's unnatural speed somehow increased before his face was kicked. Sukuna crashed into a pile of stone, skidding a few feet back.
Asuma Sarutobi leaned on the guardrail. "Sukuna's natural durability must be incredible if he's able to take all of these hits and battle on."
Invested in this match, Kurenai Yuhi hummed. "It's not just Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, even Ryomen Sukuna is impressive."
"Of course." She rubbed her chin. "Rock-Lee is also incredible. And—as much as I hate to admit it—Neji Hyuga is quite formidable."
In the blink of an eye, Lee had grasped Sukuna's shoulder and bashed him into the concrete a second time. Mouth widened into a blood-stained grin, Sukuna stood up on unstable feet and laughed.
Lee was about to punch his jaw—but stumbled backwards because of the general strain the Fourth-Gate placed over his body. Taking advantage of the moment, Sukuna buried his knee into Lee's chest.
"I forgot about the strain of the Fourth-Gate and the Fifth-Gate. I'll have to push my cursed-energy output to its complete limit, then."
However, at the same time, Lee had pushed his palm into Sukuna's nose. The both of them were hurled into numerous stones. Lee was the one to regain his footing faster and disappeared in a rapid blur.
"Lee can't keep the Fourth-Gate up for much longer." Gai spoke aloud. "This has become a battle of attrition — let us see how this shall end!"
A mere second later, Lee surprised his mentor by opening up the Fifth-Gate. Despite the tremors rocking his body from the strain of it, Lee pressed onwards and cracked the very ground he stood on top of.
Sukuna had reached the limit of his cursed-energy output and managed to match Lee in striking speed. In an instant, they met in the middle of the arena and their two attacks had begun their clash.
An elbow directed at Sukuna by Lee collided into the fist that Sukuna had aimed for Lee. For the last time in this match, the crimson-eyed boy poured one-hundred percent of his focus into securing victory.
Lee pushed himself and his elbow forward. A massive shock-wave was produced from their collision of attacks. A multitude of cracks spread out underneath them like some sort of enormous cob-web.
"Black-Flash!"
Sukuna sensed his cursed-energy glow black—but the aftermath stopped him from acknowledging this in its entirety. A humongous sonic-boom was the result of Lee's elbow being smacked into his fist.
Stones of various sizes burst out from the ground. Sukuna flipped across the air while Lee had deactivated the Fifth-Gate on instinct and had been hurled backwards. Kakashi and Gai caught their unconscious students.
"Good work, Sukuna." Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "Your training has gotten you far. I'm sure you'll be able to fulfil your goal someday."
"Incredible, Lee!" Gai shouted for all to hear. "Your flames of youth have been burned into everyone's hearts! You did excellent out there!"
"I declare that this match is over!" Hayate announced. "Since both Rock-Lee and Ryomen Sukuna are knocked out, this fight is a draw!"
"Oh, man!" Naruto clicked his teeth in annoyance. "That means Sukuna doesn't make it to the third stage of these stupid exams!"
Kankuro and Temari lurched back a little after Gaara growled. "Ryomen Sukuna! Why is mother so infuriated by his existence?!"
Kakashi and Gai soon relinquished Sukuna and Lee to two Medical-Shinobi—who put them on stretchers and took them away. Deciding to check on Sasuke, Kakashi vanished in a burst of speed.
(-)
Kabuto Yakushi had incapacitated Sasuke's numerous guards. Feeling sure that Kakashi would check up on his unconscious student, Kabuto walked over to the bed Sasuke was on to see his Curse-Mark.
Hooked up onto a ventilator, Sasuke breathed in and out. Kabuto adjusted his glasses—but felt someone grab his shoulder. Kakashi had appeared much faster than he had expected. "Explain yourself."
Faking concern for Sasuke, Kabuto chuckled. "I was just worried about Sasuke — it looks like he's been put through so much pain."
"Don't think I didn't notice you going in to look at that mark." Kakashi's voice was nonchalant and cold at the same time. "You can't fool me."
"I never thought I could fool someone as prestigious as you." Kabuto's muscles were somewhat tensed. "Would you mind letting me leave?"
Kakashi hardened his grip on Kabuto's shoulder. "I won't hesitate to kill you if you harm my student, Kabuto Yakushi. Don't try anything."
"Harm him? I wouldn't dream of it." Kabuto hummed. "You must know that I am much more interested in Ryomen Sukuna's bloodline limit."
"I mean, mutated chakra? I've never heard anything like it." Kabuto said. "Who knows what type of possible capabilities it can give him."
"You're working for Orochimaru, aren't you?" Kakashi responded. "He was the one who gave Sasuke that mark. Turn yourself in, Kabuto."
Kabuto turned his head towards the masked man. "I would love to. But I have too many things to do right now." He burst into a cloud of fire.
"Some kind of clone." Kakashi looked at his charred glove. "I'll report this to the Hokage later. But what is Orochimaru planning for Sasuke?"
(-)
May 16th 2002:
Sukuna wrenched his crimson eyes open in a bout of clarity. Taking in his immediate surroundings, he realized he was in some kind of hospital room. Sitting on the side of his bed, he grunted to himself.
All he could remember was his intense battle against Lee and the subsequent Black-Flashes he had landed during the fight. Bandages were wrapped around his arms and torso to help him in his recovery.
A short moment later, the door to his hospital room opened and a Shadow-Clone of Kakashi walked in. Its eye curved up in hidden relief at the sight of his student having woken up. "Good afternoon to you."
"Damn." Sukuna sank into his mattress, closing his two lower eyes. "How long has it been since that fight between Lee and me, Kakashi?"
"A week!" The clone of his teacher clapped its gloved hands. "Let's talk about those details later. How are you feeling right now, Sukuna?"
Scratching at one of his bandages, Sukuna replied. "I feel fine. I'm pretty sure most of my body is healed up from the injuries I've gotten."
"You'll have to stay bandaged up, I'm afraid." Kakashi's Shadow-Clone was casual and over-enthusiastic. "That's what the doctor said to me!"
"Lee woke up two days earlier than you." The duplicate listed off. "Also, the third stage of the Chunin-Exam will be a local tournament."
"I'm guessing the people who won their matches will be competing in the third stage?" Sukuna responded. "Wait, who did win our fight."
The clone nodded at its student. "You're right on the first part. Your fight ended in a draw, so neither of you made it to the third stage."
"That sucks." Sukuna wasn't too bothered about this. "Don't keep me waiting, Kakashi. What else can you tell me about the third stage?"
Chin cupped in one hand, the clone let out an overexaggerated hum. "Naruto will be fighting Gaara and Sasuke will be fighting Neji Hyuga."
"They have around a month to train for these matches." The clone said. "That reminds me! I forgot to tell you that I'm just a clone!"
Sukuna had taken in all of this information, then asked the duplicate of his mentor. "Whatever. So, are you training both Naruto and Sasuke?"
"I trained Naruto for the first week when you were unconscious." Kakashi's clone said. "But I've entrusted his training to someone else."
"I guess I'll just train like usual since I won't be participating in the third stage of the exams." Sukuna sighed. "I'm not too bothered about that."
"I would rather that you focused on recovery." The clone shrugged. "But I'm aware that you value your training, so I'll leave you alone."
"I know that you won't have time to train me." Sukuna said. "Since Sasuke has his match in three weeks, you want to prepare him."
"I mean, a clone could train you if you want. But, like I said, I would rather have it that you spend this month resting and not training."
Rolling off of the bed and climbing to his feet, Sukuna stretched his arms. "It's fine. I have some abilities I want to practise in private."
"If that's what you want." The clone patted him on the shoulder, then said. "I'm going to dispel myself so the original knows you're awake."
"See you later, Kakashi." Sukuna watched the clone disperse itself. "I should be able to leave the hospital as long as the bandages stay on."
(-)
Sukuna had left the hospital after an official discharge issued by his doctor under the condition that he kept his bandages on. Descending upon the local streets of the village, Sukuna trekked around the area.
Lee had been nowhere to be found. Sukuna had made it to the eastern section of the village before he encountered Naruto alongside his new teacher. "If my past life's memories are right, that's Jiraiya."
Holding an ice-cream in his hand, Naruto grinned. "Sukuna, you're awake! Also, guess what, I'm fighting that sand-themed numbskull!"
"Kakashi told me about that." Sukuna rubbed his two lower eyes. "So, is this the person who Kakashi is letting train you for your match?"
"Right, you haven't met him yet!" Naruto licked his ice-cream. "Sukuna, meet the one who I like to call Pervy-Sage! He's a perv!"
Jiraiya shoved Naruto away. "Don't go sullying my name like that, brat! I am Jiraiya of the Sannin, a super pervert and famous author!"
Sukuna blinked at the over-dramatic pose that Jiraiya had struck, unimpressed. "Are you sure you're qualified to be teaching him?"
"Huh?" Jiraiya spluttered at him, offended. "Of course I'm qualified to teach this dumb brat! Hell — I'd say I'm overqualified for the job!"
"Pervy-Sage isn't that bad." Naruto licked more of his ice-cream. "He did try and throw me off a cliff, though! But that helped me out a lot!"
Jiraiya elbowed Naruto, whispering to him. "Don't go announcing that to everyone! They're going to think that I'm some evil psychopath!"
Coughing into his closed fist, Jiraiya said. "We have super secret training to do!" He grabbed Naruto and ran off. "Farewell, other brat!"
"What the hell kind of interaction was that?" Sukuna scoffed to himself. "Whatever. I am pretty excited to watch Naruto fight Gaara, though."
"In the manga, he was going to fight Neji." Sukuna ventured across the path he was on. "And Sasuke was going to fight Gaara instead."
Sukuna clenched his fist. "I'll spend this month trying to tame Nue."
Soon after all of this, Sukuna returned home, ate some food, drank some water, entered his room, and went to bed.
A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter.