CHAPTER 5
The sun had barely begun to rise over the Hidden Leaf Village, its golden rays casting long shadows across the training grounds. Birds chirped in the distance, and the crisp morning air carried the scent of dew-covered grass. The peaceful atmosphere, however, was about to be disrupted.
Mito stretched her arms and grinned, showing off her toned biceps as Naruto approached. Training with him had done wonders for her physical strength, and she was proud of the progress she had made.
"Good morning! I hope you did your morning exercise."
Naruto scoffed playfully.
"Do you even need to ask?"
He rolled his shoulders, feeling the weight of his training gear and the ever-present resistance of his Gravity Seal. Even with it active, he was stronger than Mito now—if he were to put it in measurable terms, he'd say his power level was around Fourty while still restrained.
Mito crossed her arms.
"It seems that Kakashi-sensei is going to be late again. How about we train until then?"
She cracked her knuckles and assumed a stance.
"Come at me, Naruto!"
Naruto and Mito stood opposite each other, eyes locked, their expressions brimming with competitive energy. The tension between them grew thick as they both prepared for the inevitable clash.
Naruto smirked and casually cracked his knuckles.
"Are you just going to stand there and stare? I hope you can keep up with me."
Mito's eyes glinted with determination.
"I'm not just going to keep up with you, Naruto. I'm going to beat you."
Without another word, Mito lunged at Naruto with impressive speed, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. She threw a punch aimed straight at his face, but Naruto easily sidestepped it, his movements fluid and precise. He dodged another punch, then another, weaving through her attacks effortlessly.
"You're fast. But not fast enough."
Mito gritted her teeth. She wasn't about to let him toy with her. She planted her feet firmly on the ground and shifted her weight before swinging her fist again, this time feinting her attack. As Naruto moved to evade, she twisted her body mid-motion and delivered a well-placed punch straight to his gut.
Her knuckles connected solidly, but to her frustration, Naruto didn't even flinch.
Mito barely had time to react before Naruto retaliated, driving his knee into her stomach. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of her, sending her skidding backward. She coughed but quickly forced herself upright, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Is that all you've got, Naruto?"
Naruto's smirk widened.
"You haven't seen anything yet."
In an instant, he was in front of her again, this time launching a relentless flurry of punches and kicks. Mito managed to block several of them, but Naruto's speed and precision were overwhelming. Each strike that landed sent shockwaves of pain through her body, leaving bruises forming beneath her skin.
Despite the beating, Mito refused to back down. She adjusted her stance and countered with all the strength she could muster. She landed a clean punch to Naruto's shoulder, followed by a powerful kick to his ribs. Naruto slid back slightly, impressed by her tenacity.
"Not bad."
Mito smirked, breathing heavily.
"You act tough, but I know that had to hurt at least a little."
Naruto laughed.
"Maybe a tiny bit. But I think it's time to end this."
Before Mito could react, Naruto moved with blinding speed. He dodged her next punch and, in one swift motion, delivered a powerful chop to the back of her neck.
Mito's eyes widened in shock as her body instantly shut down. Darkness swallowed her vision as she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Naruto stood over her, shaking his head. He crouched down and poked her cheek with a finger.
"You've gotten stronger, Mito. But I'm just stronger."
He picked her up and carried her to a nearby tree, laying her down gently so she could rest. As he sat beside her, he sighed and looked toward the sky.
"One day, you might actually beat me."
He grinned.
"But not today."
As the morning sun climbed higher, its warm light bathed the training field, highlighting the evidence of their intense battle—scattered footprints, displaced dirt, and broken twigs. Mito had fought well, and Naruto respected her spirit.
Still, he had no intention of letting her surpass him so easily.
The sound of clapping echoed through the training ground, breaking the silence that had settled after Naruto's sparring match with Mito. He turned sharply, his keen senses alert. Standing a few meters away were Kakashi and Sasuke, both watching him with unreadable expressions.
Naruto's gaze immediately fell on Sasuke. The Uchiha had refused to train with him and Mito, and it showed. If he had to measure their relative power levels, Sasuke was probably around 32, Mito at 40, Kakashi at 345, and the Hokage himself—while powerful—was still below Naruto's full power, sitting somewhere around 835.
Sasuke walked past him, heading straight for Mito, who was still unconscious under the tree. He didn't say a word but frowned slightly as he observed her.
Meanwhile, Kakashi gave his usual lazy smile, his single visible eye crinkling in amusement. "I was about to get lost on the road of life. But then I heard that my cute little Genins were training. So I decided to come straight here."
Naruto watched him warily, already sensing that the man was up to something.
"You've gotten a lot stronger, even with that Gravity Seal still on. How about we have a little battle, like during the Bell Test?"
Before Naruto could respond, Kakashi suddenly poofed—revealing that he had only been a Shadow Clone.
Naruto's eyes widened slightly as he sensed movement behind him. With barely a moment to react, he turned just in time to see Kakashi's foot swinging towards him.
Too slow.
Naruto smirked and caught Kakashi's leg mid-kick. Without hesitation, he twisted his body and slammed the older ninja into the ground with tremendous force, causing a small crater to form beneath them.
"You still haven't learned."
Naruto muttered, tightening his grip on Kakashi's leg.
But something was off. The moment Naruto made contact, Kakashi's body flickered and dispersed into a surge of electricity.
Lightning Clone?!
The clone exploded in a surge of chakra, and before Naruto could react, he felt an intense jolt of electricity course through his body. His muscles stiffened, and his vision blurred momentarily as the Lightning Clone's trap took effect.
Kakashi, watching from a nearby tree branch, studied Naruto closely, analyzing his reaction. His stance was relaxed, but his mind was sharp, always searching for any weaknesses in his student's form and techniques.
Naruto, despite the numbing pain, clenched his fists and fought through the paralysis. His body trembled slightly from the lingering electricity, but he pushed forward, his stubborn willpower refusing to let him falter.
With a burst of chakra, he propelled himself toward Kakashi, fists flying at speeds that even seasoned jonin would struggle to react to.
Kakashi, however, was no ordinary jonin.
He smoothly dodged each of Naruto's attacks, weaving through the strikes with practiced ease. His movements were fluid, almost effortless, as he evaded each punch and kick, his Sharingan eye analyzing Naruto's patterns.
Naruto was taken aback by Kakashi's agility. He had expected him to be fast, but the ease with which Kakashi avoided his attacks was beyond what he anticipated. It was as if the older ninja was predicting every move before it even happened.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. He's reading me like an open book…
Realizing he needed to change tactics, Naruto suddenly pulled back and feigned an opening. He left his left side exposed just enough to bait Kakashi into attacking.
Kakashi noticed the gap but wasn't fooled so easily.
Without hesitation, he shifted into a counterattack, spinning into a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Naruto's exposed side.
Naruto saw the attack coming, but it was too fast.
The kick connected with a loud thud, the impact sending Naruto flying across the training ground. He skidded across the dirt, dust kicking up in his wake.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, Naruto slowly got back up, brushing dirt off his clothes.
He sighed.
"Alright, let's end it here."
He rotated his shoulders, feeling the lingering ache from the kick but otherwise unfazed.
"Wake Mito up. We still have some missions to complete."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow but nodded. He knew that Naruto wasn't fighting seriously—if he had, the battle would have been far more destructive. This wasn't about proving strength. It was just another test.
Sasuke, who had been silently observing the entire fight, clenched his fists. The difference in power between him and Naruto was undeniable. He had refused to train with them, believing that he didn't need their help. But now… he wasn't so sure anymore.
Kakashi approached Mito and gently nudged her.
"Time to wake up."
Mito groaned, slowly sitting up.
"Did I win…?"
Naruto smirked.
"Not even close."
She frowned but didn't argue. She knew Naruto was far ahead of her. But that just meant she had to train harder.
As the team gathered, the rising sun cast long shadows behind them, signaling the start of another day of missions.
The training had been intense, but the real battles were still ahead.
After completing their Mission…
The morning sun cast long shadows over the village as Naruto stretched his arms behind his head, his usual grin plastered across his face. Mito stood beside him, tying her hair back into a ponytail, ready for another day of training.
"Let's go train."
Sasuke, standing a few feet away, glanced at them with his usual indifference.
Kakashi, who had been watching them with his lazy expression, felt a wave of relief. If his students trained on their own, that meant he had less work to do.
However, their teamwork still had room for improvement—Sasuke's pride and growing feelings of inferiority made it difficult for him to fully cooperate. It would be up to Kakashi to help him grow stronger.
As he was about to dismiss them, something caught his attention. A hawk soared through the sky, circling above the village before diving toward the Hokage Tower. Kakashi recognized the sign immediately—it was a summons for a Jōnin Meeting.
"Alright, that's enough for today. I have to submit our mission report. You're free to go."
Sasuke, uninterested in whatever else was happening, simply nodded and walked off, heading in the opposite direction of the training grounds.
Mito, on the other hand, was already halfway through dashing toward their usual spot when she suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
Naruto, confused by her reaction, followed her gaze. What he saw made him blink in disbelief.
A rock.
A completely out-of-place, perfectly square rock with two eye holes.
"What kind of rock is square and has two holes?"
Mito, arms crossed, sighed in frustration.
"This has to be the dumbest disguise ever."
As expected, the "rock" shifted before being lifted, revealing none other than Konohamaru. His two friends, Udon and Moegi, emerged from behind him, all three of them grinning widely.
"Ha! I knew you'd see through my amazing camouflage!"
Konohamaru declared proudly.
Mito narrowed her eyes at the boy, noticing that all three of them were wearing goggles—the same type she used to wear when she was younger.
"When are you going to start training, Mito? How do you plan on surpassing me if you keep slacking off?"
Naruto glanced at Mito and immediately recognized the look on her face.
She was pissed.
Konohamaru seemed to realize it too. His cocky grin faltered for a moment before he took a step back.
"Uh... I mean, no hard feelings, right?"
Mito cracked her knuckles.
"Oh, I'll show you no hard feelings."
Realizing that he was about to be on the receiving end of a beating, Konohamaru turned on his heel and bolted.
"RUN!" he shouted to his teammates.
Udon and Moegi followed suit, and without missing a beat, Mito gave chase. Naruto, finding the situation amusing, decided to tag along.
The three kids zigzagged through the streets, weaving past villagers and shopkeepers as they ran for their lives. Mito was gaining on them fast, her superior speed making it clear that she would catch them in a matter of moments.
However, before she could, a thud stopped them all in their tracks.
Konohamaru had collided headfirst into a stranger.
Naruto and Mito slowed their pace as they took in the scene. Standing in front of Konohamaru was a tall, broad-shouldered young man wearing a full black bodysuit and purple face paint. He had a smug expression on his face as he grabbed Konohamaru by the scarf, lifting him off the ground effortlessly.
"That hurt, you little piece of shit."
Naruto's expression darkened. The man's forehead protector bore the symbol of Sunagakure. What were Sand Shinobi doing in the village?
"Hey, Let the kid go, or you'll regret it."
The man, Kankurō, merely smirked.
"Or what?"
Mito glared at him.
"We won't ask twice."
Kankurō ignored their warnings and reached for the bandaged object strapped to his back.
"You brats don't know who you're messing with. Let me teach you a lesson—"
Before he could finish, Naruto vanished.
A split second later, he reappeared above Kankurō, bringing his foot down in a powerful hammer kick.
Kankurō barely had time to react before Naruto's kick slammed into his shoulder, forcing him to release Konohamaru. The impact sent Kankurō skidding backward, nearly causing him to drop his bandaged puppet.
Temari, the blonde kunoichi standing nearby, widened her eyes in surprise.
"Kankurō, stop messing around!"
Kankurō growled as he regained his balance, glaring at Naruto. He unwrapped his puppet partially, preparing to strike.
Before he could, a cold voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Kankurō. Stop."
The entire atmosphere shifted.
Naruto, Mito, and even Temari felt a chilling presence wash over them. It was as if the very air had grown heavier.
Naruto turned his head, and his eyes met the gaze of a red-haired boy perched on a tree branch.
He wore a sleeveless black outfit, and on his back was a large gourd. His pale face was emotionless, save for the kanji for "love" etched onto his forehead.
Kankurō froze in place.
"L-listen, Gaara. They started it and—"
"Shut up, or I will kill you."
A deathly silence filled the street.
Naruto's sharp senses picked up something unusual—Kankurō and Temari were afraid.
Afraid of their own teammate.
Gaara's eyes briefly flicked toward Kankurō before settling on Naruto. He disappeared from the tree branch and reappeared directly in front of him.
Naruto didn't flinch.
For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other.
Gaara examined Naruto with cold curiosity, as if trying to decipher something about him. His gaze held none of the arrogance or hostility that Kankurō had—it was simply calm, measured, and dangerous.
"You. What is your name?"
Naruto met his gaze unflinchingly.
"Naruto."
Gaara tilted his head slightly, as if committing the name to memory.
"Interesting."
Then, without another word, he turned and began walking away.
"Kankurō, Temari. We're leaving."
Temari exhaled in relief and immediately followed after him. Kankurō hesitated for a second but didn't dare argue. He gave Naruto one last glare before turning on his heel and stalking after his teammates.
As they disappeared into the village, Naruto and Mito stood in silence.
Konohamaru, still shaken, finally spoke.
"W-who the hell was that guy?"
Naruto clenched his fists.
Gaara of the Sand…
Even without fighting him, Naruto could feel it. Gaara wasn't just strong.
He was deadly.
And something inside Naruto told him—this wouldn't be the last time they crossed paths.
Next Morning,
Training Ground,
Konoha…
The morning sun shone brightly over the village, casting warm light over the rooftops and streets of Konoha. Birds chirped in the trees, and the village was already bustling with shinobi and civilians alike.
Naruto yawned and stretched his arms behind his head, his patience wearing thin as he stood in the middle of Training Ground 7 with Mito and Sasuke. They were waiting for Kakashi.
Again.
Mito was pacing back and forth, her arms crossed over her chest, visibly annoyed. Sasuke stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning against a tree with his usual aloof expression, though there was a slight twitch in his brow that showed he wasn't pleased either.
Naruto sighed.
"I swear, we should start bringing a book or something whenever we meet up with him."
Mito grumbled.
"Or just leave a scarecrow here in his place. It'd probably be more useful."
Just as they were about to complain further, a sudden poof of smoke erupted in front of them.
Standing there, as casually as ever, was Kakashi Hatake.
"Good morning."
Naruto and Mito both clenched their fists.
"YOU'RE LATE!"
Sasuke remained silent, but the slight narrowing of his eyes showed he agreed with them.
Kakashi, completely unfazed, reached into his pouch and began rummaging through it as if he were looking for something.
"This is sudden. But I've nominated you guys for the Chunin Selection Exam. Here are your applications."
For a moment, there was complete silence.
Then—
"Wait, what?!"
Naruto exclaimed, grabbing the paper and staring at it like it was some kind of trick.
Mito blinked, processing the information.
"Already?"
Sasuke took his paper without a word, his expression unreadable, but there was a glint of interest in his eyes.
Kakashi nodded.
"Yes, but this is just a nomination. Whether you take the exam or not is up to each of you. Those who wish to participate must sign the form and submit it to Room 301 by 4 PM tomorrow."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over his team.
"That's all."
And just like that, he vanished in a blur of movement, leaving nothing but a few wisps of smoke behind.
Naruto stood still, his mind racing.
The Chunin Exams.
This was why those Suna Shinobi were in Konoha. That meant their village had sent participants—and that included Gaara.
The red-haired boy had given Naruto an ominous feeling when they first met. His teammates, Kankurō and Temari, had been afraid of him. If Naruto's guess was right, Gaara was the Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Beast, the Ichibi.
Which meant that if Naruto entered the exam, he would have to face Gaara eventually.
And if that happened, he needed to get Mito stronger.
He clenched his fists.
"NARUTO!"
Naruto snapped out of his thoughts as Mito appeared in front of him, hands on her hips.
"Let's go train."
Naruto blinked, then smirked.
"Heh, thought you'd never ask."
Sasuke remained quiet, glancing at his application one last time before turning on his heel and walking away.
Mito frowned.
"Where's he going?"
Naruto shrugged.
"Probably off to train by himself. You know how he is."
Mito huffed.
"Whatever. Let's go, then!"
The two of them dashed off toward their training ground, fully aware that they only had one day left to prepare.
At the clearing, Mito and Naruto stood facing each other, both in their fighting stances. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of fresh leaves and dirt.
"You ready?"
Naruto grinned.
"Always."
Without another word, Mito charged.
She aimed a punch at Naruto's face, but he dodged at the last second, countering with a sweeping kick. Mito jumped over it, twisting her body mid-air to strike with her other leg.
Naruto blocked it with his forearm and pushed her back, forcing some distance between them.
Mito didn't let up. She rushed forward again, throwing a rapid barrage of punches and kicks. Naruto ducked and weaved between them, using his reflexes to dodge.
But Mito was relentless.
She managed to slip past his defense and land a clean punch to his gut.
Naruto barely flinched. Instead, he grinned.
"Not bad."
He grabbed her wrist before she could pull back and countered with a shoulder throw, sending her crashing to the ground.
Mito groaned.
"Ow."
Naruto offered his hand, and she took it, pulling herself up.
"You're getting better."
Mito dusted herself off.
"Of course I am. We've been training every day, remember?"
Naruto stretched his arms.
"Still, I think we need to push things up a notch. We don't know what kind of opponents we'll be facing in the exam."
Mito nodded.
"Right. And if Gaara's as dangerous as you think he is…"
Naruto's expression darkened slightly. "Yeah. I have a feeling he's stronger than any of us realize."
A determined look crossed Mito's face.
"Then we don't have time to waste."
Naruto smirked.
"Exactly."
With renewed determination, the two resumed their training, pushing themselves harder than ever.
The Chunin Exams were coming.
And they would be ready.
The Next Day…
The morning sun shone brightly over Konoha, casting long shadows as the village bustled with activity. Today was the day—the start of the Chunin Selection Exams.
Naruto stood near the entrance of the Academy, waiting. He tapped his foot impatiently, his hands shoved into his pockets as he scanned the crowd. Mito and Sasuke soon arrived, each holding the application forms Kakashi had given them.
"You guys ready for this?"
Mito nodded, her excitement barely contained.
"Of course!"
Sasuke simply grunted in response, his usual stoic expression firmly in place.
As they stepped inside, Naruto immediately noticed how crowded the place was. Genin from different villages filled the halls, some talking nervously while others radiated confidence. The air was thick with tension—everyone knew that this exam was more than just a test; it was a battlefield in disguise.
Just as they were making their way toward Room 301, a loud voice cut through the air.
"You should just quit now if you think you can take the Chunin Exams with that level of skill!"
Naruto turned his head and saw a boy in a green jumpsuit being beaten down by other Genin. The boy struggled to get up, but the others sneered at him, throwing another kick in his direction.
Something felt off about the situation.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and took a step forward—but then he noticed something. A small distortion in the air.
"Genjutsu."
Because of his low chakra reserves, most Genjutsu didn't affect him the way they did others. This was all an illusion.
Before Sasuke could say anything, Naruto raised his hand, stopping him.
"What are you doing?"
Naruto turned his head slightly and spoke in a low voice.
"Think about it. If you reveal that this is Genjutsu, even those who can't dispel it will pass through. You really wanna help weaklings get through this test?"
Sasuke clicked his tongue, frustrated but unable to argue. He hated that Naruto could be so damn logical sometimes.
Without another word, Naruto led the group past the illusion and up the stairs toward the real Room 301.
However, just as they were walking, a blur of movement came from the side.
A random Genin lunged at Naruto with a kick!
Naruto barely had time to react before another figure suddenly intercepted the attack.
The attacker's foot was caught mid-air by none other than the boy in the green jumpsuit.
"You should not start fights needlessly."
Another boy, with long dark hair and piercing pale eyes, walked over, scowling. His expression was one of annoyance rather than concern.
"Lee, what happened to the plan? You're the one who said we should not draw attention," the boy muttered, crossing his arms.
Naruto looked between them. So these guys were teammates.
The green jumpsuit guy suddenly turned towards Mito, his entire demeanor shifting.
He grinned and winked, a sparkle seemingly appearing in his teeth.
"My name is Rock Lee! You must be Mito. Let's go out together! I promise to protect you with my life!"
Mito blinked, stunned by the sudden confession.
Naruto, on the other hand, felt his eye twitch. Anger bubbled up inside him.
Who the hell did this bushy-browed freak think he was?!
His fist tightened, and he was about to punch Lee in the face when Mito suddenly grabbed his arm.
She knew that look in Naruto's eyes—he was seconds away from exploding.
"Calm down."
Then, with an unimpressed expression, she simply said:
"No way. You're lame."
Lee visibly deflated, his posture slumping in devastation.
Naruto smirked. Serves him right.
The long-haired teammate sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Let's go, Lee. You're embarrassing yourself."
Lee, still dejected, followed him as they walked ahead toward the exam room.
Mito exhaled and shook her head.
"Weird guy."
Naruto crossed his arms.
"Tch. Idiot."
Sasuke said nothing, but a small smirk played at the corner of his lips.
With that little distraction out of the way, they continued onward. The Chunin Exam awaited, and they had no time for pointless distractions.
The long-haired boy took a step closer to Sasuke, his pale eyes locking onto him with an intense gaze.
"Hey, you. What's your name?"
Sasuke met his gaze but remained silent.
"When you want to learn someone's name. You should give yours first."
The atmosphere grew tense as the two stared at each other, neither backing down. Before the situation could escalate, Naruto stepped between them, casually motioning for Sasuke to move along.
"Come on. We don't have time for this. The exam's about to start."
Sasuke clicked his tongue in annoyance but followed Naruto and Mito toward Room 301.
Just as they were walking, a familiar green jumpsuit appeared beside them.
"Hey, guy with the dark eyes."
Naruto turned his head slightly.
It was Rock Lee again.
"You are Sasuke Uchiha, right?"
Lee continued, pointing directly at Sasuke.
"Fight me right here. I want to test my techniques against the offspring of the Genius Ninja Clan!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Lee to be so direct.
Sasuke, on the other hand, smirked. His usual arrogance was now on full display.
"Challenging me despite knowing that I'm an Uchiha? Frankly, you're a fool. You're about to learn what this name means, Thick Brows."
Lee didn't seem bothered by the insult. Instead, he took a fighting stance, his confidence unwavering.
"I'll say this. You guys cannot defeat me. Because I am the strongest Genin in the Leaf right now."
Mito turned to Naruto, expecting him to react. Surely, Naruto—who never let anyone claim they were stronger than him without a fight—would have something to say.
But Naruto?
He didn't care.
He simply shrugged and kept walking, unfazed by Lee's claim.
Mito frowned. Is Naruto really not interested?
Sasuke, however, was thrilled. This was the perfect chance to gauge his own strength against a top-tier opponent.
"Alright then. Let's see what you've got."
Mito sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall. We only have 30 minutes left before the exam starts…
She was about to protest, but Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Relax. We'll make it in time. And if things get out of hand, I'll stop it."
Mito hesitated but eventually nodded.
Sasuke and Lee stepped into the center of the hallway, clearing space for their duel.
The air was thick with tension.
Then—
Lee rushed forward.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Sasuke's eyes widened as Lee suddenly spun in the air, launching a powerful kick straight at him.
Reacting quickly, Sasuke leaped back, twisting mid-air to perform a cartwheel kick. His foot connected with Lee's chest.
Lee stumbled back but didn't even flinch.
Before Sasuke could react—
BAM!
A second kick from Lee slammed into his ribs, sending him skidding across the floor.
Sasuke gritted his teeth as he got back to his feet. Damn… He's fast.
"This is the perfect time to use it."
Then, his eyes shifted—
The Sharingan had awakened.
Lee's expression briefly changed as he saw Sasuke's red eyes. He recognized the legendary dojutsu immediately.
The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.
"This is where things get serious."
Lee vanished.
Sasuke's eyes tracked his movements, predicting exactly where he would appear.
Lee launched a roundhouse kick.
Sasuke ducked.
He then countered by sweeping Lee's legs, causing the taijutsu specialist to crash onto the ground.
But before Sasuke could capitalize—
Lee flipped back up effortlessly.
Naruto, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. He's been holding back.
Lee knew Sasuke was strong, but he didn't have time to waste.
He rushed forward, closing the gap instantly.
Before Sasuke could even react—
Lee swept his legs.
Sasuke's body was flung into the air.
Time seemed to slow as Sasuke looked down and saw Lee directly beneath him.
Lee untied the bandages around his hands.
Naruto's eyes widened.
Oh no… He's going to use that.
He had seen this technique before—it was not something Sasuke could handle.
Before Lee could wrap his bandages around Sasuke, Naruto moved.
Faster than anyone could see, Naruto grabbed the bandage mid-air and yanked Lee downward.
BOOM!
Lee's body slammed into the floor.
Dust rose into the air.
Everyone went silent.
Lee coughed, quickly rolling back to his feet. He turned toward Naruto, eyes narrowing.
Naruto stood calmly, his hand still gripping Lee's bandages.
"That's enough. The exam is about to start. You'll want to save your strength."
Lee clenched his fists.
"Why did you interfere?"
"Because if you had finished that move, Sasuke wouldn't have been able to take part in the exam."
Lee hesitated. He looked at Sasuke, who was still catching his breath.
"...I see, You are strong and the one that has Mito-chan's heart. Fight Me."
Lee muttered. He tightened the bandages around his arms before getting ready to open the gates.
SHARINGAN USUALY GIVES A RISE IN POWER LEVEL. BUT SASUKE HAS NEVER USED IT IN A BATTLE SO IT DOES NOT INCREASE HIS.
POWER LEVEL:-
Mito - 50.00
Sasuke - 39.00
Kakashi - 344.56
Gai - 346.79
Hiruzen - 835.00
Kyuubi - 2592.01
Naruto(SEALED) - 55
Naruto - 11,000.00
Gaara - 57.80
Kankuro - 32.25
Temari - 52.40
Lee - 40.30
Neji - 46.08
Tenten - 10.72