Tenten's Heart, Rock Lee's Challenge

After Shinki caught her, the girl's cheeks flushed crimson.

She hurriedly pulled herself out of Shinki's arms. "S-sorry, I didn't mean to."

"It's okay." Shinki shook his head.

Just then, Rock Lee and Neji, who had come with Tenten, noticed Shinki and looked over.

When Rock Lee saw Shinki, he excitedly introduced him to Neji. "That's the genius boy I told you and Might Guy about! Last time we were training outside the village, we ran into him practicing the Eight Gates!"

"That's him?"

Neji asked, looking at Shinki.

He had the Uzumaki Clan's distinctive red hair and delicate features, and he seemed easy to get along with.

He didn't look like a hidden genius.

"Guy said he's much better than me. I want to fight him."

Rock Lee was eager to try.

Rock Lee believed there were two kinds of geniuses: those born with talent, and those who worked hard, like him.

But Shinki was a third kind of genius, separate from the other two.

He was talented and worked extremely hard!

He had to fight this guy!

Meanwhile, Sasuke activated his Sharingan and saw through the Genjutsu.

He said to the two people blocking the door to classroom 301, "Your clumsy Genjutsu isn't much at all. Get out of the way. I'm going to the third floor to submit my application."

The Genjutsu was dispelled, and everyone finally understood.

What had been classroom 301 became classroom 201.

It turned out that everyone had been under the influence of the Genjutsu since entering the Ninja Academy.

The three members of Team 7 then went up to the third floor and submitted their applications.

Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee watched the three walk away, lost in thought.

Tenten gazed dreamily after Shinki. "Those three are the kids Kakashi leads, aren't they? They seem pretty impressive."

"That red-haired boy... I hope he won't disappoint me," Neji, who possessed the Byakugan, said.

"No, I have to fight that red-haired guy!"

Rock Lee looked determined.

After everyone left, the two examinees who had set up the Genjutsu and blocked the door to classroom 201 released their Transformation Techniques, revealing themselves as two examiners in matching uniforms.

They watched the examinees walk away.

"This year's students seem pretty good, that kid from the Uchiha Clan."

"The redhead's not bad either."

After Shinki and the others submitted their applications, they went downstairs to the training ground on the Ninja Academy's first floor.

There, they found Rock Lee, dressed in a green jumpsuit, who had been waiting for a long time.

"You finally came, Shinki. Fight me."

Rock Lee stood where he was and beckoned to Shinki, full of fighting spirit.

"What's your problem? What are you thinking, you thick-browed mushroom head? Why do you suddenly want to fight?" Naruto stood to the side, a little annoyed.

Rock Lee selectively ignored the people around him, his gaze fixed on Shinki from beginning to end. "Please, you must fight me. Show me your Taijutsu."

Behind Rock Lee, Tenten looked on expectantly.

She also wanted to know what kind of power this red-haired boy possessed.

Neji folded his arms, ready to watch the show.

After the Chunin Ninja Exams, he and this red-haired guy would very likely become opponents. There was nothing wrong with learning about an opponent early.

"Looks like I won't be able to leave today unless I fight you."

Shinki looked helpless as he slowly walked onto the training ground.

After carefully assuming a Taijutsu stance, Shinki beckoned to Rock Lee. "Come on!"

"Then I won't hold back!"

Rock Lee's brows tightened.

Whoosh!!

He darted in front of Shinki in an instant, raised his leg, and kicked at Shinki's waist!

Shinki raised a hand to block!

Smack!

The tremendous force of Rock Lee's kick numbed Shinki's palm.

But Shinki still caught it steadily!

"What?"

Tenten, watching from the side, widened her eyes.

"He actually caught Rock Lee's kick? And he doesn't even look like he's struggling!"

"How old is this guy? Why is he so strong?!"

Even Neji, who had been watching for entertainment, involuntarily leaned forward and focused on the fight.

Meanwhile, Rock Lee himself was stunned when Shinki caught his kick.

From that exchange alone, he could tell that Shinki was considerably stronger than him!

Rock Lee gritted his teeth and shouted, "Let's see if you can block my next move!"

With that, Rock Lee sharply twisted his waist!

Whoosh!!

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

With a loud shout, Rock Lee spun around and swept his leg swiftly at Shinki's lower body!

Shinki stepped back, dodging Rock Lee's sweep.

Then, relying on his keen eyesight, he lashed out with his right foot the moment Rock Lee was airborne!

Bang!

The kick struck Rock Lee in the backside, sending him flying more than ten meters!

After landing, Rock Lee rolled around on the ground, clutching his backside.

Tenten's eyes sparkled. "Not only is this boy handsome, he's so strong! (⌯︎¤̴̶̷̀ω¤̴̶̷́)✧︎"

"They're a year below us, aren't they? They've had a year less practical experience than us, yet he was able to beat Rock Lee."

"He is impressive," Neji said with a nod.

His opponent's grasp of timing and control over his own strength were both superior to Rock Lee's.

Rock Lee had deserved that loss.

"I won't admit defeat so easily."

Rock Lee climbed to his feet, white steam bursting from his entire body!

He still had a trump card he hadn't used. How could he admit defeat so easily!

"Is Rock Lee going to open the Eight Gates?"

Tenten said, "There's no need at all! This is just an ordinary sparring match. Shouldn't he save a trump card like the Eight Gates for the exams?"

Facing Rock Lee as he opened the Eight Gates, Shinki showed no fear.

Rock Lee wasn't the only one who could open the Eight Gates.

"First Gate, open!"

"Second Gate, open!"

"..."

"Fifth Gate, open!"

Shinki opened the Eight Gates all the way to the Fifth Gate in one breath, green steam bursting from his entire body. It was a terrifying sight!

Lee: ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!

He had actually opened the Fifth Gate in one breath!

And he looked like he hadn't struggled at all!

In that case, he could still open the Sixth Gate and was holding back!

"I give up. You win!"

Rock Lee surrendered outright.

Against Shinki with the Fifth Gate open, he didn't stand a chance.

Although he could also open the Fifth Gate, it would put an enormous strain on his body.

A trump card like that should naturally be saved for the Chunin Ninja Exams!

By contrast, Shinki had no intention of hiding his Taijutsu trump card, because he had plenty more he could keep hidden besides his Taijutsu!

"It's over just like that? That thick-browed guy doesn't look like much. (￣3￣)" Naruto said, pouting.

"Actually, he's much stronger than both of us. (ー_ー)!!"

Sasuke looked speechlessly at Naruto beside him.

He really didn't know how this guy had the nerve to say that about someone else.

While Rock Lee and Shinki had been fighting, Sasuke had watched from the side with his Sharingan active the whole time.

After analyzing the fight, Sasuke came to a conclusion.

Although his Sharingan could track Rock Lee's movements, his body simply couldn't react in time.

So if he had taken Shinki's place in that fight, he wouldn't have stood a chance!

Most likely, Rock Lee would have beaten him down!