Now Is the Time to Fully Uphold My Ninja Way

Would Xiao Yun run away?

Not only were the five people Gaara had bound with Sand Release collectively tense, but a flicker of hope also appeared on their faces. Even ants struggled to survive; they wanted to live.

Of course, they wanted Xiao Yun to surrender in exchange for their lives. It was the most instinctive human thought, unrelated to anything else.

The audience in front of their screens also stared tensely at the broadcast, waiting for Xiao Yun's choice.

"How can you guarantee that you'll let them go after I surrender?"

Xiao Yun said coldly.

"You have no right to negotiate with me."

After saying that, Gaara clenched his right hand toward the five, and the sand encasing them tightened even further.

The five cried out in agony together. Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths, and their faces twisted in pain.

"Fine! I agree."

Bang

A cloud of white smoke flashed past, and Xiao Yun's Wood Release Clone transformed into a human-shaped log. His true body slowly emerged from behind a large tree.

Outside the Forest of Death

"You idiot, Xiao Yun! Gaara will kill you! Shizune, come with me. We're forcing our way into the Forest of Death."

Tsunade changed into a set of ninja attire, wearing a Konoha forehead protector and carrying a short blade on her back. She looked valiant and heroic.

"Yes."

"Good! As expected of Konoha's Holy Son—a fine young man of loyalty and righteousness. Kakashi, go negotiate with the Fourth Kazekage immediately. As long as he makes Gaara spare Xiao Yun's life, any conditions can be discussed."

The Third Hokage said.

"Yes."

"Damn, nicely done, Gaara! Beat Xiao Yun to death, that fucking bastard! How dare he defile my goddess!"

"Kill Xiao Yun! Vent the Konoha men's anger for them!"

"Shut up. Xiao Yun is loyal and righteous. He never abandons or gives up on his teammates. If I were a woman, I'd definitely choose to marry him."

"Exactly, exactly. It's one thing for other villages to want Xiao Yun dead, but some Konoha people are joining in the jeering too. They're complete idiots."

"What the hell do you know? If Xiao Yun dies, wouldn't Tsunade and Hyuga Yumi be unattached?"

"Th-that... makes sense! It does seem reasonable! But I bet that Xiao Yun could save them from Gaara's hands. I still hope Xiao Yun wins!"

Inside the Forest of Death

Gaara sealed Xiao Yun within Sand Binding, leaving only his head exposed.

"Hey, Gaara, I've already surrendered. You should keep your promise and let them go."

Xiao Yun said coldly.

"Xiao Yun!"

"Brother Yun!"

"Uncle!"

"Junior Brother!"

Other than Neji, the rest instantly burst into tears. They truly had not expected Xiao Yun to be willing to trade his life for theirs.

"Fine!"

Gaara gave a sinister smile and formed hand seals, but suddenly stopped halfway through.

"Ah, I suddenly remembered. You killed my three companions. If I let them go, wouldn't Sunagakure lose the match?"

Gaara looked at Xiao Yun with a chilling grin.

"You intend to go back on your word?"

Xiao Yun glared furiously at Gaara.

"Not intend to. I am going back on my word. What can you do about it? Hahahahaha!"

Gaara laughed wildly and arrogantly.

Suddenly, his laughter came to an abrupt stop. He clenched his right hand, and the sand binding Xiao Yun contracted violently.

Crack, crack, crack

The sound of bones breaking rang out. Xiao Yun felt an unprecedented, piercing pain sweep through his entire body, nearly making him lose consciousness.

Everyone was enraged. They had only known Gaara to be cruel and bloodthirsty before; they had never expected him to be a petty villain who broke promises and went back on his word.

"Heh heh, didn't you want to kick my balls apart? Weren't you so arrogant? Why aren't you acting tough now? Hahaha!"

Gaara tightened the Sand Binding again. Xiao Yun screamed repeatedly in pain as the bones throughout his body continued to crack. Blood continuously flowed from the corner of his mouth, staining the sand red.

"Y-you... stop... right... now!"

Suddenly, an earth-shaking roar rang out.

Gaara turned around and saw that, for some reason, the watermelon-headed boy's veins had suddenly bulged all over his body. His aura surged dramatically, making him seem like a completely different person from before.

Eight Inner Gates!

Gaara recognized it at a glance. He had not expected there to be another ninja here capable of this taijutsu.

Still, this aura was somewhat inferior to Xiao Yun's. Gaara gave a cold smile and was about to tighten the Sand Binding and finish off the watermelon head.

The next moment, an abrupt change occurred. Rock Lee tensed his entire body.

Eight Inner Gates, First Gate—Gate of Opening, open!

Eight Inner Gates, Second Gate—Gate of Healing, open!

Eight Inner Gates, Third Gate—Gate of Life, open!

Boom

A blue-green flame instantly erupted, enveloping the sand binding Rock Lee. With a casual swing, Rock Lee shattered the sand that had been as constricting as a tightening band, making it collapse like tofu.

"Im-impossible?"

Gaara was shocked and terrified. Not even a Chunin could break free from Sand Binding so easily, not to mention that Rock Lee had been poisoned.

"Even if I can't use ninjutsu, I will use taijutsu to protect the people most precious to me. That is my ninja way."

"Might Guy, Junior Brother, watch closely. Now is the time to fully uphold my ninja way."

"In this world, there is only one person I cannot forgive—and that is you, Gaara! Eight Inner Gates, Fourth Gate—Injury Gate, open!"

Rock Lee roared furiously. His entire body curled into a ball, and the blue-green flames on his body suddenly flared up. If the blue flames around three-gate Rock Lee were firewood, then he was now a blazing torch.

Not only that, but the ground beneath Rock Lee caved into a massive crater under the strain of his power, and broken stones actually began to float into the air.

That was the pinnacle of power!

"Prepare yourself, Gaara. Welcome death!"

Boom!

Rock Lee slowly took a step forward, yet in the next instant, he appeared beside Gaara.

Shrinking the Earth into an Inch!

Gaara was dumbfounded. Was this the speed a Genin should possess?

"Sand Shield!"

Gaara roared urgently.

"Useless!"

Rock Lee sneered and slowly kicked out with his right foot. Gaara hurriedly defended himself, but in the next instant, Rock Lee's foot viciously struck Gaara's chin from below.

"Ah!"

Gaara cried out miserably as he was kicked into the air.

Impossible to defend against!

Too fast!

This was simply not speed and power that a human should possess. Pfft, Gaara spat out the teeth that had been shattered by the kick, then steadied himself with a backflip.

Where was he?

Gaara looked around.

"Are you looking for me?"

Rock Lee suddenly appeared above Gaara's head...