Sparring with Rock Lee

After Kakashi returned from the Hokage's Office, he continued watching Naruto sleep through the window.

At first, he thought Naruto was merely a little sleepy. Who would have thought that once Naruto fell asleep, he would sleep straight through until late at night!

Yes, Naruto had spent more than ten hours of the day sleeping!

If he hadn't seen Naruto's chest rising and falling with each breath, Kakashi would have suspected this Naruto was a fake.

But what surprised Kakashi was that Naruto really seemed capable of sleeping that much!

By the time Naruto woke up, it was already past ten at night.

"Mm? Is it daylight? Huh? Why does it feel like I slept for so long, but it's still dark? Damn? It's only past ten? Did I sleep myself unconscious?"

Only after waking up did Naruto realize that he had slept a little longer than usual this time.

Even Kakashi, who had been monitoring Naruto outside the window, was nearly asleep from waiting.

As Naruto sensed the changes in his body, he could tell that the Uzumaki Clan bloodline, Senju Clan bloodline, and Uchiha Clan bloodline within him had successfully fused.

Perhaps it was precisely because those bloodlines had fused that Naruto had slept for so long.

As he was now, Naruto's talent alone already ranked among the best in the ninja world.

Other than a handful of the Otsutsuki Clan, no other ninja could match Naruto in terms of talent and potential. He could already stand above the entire ninja world!

Still, talent was talent, and strength was strength.

Before a genius fulfilled their potential, they were merely a genius.

Only those who successfully grew could be called strong.

Naruto felt that there seemed to be some new changes inside his body, though he could not tell exactly what they were. Still, they seemed related to Chakra.

Had he awakened several more Chakra natures?

Naruto himself possessed Wind Release Chakra.

Most Senju Clan ninja possessed Water Release and Earth Release Chakra.

Most Uchiha Clan ninja possessed Fire Release and Lightning Release Chakra.

Naruto also carried the Chakra of Asura's reincarnation, so he likely possessed Yang Release Chakra as well.

Of course, those were only guesses. Once he obtained Chakra test paper, he could verify whether Naruto's Chakra natures had changed.

However, one thing was certain: later on, Naruto would definitely obtain Chakra of every nature. Given enough time, he believed he could also obtain Chakra natures through System Quests.

For now, the most important thing was to investigate the surroundings.

Mind's Eye of the Kagura, activate!

He noticed that there seemed to be fewer Anbu around his home, and even Teacher Kakashi was about to fall asleep.

Naruto thought, This is the perfect chance to sneak out and have an adventure!

He used a small amount of Chakra to create a Shadow Clone, while he himself used the Transformation Jutsu to turn into a tiny insect and fly away.

After getting far away from his home, Naruto released the Transformation Jutsu and turned into an ordinary-looking adult.

Then he headed for the Small Forest where he had trained before.

That Small Forest was indeed a good place. Hardly anyone went there, and it was already late at night, so there would be even fewer people around!

A dark and windy night was perfect for murder and arson!

No, it was perfect for grinding hard!

When Naruto arrived at the Small Forest, he heard movement coming from inside.

As he approached, he saw a child around his age training there.

A watermelon haircut, thick eyebrows, and a conspicuous green bodysuit.

Wasn't this Rock Lee, the hardworking genius among the Konoha 11?

"Two hundred twenty-one, two hundred twenty-two, two hundred twenty-three!" Rock Lee was diligently doing squats.

Naruto had not yet enrolled, which meant Rock Lee was about to enter his second year.

But Might Guy had already taken Rock Lee in as his student and begun training him?

Rock Lee's bodysuit was too distinctive. Naruto would have had a hard time failing to recognize him.

Rock Lee trained diligently, completely unaware of Naruto's approach.

Naruto was the first to break the night's silence.

"Hello, kid. You're still training out here this late at night?"

Naruto had transformed into an adult, so naturally he could call Rock Lee a kid.

"Huh? Mister, yes. You're not asleep at this hour either? Did my training disturb you? I'm terribly sorry!"

Upon hearing Naruto's voice, Rock Lee immediately stood up and bowed in apology.

"No, no. I just couldn't sleep and came out for a walk. I noticed some movement in the Small Forest and got curious, so I came to take a look. Turns out you were training here."

Naruto explained to Rock Lee.

"Yes, mister." Rock Lee was tired from training. Seeing someone approach, he stopped and sat down on the grass.

Naruto sat down beside Rock Lee, and the two began chatting.

"Mister, do you think that if someone has no talent for using ninjutsu, they can't become a ninja?" Rock Lee asked Naruto earnestly.

Naruto considered the question.

Of course not. If you have a bloodline, becoming strong is easy!

Naturally, Naruto did not say that aloud.

Thinking back on all the powerful figures in Naruto, cases like Rock Lee's really were rare.

Even Might Guy could use ninjutsu. He was simply a taijutsu master, so he was better at resolving battles with taijutsu.

However, Rock Lee's situation was special. He merely lacked the talent to control Chakra and use ninjutsu. It was not that he had no Chakra, nor that he could not use it.

"If you can take one thing to its absolute limit, that is also a kind of success. If you have no talent for ninjutsu, then choose taijutsu. If you want to become a ninja, that is the only path you can take."

Naruto answered seriously.

Rock Lee did not have many choices. Either he devoted himself to taijutsu, walked that path to the very end, and tried to forge a road of his own.

Or he gave up on becoming a ninja.

For Rock Lee, there was no choice at all.

"Mister, what you said sounds just like Teacher Guy. Teacher Guy is my teacher. When he met me, he asked what my dream was. I told him that even if I couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, I still wanted to become a great ninja through taijutsu alone!"

Rock Lee's eyes shone as he said this.

"When Teacher Guy heard me, he didn't laugh at me. He told me that since geniuses existed in this world, there must also be ordinary people inferior to geniuses, people who existed to highlight the greatness of geniuses. But I still had a chance to surpass geniuses through one special ability." Rock Lee stood up and gazed at the moon in the sky.

"Hard work, right? If you lack talent, then become a hardworking genius." Naruto naturally knew what Rock Lee was about to say.

"Yes! Mister, from that moment on, I understood that I had to become a hardworking genius. If spending the same amount of time cannot bring me the same rewards as geniuses, then I will work dozens of times harder than everyone else. One day, I will have my own moment to shine!"

If Rock Lee had not met Might Guy, perhaps he would have spent his life in mediocrity, surrounded by the laughter and mockery of others.

Only after meeting Might Guy did Rock Lee truly have a chance to choose, a chance to prove himself.

"After you finish training, remember to get regular checkups. If you only know how to train and don't value your health, your body will eventually take revenge for all the strain you've put it through."

Naruto kindly reminded Rock Lee.

Rock Lee was merely an ordinary civilian and had no special bloodline. Under such circumstances, years of intense training could easily lead to countless hidden injuries.

Nothing might happen in the short term, but after enough time, those accumulated injuries would eventually erupt. The consequences would be unimaginable.

"I know. Teacher Guy has reminded me of that too. All my training has been arranged by Teacher Guy, and I train within my physical limits. By the way, mister, are you a ninja?"

Rock Lee suddenly changed the subject and asked Naruto.

"I suppose so. Why?" Naturally, Naruto would not admit that he was still a little kid who had not even entered the Ninja Academy.

"Could you have a taijutsu spar with me?"

So that was what he had in mind. Rock Lee was still young and needed to seek validation elsewhere.

Simply training behind closed doors would make it difficult for Rock Lee to persevere. If he could see some hope, it would naturally be easier to keep going.

**System Quest issued: Please defeat Rock Lee in battle.**

Since a System Quest had been issued, Naruto naturally had no reason to refuse.

"Then come on. Let me see whether your level of effort deserves to be called that of a hardworking genius!"

Naruto accepted Rock Lee's challenge.

Although Naruto had yet to engage in many real battles, the various physical enhancements brought by the talents in his bloodline had already raised his strength far beyond that of a genin.

He had never fought a chunin, so he could not judge whether he had reached the level of an ordinary chunin.

"Then please be careful, mister. Here I come!" At this point, Rock Lee was only doing basic physical training. Might Guy had not yet formally taught him taijutsu techniques.

Thus, Rock Lee's attack was very simple.

He stepped forward and threw a straight punch directly at Naruto's face.

Naruto reacted quickly. Seeing through Rock Lee's movement, he caught the punch head-on.

Seeing his fist caught by Naruto, Rock Lee tried with all his strength to pull free, only to discover that Naruto's grip was unbelievably strong.

Is this the strength of an adult?

Rock Lee merely took this strength to be the difference in age between them.

"Since I can't break free, I'll have to find another way!" Rock Lee gave up trying to pull his fist from Naruto's hand and went along with Naruto's momentum.

He swung a hooking kick straight at Naruto's lower body.

If Naruto did not dodge, he would have to take the groin kick head-on!

"Heh, little tricks like that won't beat me!" Naruto felt an even greater strength hidden within his body, as if he could do far more than before!

The hand gripping Rock Lee's fist suddenly exerted force. Naruto actually lifted Rock Lee off the ground and smashed him heavily onto the grass.

Rock Lee had not expected that before his kick could even touch Naruto, Naruto's strength would be so great.

He had lifted him and thrown him aside just like that.

From this, Rock Lee could tell that Naruto was definitely no ordinary ninja. Could this mister be a legendary jonin, as powerful as Teacher Guy?

Seeing that Rock Lee seemed distracted, Naruto showed no mercy. He rushed forward and threw a direct straight punch at Rock Lee's face.

Rock Lee came back to his senses only to find Naruto's fist already in front of him. He immediately shouted, "Mister, I surrender!"

Hearing Rock Lee's words, Naruto stopped his fist. Even if Rock Lee had not surrendered, Naruto would not have truly thrown that punch.

If it had landed, Rock Lee might have needed facial reconstruction surgery.

"Mister, you're amazing! Are you a ninja who specializes in taijutsu? Are you a jonin?" Rock Lee asked Naruto.

"No. I only practice taijutsu occasionally. Most of my time is spent practicing ninjutsu." Hearing that Naruto did not even specialize in taijutsu yet could defeat him so easily, Rock Lee instantly felt as though life had no hope.

He lowered his head in dejection.

Seeing Rock Lee so dispirited, Naruto could not bear it and comforted him. "But your taijutsu is already much better than that of students your age. As long as you keep at it, you will definitely become a ninja even with taijutsu alone!"

Naruto did not add any qualifier before "ninja." He simply told Rock Lee that he could become a ninja through taijutsu alone.

As for becoming an outstanding ninja, that would depend on his mastery of taijutsu.

Hearing Naruto's encouragement, Rock Lee instantly came back to life.

He gave Naruto a deep, earnest bow.

"Thank you very much for your guidance, mister. Could you tell me your name?" Rock Lee asked Naruto sincerely.

"Names aren't important. We're both from Konoha. Once you officially become a ninja, perhaps we'll have a chance to meet again!"

Naruto chose to brush it off. The moment he had to make up a name, he risked exposing his identity, so he simply would not tell Rock Lee.

"Mister, are you leaving?" From Naruto's words, Rock Lee could tell that he seemed ready to depart.

"Yes, it's getting late. I need to head back and rest too. You should get some rest as well. Let me give you one piece of advice: building a solid foundation is important, but you're still growing. Proper rest is important too!"

Naruto gave Rock Lee one final piece of advice before preparing to leave.

"Mister, may we meet again someday!" Rock Lee shouted after Naruto.

Naruto's figure soon disappeared from Rock Lee's sight.

Rock Lee did not continue training afterward. He obediently listened to Naruto and prepared to go home to rest.

He would continue training tomorrow. Becoming stronger was not something that could be achieved overnight.

Only quantitative change could lead to qualitative change.

As long as I keep working hard, one day I will become a hardworking genius!

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