"Final match: Gaara versus Rock Lee."
The final match was also the first major showdown of the Chunin Ninja Exams.
Gaara versus Rock Lee: one was a top-tier genius hailed as having reached his peak the moment he appeared, only to be sidelined for years afterward; the other was the youngest and strongest Kazekage in the original work's history, ranking just below the two cheat-level figures in the later generations.
Gekko Hayate announced the names of the final two contestants, and the atmosphere in the arena instantly grew tense.
"Coming on last is awesome!"
Rock Lee shouted excitedly as he leaped into the arena, while Gaara was no slower.
Rock Lee was brimming with fighting spirit, while Gaara remained cold-faced. His naturally powerful Magnet Release sand-control ability gave him unmatched strength. No one had ever broken through his defense, and he did not believe he could lose.
"I'm coming!"
Rock Lee shouted and spun into a kick at Gaara. In terms of taijutsu, the speed and power of that kick were absolutely unrivaled among everyone present. Yet Gaara did not move at all. Before the kick could even reach him, sand blocked it.
Bang, bang, bang...
Rock Lee changed positions and leaped about, attacking from every direction. His speed and strength grew faster and stronger with each movement, driven by momentum. But no matter how fast or powerful his attacks became, not one could break through—or even evade—the sand to strike Gaara.
"It's useless. No one has ever attacked Gaara before his sand could form a defense!"
"No one has ever broken Gaara's absolute defense!"
Temari and Kankuro watched Rock Lee leap about beside the arena and scoffed. They and the Sunagakure Shinobi all believed Rock Lee could not pose a threat to Gaara.
As Sunagakure's One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara was