Rock Lee: I Can't Seem to Close the Gate (Proud!)

Tenten reluctantly withdrew her little hand from Neji's abs, pretending nothing had happened.

"This tattoo is amazing. It looks just like the real thing!"

"I was just touching it out of curiosity. I didn't mean anything else!"

Neji was speechless. She really could say anything with a straight face. Tenten, you've changed.

After Neji put his shirt back on, Tenten revealed a trace of disappointment, which Neji noticed clearly.

"Enough. Rock Lee is still over there trying to open the Space Gate. From the looks of it, he's about to succeed."

Rock Lee's wildly churning Chakra began to fluctuate more noticeably. Beneath Neji's blindfold, his Byakugan activated.

He could clearly see the Chakra inside Rock Lee's body battering against the Space Gate. It had already surrounded it completely, like soldiers storming a city, charging forward with high spirits.

Before long, Rock Lee would wear through that barrier and break through in one fell swoop. The path would open before him; all he lacked was one final push.

Sure enough, as soon as Neji finished speaking, the Chakra within Rock Lee, as though it had been building up for a long time, surged forward like a spear.

Charge!

Chakra rushed in, instantly breaking through the Space Gate. The First Gate erupted, and massive amounts of Chakra burst forth from within, Poured Out in a torrent.

Rock Lee's body trembled as the Chakra around him suddenly skyrocketed. His aura changed, and his power became even more violent and chaotic than Neji's had been moments ago.

Clearly, Rock Lee's control over Chakra was practically nonexistent—the complete opposite extreme from Neji.

Tenten froze. "Not good. Rock Lee might not be able to control that power and could hurt himself."

"Teacher Might Guy went to find Lord Hokage again. What do we do now? I just hope Rock Lee can control it."

But clearly, that hope was useless.

A grayish-white figure stood before the anxious Tenten. Neji spoke to her in a low voice.

"Tenten, step back. Let me handle this!"

Even Neji could not ignore Rock Lee after he had opened the First Gate, especially now that the safety restrictions on his brain had been lifted.

More importantly, he could not let Rock Lee hurt himself. That was the hardest part.

"I succeeded?"

Rock Lee looked slightly dazed as he felt the surging Chakra filling his body.

It felt as though he had abundant strength ready to use with a mere wave of his hand. A powerful feeling rose from within him.

"Lee! Listen to me. After opening the First Gate, the sudden increase in Chakra and strength will be difficult for you to control. Try to see whether you can close the First Gate, or at least don't move around recklessly."

Neji's voice reached Rock Lee's ears, making him pause as he looked up at Neji in front of him.

Had he successfully opened the gate?

Or had he not?

"I understand!"

Rock Lee answered solemnly. He had just looked around and discovered that Teacher Might Guy was no longer beside them.

Had some emergency happened?

"I'll do my best to control myself and close the First Gate!"

His booming voice was only missing an "Oss!"

Otherwise, he could go become Ultraman Z.

Seeing that Rock Lee still had some control over himself and had not moved rashly, the two of them relaxed slightly.

But soon, things did not close as they had hoped.

When Rock Lee opened his eyes again, he flashed a bright white grin and said proudly, "Neji, I can't close it!"

Neji's mouth twitched. Was not being able to close it something to be proud of?

"Looks like I can only help you burn off some of that energy!"

Rock Lee's eyes lit up. He sprang to his feet and suddenly leaped more than two meters into the air, startling even himself.

But years of training quickly allowed him to steady his mind, and he landed firmly.

He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within him, then looked toward Neji.

"Please guide me!"

Very good!

You thick-browed Rock Lee.

I seriously suspect you just want to fight me, and not being able to close the gate is only an excuse.

Still, that put him much more at ease.

"I hope you really can't close the gate. Otherwise..."

Neji's aura shifted as he assumed a Gentle Fist stance. Rock Lee, in the First Gate state, would surely provide plenty of experience.

"You'll have a miserable time!" Neji gave a chilling smile.

He would not hold back!

Rock Lee chuckled. As his body moved with his thoughts, the ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked, leaving deep footprints as he shot forward like a sharp sword.

The sudden burst of power shocked Rock Lee again. When had he become so fast?

Neji remained standing perfectly still. He drew back his stance, turned around, and looked at Rock Lee as he shot past him, unable to control his strength.

"If you can't control your strength, you can't hit me, Lee!"

No one looked forward to Rock Lee becoming stronger more than he did. After all, there were not many walking experience packs around.

Tenten had already moved far away from them. Watching the two fight as they usually did, she finally relaxed and muttered softly.

"Looks like there shouldn't be any major problem after all!"

His gaze fell upon the field.

Rock Lee gradually began to control his strength. For someone as stubborn as him, defeating Neji had now become his first goal.

Perhaps in the past, his constant efforts to grow stronger had been meant to prove himself to those who looked down on him and believed he could never become a ninja.

But now, Rock Lee had long since surpassed them and become a ninja. His goal was simply to grow stronger and defeat Neji.

"I will definitely defeat you, Neji!"

With a loud shout, Rock Lee encouraged himself and gradually gained control over the power that had surged within him.

At a rate of improvement even he could hardly imagine, he began fighting Neji.

The two became locked in combat, but Neji only defended. With tiny movements and clever shifts, he made Rock Lee, who charged like a wild bull, miss every attack.

It made Rock Lee feel miserable, and he once again experienced that sensation from their earliest sparring sessions—the feeling of being completely controlled by Neji.

Meanwhile, Tenten swung her legs as she propped her face on both hands. Watching the scene that looked just like their days at the Academy, she could not help smiling.

"I don't even know how many times you've shouted that slogan. Now I'm actually looking forward to the day you defeat Neji even once."

Meanwhile, at the Hokage Building.

Might Guy hurried into the Hokage Office, startling the Third Hokage. With a flick of his hand, he covered the crystal ball on the desk as a wisp of mist and a flash of white disappeared.

"What is it, Guy? What happened that has you in such a hurry?"

The Third Hokage did not blame him. Instead, he calmly placed the crystal ball into the desk.

"Lord Hokage, I need to report something to you..."

Without even stopping to catch his breath, Might Guy told him everything that had happened to Neji in one go.

After understanding the situation, the Third Hokage lit his pipe, took a puff, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

After pondering for a moment, he looked at Might Guy, who wore a somewhat expectant expression.

"A tattoo forcibly controlling Eight Gates Chakra that could not otherwise be used, then using Medical Ninjutsu... What principle and ability is this based on?"

The Third Hokage looked up at him and asked, "Did you ask Neji about this?"

"Ah?"

Might Guy's expression froze. He seemed to have been too excited and rushed over without asking clearly.

And when he had left, Neji seemed to have called out to him. He probably had called out, right?

"Then should I go ask him?"

The Third Hokage looked at Might Guy, sighed, and tapped the ash from his pipe.

"Bring Neji here. I need to ask him about this personally."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

The contract was mailed out this afternoon. Please invest and send recommendation votes. Starting tomorrow, there will be a stable two updates a day.