First Encounter with Guy's Team, the Passionate Master and Student

Five Days Later

Ninja Academy

"Iruka-sensei, honestly...

Why did he have to hold some kind of strength test? I almost treated him like a real enemy..."

Naruto couldn't help complaining as they walked down the school corridor.

He was even more annoyed after learning that Sasuke hadn't been tested at all!

Wasn't that clearly looking down on him?

"Exactly, exactly...

We're already ninjas who can stand on our own..."

Sakura hurriedly nodded along, though her gaze secretly drifted toward Sasuke.

How could Sasuke-kun possibly be as weak as he had been in that Genjutsu...

"We're here..."

Ignoring their grumbling, Sasuke stopped and looked at the crowd ahead.

He hadn't been idle at home these past few days...

He had learned and fully mastered two C-rank Fire Style techniques: the Great Fireball Technique and the Dragon Fire Technique.

"There are so many people..."

Staring at the dense mass of examinees ahead, Naruto's eyes widened as he cried out in surprise.

Sakura beside him nodded repeatedly in agreement...

"Let's go..."

Sasuke glanced at the noisy crowd and led the way through it.

"Please, just let us in..."

As soon as they reached the front, the three of them saw the passionate Rock Lee putting on an utterly un-passionate acting performance.

Beside him stood the traditionally dressed Tenten and the genius Neji whom Sasuke had been thinking about.

"Boring..."

Glancing at the theatrical Guy's Team, Sasuke sighed indifferently and stepped forward.

"Should I break the Genjutsu, or will you do it yourselves?"

Sasuke looked at the two transformed examiners with a teasing smirk, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.

Those two Konoha Gatekeepers really knew how to have fun. Guarding Konoha's gates wasn't enough, so they had come here to add themselves to the show...

"Oh~~

Not bad. You actually saw through the Genjutsu we cast..."

Izumo Kamizuki's eyes narrowed as he spoke in a leisurely, meaningful tone.

"But what does it matter if you saw through it?

We won't let you pass..."

Kotetsu Hagane gave a wicked grin and raised his leg to kick Sasuke.

Yet Sasuke didn't react to the attack at all...

Because...

Bang...

A green blur flashed past, raising an arm to block the examiner's attack.

"Rock Lee..."

Tenten called out helplessly when she saw that, unable to stop herself from rubbing her forehead with a sigh...

With this, their plan to show weakness to the enemy had failed!

What a pain...

But Rock Lee paid no attention to Tenten. Instead, he confidently glanced at Sasuke.

Then he turned his gaze toward Sakura...

"I..."

"Don't waste your breath if your reaction is that slow!

Naruto, Sakura, let's go..."

Rock Lee had barely opened his mouth to show off when Sasuke forcefully cut him off.

What a joke. He had no hobby of letting someone flirt with his wife right in front of him...

Besides, this guy Rock Lee was exactly the kind of person who ruined his cool image!

"The previous year's Top Student...

Is pretending to be weak just so you can strike later all you know how to do? What a laughable trick..."

Sasuke looked at Neji with feigned disdain, then strode into the classroom first.

At the same time, his right hand formed Hand Seals inside his pocket and violently shattered the Genjutsu...

Room 301 instantly became Room 201, while the classroom transformed into a stairway corridor.

"Wait for us..."

Naruto and Sakura immediately followed, leaving everyone else staring at one another.

"When did he form Hand Seals and break the Genjutsu??"

Izumo Kamizuki froze for a moment before coming back to his senses, his eyes filled with shock.

"Is this the power of the Uchiha?

As expected of the legendary clan..."

Kotetsu Hagane was equally astonished, recalling the fear of Genjutsu controlled by the Sharingan.

"What a cute newcomer...

Neji, it looks like he underestimated you!"

Tenten smiled playfully at Sasuke's retreating back, causing Neji's expression to turn cold.

"Interesting...

Sasuke Uchiha?

I hope his strength doesn't disappoint me..."

Neji sneered and motioned for Rock Lee and Tenten to head toward Room 301.

But Rock Lee was faster, turning into a blur as he rapidly chased after them...

"You arrogant-looking guy...

Please wait!!"

Just as Sasuke and the others submitted their applications and went downstairs, a fiery shout rang out from behind them.

Sasuke sighed inwardly at the trouble and looked back with a headache...

"You're Sasuke Uchiha, right...

Would you like to fight me right now!!"

Rock Lee clenched his fists as he stared at Sasuke, fire blazing in his eyes as his voice rang with conviction.

"No..."

[Rock Lee's proposal detected. C-rank Reward triggered.

Mission: Fight to determine the victor; Reward: Konoha Great Whirlwind...]

Sasuke was about to refuse and say he wasn't interested when the System Prompt sounded in his ear.

That made him change his mind at once...

No matter how small the reward, it was still something. He couldn't waste it!

"Sasuke, Sasuke...

Why is it Sasuke again!!

Bushy Brows, did you come here just to challenge Sasuke?

I'm strong too, you know. Don't you want to challenge me??"

Seeing Sasuke suddenly fall silent, Naruto snatched over the conversation and shouted in dissatisfaction.

"Not interested..."

Rock Lee answered bluntly, instantly making Naruto furious.

"Damn it, I'll show you what I can do..."

In his anger, Chakra erupted beneath Naruto's feet as he clenched his fists and rushed at Rock Lee.

But how could his speed compare to Rock Lee's? With only a slight sidestep and a finger strike,

Naruto was knocked off course and fell to the ground...

Rock Lee then shifted his gaze to Sakura, his cheeks suddenly flushing red.

"Miss Sakura, actually, I did this because..."

This sudden turn of events left both Sakura and Naruto completely dumbfounded...

But how could Sasuke possibly accept this!!

Genjutsu: Fox Heart Technique...

Sasuke's eyes instantly turned crimson as he completed the Hand Seals inside his pocket, activating the Genjutsu in an instant.

The next moment,

Rock Lee froze in place, then immediately recovered and began circling a pillar without stopping...

"Let's go. Ignore him..."

Looking at Rock Lee trapped in the Genjutsu, Sasuke turned his gaze away and said calmly.

At the same time, the System Reward flooded into his mind, instantly becoming fully integrated...

The so-called Konoha Great Whirlwind was merely a full-circle spinning kick with a slightly wider range.

With enough Chakra infused into it, it could barely count as a decent offensive and defensive Nintaijutsu...

"The Sharingan? Sasuke-kun is so cool..."

Sakura murmured excitedly as she stared at those crimson eyes, her blind worship of Sasuke rising once again...

Sure enough, how could some Bushy Brows possibly be a match for Sasuke-kun with the Sharingan!

"Hmph, he's only relying on the Sharingan's power..."

Naruto grumbled sourly again, glaring fiercely at the spinning Rock Lee before following after Sasuke.

"Those three youths are Kakashi's elite subordinates...

As expected of my lifelong rival. His students are equally outstanding!

They defeated my carefully trained beloved student with just one Genjutsu. This is the continuation of youth..."

With a whoosh, Might Guy appeared in a Body Flicker, staring at Sasuke's retreating back with boundless excitement.

He reached out and slapped Rock Lee, disrupting his Chakra flow and breaking the Genjutsu...

"Teacher Kai?"

Seeing his beloved teacher before him, Rock Lee instantly came to his senses. He lowered his head in shame, unable to face him.

As Teacher Kai's secret disciple, he had been defeated by a Genjutsu in a single exchange!

It was truly humiliating...

"Waaah...

Rock Lee, congratulations!

You've found the opponent you'll pursue for the rest of your life too."

Seeing the shame on his beloved student's face, Might Guy hurriedly embraced him, tears streaming down his face.

He had completely misunderstood Rock Lee's motives...

"But, you fool!!

Next time, just use the Gate of Opening to disrupt your own Chakra flow and break the Genjutsu...

You didn't even know something that simple?

Your punishment is five hundred laps around the village..."

"Yes, Teacher Kai...

But I challenged Sasuke not because he's an opponent, but because of Miss Sakura."

"Idiot, that reason makes my youthful blood burn even hotter...

In that case, give yourself another restriction.

How about defeating Sasuke before confessing to Sakura?

Youth should burn passionately like this..."

"Yes, Teacher Kai..."

Inside the empty hall, the cries of the passionate master and student rose one after another...