Sasuke vs. Lee

The next day, Naruto arrived at the meeting place. Sakura was already there.

Naruto smiled. "Sakura, I thought you weren't coming."

Sakura smiled confidently. "I can't keep hiding behind you guys and relying on you to protect me forever, right?"

"This is the Sakura I know," Naruto said with a grin. "You had the guts to challenge me when we were kids. There's no way you'd grow up and turn into a coward."

Just then, Sasuke arrived too. Naruto saw him and smiled. "Then let's go." He set off toward the registration area.

As soon as they entered the registration building, they saw a girl dressed in a very Chinese style and a boy wearing a tight green tracksuit with especially thick eyebrows arguing with the Chunin guarding the entrance.

Naruto knew they were Neji's two teammates, Tenten and Lee. He took a look, then led the way upstairs. The Chunin called out, "Hey, brats! What do you think you're doing?" and stepped in front of Naruto.

When the Chunin blocked his way, Naruto flung a kunai at him. The Chunin hurriedly dodged. When he turned back, ready to teach Naruto a lesson, Naruto had already used the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring himself, Sasuke, and Sakura to the third-floor hallway.

The Chunin stared at Naruto in astonishment. "When did you get up there?" Naruto merely replied coolly, "A boring genjutsu," then led Sasuke and Sakura to the registration desk on the third floor.

Tenten asked Lee in surprise, "Did you see how they got up there just now?"

Lee shook his head. "I didn't catch it. It looked like they just appeared there out of nowhere."

Tenten frowned. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know how he did it, but I'm already getting excited!" Lee replied eagerly.

Tenten thought it over. "The blond one—I think I've heard Neji mention him. His name is Naruto Uzumaki, and he's Lady Hinata's boyfriend. The cool-looking one seems to be a genius from the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke Uchiha."

"Uchiha Sasuke, the genius of the Uchiha Clan! I want to challenge him. I'll prove that hard work can defeat a genius!" Lee exclaimed.

With that, Lee charged upstairs. Tenten saw him suddenly take off and had no choice but to chase after him, grumbling, "Hey, wait for me, Lee!"

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had just reached the third floor when Lee caught up and shouted at Sasuke, "You're Sasuke Uchiha, aren't you? I challenge you! I'll prove that hard work can defeat a genius!"

The three of them looked at Lee, who was blocking their way, in confusion. Naruto turned to Sasuke. "Looks like he's here for you. I'll go register first."

Sasuke nodded. "Seems he's here because of the Uchiha name. How boring. Go ahead."

Naruto nodded, then asked Sakura, "What about you, Sakura? Are you coming with me to register, or waiting for Sasuke?"

Sakura glanced at Sasuke, then replied, "I'll wait here for Sasuke."

"Okay, then. Give me your registration forms. I'll register first, then come back."

Naruto took Sasuke and Sakura's registration forms and went to register. After he left, Sasuke said to Lee, "If you want to fight, then come on." He instantly appeared behind Lee and kicked toward his back, but Lee blocked the attack with a beautiful spinning kick.

"You've got some skill," Sasuke said in surprise. Lee replied confidently, "I won't lose to you. Leaf Whirlwind!"

Lee swept his leg sideways toward Sasuke. Sasuke retreated, but Lee leaped forward and kicked again. Sasuke hurriedly raised both arms to block, but Lee sent him flying into the air.

"Lion Combo!" Lee shouted, leaping after Sasuke and kicking him three times in a row. Sasuke blocked each kick with his arms, but Lee knocked him even higher into the air.

Lee stepped on the air, using the impact to propel himself above Sasuke. Sasuke hurriedly turned around, only to see the bandages on Lee's arm come loose and whip toward him. The instant they faced each other, Sasuke used his Sharingan to cast a genjutsu on Lee.

Lee's eyes went blank. Sasuke hurriedly used the Substitution Technique to return to the ground. Lee's bandages wrapped around Sasuke's substitute, and Lee clutched it as he flipped upside down and spun down toward the ground. "Hidden Lotus!" The impact left a huge crater in the floor.

When Lee got back up and realized he'd only hit a substitute, he stared in astonishment. "A genjutsu? Was it back then?" By the time he came to his senses, Sasuke had already rushed behind him and kicked him into the air.

"Lion Combo!" Sasuke shouted, leaping toward Lee. Lee exclaimed in surprise, "The Sharingan's copying ability!"

Sasuke's Lion Combo sent Lee flying, but Lee blocked every blow. At last, Sasuke used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him and kick again. Lee hurriedly turned around, but the instant their eyes met, he fell under Sasuke's Sharingan Genjutsu once more. Sasuke kicked him down while he stood there dazed.

Lee hurriedly flipped and landed on the ground. "The Sharingan really is terrifying. I'm going all out now." He started to remove the weights on his legs.

Just then, Guy kicked Lee away. Naruto had finished registering and had come out just in time to see it. He walked over to Sasuke. "How are you, Sasuke? Are you okay?"

Sasuke shook his head. "I'm fine." Sakura ran over too and asked with concern, "Sasuke, are you okay?" Sasuke shook his head at her.

Naruto smiled. "Then let's go." Just as the three of them were about to leave, Lee suddenly appeared in front of Sakura and dropped to one knee. "You must be Sakura. Please go out with me."

Sakura looked disgusted. "No. Your eyebrows are too thick." Lee was devastated.

Guy came over to them and said, "You must be Kakashi's students."

Naruto smiled politely. "Yes. What can we do for you, Guy-sensei?"

Guy looked at Naruto in surprise. "I can't believe that fellow Kakashi managed to teach such a polite student. It's incredible."

"You're too kind, Guy-sensei," Naruto replied with a smile.

"I apologize on behalf of my hopeless student," Guy said.

"It's fine," Sasuke replied. Just then, Neji arrived too.

When Naruto saw Neji, he said, "Neji, you still haven't let it go, have you? Hinata's worried about you. If you make her cry, I'll beat you up."

Neji glanced at Naruto and replied coldly, "My business is none of yours, you idiot." Then he headed toward the registration desk.

Sakura asked Naruto, "Do you know him?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, he's Hinata's cousin. I hear he's the strongest Genin in Konoha at the moment, and he's a year ahead of us."

Sakura looked surprised. "He's that strong?"

Naruto nodded, then looked at Sasuke's proud expression. "Sasuke, I know you're not convinced, but right now, you might actually lose to him."

Sasuke's expression shifted. "Even you couldn't beat him?"

Naruto thought for a moment. "Without relying on Kurama, it'd be hard for me to win, though I'd still have the advantage. What, are you scared?"

"How could I be? He's only a little stronger than me. It won't be long before I surpass him," Sasuke replied confidently.

Naruto smiled. "Yeah, I believe you can do it. Come on, let's find Kakashi-sensei."

The three of them went to the waiting room and found Kakashi. He smiled. "I knew you wouldn't let me down. If even one of you hadn't shown up, you would've failed this exam. It's a team exam, so if one person drops out, the whole team fails."

Sakura looked surprised. "Then, Kakashi-sensei, why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Kakashi smiled. "If I'd told you earlier, Sakura, you would've taken the exam for Sasuke's sake, whether you wanted to or not. Then it wouldn't have been your own choice. All in all, you haven't let me down."

Kakashi looked at the excited trio. "All right, the exam is about to begin. Go on in." They nodded and entered the classroom to take the exam.

As soon as they entered the classroom, Ino ran over and hugged Sasuke from behind. "Sasuke, you're here!"

Sakura immediately grabbed Ino in anger. "Ino-pig, get off him!"

Ino clung to him even tighter and refused to let go. "Let go of me, forehead girl!"

Sasuke was thoroughly annoyed, but he couldn't be too rough, so he could only let the two girls tug him back and forth.

Shikamaru came over too. "You guys made it."

Naruto smiled. "Yeah. I didn't expect everyone from our year to show up."

Then he walked over to Hinata. "Hinata, you came too."

Hinata replied shyly, "Mm. You're here too, Naruto-kun."

Naruto took Hinata's hand and led her to a chair, where they sat down. Just then, Kabuto Yakushi came over and started chatting with Shikamaru and Sasuke. Naruto wasn't interested in Kabuto, so he ignored them.

Naruto asked Hinata, "I ran into Neji when I came here. I feel like he's changed. What happened?"

A little embarrassed to be held by Naruto in front of so many people, Hinata replied, "I think Uncle Hizashi talked to him and helped him get over what was troubling him. But Brother Neji seems to keep avoiding me, and I don't know why."

Naruto thought for a moment. "Maybe he treated you badly before, and now he's embarrassed to face you. Don't worry. Just talk to him when you get the chance."

Hinata nodded and fell silent, resting comfortably in Naruto's arms. Sasuke looked at Naruto, then asked Kabuto, "Since you've collected so much information, do you have any on Naruto Uzumaki?"

Everyone grew curious when Sasuke suddenly asked about Naruto. Kabuto replied, "Of course."

Under everyone's puzzled gaze, Sasuke said calmly, "Then tell us about him."