Sasuke vs. Lee

The next day, Naruto arrived at the meeting point, where Sakura had already reached.

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

Sakura smiled confidently, "I can't always hide behind you guys and rely on your protection, right?"

Naruto chuckled, "That's the Sakura I know. You dared to challenge me when we were kids; it's impossible for you to have turned cowardly just because you've grown up."

At this moment, Sasuke arrived as well. Seeing him, Naruto said, "Let's go then," and took the lead toward the registration site.

Just as they entered the registration building, they saw a girl dressed in a Chinese style and a boy in a green spandex bodysuit with exceptionally thick eyebrows arguing with a Chunin guard.

Naruto knew those were Neji's teammates, Tenten and Lee. After a quick glance, Naruto continued heading upstairs, but the Chunin blocked his path, saying, "Hey, brats, what do you think you're doing?"

Seeing him block the way, Naruto threw a Kunai. The Chunin dodged it in a hurry. By the time he turned back to reprimand Naruto, Naruto had already used the Flying Thunder God to transport himself, Sasuke, and Sakura to the third-floor hallway.

The Chunin looked at Naruto in shock and asked, "When did you get up here?" Naruto replied indifferently, "A boring genjutsu," before taking 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 and said, "I couldn't see clearly. It was as if they just appeared out of thin air."

Tenten wondered, "How is that possible?"

Lee replied excitedly, "Even though I don't know how he did it, I'm starting to get fired up."

Tenten pondered, "That blond one—I think I've heard Neji mention him. He's called Naruto Uzumaki, and he's Hinata's boyfriend. The cool one seems to be a genius from the Uchiha clan named Sasuke Uchiha."

Lee exclaimed, "Sasuke Uchiha, the genius of the Uchiha clan! I want to challenge him. I want to prove that as long as one works hard, one can definitely defeat a genius."

With that, Lee rushed off. Tenten, seeing Lee suddenly run away, had no choice but to chase after him, complaining, "Hey, wait for me, Lee!"

Just as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura arrived on the third floor, Lee caught up and shouted at Sasuke, "You must be Sasuke Uchiha! I want to challenge you to prove that hard work can defeat any genius!"

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

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

Naruto nodded and asked Sakura, "Sakura, what will you do? Are you coming with me to register, or are you waiting for Sasuke?"

Sakura looked at Sasuke and replied, "I'll wait here for Sasuke."

Naruto nodded, "Alright, give me your registration forms. I'll register for you and come back."

After taking their forms, Naruto went to the registration desk. Once he left, Sasuke said to Lee, "If you want to fight, then come on." He instantly flashed behind Lee and kicked at his back, but Lee blocked the attack with a beautiful roundhouse kick.

Sasuke was surprised, "You've actually got some skill." Lee said confidently, "I won't lose to you. Leaf Whirlwind!"

Lee swept his leg toward Sasuke again. Sasuke retreated, but Lee leaped forward with another kick. Sasuke hurriedly blocked the assault with both hands, yet he was still kicked high into the air by Lee.

Lee shouted, "Lion Combo!" He leaped up and delivered three consecutive kicks to Sasuke. Although Sasuke blocked them all with his hands, he was sent even higher.

Lee stepped on the air, using the impact to launch himself above Sasuke. As Sasuke turned, he saw the bandages on Lee's hands unraveling and flying toward him. At the moment of contact, Sasuke activated his Sharingan and cast a genjutsu on Lee.

Lee's eyes went blank, and Sasuke immediately used the Substitution Technique to return to the ground. Lee's bandages wrapped around the substitute, and he dove toward the ground, spinning with his target in his grasp. Lee shouted, "Hidden Lotus!" The impact created a large crater in the ground.

When Lee stood up and saw he had only hit a substitute, he was shocked, "Genjutsu? Was it at that moment?" By the time Lee regained his senses, Sasuke had already rushed behind him and kicked him into the air.

Sasuke shouted, "Lion Combo!" and flew toward Lee. Lee gasped, "The Sharingan's copying ability!"

Sasuke launched a Lion Combo, but Lee blocked the strikes. Finally, Sasuke shunshined behind Lee and kicked him again. Lee tried to turn, but the moment his eyes met Sasuke's, he fell into the Sharingan genjutsu once more, and was kicked down while dazed.

Lee performed a flip and landed on his feet. "The Sharingan is truly terrifying. I'll have to use my full power now." He prepared to remove the weights from his legs.

Just then, Guy kicked Lee away. Naruto, having finished registering, walked out just in time to see this. He approached Sasuke and asked, "Are you alright, Sasuke?"

Sasuke shook his head, "I'm fine." Sakura ran over as well, asking with concern, "Sasuke, are you okay?" Sasuke shook his head at her.

Naruto laughed, "Let's go." Just as the three of them were about to leave, Lee suddenly appeared in front of Sakura, knelt on one knee, and said, "You must be Sakura. Please go out with me!"

Sakura said with a look of disgust, "No way, your eyebrows are too thick." Lee was devastated.

At this moment, Guy walked up to them and said, "You must be Kakashi's students."

Naruto smiled politely, "Yes. Guy-sensei, do you have any advice for us?"

Guy looked at Naruto in surprise, "I didn't expect that guy Kakashi could teach such polite students. It's truly incredible."

Naruto replied with a smile, "You flatter me, Guy-sensei."

Guy said, "I apologize for my incompetent disciple."

Sasuke replied, "It's nothing." Neji arrived at that moment.

Seeing Neji, Naruto said, "Neji, you still haven't let it go. Hinata is very worried about you. If you make Hinata cry, I will definitely beat you up."

Neji looked at Naruto and replied coldly, "My business is none of your concern, you idiot." He then walked toward the registration desk.

Sakura asked Naruto, "Naruto, do you know him?"

Naruto nodded, "Yes, he is Hinata's cousin. I heard he is the strongest Genin in Konoha from this generation, a year ahead of us."

Sakura was surprised, "He's that strong?"

Naruto nodded, then looked at Sasuke's arrogant expression and said, "Sasuke, I know you're unconvinced, but as of right now, you really might not be able to beat him."

Sasuke looked moved, "Even you can't beat him?"

Naruto thought for a moment and said, "Without relying on Kurama, it would be very difficult for me to win, but I have a better chance than you. What, are you scared?"

Sasuke said confidently, "How could that be? He's only a little bit stronger than me; it won't be long before I surpass him."

Naruto laughed, "Mm, I believe you can do it. Let's go find Kakashi-sensei."

The three of them arrived at the waiting room and saw Kakashi, who smiled and said, "I knew you wouldn't let me down. If even one of you hadn't shown up, you would have lost this exam. It's a team-based test; if one person gives up, you all fail."

Sakura said in surprise, "Then Kakashi-sensei, why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Kakashi chuckled, "If I had told you earlier, Sakura, you would have participated for Sasuke's sake regardless of whether you wanted to or not, and that wouldn't have been your own choice. All in all, none of you disappointed me."

Kakashi looked at the excited trio and said, "Alright, the exam is about to begin. You should head inside." The three nodded and entered the classroom to prepare for the test.

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

Sakura immediately pulled at Ino in anger and said, "Ino-pig, get off him!"

Ino hugged him even tighter, refusing to let go, and retorted, "You let go, Broad-Forehead!"

Sasuke felt instantly annoyed, but since he couldn't be too rough, he had no choice but to let the two women tug and pull at him.

At this moment, Shikamaru walked over and said, "You guys are here too."

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

After saying that, he walked over to Hinata and said, "Hinata, you're here too."

Hinata replied shyly, "Mm, Naruto-kun, you're here as well."

Naruto took Hinata's hand and they sat down on a bench. Just then, Kabuto Yakushi walked over and began chatting with Shikamaru and Sasuke. Naruto had no interest in Kabuto Yakushi and paid them no mind.

Naruto said to Hinata, "I ran into Neji when I was coming here. I feel like he's changed; what's going on with that?"

Hinata, feeling a bit shy about being held by Naruto in front of so many people, replied, "It seems like Uncle Hizashi talked to him and helped him resolve his inner conflict, but Neji-nii-san seems to be avoiding me, and I don't know why."

Naruto thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because he treated you poorly before and is now too embarrassed to face you. It's fine, just find a time to talk to him later."

Hinata nodded and stopped speaking, resting peacefully in Naruto's arms. Sasuke watched Naruto for a moment, then said to Kabuto Yakushi, "Since you've collected so much data, do you have any information on Naruto Uzumaki?"

Everyone was suddenly curious when they heard Sasuke ask about Naruto, and Kabuto Yakushi replied, "Of course I do."

Under the strange gazes of the crowd, Sasuke said calmly, "Then tell us about him."