Eight Trigrams Heaven Lock

Naruto arrived at Team 8 and said to Kurenai, "Hello, Kurenai-sensei. I'm here to see Hinata."

Kurenai laughed, "Oh, it's Naruto. Hinata, Naruto is looking for you."

Hinata lowered her head shyly and said, "Naruto-kun, you're here. Congratulations on passing the exam."

Naruto smiled and replied, "Yeah, thanks. Congratulations to you all for passing as well."

Kurenai chuckled, "Alright, Kiba, Shino, let's go. Let's not disturb the young couple's intimacy. Good luck, Naruto."

Naruto laughed generously, "I will."

Kurenai glanced at the shy, blushing Hinata with a smile, then led Kiba and Shino away.

Naruto walked up to Hinata, took her hand, and said, "Haha, Hinata, look, even Kurenai-sensei is blessing us." Upon hearing Naruto bring that up again, Hinata's face turned even redder.

Seeing that Hinata was so shy she could practically crawl into a crack in the ground, Naruto stopped teasing her. He wrapped his arms around her, and after a moment of slight surprise, Hinata shyly hugged him back.

Recalling their experience in the Forest of Death, Naruto sighed with emotion, "How wonderful would it be if it could always be like this?"

Hinata replied weakly, "Naruto-kun, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly saying things like that?"

Naruto asked curiously, "Don't you like me holding you, Hinata?"

Hinata hurriedly said, "No, how could I hate Naruto-kun's embrace? Naruto-kun's embrace is so warm, but if it were always like this, wouldn't we never have children?" Hinata's voice grew smaller and smaller until it was almost inaudible.

Naruto was stunned by Hinata's bold words, but once he regained his senses, he said joyfully, "Hinata, you're right. I shouldn't be satisfied with the status quo; we have an even happier future ahead."

Naruto looked into Hinata's eyes and asked, "Hinata, are you willing to create an even happier future with me?"

Hinata looked into Naruto's clear eyes, which seemed to illuminate one's soul. She replied happily, "Naruto-kun, I am willing to create an even happier future with you."

Seeing such a pure Hinata, Naruto couldn't help but kiss her lips. The two embraced and kissed as if no one else were around, ignoring even the Third Hokage's speech on the high platform. They only separated when Kakashi and Kurenai came to find them. Kurenai didn't say a word as she led Hinata away.

However, as she passed Naruto, she whispered with a laugh, "Heh, kid, you've got some nerve," leaving Naruto feeling extremely awkward.

After Kurenai and the others were far away, Kakashi said helplessly, "Naruto, I know you and Hinata are childhood sweethearts, but you have to pick your moments."

Naruto retorted, "Are you jealous, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi replied, "What would I be jealous of?"

Naruto said nonchalantly, "Because you're a single dog, and you're jealous that I have a girlfriend."

Kakashi took massive damage instantly and, out of shame and anger, said, "Naruto, I'm going to beat the crap out of you today!" But Naruto had already used the Flying Thunder God technique to escape.

Kakashi used a Body Flicker technique to chase after him, but Naruto's Flying Thunder God was faster. Just as Kakashi arrived, Naruto had already moved to another spot.

Naruto laughed, "Kakashi-sensei, you have to be able to hit me if you want to fight. How can you fight me if you can't even get close?" Kakashi was internally wounded by Naruto's retort, but he truly had no way to deal with him.

At this moment, Hayate Gekko said, "The matches are starting now, all candidates be quiet." Only then did Kakashi and Naruto stop and look toward the arena.

Hayate Gekko said, "We will now begin the drawing." The names on the electronic board changed constantly until they stopped, showing Naruto Uzumaki and Rock Lee.

Hayate Gekko announced, "The first match: Naruto Uzumaki versus Rock Lee." Naruto was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected it to be him instead of Sasuke.

It seems everything is different now, he thought, but that's what makes it interesting. At this thought, the corners of Naruto's mouth curled up slightly.

Naruto and Lee arrived on the arena floor. Naruto laughed, "Lee, I didn't expect to run into you in the first match. It really is a small surprise."

Lee replied, "I didn't expect it to be Naruto-kun either, but I will not give up. The word 'give up' does not exist in youth."

Naruto laughed, "Then let's begin."

The moment Naruto's words fell, Lee appeared behind him and said, "Leaf Whirlwind!" He kicked out horizontally toward Naruto.

But the moment Lee moved, Naruto threw a kunai behind him. With a Flying Thunder God, he not only dodged the Leaf Whirlwind but also appeared above and behind Lee.

"Rasengan!" Naruto struck toward Lee's back with a Rasengan. The moment Naruto vanished, Lee realized he had used the Flying Thunder God to get behind him. Lee didn't panic; following the momentum of his Leaf Whirlwind, he used his sweeping foot to push off the ground, dodging the Rasengan while simultaneously kicking at Naruto with his other leg.

Naruto's Rasengan hit the ground, kicking up dust, but Naruto sensed the danger. He immediately used the hand holding the Rasengan to support his body in a handstand while using his other hand to block Lee's attack. Although Naruto blocked the strike, he was still kicked away by Lee.

After doing a backflip in the air and landing steadily, Naruto looked at Lee vigilantly. Although their battle had only lasted an instant, it had already caught the attention of the teachers.

Guy said proudly to Kakashi, "How about that, Kakashi? My student is amazing, right? I believe Lee will definitely be able to defeat Naruto."

Kakashi turned his head and asked Guy in confusion, "Were you talking to me?"

Guy took massive damage instantly and said dejectedly, "Truly worthy of being my eternal rival."

Asuma said to Kurenai, "We know Naruto is very strong, but this Rock Lee is also quite formidable."

Kurenai replied, "Yes, based on his taijutsu and combat talent, he will be another Guy-sensei in the future." Asuma nodded in agreement.

Hinata called out worriedly, "Naruto-kun."

Kurenai laughed, "You don't need to worry, Hinata. With Naruto's strength, he won't lose easily. His power is already approaching that of a jonin, and if he uses the Nine-Tails, he's almost surpassing the Third Hokage. So you don't need to worry."

Hinata said, "But, I'm still a little worried." Kurenai knew Hinata's personality, so she stopped trying to persuade her and let the silly girl worry to her heart's content.

At this time, the two in the arena were trading blows, but Lee was being hit more often. Naruto threw several kunai, and although Lee dodged them, he was kicked away by Naruto, who had followed up using the Flying Thunder God.

Naruto laughed at Lee, "Lee, you should just concede. You can't beat me."

Lee replied defiantly, "No, I haven't used my full strength yet. The Hidden Lotus of Konoha can bloom once more." After saying this, Lee removed the weights from his legs, and the weight of them shocked everyone.

Lee said, "It's not enough yet. Guy-sensei, please allow me to carry out my own ninja way."

Upon hearing this, Guy shouted to Lee, "Go, Lee! Let the Lotus of Konoha bloom once again!"

At this moment, hearing Guy's response, Lee immediately yelled, "Third Gate of Life, open! Fourth Gate of Pain, open!" Lee's skin had already turned a deep crimson red.

Kakashi, shocked, pulled up his forehead protector and looked at Lee with his Sharingan. He then angrily said to Guy, "Guy, have you actually taught the Eight Inner Gates to this child? Have you lost your mind? What do you take him for, teaching such a dangerous forbidden technique to a child? I truly misjudged you; you are not fit to be his teacher."

Guy retorted angrily, "What do you know? You don't understand this child at all. Whether it is ninjutsu or genjutsu, he doesn't have even a shred of talent; he only knows a little bit of taijutsu."

"But even so, he has to put in a thousand or ten thousand times more effort than others just to catch up. Yet, he never gives up. Lee is also a genius, just not like a normal genius. He is a genius of hard work." At this, everyone possessing ocular techniques looked at Lee in shock.

Enduring intense pain, Lee said, "It's not enough. This still isn't enough to contend with Naruto. Fifth Gate of Limit, open!" After opening the fifth gate, Lee immediately launched an attack on Naruto.

Naruto said with admiration, "Come on, Lee. Let me see your persistence." Lee suddenly vanished from Naruto's sight, and Naruto, sensing danger, hurriedly used the Flying Thunder God to escape.

Instantly, the spot where Naruto had been standing was smashed into a large crater, and Lee's figure appeared for a brief moment before vanishing again. Naruto thought, With Lee's current speed, even if my Flying Thunder God is faster, it's useless if my body can't keep up. Since that's the case, I have no choice but to do this.

In the split second that Naruto was distracted, Lee attacked him once more. Naruto used the Flying Thunder God again to dodge Lee's flying kick and said, "Lee, I truly admire your tenacity. I will let you witness the true power of my Uzumaki Clan. Chain Release: Eight Trigrams Heaven Locking Formation!"

Suddenly, eight large chains erupted from Naruto's body, and from those large chains, countless smaller ones branched out, forming a massive Eight Trigrams pattern.

This was a technique Naruto had created by combining the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style of the Uzumaki Clan with his knowledge of the Eight Trigrams diagram from his past life.

When Naruto unleashed his self-created Eight Trigrams Heaven Locking Formation, everyone in the arena was stunned by his technique.

By now, Lee had already charged into the Eight Trigrams formation, and countless chains immediately swarmed toward him. Although Lee's speed was extremely fast, one of the chains managed to snag his foot. Instantly, countless more chains surged toward him, and Lee was bound by several of them, though he continued to struggle.

Naruto formed seals again and said, "Chain Release: Eight Trigrams Transforming into Four Symbols: Dragon Locking Heaven Formation!" Suddenly, the chains morphed into an Eastern divine dragon, binding Lee tightly.

The sealing power on the chains also sealed away all the chakra in Lee's body. Because his chakra was sealed, Lee's Eight Inner Gates were instantly shut down, and Lee lost consciousness.

Guy hurriedly rushed to Lee's side. Naruto dispelled his technique and suddenly felt a wave of weakness, but fortunately, Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to arrive at Naruto's side and support him.

Kakashi asked with concern, and Naruto replied, "Teacher Kakashi, I'm fine. It's just that I consumed too much chakra; I'll be better in a moment."

Kakashi nodded and looked toward Guy, and Naruto followed his gaze. By now, Guy had already picked up Lee and placed him on a stretcher, his face filled with worry.

Naruto said to Guy, "Teacher Guy, Lee is fine. His chakra is just sealed; I will unseal it for him in a moment."

Guy let out a sigh of relief, said "Thank you" to Naruto, and left with the medical staff.

At this time, Hayate Gekko announced, "The first match, Naruto Uzumaki wins." All the friends who had good relationships with them cheered.