"Sandstorm!"
Sand gathered in Gaara's hand, more and more of it swirling around his palm.
Gaara hurled the swirling sand, sending it blasting straight toward Rock Lee.
Rock Lee glanced at the ceiling, then leaped into the air.
Light as a sparrow, he easily sailed over the sandstorm.
"Sand Shower!"
"Youth Waltz!"
The sand beneath Gaara's feet seemed to come alive, blanketing Rock Lee's green figure with a dense barrage of attacks.
Rock Lee moved swiftly through the air, scattering every grain of sand with an exquisitely fluid sequence of movements!
Using the momentum, Rock Lee finished his dazzling display with a straight kick from above, slamming down hard over Gaara.
The Sand Shield still did its job.
Yet everyone was astonished, for that strike had actually produced the ringing clash of weapons meeting!
"That blow... must really hurt if it lands on you, right?"
"The pain only lasts a moment. Just bear with it, and you won't feel anything anymore."
"Wouldn't that just mean you'd passed out?"
Might Guy's lips slowly parted, the gleam on his pearly white teeth revealing his deep pride.
"Lee! Youthful Power: Fully Open!"
At that moment, Rock Lee was still struggling with Gaara's absolute defense.
"If I asked you for information about yourself, would you tell me?"
Rock Lee unwound the bandages around his hands and relaxed his shoulders.
Gaara could feel that his presence had changed. More precisely...
"If you want information, find it out for yourself!"
Rock Lee moved. How could he achieve such speed through Taijutsu alone?
Gaara looked around, but all he could see were afterimages.
In his panic, he heard the whistle of wind behind his head.
But he could no longer turn around in time.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
*Judging by the sounds of blows hitting the sand... he