Gaara no longer had the ruthlessness of the original timeline, and his fighting style had become evasive.
He kept trying to hide in the sand, but Rock Lee gave him no chance, chasing him down with an unbroken barrage of attacks.
But Rock Lee knew his stamina was about to run out. He decided to settle the match with his next move.
Gaara stopped in his tracks, cold sweat sliding down his forehead.
The chill of being stalked by a wild beast triggered an instinct buried deep in his genes.
"Shukaku, lend me your power!"
"That move takes a lot out of you. Are you sure?"
"There's no time to think! I'm about to lose!"
Rock Lee planted himself in a broad, extended stance, forming a peculiar gesture with one hand that did not look like a hand seal.
This was One Finger Settles the Central Plains, which steadied his aura and drew out his body's latent potential.
Rock Lee's gaze sharpened, his breathing sounding like a fierce tiger in the mountains. He used his breath to drive his strength and his voice to bolster his power.
"Forest Howl!"
"Sandstorm!"
With both feet nailed to the spot, Rock Lee swept through wide, powerful movements before unleashing a lightning-fast straight punch, sending a tiger-shaped wave of force roaring outward!
Shukaku's markings had already spread all over Gaara's body.
Tornadoes swirling with sand burst from his hands like soaring dragons, driving straight toward Rock Lee's face!
The tiger's head collided with the dragons' bodies in the center of the arena. The resulting blast even shattered the glass in the stands!
Every ANBU present immediately sprang into action, deploying a barrier to block the shock wave!
Everyone stared in stunned disbelief, their mouths hanging open!
"Lee! I admit you're strong! But a wild