Rock Lee, Straight-Man Love Guru, Makes His Entrance

Five days passed in the blink of an eye!

At two thirty in the afternoon, the three members of Team 7 arrived at the Ninja Academy!

Watching the ninjas from other villages coming and going around them, they remained calm and composed throughout!

"Please, just let us through!"

"Thud! Thud!"

"Little Lee!"

"Are you okay?"

"Stop begging them. We just won't go through!"

A bun-haired girl rushed over and helped up the green-clad boy in a skintight jumpsuit who had been kicked to the ground by the gatekeepers!

"What's going on over there?"

"We'll know if we go take a look!"

"Hey!"

"Don't go sticking your nose into other people's business!"

"It's fine!"

"It'll only take a moment. We still have plenty of time!"

Ignoring Sakura's attempts to stop him, Naruto walked toward the crowd of onlookers!

Sakura and Sasuke could only follow helplessly!

Little did they know that this trip would bring them trouble!

As the three of them drew closer, they finally got a clear look at the beaten-up boy!

With thick eyebrows, big eyes, a bowl cut, and an outrageously flamboyant green jumpsuit that practically screamed youth, he was none other than Little Lee, their straight-man love guru!

The moment he saw Sakura approaching, he unleashed a barrage of hearts, each one symbolizing the blazing youthful hormones of a teenage boy!

"Beautiful miss, I like you. Will you go out with me?"

This sudden romantic offensive nearly made Sakura break down!

Fortunately, after following Tenka lately, if nothing else, she had developed a strong heart!

Sakura spoke to Little Lee politely.

"Thank you for liking me, but there's someone I already like!"

As she said this, Sakura glanced at Sasuke. Anyone with eyes could tell who she meant!

Honestly, ever since becoming a Genin, Sakura had stopped acting lovestruck around Sasuke!

It was not that she no longer liked him, but that she had realized what she ought to do at this stage!

Moreover, she had discovered that after earning Sasuke's acknowledgment, even if she no longer clung to him as obsessively as before!

Sasuke spoke to her more than he had in all the previous years combined, and his attitude was no longer icy and distant!

This only made Sakura more determined. Whether for herself, Tenka, or Sasuke, she had to work even harder!

Following Sakura's gaze, Little Lee discovered that it was the handsome Uchiha Clan genius!

He was instantly interested and openly declared that he wanted to have a solo match with Sasuke!

"Genius of the Uchiha Clan, let's have a duel between men!"

"I'll prove that I have the strength to take care of Sakura. The loser withdraws. How about it?"

Naruto was extremely displeased by this scene. He had clearly caught up already!

But... they had come looking for Sasuke again. Was he not flashy enough, or were their standards just too high?

"Hey! Bushy Brows, you want to fight?"

"I'll fight you!"

Naruto decided he had to prove himself and let them see that Team 7 did not only have the handsome Uchiha Clan boy. It also had the dashing, wild, and irresistible Naruto Uzumaki!

"No, I only want to fight him. This isn't just a simple battle. It concerns my love as well!"

After saying that, Little Lee looked at Sakura again, his eyes filling with peach-blossom hearts once more!

"Mwah~!"

He blew several more kisses at Sakura, making her freeze on the spot!

Damn Naruto! I told him not to come over, not to come over! In her heart, Inner Sakura beat Naruto up several times!

Damn it, you thick-browed bowl-cut freak! You have such thick eyebrows and big eyes, yet your taste is this terrible!

Naruto became even more annoyed and charged at Little Lee, ready to attack!

"Whoosh!"

"Naruto!"

"Stop!"

"There's no need!"

Sasuke suddenly appeared in front of Naruto and held back his charging body!

"Remember, we don't need to prove anything to them!"

"There are much bigger stages waiting ahead!"

"Haven't you always wanted to fight me?"

"Let's have a proper match in the finals!"

"Really?"

Naruto's face lit up with joy. Sure enough, Sasuke still loved him the most!

"Yeah. Honestly, I've wanted to have a match with you too!"

"Good!"

"It's a promise for the finals!"

Naruto glanced at Little Lee and was no longer angry at him. With Sasuke comforting him, Naruto felt like he had the whole world!

He quietly stepped aside to watch how Sasuke would handle Little Lee!

Sasuke looked at Little Lee. There was none of his former pride or disdain in his eyes; his gaze was calm!

"If you were challenging me normally, I would accept!"

"But... I won't agree to you using her as a wager!"

"Sakura isn't merchandise. She's my teammate!"

"A teammate... I acknowledge!"

"We'll let it go this time, since we're all from Konoha!"

"Watch your words next time, or... don't blame me for getting rough!"

After saying that, Sasuke turned and walked over to Sakura and Naruto, nodding at them both!

"Let's go!"

"Yeah!"

Sakura's heart was sweet. Sasuke had not openly expressed anything, but those words just now were treatment she had never received in the previous six years!

And besides, why did she feel like...

Sasuke had been a little angry just now? Sakura was not sure!

"Hey!"

"Sakura, why do I feel like Sasuke was a little angry just now?"

Just as Sakura was uncertain, Naruto gave her a dose of reassurance from beside her!

"Was he?"

"Naruto, you're overthinking it!"

Sakura smiled and hurried after Sasuke!

"Wasn't he?"

Naruto blankly shook his head as he watched Sasuke and Sakura walk farther away!

"Hey!"

"Wait for me!"

After the three left, Tenten looked at the dejected Little Lee and sighed!

"Sigh!"

"That's the gap between us!"

"Neji!"

"What do you think of those three?"

Then she could not be bothered with Little Lee anymore. Of all people to believe, he had chosen to believe Might Guy's nonsense!

"Don't underestimate them. I'm not confident I could beat any one of them!"

Neji's expression was somewhat grave as he watched the backs of the Team 7 members!

After all, those three were taught by his freakish brother!

Ever since that freakish brother had returned, he had only given Neji occasional guidance!

Yet Neji had already improved tremendously. So what kind of training had those three undergone...

That freakish brother took them out month after month. Neji had no idea what sort of training they had received!

Still, Neji had always paid close attention to news about Team 7!

Three little killing stars, task maniacs, and so on!

Neji did not dare underestimate them in the slightest. In fact, no amount of caution would be excessive!

"What?"

"Neji, you're not joking?"

Little Lee finally snapped out of it. Neji had always been the opponent he valued most!

Yet Neji was saying he was not confident of defeating even one of those three. How could that be possible?

"I'm not joking!"

"Including that Sakura!"

"I'm not certain of victory against her either!"

"You wouldn't understand. My freakish brother, their teacher, is unbelievably strong!"

"And my freakish brother is especially insane! His training can't possibly be simple!"

"You really should ask around about the rumors surrounding Team 7!"

"Sometimes, I really want to trade places with Team 7!"

"Let's go. This exam is becoming more and more interesting!"

After saying that, Neji took the lead and walked ahead, with Tenten following thoughtfully!

Flames blazed in Little Lee's eyes!

"This is youth!"

"My blood is beginning to burn! This is what youth feels like!"