Going Toe-to-Toe with Might Guy! A Brother Who'd Do Anything to Protect Sasuke!

Just then, a furious shout rang out from the end of the corridor.

"Stop!"

The voice exploded through the corridor like thunder. The shattered windowpanes rattled, and plaster sifted down from the walls.

A green figure charged in from the far end of the corridor at an unbelievable speed.

Might Guy.

The Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf.

His student Rock Lee lay on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling. His lips were ashen, and his breathing was so faint it might stop at any moment.

Might Guy jerked his head up, his blazing eyes locked on Zuo Hao.

"Release him."

Zuo Hao tilted his head. His crimson Sharingan showed no flicker of emotion.

"Why should I?"

Might Guy rose to his feet.

"I'll say it again. Undo that technique."

Zuo Hao pulled his hand out of his pocket.

"Might Guy. Do you know what just happened?"

Might Guy's thick brows drew together.

Without waiting for an answer, Zuo Hao pointed at Sasuke behind him.

"Your student, that thick-browed kid, nearly gave my brother a concussion with one kick."

He paused. The easy smile finally vanished from his lips.

In its place came a murderous chill that cut to the bone.

"My brother."

Zuo Hao spoke one word at a time, each one striking the corridor wall like a nail.

"He is the one line no one crosses."

"No one lays a hand on him... No one..."

Might Guy's expression changed. It wasn't anger, but something far more complicated.

He glanced at Sasuke, then at Rock Lee lying on the floor.

He knew his student.

Rock Lee could get carried away and act rashly, but he would never deliberately strike to kill.

He must have pulled his Konoha Whirlwind at the last instant.

Otherwise, with Rock Lee's speed and strength, Sasuke could not possibly still be standing.

But Might Guy said none of that.

He knew it would do no good now.

"Rock Lee is my student."

"As his teacher, I will always protect him."

He took a step toward Zuo Hao.

"Just as you protect your brother."

Zuo Hao's eyes narrowed slightly.

Then he smiled.

There was no mockery in that smile, no contempt, not even anger. Only a calm so cold it cut to the bone.

"You're right. A teacher should protect his student. That's only natural."

"But your student nearly injured my brother."

Zuo Hao's voice suddenly rose. The temperature in the corridor seemed to plunge.

"If that kick had actually landed on Sasuke's head, do you think you'd still be standing here talking to me?"

"Where were you, his teacher, when he kicked my brother?"

"Where were you, a Konoha Jōnin, when he was beating my brother so badly he couldn't fight back?"

"Now that I've stopped your student, you come running to demand an explanation?"

Zuo Hao's Sharingan stopped spinning. Its three Tomoe settled around each pupil like three cold eyes fixed on Might Guy.

"Might Guy, tell me why. Why did no one step in when your student was hurting my brother, but the moment I did, I was in the wrong?"

Something seemed to catch in Might Guy's throat.

He knew Rock Lee would never truly have struck to kill.

But he also knew there was no getting around the fact that Rock Lee had hurt Sasuke.

And Zuo Hao, as Sasuke's older brother, had every reason to stand up for him.

"I apologize to you and your brother on Rock Lee's behalf." Might Guy lowered his head and bowed deeply.

"And then?" Zuo Hao's voice remained icy.

"Then please release him from that technique." Might Guy straightened and met Zuo Hao's gaze. "I'll take full responsibility for Lee."

Zuo Hao watched Might Guy in silence for a long time.

The air in the corridor seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath. Even Naruto didn't dare make a sound.

Then Zuo Hao moved.

He walked over to Rock Lee, crouched down, and pressed his right hand against Rock Lee's chest.

Snap!

The black chakra vanished in an instant, as though it had never existed.

Rock Lee's body jerked. His vacant eyes suddenly focused, color returned to his ashen lips, and his breathing grew steady and strong.

He coughed hard twice, pushed himself up into a sitting position, and stared at the people around him in confusion.

"W-what happened?"

Might Guy let out a long breath. He walked up to Zuo Hao and bent forward until his forehead nearly touched the floor.

"Thank you."

A ninety-degree bow.

It was not the courtesy of a Jōnin toward a Genin. It was a teacher thanking a young man for the sake of his student.

Zuo Hao stood, dusted off his hands, and slipped them back into his pockets.

"Don't thank me. I just don't want Sasuke thinking his brother is a murderer."

He turned and walked toward Sasuke.

Might Guy suddenly called after him.

"Zuo Hao."

Zuo Hao stopped.

"Sasuke won't have taken that hit for nothing." Might Guy straightened, his voice solemn. "I'll make sure Rock Lee learns from this."

Zuo Hao didn't look back. He merely waved a hand.

"Just keep your own student in line."

He walked up to Sasuke and ruffled his hair.

"Does it hurt?"

Sasuke kept his head down. His voice was muffled. "No."

"Then let's go. We're going to be late for the exam."

An hour later, in the exam room.

Ibiki Morino stood at the front of the classroom.

He swept his gaze over the crowded room of examinees, a smile tugging at his lips that sent a chill through them.

"Before the exam begins, I'll announce a few rules."

"First, the exam is scored out of ten points. There are ten questions, each worth one point. One point will be deducted for each wrong answer. The tenth question will be announced in forty-five minutes."

"Second, your score will be based on your team's combined total."

"Third, you'll lose two points each time you're caught cheating. Get caught five times, and you're disqualified. Your two teammates will be eliminated along with you."

The classroom erupted.

Naruto sprang out of his seat, clutching his head, his face turning green.

"Out of ten?! And you lose points?! What kind of messed-up rules are those?!"

Sakura's lips trembled too. The hand gripping her pen was slick with cold sweat.

The tenth question had not even been announced, and the rules alone were already suffocating.

Sasuke sat beside them, his fingers interlaced beneath his chin. He looked reasonably composed, but the fine beads of sweat on his forehead gave him away.

While everyone else was lost in nerves and anxiety,

Zuo Hao lounged against the back of his chair, one leg crossed over the other and his hands clasped behind his head.

His Sharingan was inactive, but something flickered in his slightly upturned eyes.

From the front of the room, Ibiki Morino took in every examinee's reaction.

He had seen this scene many times. Every year, the examinees reacted much the same way to the penalty for cheating: panic, anger, despair.

But this year, one person struck him as different.

Sahiro Uchiha.