Toru Kujyo hovered in midair, some of the amusement in his eyes giving way to genuine interest. "The Gate of Pain... you really haven't disappointed me," he murmured, a hint of approval in his voice.
Rock Lee vanished from where he stood. It was not like before, when he moved too fast for the naked eye to follow, but true "teleportation"-as far as anyone could perceive, he was still in place one second and directly beneath Toru Kujyo the next.
Boom!
Under the impact of his tremendous strength and speed, the ground beneath his feet collapsed with a thunderous crash. Rubble flew, and a pit several meters deep appeared. A raging cloud of dust spread in an instant, enveloping the entire battlefield.
"So fast!" Kakashi's Sharingan spun furiously, yet he could barely catch a green afterimage. He was shaken. After opening the Gate of Pain, Rock Lee's speed and strength had reached a terrifying level.
A gale suddenly rose within the dust cloud, scattering the swirling dust like an invisible giant hand. Toru Kujyo's figure came clearly into view. He still hovered in midair, his robes snapping in the wind and his expression calm.
Yet the instant he dispersed the dust, his pupils abruptly contracted.
Rock Lee had already appeared behind him!
No one saw how he had done it. Even Toru Kujyo himself had only noticed thanks to his keen perception of chakra. That speed defied all reason, as though space itself had lost its meaning before him.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Rock Lee roared, his right leg slicing through the air with a shrill rush as it swung like a battle-axe toward the back of Toru Kujyo's neck. The blow carried the terrifying strength of the Gate of Pain, enough to cleave a large tree in two.
Toru Kujyo's expression