"I'm in, Shira!"
With a low shout, Rock Lee moved! Without any further probing, he sprinted with all his might! His footsteps left shallow craters in the sand, his body leaning forward, like an arrow released from a bow, heading straight for the center gate of the Shira Palace!
This is a standard opening move of the Konoha Strong Fist Style: simple, swift, and carrying an indomitable spirit.
Shira's eyes narrowed slightly. Just as Rock Lee's fist was about to hit her, she seemingly casually slid her foot to the side, dodging the punch. At the same time, her left hand shot out like lightning. This was not a block, but a swift and deadly strike at the pulse point of Rock Lee's wrist!
This strike was swift and precise; if it landed squarely, it would instantly leave Rock Lee's arm numb and powerless.
Rock Lee reacted extremely quickly, seemingly anticipating that Shira wouldn't take the blow head-on. His momentum didn't diminish, and his right fist, which had been dodged, slammed down, transforming into an elbow strike that slammed into Shira's side ribs. At the same time, his right wrist, which had been grabbed, flipped and twitched, narrowly slipping away. Instead, he used his fingers like a knife to stab at Shira's waist!
"Interesting." Shira thought to herself, Li's adaptability and basic skills were even more solid than she had expected.
Shira exerted force from her waist and abdomen, shrinking back half a foot like an eel to avoid the elbow strike and finger thrust. Her right hand had been raised without her noticing, with her five fingers slightly curved like an eagle's beak, and with a sharp whistling sound, she pecked at Rock Lee's open throat!
Rock Lee's pupils contracted, he leaned back, narrowly avoiding the attack, and took a series of steps backward, instantly creating a two-meter distance between them.
In their first encounter, it was a flash, and he was already at a disadvantage. If it weren't for Shira's peck that left him room to maneuver, he probably would have already been hit.
"Wow, that's fast!" Naruto exclaimed from the sidelines, his eyes wide with surprise.
He didn't understand much of the intricacies, only that the two were moving so fast it was dazzling; Rock Lee attacked fiercely, Shira dodged skillfully, and their counterattacks were even more frightening.
Rock Lee shook his slightly numb wrist, his eyes growing increasingly serious, but his fighting spirit remained undiminished. "You're really impressive! Let's go again!"
He pounced again, this time not just attacking head-on, but launching attacks from all angles with punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, combined with agile and swift footwork, like a storm.
The fundamentals of Konoha-Style Taijutsu were fully displayed in him. Although there was still some immaturity and lack of strength in his youth, his desperate spirit and the solid foundation honed through countless trials were not to be underestimated.
Shira still didn't launch a preemptive attack, but instead dodged and weaved through Rock Lee's barrage of attacks.
His movements were small, yet he always managed to evade the most dangerous attacks at the last second, occasionally striking out with a block, a deflection, or a precise cut-off of Rock Lee's power line.
Each time, Rock Lee's offensive faltered, leaving him feeling so uncomfortable he felt like vomiting blood.
It's like surging waves constantly crashing against hard rocks; it seems the rocks are being submerged, but in reality, the waves themselves are shattering them.
Rock Lee became increasingly anxious and alarmed as the fight progressed. No matter how he changed his moves, increased his speed, or added feints, Shira was always able to see through his moves first and calmly deflect them.
The feeling of having no outlet for one's strength, of all attacks being like hitting cotton or striking an iron plate, frustrated him, but also made the flame of his unwillingness to admit defeat burn even brighter.
He could sense that Shira wasn't using her full strength; it was almost as if she was feeding him her moves.
But this didn't make Rock Lee feel slighted; instead, it ignited the stubbornness in his bones. He knew there was a gap between him and Shira, but precisely because of this, he wanted to force out more of Shira's strength!
He wanted to see just how much he differed from this respected and powerful comrade! He also wanted to show Shira that Rock Lee determination and perseverance were not just empty words!
"Drink up--!"
Another attack was effortlessly dodged by Shira with a sidestep. Rock Lee stopped abruptly, jumped back two steps, his chest heaving violently, his whole body already soaked in sweat.
He stared intently at Shira, whose breathing remained steady but whose forehead was slightly damp with sweat. In those usually clear and bright eyes, an unprecedented fervor and determination burned.
That wasn't anger, nor was it frustration; it was a pure, intense yearning to break through one's own limits and reach a higher realm!
Shira watched him quietly, observing the pure fighting spirit and perseverance in the black-haired boy's eyes. He had only intended to have a moderate sparring session to understand the level of Konoha-Style Taijutsu and Ninja Academy 'Rock Lee before graduating from the Ninja Academy.
But at this moment, from Rock Lee's slightly trembling yet unyielding posture, and from that almost tangible, burning gaze, he sensed something.
It's a kind of spirit that, even knowing it's no match, even when its attacks are easily countered, even when it's riddled with weaknesses, never gives up. Instead, it transforms every failure and every moment of helplessness into fuel, igniting itself to charge forward, to challenge, to surpass.
determination.
To continue offering unsolicited advice or holding back against such resolve is not respect, but desecration.
Shira slowly exhaled a long breath. The calm and restrained aura around her seemed to have undergone a subtle change.
The aura did not become more violent or outward; instead, it became more concentrated.
Like a sharp sword sheathed, slowly drawn an inch out, though not fully drawn, its cold, sharp edge has already quietly spread.
He adjusted his posture, becoming more composed and grounded. His gaze fixed on Rock Lee, he calmly began to speak:
"Watch out, Li."
Before he could finish speaking, he kicked off with his foot!
Unlike Rock Lee's explosive start, he simply took a step, but his whole body seemed to blur for a moment, pressing towards Rock Lee in an extremely fast yet powerful straight line!
It's no longer about dodging and reacting, but about being proactive and aggressive.
attack!
Rock Lee's pupils suddenly contracted, and the hairs on his entire body stood on end in that instant! It's coming!
"I've arrived, Shira!"
He let out a low growl that was almost a roar, neither dodging nor avoiding, pouring all his strength, will, and indomitable fighting spirit into his clenched fists and tense body, charging head-on towards the oppressive figure!