In the afternoon, the sunlight slanted across the training field, casting long shadows. The sandy ground was warm and soft underfoot.
When Shira returned, Guy, Rock Lee, and Naruto were already there.
Kai stood with his arms crossed, gazing into the distance, seemingly lost in thought. His profile was sharply defined in the sunlight.
Rock Lee was stretching, her movements meticulous, but her eyes kept glancing towards the entrance.
Naruto squatted to one side, scribbling something haphazardly in the sand with a twig, looking somewhat absent-minded.
Upon seeing Shira appear, all three of them turned to look at her. Naruto was the first to jump up. " Shira! You're back! Did you buy everything?"
"Yes, I've bought it." Shira nodded and walked up to them.
He changed back into his green bodysuit—since it was the last time they would train together, he wanted to say goodbye as a member of the " Youth Team."
Rock Lee stopped stretching, stood up straight, and looked at Shira. In those always bright eyes, there was an inexplicable persistence at this moment.
He took a deep breath, then suddenly spoke, his voice louder than usual, as if he had made a great decision. " Shira!"
"Um?"
Before you leave...
Rock Lee clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. "Let's have one more match! The last one!"
He spoke with great force, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his chest.
This is a way of bringing this brief encounter to a close in the manner they are most familiar with and approve of.
Looking into Rock Lee's eyes, which burned like flames, Shira felt a sudden surge of warmth wash away the sadness of parting.
He laughed, not his usual faint, restrained laugh, but a genuine, warm laugh that relaxed his brows and eyes.
"Alright." He agreed readily, walked to the center of the training field, turned to face Rock Lee, and assumed the most basic Taijutsu starting stance. "Come on, Li. Let me see how much you've improved in this time."
"Oh--!!"
Rock Lee's eyes shone brightly, and a wide, untroubled smile instantly bloomed on his face. He assumed the same starting stance, his back ramrod straight. "I will definitely not let Shira down! This is my final challenge of youth!"
Kai crossed his arms, watching the two boys facing off in the arena, a relieved smile on his face. He walked to the sidelines, stood next to Naruto, and gently patted Naruto's golden head with his large hand.
"Watch closely, Naruto. This is a farewell between men, the most sincere message written with fists and sweat."
Naruto was jolted a little by the rubbing, but his eyes remained fixed on the field as he nodded vigorously, "Mm!"
In the distance, on a tree, the Anbu Guard Owl, as always, lay lurking in the shadows of the branches and leaves. His gaze calmly recorded everything that happened.
The departure of the Sunagakure Genin was expected.
This farewell match seemed to be nothing more than a display of youthful impulsiveness. He routinely sent out encrypted messages such as "Target is about to leave the village" and "Will have a farewell battle with Konoha Genin Rock Lee."
His gaze swept across the field, assessing the condition of the two players.
The Sunagakure boy exuded composure, Konoha displayed high fighting spirit, but the difference in strength remained obvious. Nothing seemed amiss.
Further away, deep within the canopy of another, taller, and more leafy ancient tree.
Sasuke Uchiha against the rough tree trunk, completely concealing himself in the dense shadows. His black clothes provided excellent camouflage.
He didn't come to spy on them intentionally. It was just that after the afternoon training session, he was feeling restless and unconsciously walked towards the direction where he could see the Training Ground Three.
Then, he saw the four green figures gather together again, heard the black-haired, hot-blooded idiot shout his challenge, and heard the Sunagakure Genin calmly accept the challenge.
As if guided by some unseen force, Sasuke didn't leave immediately. Instead, he silently crept to this excellent observation point. He wanted to see how the green-clad man emanating that scorching aura would react.
Let's also see... what Naruto, the loser he almost dragged away with one hand, and what that unfathomable guy is up to.
Sasuke secretly told himself that this was just observation, gathering information, and understanding the strength of these "weirdos," and definitely not stealing anything!
In the arena, Shira and Rock Lee had been locked in a standoff for several moments.
Neither of them acted immediately; both were adjusting their breathing and observing each other. The wind swept across the training ground, stirring up fine dust.
It moved!
It was Rock Lee who launched the first attack. Without any fancy probing, he concentrated all the energy he had gained from Kai over the past two weeks, learned from Shira, and the pent-up energy he had been holding back into this single strike!
He slammed his right foot into the ground, creating a small crater in the sand, and his body shot straight at Shira like a cannonball! It was a standard Konoha Strong Fist Style straight punch, but the speed, power, and unstoppable momentum were far superior to their first encounter!
The fist tore through the air, producing a deep whistling sound!
Shira's eyes narrowed. Without flinching or dodging, she stepped forward and charged forward, her right fist spinning out from her waist! It was a basic straight punch, but the trajectory of the punch was as straight as a spear. The fist suddenly tightened just before impact, and the power of her whole body rose from the soles of her feet, passed through her waist and hips, poured into her arm, and finally condensed at the tip of her fist!
Bang--!!!
Fists collided without any fancy moves! A direct shout from muscles and bones!
A dull, teeth-grinding impact rang out, and the sand beneath their feet simultaneously sank and cracked! The shockwave whipped up a cloud of dust that spread outwards.
Rock Lee groaned, feeling a force as solid as iron and as heavy as a mountain come from his fist. His entire right arm went numb and weak instantly, and his body staggered backward uncontrollably.
What incredible power! It's even more concentrated and solid than what I felt during our previous sparring sessions!
Shira swayed slightly, but her feet were firmly planted on the ground, and she stood steadily.
He secretly praised Li's punch, noting its significant improvement in power!
More importantly, that "strength" is penetrating; it's no longer brute force, but is gradually taking the shape of "integrated strength."
Before Rock Lee could regain his footing, Shira launched a counterattack! Using her left foot as a pivot, she spun rapidly, her left leg like a steel whip, sweeping across Rock Lee's lower body with a sharp whistling sound!
Simple, direct, and effective!
Rock Lee's pupils contracted; a sense of crisis made him react instinctively. He didn't jump backward—that would cause him to lose his balance and fall into Shira's follow-up attacks.
He let out a low growl, and using the momentum of his staggering fall, he forcefully tilted his body to the side, bracing himself with one hand while simultaneously raising his right leg upwards.
This wasn't a block, but an attack against an attack, a kick aimed at the inside of Shira's supporting knee! This was a ruthless and effective response he had learned from countless times being swept down by Shira!
"Beautiful!" Kai couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice from the sidelines. Naruto also gaped in astonishment.
A hint of surprise flashed in Shira's eyes, followed by admiration.
His sweeping left leg instantly changed direction, transforming from a sweep into a stomp, heavily stepping on Rock Lee's outstretched ankle. At the same time, his right hand, which was bracing against the ground, pressed down on the ground, propelling him into the air. His other leg, like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, swiftly kicked towards Rock Lee's exposed ribs as he fell to the side!
Rock Lee braced himself with his hands, his body spinning half a circle along the ground like a top, narrowly avoiding the kick to his ribs. However, Shira's kick still grazed his back, and a burning pain followed.
Rock Lee rolled to his feet and, without pausing, charged forward again with a wild roar!
Fists, elbows, knees, and legs rained down on Shira like a storm!
He had mastered the basic Taijutsu of Konoha to its current limit, and his movements even faintly showed the unstoppable momentum of Guy!
Shira stood firmly in the center, sometimes blocking, sometimes deflecting, sometimes dodging, and occasionally counterattacking, each strike precise and accurate.
The two were locked in combat in the center of the training field. The muffled thuds of their fists and feet colliding were like a dense drumbeat, exploding outwards and stirring up dust, which was then dispersed by the air currents generated by their movements.
This is the purest form of Strong Fist versus Strong Fist! A clash of power, a contest of speed, a battle of wills!
There are no dazzling lights from Ninjutsu, no Genjutsu illusions, only the most primal and intense clash of flesh and blood!
Rock Lee completely abandoned defense, pouring all his energy, stamina, and willpower into offense.
He knew he was no match for Shira, so he would use offense, this relentless and fierce attack, to prove his growth and to commemorate this farewell! His eyes shone with an alarming intensity, filled only with Shira's image and boiling fighting spirit.
Shira could sense Rock Lee's almost life-burning offensive desire. He had no intention of holding back any longer, and fully integrated the ruthlessness and precision honed in the Sunagakure environment into this basic Taijutsu.
His punches were heavier, his kicks were more powerful, each block made Rock Lee's arms go numb, and each counterattack was aimed directly at vital points, yet he would retract his force at the last moment, turning it into an effective strike and guidance.
"Left shoulder drop! The punching path is too straight! Change your move!"
"Your right leg isn't generating enough power! Push off the ground!"
"Li! Watch my balance! I'm just trying to bait you into throwing a punch!"
Even amidst the fierce exchange, Shira managed to find a moment to whisper and point out Rock Lee's weaknesses.
However, this is not guidance, but real-time and most effective feedback during combat.
Like a sponge, Rock Lee absorbed everything frantically. Pain, fatigue, and the tingling numbness from being hit all became nutrients for his progress.
Under Shira's pressure and reminders, his movements began to show subtle adjustments. His punches became more cunning, and his footwork became smoother. Although he was still completely suppressed by Shira, the feeling of being "beaten" seemed to be decreasing, and Li's movements seemed to be becoming more and more fluid.
Kai watched from the sidelines, nodding repeatedly, his smile never fading.
Naruto was completely stunned, his mouth agape, his eyes wide, and his fists clenched involuntarily, as if he himself were on the field getting beaten up.
Sasuke, perched in the tree, leaned slightly forward, his dark eyes fixed intently on the two figures locked in battle.
He unconsciously held his breath.
The strength of that Sunagakure boy was even greater than he had anticipated.
No, it's much stronger!
That fighting style, as steady as a mountain yet as swift as thunder, with an exquisite grasp of power, distance, and timing, every move he makes is aimed at a clear goal—he's practically a precision Taijutsu machine!
Moreover, he could sense that the other party wasn't using their full strength.
And that guy with black hair and thick eyebrows...
Sasuke's brows furrowed deeply. Despite the vast difference in their strength, despite being repeatedly struck and repelled, why did Sasuke's eyes still shine so brightly?
Could the offensive be so fierce, wave after wave? That kind of all-out, burning-out drive to charge forward stung a certain part of his heart.
And their fighting style! There were no tricks, just the most basic punches and kicks. But it was precisely these most basic punches and kicks that produced a sense of power and speed, as well as a "real" feeling of using the body to the extreme, that made it impossible for him to look away.
This felt different from when he practiced Shuriken and Uchiha Style Taijutsu.
More direct, more savage, but also more powerful.
Bang! A particularly heavy, muffled sound.
In the arena, Rock Lee's all-out high kick was firmly blocked by Shira's forearm. The huge recoil caused Rock Lee to lose his balance and fall backward.
Instead of giving chase, Shira stepped forward, reached out and grabbed Rock Lee's arm to help him steady himself.
Rock Lee was panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face and head like streams, his training clothes soaked through. His chest heaved violently, and his arms and legs burned with pain, but his eyes shone brightly as he looked at Shira, grinning and revealing his sand-covered teeth.
"I... lost," he said breathlessly, but there was no frustration in his voice, only satisfaction and a hint of lingering regret. "However... Shira, I've run into you three more times than last time!"
Shira, slightly out of breath, looked at Rock Lee and nodded, her face full of undisguised approval. "Yes, Li! You've improved a lot. Especially that last combo, the rhythm was great. Remember that feeling."
"Yes!" Rock Lee nodded vigorously. Then, the smile on his face faded, and he became unusually serious. He took a step back and bowed deeply and properly to Shira.
" Shira, thank you so much for your guidance and sparring during this time! You've shown me so many more possibilities in Taijutsu! I will continue to work hard and never slack off! I look forward to... I look forward to seeing you again!"
His voice was a little choked, but he tried his best to keep it loud.
Looking at the black-haired boy standing ramrod straight, drenched in sweat, Shira felt a surge of warmth in her heart again, mixed with a touch of bittersweetness.
He straightened up, nodded earnestly to Rock Lee, and returned the greeting.
"Ah, me too. Lee, you're the most hardworking Taijutsu ninja I've ever seen. Keep burning with youthful energy. We... see you in Sunagakure."
"Yes! Sunagakure, Sunagakure!"
Naruto ran over, his eyes a little red, but he forced a smile, " Shira! You have to do your best too! You have to train Tenten when you get back! Don't slack off! Otherwise, next time I catch up with you, I'll... I'll drag you to Ichiraku and make you eat ten bowls of ramen!"
Shira smiled and ruffled Naruto's sweaty blond hair, "Okay, it's a deal. You also need to train hard, don't fall too far behind Lee."
Kai strode over, extending his two muscular arms, one on each side, and forcefully wrapped them around Shira and Rock Lee's shoulders, pulling Naruto in as well. The four green figures huddled together tightly.
"This is youth!"
Kai's voice was loud and clear, echoing across the training field at dusk, carrying a smile, but also a hint of barely perceptible sigh.
"We met, we walked side by side, we shed sweat, and then we each went our separate ways to new paths! But the flames that have burned will not be extinguished, and the sweat that has been shed will become medals!"
" Shira! Return to Sunagakure and continue to uphold your Ninja Way! Let your Taijutsu shine even brighter in the sandstorm! This is my final message to you, a gift for your youth!"
"Yes, Teacher Kai!" Shira nodded emphatically, feeling a lump in her throat.
"Alright! Goodbye complete!" Kai released her hand, patted Shira on the back, and his smile returned to its bright state. "Go back and get some rest! Have a safe trip tomorrow! Remember, no matter where you are, youth never ends! Oh--!"
"Oh--!!" Rock Lee and Naruto shouted in unison, their voices carrying far across the empty training ground.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the four people, intertwining them as if they were unwilling to separate.
Shira took one last look at the training field, then at her three smiling, green-clad companions beside her, took a deep breath, turned, and walked towards the guesthouse. She didn't look back, but her back was ramrod straight.
Rock Lee and Naruto stood still, waving vigorously. Gai crossed his arms, watching Shira's departing figure, his smile gradually settling into a profound calm.
Sasuke, perched in the tree, moved almost imperceptibly the moment Shira turned to leave, as if trying to emerge from his hiding place, but ultimately did not.
He watched Shira's departing figure, then glanced at the three green figures still standing together by the training field. In the depths of his dark eyes, complex light and shadow flickered.
He quietly slid down the tree trunk from the other side and left.
Anbu Owl finished his final recording and turned his gaze away from the training field. Sunagakure Genin Shira has confirmed that he will leave the village tomorrow.
The surveillance mission has temporarily come to an end.
The twilight in Konoha gently enveloped the training ground, which had just returned to silence after a passionate farewell.
The messy footprints on the sand, the traces of sweat still wet, bear witness to a brief but passionate intersection of youth...