"Leaf Hurricane!"
Rock Lee took the initiative, closing the distance in an instant and delivering a high-speed spinning kick toward Gaara.
Gaara, arms crossed, remained still, his expression unchanged.
A surge of sand automatically rose behind him, forming a barrier that blocked the attack effortlessly.
"Incredible... he can manipulate sand?"
The spectators murmured in surprise.
"Hah! That watermelon-head thinks he can break through Gaara's defenses with just taijutsu?"
Temari scoffed, watching smugly.
Sure enough, Lee continued his relentless assault—punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, all executed with impeccable precision.
But every strike was intercepted by Gaara's sand, repelling his attacks with ease.
"Hah, have you seen Gaara's Sand Shield? That fool is wasting his energy."
Kankuro smirked, looking toward Naruto and the others.
"You...!" Naruto clenched his fists in frustration.
"It's too early to count Lee out," Sasuke remarked, his eyes locked on the fight. "You'd be wise not to underestimate him."
Lee leapt back, landing on a stone pillar.
"Damn it, his sand is moving too fast..."
"Lee! Take them off!"
Might Guy's voice rang out.
Lee hesitated. "But, Sensei—"
"This is an order! Defeat him!"
Lee's face lit up with determination. "Yes, Guy-sensei!"
Without hesitation, he reached down and unfastened the weights on his legs.
Boom!
The moment they hit the ground, the arena trembled, leaving two deep craters in the stone floor.
The crowd gasped.
"What the hell?! Those weights..."
Kakashi's visible eye twitched. "Guy, you're insane."
"This is where the real fight begins."
Sasuke smirked, eyes narrowing in anticipation.
Now unburdened, Lee's speed skyrocketed.
He vanished, leaving only afterimages in his wake before reappearing directly in front of Gaara.
Boom!
His punch connected, sending Gaara flying!
This time, the sand couldn't keep up.
"H-How?! That speed—!"
Kankuro and Temari's confidence wavered as they watched in disbelief.
Even Gaara, usually emotionless, widened his eyes in shock.
"Impossible... his speed is overwhelming my sand!"
Lee pressed the attack. His relentless blows shattered Gaara's armor, sending fragments of hardened sand flying in all directions.
"His body... it's covered in sand?"
Might Guy nodded. "So that's his defense... but Lee! End it quickly—use your forbidden move!"
"Forbidden move?" Kakashi frowned, suddenly realizing something.
"Wait—! Guy, stop him! This is just an exam!"
Guy merely smiled. "Kakashi, watch carefully... the future of Konoha's taijutsu is about to shine."
Down in the arena, Lee's entire body turned red.
Veins bulged across his forehead as his chakra exploded outward.
"Eight Inner Gates...!" Sasuke activated his Sharingan, studying the chakra flow intensely.
"Third Gate—Gate of Life, open!"
"Fourth Gate—Gate of Pain, open!"
Boom!
A shockwave burst from Lee's body as raw power surged through him. The ground beneath his feet shattered.
Then—he disappeared.
BOOM!
In an instant, Gaara was sent flying once more, his armor cracking like brittle stone.
Kankuro and Temari paled.
"The Armor of Sand... shattered?!"
Gaara's mind reeled.
He's faster than my sand? Impossible!
Boom!
Another strike. Another. And another.
Lee's fists and feet rained down upon him mercilessly. Gaara's defenses struggled to keep up, barely forming in time.
And then—
"Fifth Gate—Gate of Limit, open!"
Lee's muscles strained, his skin flushing deeper red.
"This is it... Primary Lotus!"
With explosive force, Lee launched Gaara into the air.
At breakneck speed, he appeared above him, locking his body in place.
"Take this!"
Lee spun violently, driving Gaara toward the ground like a missile.
CRASH!
The arena floor shattered upon impact, cracks splintering outward like a spiderweb.
A cloud of dust and debris filled the air.
Lee groaned in pain, his limbs trembling from overexertion.
In the crater below, Gaara lay motionless.
"It's over!"
The crowd held its breath.
But then—
The sand stirred.
From the shattered remains of his gourd, a cushion of sand had formed beneath Gaara, absorbing the impact.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, his expression darker than ever.
"Damn you..."
Sand tendrils shot toward Lee, wrapping around his limbs like snakes.
Lee struggled, but his body had already reached its limit.
"Sand Coffin."
The sand constricted violently.
CRACK!
Lee's arms and legs twisted unnaturally as he let out a silent scream.
Then—
"Die."
Gaara prepared to finish him.
BOOM!
A sudden gust of wind.
Might Guy appeared in a flash, kicking away the sand.
"The match is decided. It's over."
Guy turned, his eyes filled with sorrow as he looked at Lee's broken form.
"Medical team, hurry!"
"Yes!"
The medics rushed in, their faces grim upon seeing the extent of Lee's injuries.