As the battle ended, Kakashi, Sasuke, and the others leaped down from the stands.
Seeing Rock Lee lying battered on the ground, several people showed expressions of concern and disbelief.
"Thick eyebrows... I didn't expect you to be in this state..." Naruto muttered, his face twisting with emotion.
Gaara snorted coldly as he climbed back to his feet. "This is what happens to ninjas without talent."
"What did you say?!" Naruto snapped, his fists clenching as faint traces of red chakra flickered in his eyes.
"Naruto, calm down!"
Sasuke stepped in, his voice steady but firm. "If you're that upset, then face him in the exams and defeat him in battle!"
His words brought Naruto back to reality.
"Yeah..." Naruto took a deep breath, slowly unclenching his fists.
Gaara shot Sasuke a cold glance before turning and walking away, returning to the stands without another word.
Meanwhile, the medical team rushed to examine Rock Lee. After a brief assessment, they carried him off on a stretcher, Might Guy following close behind with a grim expression.
Sasuke, using his enhanced perception, overheard the medics discussing Lee's condition.
"His injuries are too severe… The damage to his muscles and bones is extensive. He may never be able to fight as a ninja again."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "As expected… it's serious."
Activating his Sharingan, he studied the chakra flow in Rock Lee's shattered limbs before swiftly pulling out a few fine senbon needles.
"Wait, Sasuke—what are you doing?!" Kakashi's expression tightened as he saw Sasuke move to stab the needles into specific points on Lee's arms and legs.
"If you push his body any further—"
"It's just a temporary treatment," Sasuke interrupted calmly.
The moment the needles sank in, the bleeding slowed dramatically.
"Unfortunately, this is only a temporary fix, similar to acupuncture," Sasuke said, standing up. "If he wants to fully recover, someone like Tsunade would need to treat him. But she's not in the village right now."
Guy clenched his fists but said nothing. Moments later, he turned to the others, his voice heavy with emotion.
"...Lee's shinobi career may be over."
Naruto and the others were visibly shaken.
"How could this happen...?"
Sasuke frowned slightly. "Kakashi, I'm exhausted. Fill me in if anything important happens." Without waiting for a response, he turned and left.
---
Inside a quiet, secluded training chamber, Sasuke sat cross-legged, his mind replaying the battle.
The Eight Gates… a technique that granted incredible power at the cost of self-destruction. It worked by forcibly opening the body's natural chakra restraints, unlocking hidden potential—but the price was devastating. The higher the gate, the greater the damage. The Eighth Gate, the Gate of Death, was essentially a death sentence.
Sasuke shook his head. Too many drawbacks. This path isn't for me.
But the core concept intrigued him.
The body is a vessel of immense potential… but why should it burn itself out?
Unlike Lee and Guy, Sasuke had another advantage: the Immortal Body Pattern, which allowed him to absorb and refine natural energy.
What if, instead of breaking my body down, I drew strength from the world around me?
His mind raced with new possibilities. If he could create a physical technique that harnessed external forces—the energy of nature, the elements, the flow of chakra itself—he wouldn't just surpass the Eight Gates. He'd rewrite the very foundation of taijutsu.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
[You have deeply analyzed the principles of the Eight Gates and the flow of chakra within the human body.]
[You realize the body is a conduit for the forces of nature itself!]
[You have an epiphany!]
[You have created a new taijutsu system: Celestial Forge Style!]
A powerful surge of chakra coursed through Sasuke's body as he activated his new technique. His muscles pulsed with energy, and a faint glow shimmered around his form.
Within him, nine Celestial Points—key energy nodes in the body—began to stir, each one representing a different force within nature.
As he focused, he felt a connection forming—an invisible link between himself and the world beyond. His body resonated with the energy of the skies, the earth, and the stars above.
A realization dawned on him.
There's more to this world than just chakra… there are countless forces, some even greater than what we know.
The power of the sun—the natural energy that fueled the Sage Mode—the very elements themselves… all of these were different forms of energy that could be tapped into.
And he had just taken the first step.
---
The next morning, Kakashi summoned Sasuke for a meeting.
To his surprise, another familiar face was waiting alongside him—Kurenai Yuhi.
"Huh? Kurenai-sensei?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
Kurenai smiled warmly. "Sasuke, I saw your performance in the preliminaries. Your ability to use genjutsu is remarkable. So I've decided to teach you personally."
Kakashi patted Sasuke's shoulder. "She's Konoha's leading genjutsu expert. This is a great opportunity for you."
"I see…" Sasuke nodded. He recalled how he had ended his last match with a single glance, trapping his opponent in an illusion. That must have caught Kurenai's attention.
"Alright then," Kakashi said, stretching. "I'll leave you two to it. Good luck, Sasuke."
With that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Kurenai folded her arms. "Sasuke, you're already gifted in genjutsu thanks to your Sharingan, but raw talent isn't enough. You need precision, control, and adaptability."
Sasuke smirked. "Of course. I look forward to learning from you, sensei."
Kurenai led him to a secluded training ground at the village's edge. The moment they arrived, she wasted no time in demonstrating her skills.
"Watch closely. This is Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death."
Kurenai moved her hands in a smooth sequence of seals, and suddenly, Sasuke's vision shifted. He felt his limbs freeze as thick tree branches coiled around his body, trapping him in place.
An illusion—one that took effect instantly.
"Did you catch that?" Kurenai asked.
Sasuke smiled. "Yeah. Like this, right?"
The next moment, Kurenai's expression changed.
What?
Before she could react, she was the one ensnared by thick vines, her body immobilized as a shadowy figure emerged from the trees.
Sasuke stood before her, his eyes gleaming with amusement. His fingers lightly lifted her chin as he whispered, "Did I get it right, sensei?"
Kurenai's eyes widened.
He had learned her illusion instantly.
Sasuke… you're a monster.
Her heart skipped a beat, and for a fleeting moment, she found herself thinking...
For such a talented and handsome young man… I wonder who will be lucky enough to be his wife?
Then she quickly shook her head, scolding herself.
No, stop it! You're with Asuma!
Taking a deep breath, Kurenai forced herself to focus.
"Sasuke," she said, clearing her throat, "you're beyond what I expected. But don't get cocky. There's still much more to learn."
Sasuke grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way, sensei."
And so, his training in genjutsu began.
But in the back of his mind, Sasuke wasn't just thinking about illusions.
His path was clear—master genjutsu, refine his new Celestial Forge Style, and push his body beyond its limits.
The next exam was in one month.
And he planned to be unstoppable.