[Stamina: 83%]
"That should be enough," Lee thought, glancing at both his system status and the opponent standing in the sparring ring before him.
Messy chestnut hair, crimson war paint streaked across his cheeks. The boy from the Inuzuka clan, Kero, bared his teeth in an aggressive grin, his wild eyes making it clear—he wouldn't be holding back. He was going all in.
That was typical of the Inuzuka. Known for their animalistic nature and their teamwork with specially trained ninken—highly intelligent dogs bred for battle—they were fierce warriors. But Kero hadn't received his partner yet, which meant this fight would be a fair one. One-on-one.
"He's going to taunt me? Try to put me down? Yeah… probably." Lee answered his own thoughts but quickly decided on the best approach—just ignore the brat.
—Are you ready? Rock? Kero? Form the Seal of Confrontation and begin!—their instructor commanded, stepping between the two twelve-year-olds. One was as calm as a lotus flower. The other huffed and snarled, his sharpened canines bared.
Both complied, pressing their hands together in the traditional shinobi salute before battle.
—Today, you surpassed me in physical training. That's ridiculous. Unbelievable! And as if that weren't enough, you even knocked Neji from his rightful first place in the class! You worm! I'll beat you so badly, you'll never even dream of becoming a Genin!—Kero spat venomously, dropping to all fours and letting out a deep, guttural growl, like a beast preparing to pounce on its prey.
Lee, however, remained utterly unshaken.
A chill ran through the watching students. A stillness. A strange, creeping unease settled over them.
Why?
Because something had changed.
The energy around the thick-browed boy had shifted—its presence now undeniable, powerful, intense. Rock Lee no longer looked like the pathetic weakling they had always dismissed him as.
—Not a chance,—Lee stated flatly.
Then, slowly, deliberately, he assumed his stance—knees bent, right palm extended forward, inviting his opponent to attack. A posture eerily familiar to those who had seen the original Lee fight.
Kero bristled, caught off guard by the sheer confidence radiating from his opponent.
Is this really the same idiot Lee?!—many of their classmates wondered, the tension mounting.
—The hell?—Kero snarled, head tilting in confusion.
Lee's only response was a simple, final declaration—an unshakable truth:
—In Taijutsu, you don't stand a chance against me, pup.
[Taijutsu Rank: C]
At this moment, according to the system, Lee's martial arts skills had reached the level of an experienced Genin—one who had already undergone numerous missions. And with the knowledge from his past life, he could see through Kero's approach before he even moved. He remained calm, composed, unshakable.
Kero lunged.
A blur of movement, a flash of aggression.
But that was all he had—pure instinct, sharp reflexes, but no real technique. He wasn't a Genin yet, hadn't learned any of his clan's specialized Ninjutsu. This was just a brawl.
A losing one.
Kero unleashed a rapid flurry of punches and kicks, even flipping onto his hands to strike from unexpected angles. But Lee? Lee danced around him effortlessly. Light as air, swift as a shadow—untouchable.
He moved like a butterfly.
But for now, he didn't sting.
Kero, growing desperate, lashed out wildly, frustration boiling over. He cursed. He howled. He called Lee every insult he could think of.
—Fight me! Stop dodging, you coward! Fight or just drop dead, you Konoha trash!—he roared, his dark brown eyes bloodshot with rage.
The contrast between them was stark. The furious, reckless beast against the serene, unmoving warrior.
And slowly, the spectators began to shift.
They started rooting for Lee.
Not aloud. Not yet.
But in their minds, they willed him to win.
And then, at last…
—Alright.
Lee's voice was calm. Final.
Then, with the slightest furrow of his thick black brows, he stopped dodging.
The next moment, Kero's fist met… nothing.
Lee had caught his arm.
And in a single, fluid motion—
He threw Kero over his shoulder.
The world spun for the Inuzuka. Wind whistled past his ears. The ground rushed toward him.
Lee had spent the entire match testing his speed, measuring his limits against a standard, unexceptional Shinobi-in-training. Now, with his results in mind, he was ready.
It was time to teach this "pup" some manners—karate master style.
—Argh! I won't lose to a weakling like you!—Kero snarled, forcing himself back onto his feet.
Only to be kicked right back down.
The blow to his chest felt like getting hit by a cannonball.
And before he could even process the pain, Lee grabbed him by the collar—pulling him forward—forcing him to taste agony firsthand as a brutal knee strike crashed into his solar plexus.
The world blurred. His body screamed. Consciousness teetered.
A sharp slap to the face snapped him back just long enough—long enough to meet Lee's empty, piercing gaze.
Instant karma.
If this fight had headlines, they would read: "Arrogant Bully Gets What He Deserves!"
—Emotion clouds judgment. And you? You let it consume you. You never even landed a single hit. Insults won't save you in battle, not if you're weak. Quit barking, pup. Without composure, you won't survive the battlefield. Now… sleep.
Lee's voice was eerily calm.
And with that, he spun—
A final kick. A brutal impact to the face. A broken nose.
Kero crumpled like a ragdoll.
—Oooof!—the crowd hissed in phantom pain, wincing for the unconscious Inuzuka.
Knockout.
Silence.
Shock.
Even their teacher stood frozen, unable to react.
He should have stopped the match earlier. Maybe when Lee threw Kero. It was clear the Inuzuka had lost by then.
But something about the fight…
Something about Lee…
Had held him back.
—Winner: Rock Lee!—the instructor finally announced, his voice firm.
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
—Whoa! Lee, where did you learn Taijutsu like that?! Tell us!—
His classmates swarmed him, buzzing with newfound admiration.
Just minutes ago, they had dismissed him as a nobody—a weakling with no Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, someone who could never compete. They had bet on Kero.
But Lee hadn't forgotten.
He couldn't forget.
Because once upon a time, these same people had crushed the original Rock Lee's spirit. Mocked him. Pushed him to despair. Driven him to tears with their ridicule and scorn.
So now?
Now, Lee's icy gaze was genuine.
He truly despised them.
For what?
For daring to gang up on someone kind. For kicking down the weak and laughing at their pain. For breaking a boy too good-hearted to fight back.
"I've watched too many martial arts movies to be that naive."
Lee had no intention of making the same mistake as the old Rock Lee.
—Get away from me, you spineless, shameless brats!
Fair?
[Stamina: 75%]