Rock Lee, his youthful energy shine brightly, turned his attention to Sasuke. "Sasuke Uchiha!" he declared, his voice ringing with enthusiasm. "I have heard of your skill, and I wish to test my own taijutsu against yours!"
Lee's intensity and unwavering belief in hard work were palpable, a stark contrast to Sasuke's usual cool demeanor. However, this Sasuke, eager to gauge his own abilities and explore the limits of his current body, met Lee's challenge with a spark of interest. "Very well," he said, a hint of anticipation in his voice. "A brief spar will suffice."
The surrounding genin, sensing the impending clash, formed a small circle, their eyes filled with anticipation.
_ _ _ _ _
The spar began, a blur of motion as Lee unleashed a relentless barrage of taijutsu attacks. His movements were incredibly fast, a testament to his relentless training. Sasuke, activating his one-tomoe Sharingan, managed to keep pace, anticipating and reacting to Lee's assaults.
Lee's kicks and punches came in rapid succession, a whirlwind of motion that tested Sasuke's reflexes. Sasuke, however, used his Sharingan to analyze Lee's movements, predicting his attacks and countering with precise blocks and strikes. The two clashed, their movements a dance of speed and power.
Sasuke, though skilled, found himself pushed to his limits by Lee's sheer speed and unpredictable movements. He managed to land a few well-placed blows, but Lee's determination and raw power proved difficult to overcome. In the end, Lee landed a powerful kick, sending Sasuke stumbling back.
Though the match in the end, Lee emerged victorious.
Lee bowed, his expression radiating respect. "Your skill is commendable, Sasuke Uchiha," he said, his voice sincere. "I hope we can spar again sometime."
Sasuke, though slightly winded, acknowledged Lee's skill. "You are indeed a formidable opponent," he replied, his gaze thoughtful. Lee's dedication and raw power had left a lasting impression, prompting Sasuke to re-evaluate his own training.
The surrounding genin murmured in awe, impressed by the speed and skill displayed. Gaara, his expression unchanging, observed Sasuke with a chillingly calm intensity.
Dosu, too, watched Sasuke, his eyes showing a calculating interest.
Suddenly, a loud, dramatic voice echoed through the hall.
"My youthful students! Have you shown them the power of your flames?!"
Might Guy, his signature thumbs-up pose and blindingly white teeth, entered the hall, followed by Neji and Tenten.
Neji, as always, maintained a stoic expression, while Tenten sighed, clearly exasperated by Guy's theatrics.
"Guy-sensei!" Lee exclaimed, his face lighting up. "We were just having a friendly spar!"
Guy, oblivious to the tension in the room, launched into a passionate speech about the power of youth and hard work.
Tenten, however, noticed Team 7 and offered a small wave. "Hey, Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke," she said, her voice casual. Neji, meanwhile, observed Sasuke with his Byakugan, his expression unreadable.
The interruption, though unwelcome, served to break the tension, shifting the focus away from the spar and towards the approaching exam.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Before the spar began, Rock Lee, his face flushed with youthful enthusiasm, approached Sakura. "Sakura-san!" he declared, his voice ringing through the hall. "Please, allow me to be your boyfriend! I will protect you with my life!"
Sakura, her face contorted in a mixture of disgust and exasperation, recoiled. "Absolutely not!" she retorted, her voice sharp. "Those bushy eyebrows of yours are weird!"
Lee, undeterred, struck a dramatic pose. "But Sakura-san! My love for you burns brighter than the fires of youth!"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Just leave me alone," she muttered, turning away.
Naruto, witnessing the scene, burst into laughter, while Sasuke maintained a neutral expression, his gaze briefly flickering towards Lee before returning to the surrounding genin.