"So, that's the Eight Gates?" Naruto Uzumaki's fists clenched at his sides.
The Eight Inner Gates Formation was a forbidden technique the Nine-Tails had warned him never to underestimate, and one the fox had been demanding Naruto practice himself.
"That's right." Kakashi Hatake pushed up his headband, using his Sharingan to observe Rock Lee's state. He spoke in a low voice, "Gai, which gate has the boy reached?"
Might Gai was silent for a long moment before he finally answered, "The fifth gate. This is Lee's absolute peak!"
"Are you insane?" Kakashi whipped his head around, his eyes filled with horror. "That kid isn't even fourteen years old yet, is he?"
The Eight Inner Gates Formation was one of Konoha's forbidden jutsu. Any technique classified as forbidden invariably came with immense harm to the user. The damage from the Eight Gates would undoubtedly destroy Rock Lee's body and could very well end his future as a ninja in this single battle.
Might Gai fell silent again. He wasn't good with words and knew he couldn't use Rock Lee's past to persuade Kakashi. He was well aware of his friend's guiding principle: a ninja only has a future if they stay alive.
Naruto Uzumaki looked down at the two in the arena, his expression heavy. "That guy Sasuke is in for some trouble..."
"Naruto, aren't you in bigger trouble?" the Nine-Tails cackled maliciously from within the seal. It seemed to have long predicted what was about to happen to Sasuke Uchiha.
"Huh? What trouble could I have?" The blond genin's consciousness appeared in the watery prison of the seal, looking curiously at the giant demon fox before him. "I remember you mentioned the side effects of the Eight Gates. Even if Lee beats Sasuke, he won't be able to keep fighting, right?"
"Hmph, I'm talking about the way to eliminate those side effects..." The Nine-Tails extended its claw, where a ball of blinding white light gathered. "Yang Power isn't easy to condense... It's just that after this fight, that little guy in the green jumpsuit might lose his life!"
So, the Nine-Tails had already prepared the Yang Power. Or rather, it had foreseen this and was just waiting for the right moment.
"..." Naruto Uzumaki sighed and took the ball of Yang Power, his brow furrowed with worry. "If this keeps up, Kakashi-sensei is going to start thinking I'm a medical-nin..."
The Nine-Tails was speechless. Using Yang Power for simple healing? That Kakashi really didn't know a good thing when he saw it.
Down in the arena, Rock Lee's Gate of Closing state had gradually stabilized. He stood firm, then powerfully pushed off the wall to launch himself into the air. He burst out from the flying debris, a rampaging force of pure taijutsu!
"This is the trump card I was saving for Neji!"
Rock Lee's figure suddenly appeared in front of his opponent. Before the surprise in Sasuke's eyes could fade, Lee kicked him, sending him flying.
The release of the Eight Gates caused an uproar. No one could have imagined that the boy in the jumpsuit, who was always seen foolishly running around Konoha and making strange gestures, could erupt with such power.
"Too fast to defend against!" Sasuke Uchiha glanced at the figure rushing toward him, his face grim. "But this guy... does he think he can beat me like this? Lightning Release..."
However, before Sasuke's hand seals were complete, Rock Lee appeared again, kicking him and interrupting his attempt to cast a jutsu.
"Bastard!" Sasuke spat out a mouthful of blood.
The Rock Lee before him was too fast. Even if Sasuke wanted to defend himself, blocking Lee's attacks was impossible. The boost from the Eight Gates had enhanced Rock Lee's power and speed beyond anything he had imagined.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Rock Lee's figure was like a phantom, constantly appearing by Sasuke's side, each blow striking his body with force.
"This speed isn't even as good as Naruto's Sage Mode..." Sasuke Uchiha spat out some bloody saliva, the shadow of the green jumpsuit reflected in his Sharingan. He was calculating the timing. "After I dodge this attack, I'll have two seconds. That's enough!"
A ball of electricity began to form around Sasuke. When Rock Lee rushed over, Sasuke dropped to the ground without a second thought for his pride. After finally avoiding Lee's attack, he shouted in a low voice, "Lightning Release: Chidori Stream!"
A web of electricity flared out around Sasuke. Rock Lee, his momentum unchecked, was instantly enveloped by the electric net. But the damage from the Lightning Release chakra seemed like a lesser burden than the strain of the Gate of Closing itself. Rock Lee ignored the scorch marks on his body and attacked again.
Boom!
Sasuke was sent flying by a punch. He coughed up more blood. He had already sustained internal injuries and could only let Lightning Release chakra cover his body to buffer the damage from Lee's attacks.
"Bastard, who do you think you're facing?" Sasuke Uchiha frowned, gritting his teeth as he shouted, "I am a ninja of the Uchiha clan! Body Flicker Technique!"
Numerous clones appeared around Sasuke. The technique was a combination of the basic Clone Jutsu and the Body Flicker Jutsu. Each was an ordinary clone, but it allowed Sasuke to switch places with any of them freely.
Relying on the technique he learned from Shisui, Sasuke constantly switched his body between the clones, barely avoiding Rock Lee's attacks. In his frenzied state, Rock Lee couldn't distinguish the real body hidden among the clones. With Sasuke's jutsu, any of them could be a clone, and any of them could be the real body.
Therefore, Lee's attacks could only destroy one clone at a time and couldn't destroy all of them at once. This was the power of the Body Flicker Technique.
Kakashi Hatake raised an eyebrow and said softly, "Sasuke is retreating? Is he planning to use Shisui's Body Flicker to drag this out?"
"No," Naruto Uzumaki shook his head and replied in a low voice. "Kakashi-sensei, you should know Sasuke... he wouldn't do that."
Sasuke Uchiha was a very stubborn person. In the Nine-Tails' words, he was headstrong. For now, at least, Sasuke had chosen the right method. The clone jutsu didn't consume much chakra and gave him a chance to catch his breath.
"Hmph, I have to thank the scroll I got from Granny Cat," Sasuke thought as he watched Rock Lee's figure rush at one of his clones. He quickly formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Jutsu!"
A dragon-headed flame spewed from his mouth. The B-rank Fire Release ninjutsu instantly exploded in the center of the arena. It was the strongest area-of-effect ninjutsu Sasuke had mastered. There was no way that Rock Lee could dodge it.
"Got you..."
From within the towering flames, Rock Lee's figure shot out. What no one expected was that Lee had used the moment Sasuke was casting the jutsu to grab his real body. Even though the rampaging chakra on his body helped him resist the flames, Lee's clothes were tattered and covered in burns.
Worried that Sasuke would use the Body Flicker Technique to swap with a clone again, Rock Lee instantly launched an attack.
"Konoha Hurricane!"
Bang!
Sasuke's body was sent flying backward.
At the same time, Lee collapsed to his knees, looking like a wreck. Because Sasuke's Body Flicker had delayed for too long, the Eight Gates state had finally ended. The pain of torn muscles and meridians assaulted Lee's body, making it difficult for him to even get up. No matter what, he couldn't continue fighting.
This was a battle where both sides were injured.
No, it should be said, there was a winner. It was just that this victory might not be the one Lee had wanted.
After Sasuke landed, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. He slowly stood up and staggered towards Rock Lee. Just as Might Gai, Kakashi, and the others were wondering if they should stop the fight, Sasuke stared at the struggling Lee for a moment. Then, he raised his head and looked toward the audience stands.
"Naruto, heal the wounded!"
-----
Bonus:
Rock Lee: Sasuke-kun, you're a lot like Neji.
Sasuke: Are you insulting me?
Rock Lee: No... no, I mean, you're both top students, very proud...
Sasuke: You're a lot like Naruto, too.
Rock Lee: I'm not that strong yet...
Sasuke: You're both dead-lasts.
Rock Lee: ...