#44 Divine Reward System

On the playing field, Neji stood across from Hinata, his expression unreadable. His voice was calm, almost indifferent as he spoke.

“I didn’t expect my opponent to be you, Hinata.”

“Brother Neji...” Hinata murmured, her fists clenching slightly.

Seeing the names displayed on the board and hearing their exchange, Naruto's eyes widened in realization.

“Wait a minute... they're cousins?”

Sakura, standing beside him, nodded. “They both come from Konoha’s prestigious Hyuga clan, a family known for their powerful bloodline abilities.”

“To be precise,” Kakashi added, his voice holding a hint of hesitation, “it’s a division between the main family and the branch family.”

Lee, standing nearby, took it upon himself to explain the Hyuga clan's internal structure, ensuring that Naruto and the others understood the significance of this match.

“So this is more than just a fight,” Sakura whispered, eyes fixed on the arena. “It’s a fated duel.”

The battle played out just as expected. Despite her determination, Hinata was ultimately no match for Neji, who overwhelmed her with his precise strikes and superior control of their clan's signature techniques. However, this fight wasn’t for nothing. Through it, Hinata grew stronger, pushing her limits in a way that left an impression on everyone watching.

Naruto, Sasuke, and the others were also stunned by the demonstration of the Hyuga clan’s [Byakugan]. They had heard that the [Byakugan] was on par with the [Sharingan], but within the Hyuga clan, its full potential had never been realized.

“They only use it to see chakra points and enhance their Gentle Fist techniques,” Naruto muttered. “But it can do more than that, right?”

[Byakugan] had the potential to evolve, but the Hyuga clan never explored its deeper power. The ultimate form of the Byakugan was believed to be something akin to Otsutsuki Kaguya's eyes, capable of unimaginable abilities.

Tatsuya, observing from the stands, knew of these possibilities. [If you can see your own chakra, then [Near-Perfec Chakra Control] could be done, and with near perfect chakra control even advanced techniques were theoretically possible.

Despite these thoughts, his focus quickly shifted to the next match.

[Gaara vs. Rock Lee]!

The announcement electrified the crowd. Lee's eyes burned with excitement, while Gaara barely concealed his disinterest. He only cared about fighting Tatsuya, not Lee.

Nonetheless, this was a fight that many had been eager to see. Most of the other candidates believed Gaara was the strongest among them, aside from Sasuke and Naruto. But could Lee prove them wrong?

“The eighth round, begin!” the proctor announced.

Lee wasted no time, launching himself at Gaara with blinding speed. He opened with a devastating [Leaf Hurricane], aiming to break through Gaara’s infamous sand defense. But without opening the [Eight Gates], Lee found himself unable to land a decisive blow.

As the battle unfolded, Kakashi and the others quickly understood why Gaara was so feared. His [Sand] reacted instantly, moving on its own to block every strike.

From the stands, Temari and Kankuro watched with smug expressions. “No one can touch Gaara,” Temari muttered confidently.

Naruto, watching closely, frowned. “Why is Lee only using taijutsu? Why isn’t he using ninjutsu?”

Guy, standing nearby, answered firmly. “It’s not that he won’t use it. He can’t. Lee doesn’t know any ninjutsu or genjutsu. That’s why he devoted himself entirely to taijutsu!”

The revelation shocked Naruto. But what shocked him even more was what came next.

Guy called down to his student. “Lee, take them off.”

Lee’s eyes widened. “But, Sensei... you said I should only do that when I have to protect someone important.”

Guy nodded. “I’m making an exception.”

With a grin, Lee reached down and unstrapped the weights on his ankles. As they hit the ground, the arena shook with a massive thud, sending up clouds of dust. The watching genin gasped in disbelief.

“How heavy were those?!” Sakura stammered.

Before anyone could process it, Lee vanished. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in front of Gaara, launching a devastating kick straight at his face. This time, the sand was too slow.

BAM!

Gaara’s head snapped back, and for the first time, his body staggered from an attack. Silence filled the arena.

Naruto’s jaw dropped. “No way... Lee’s that strong?!”

Even Neji and Sasuke watched with newfound respect.

But Lee knew this wasn’t enough. He had to finish the fight quickly. The strain of using the [Eight Gates] meant he was running out of time. Without hesitation, he began unwrapping the bandages on his arms.

“What’s he doing now?” Shikamaru muttered.

Guy’s face was serious. “He’s going to use a forbidden technique.”

Lee disappeared again, reappearing behind Gaara in the air. His bandages shot out, wrapping around Gaara’s body. Then, with a powerful burst of speed, Lee spun them both towards the ground at an insane velocity.

[Front Lotus]!

BOOM!

The impact shattered the stone beneath them, sending shockwaves through the stadium. Dust and debris clouded the air. For a moment, no one could see anything.

As the dust settled, Gaara lay motionless amidst the rubble.

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Naruto, Sakura, and the others shouted in excitement. “Lee did it!”

Even Shikamaru looked impressed. “He actually took down Gaara...?”

But Kakashi and Tatsuya weren’t celebrating. They knew something was off.

Gaara’s body, lying in the crater, began to crack apart, crumbling into sand.

It wasn’t him.

It was just his [Sand Clone].

The crowd fell silent as realization dawned.

The fight wasn’t over.

Guy’s fists clenched tightly as he watched the battle unfold. “How is this happening?” His voice carried a mix of disbelief and frustration.

“When did that guy escape?” He turned toward Kakashi, eyes narrowing. “If it was just a clone, Lee should have been able to detect it.”

Kakashi sighed, watching the battlefield intently. “Just when you closed your eyes,” he explained. “Lee’s intense training over the years created a momentary gap when he performed the [Shadow Leaf Dance]. That opening allowed Gaara to escape.”

Guy’s jaw tightened. Lee had exhausted himself completely using that move. His chakra reserves were already dangerously low from the prolonged battle, and now he could barely stand. The consequences of overexertion were evident—Lee’s body had reached its limit.

Gaara, on the other hand, stood unharmed, his expression twisted in anger. No one had ever pushed him this far before, and the frustration boiled over in his gaze.

The battle had become one-sided. Lee, drained and exhausted, could do nothing but endure Gaara’s relentless attacks. In the stands, Naruto and Sasuke watched in shock, convinced the fight was over.

“It’s over,” Naruto muttered, a frown creasing his brow. “Lee can’t even stand up. How’s he supposed to fight back?”

“Don’t be so sure,” a calm voice interrupted. It was Shiyu, arms crossed as he studied the match. “Look at Lee now.”

Naruto and Sasuke turned back to the arena, and their eyes widened. Lee was moving again—no, he was faster than before.

“He opened the Second Gate,” Shiyu explained, his tone steady. “[The Gate of Healing]. It lifts the body’s fatigue, forcing it to recover by pushing beyond normal limits.”

“What?!” Naruto gasped. “That’s insane!”

Guy, hearing this, glanced at Kakashi. “Kakashi, you really have a promising student.”

Kakashi, still focused on the fight, didn’t reply immediately. Then, his voice was low. “But can he open the Inner Gates?”

Guy’s expression turned serious. “Yes. And he will.”

As their conversation continued, the battle escalated. Lee’s entire body turned red as a fierce energy surged around him.

“The Third Gate—[Gate of Life], open!” Lee’s voice rang out.

The ground beneath him cracked from the sheer force of his power. His speed skyrocketed, his movements now impossible to follow with the naked eye. Even the exam proctors and seasoned shinobi watching the fight were stunned.

The shock deepened as Lee pushed further. “The Fourth Gate—[Gate of Pain], open!”

His skin grew redder, veins bulging against his forehead. The strain on his body was evident, but his power was undeniable.

In a flash, he vanished from sight.

Gaara barely had time to react before Lee struck. The sand armor meant to protect him crumbled under the sheer force of Lee’s speed and precision. For the first time, Gaara was on the defensive, unable to counterattack. The roles had completely reversed.

The stadium erupted in murmurs. Even among the experienced shinobi, only those with [Sharingan] or [Byakugan] could follow Lee’s movements.

Shikamaru exhaled sharply. “This is unreal…”

Sasuke’s hands curled into fists. He had never seen speed like this before.

Naruto gawked. “Lee… He’s actually winning.”

Lee wasn’t done yet. His voice, now a growl, echoed through the arena. “The Fifth Gate—[Gate of Limit], open!”

With a final burst of energy, he launched his ultimate attack—[Hidden Lotus].

Gaara, unable to move, was sent crashing into the ground with a deafening impact. The force shattered the stone floor, leaving cracks spiderwebbing across the entire arena.

Temari and Kankuro gasped. Gaara lay motionless amid the dust and debris. His sand armor was completely shattered. If it weren’t for the gourd cushioning him at the last moment, he would have lost consciousness.

For a moment, silence reigned.

Then, Gaara moved.

The tension in the arena spiked as he raised one trembling hand. Before his body could fully recover, sand tendrils shot forward—[Sand Binding Coffin]!

Lee barely had time to react before the sand wrapped around his limbs. A sickening crack echoed through the stadium as Gaara crushed Lee’s arm and leg.

The crowd gasped in horror.

Gaara, still furious, moved to finish Lee off. His rage had consumed him. He wanted Lee dead.

But before he could land the final blow, Guy appeared in a blur, intercepting the attack.

The intensity in Guy’s gaze froze Gaara in place. For a moment, an unfamiliar sensation flickered in Gaara’s chest—a memory of something different, something foreign.

A memory of care.

His movements faltered.

The battle was over.

“The match is decided,” the proctor announced. “Gaara is the winner.”

In the stands, a solemn hush fell over the spectators. The fight had not ended in Lee’s favor, but his performance had left a lasting impact. Even those who had underestimated him now looked at him with a new level of respect.

As medics rushed to tend to Lee, Naruto clenched his fists. “This isn’t fair… He fought so hard.”

Sasuke remained silent, his expression unreadable. But inside, he knew one thing—he had to get stronger.

And Gaara? He simply turned away, his thoughts unreadable.

The battle was over, but the impact of Lee’s determination would not be forgotten.