The arena was deathly silent. The dust from Lee's impact against Gaara had barely begun to settle, yet all eyes were fixed on the battlefield. Gaara remained motionless, his body slumped over in the crater Lee had driven him into. The sight was surreal—Gaara, the monster of the Sand, had actually been overwhelmed.
But then, the sand moved.
A deep rumbling filled the stadium as Gaara's body twitched unnaturally, his breathing ragged but heavy. The shattered pieces of his sand armor crumbled away, revealing his real skin beneath. His exposed arm trembled before the sand slithered back up his body, covering him again like a living shield. He wasn't done yet.
Lee exhaled sharply, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His body screamed at him, but he clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "I won't stop now."
Guy watched from above, his expression hard. "Lee, be careful… don't push beyond your limit."
Lee dropped into a stance, his legs wide, hands raised in front of him. "Second Gate—Gate of Healing... OPEN!"
A new surge of energy exploded from him, his skin glowing slightly as fresh chakra flooded his body, instantly mending his aching muscles. He moved—faster than before.
Gaara barely had time to react before Lee was in front of him again. The first punch struck Gaara's ribs, sending a shockwave through his body. The sand barely cushioned the impact. The second punch came from below—Lee uppercut him into the air before vanishing and reappearing above him.
Temari gasped. "He's not stopping…!"
Lee spun in mid-air, bringing his foot down in a devastating axe kick. "Third Gate—Gate of Life... OPEN!"
The impact sent Gaara rocketing back toward the ground, his sand barely catching him before he could crash. But Lee wasn't finished. He rebounded off the air itself, diving down at blinding speed.
Gaara growled, raising his hand. His sand reacted instantly, forming a dome around him—absolute defense.
Lee landed, skidding to a halt. His eyes locked onto Gaara's sand cocoon. He tightened his fist. "Fine. I'll break through it!"
"Fourth Gate—Gate of Pain... OPEN!"
A powerful red aura erupted from his body. The air around him rippled from sheer force. The very ground beneath him cracked.
Gaara's sand trembled.
Lee vanished.
A moment later, his fist collided with Gaara's sand shield.
The entire stadium shook.
The first punch cracked the dome.
The second shattered it completely.
The third connected straight into Gaara's stomach, sending spit flying from his mouth as he was launched into the air.
Lee pursued.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "That speed—it's faster than before…!"
Lee gritted his teeth. "Fifth Gate—Gate of Limit... OPEN!"
His chakra erupted, coating his entire body in a blazing green aura. His skin burned from the sheer force coursing through him, but he ignored the pain. He grabbed Gaara mid-air, spinning rapidly.
"Primary Lotus!"
The world blurred. The rotation was too fast, the force too powerful. Lee and Gaara spiraled downward, tearing through the air.
Then—impact.
The explosion rocked the stadium. Dust and debris shot in every direction. The sheer force of the attack cracked the floor beneath them, leaving a massive crater in its wake.
Silence.
Lee gasped for breath, standing on shaking legs. His body screamed in pain, but he refused to fall. He had done it. Gaara wasn't moving.
The crowd sat in stunned disbelief.
Naruto grinned. "That was insane!"
Tenten gripped the railing, her heart racing. "Lee… you actually—"
Then—sand exploded outward.
Gaara stood.
Everyone froze.
Lee's eyes widened in horror. "He… he's still—"
Gaara's breathing was ragged, his face twisted in fury. His exposed skin was bruised—proof that Lee had managed to break through. But his sand still moved.
Gaara lifted a trembling hand. His voice was low, but laced with rage. "Sand… Coffin."
Lee's entire body froze.
Sand wrapped around his legs.
Then his arms.
It tightened.
Lee's breathing hitched. He tried to move, but his muscles refused to respond. He had pushed himself past his limit.
Gaara's fingers twitched. "Sand Burial."
The sand squeezed.
Lee screamed.
The sound echoed.
Tenten's eyes widened in horror. "GAI-SENSEI, STOP IT!"
Guy moved.
In a flash, he was on the battlefield, his bare hand stopping the sand mid-motion. The sheer force of his chakra dispersed it instantly.
The room was silent.
Guy knelt beside Lee, gripping his unconscious form. His voice was dangerously low. "This fight is over."
Gaara stared.
For a brief moment, his fingers twitched—as if he wanted to keep crushing.
But then, his sand stopped.
Hayate, still shaken, finally called it. "Winner… Gaara."
The match was over.
But nobody was celebrating.
Tenten ran to Lee, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. "Lee—please say something!"
Lee didn't move. His body was broken.
Guy clenched his jaw, lifting him gently. "You did well, Lee."
Gaara simply turned and walked away.
Naruto gritted his teeth. "That bastard…!"
Sakura clutched her arms. "He was going to kill him. Even after the match was over…"
The tension in the air was suffocating.
But then, the screen flickered—displaying the next match.
Raven vs. Gaara.
Gaara's eyes lifted.
On the other side of the arena, Raven smirked.
"Well, well," she said, stepping forward. "Looks like you've had your warm-up."
Gaara's sand twitched.
The crowd whispered.
Two monsters were about to collide.
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