Arthur watched as the arena whipped away the enormous tarp concealing a monitor, revealing a giant screen that displayed fighters' names and their matches for all to see.
It was large enough to allow even those perched in the nosebleed section to get a clear glimpse of the action.
Arthur had insisted on this feature, mainly to record the matches and analyze each participant's method of fighting.
As the crowd roared in approval, their energy became electrifying.
"Each match has a five-minute limit!" the announcer outlined. "If both fighters remain standing after the allotted time, the one who sustained the most damage will be eliminated!"
That meant pure physical dominance would not be enough. A keen sense of strategy was crucial in each match.
High up in the arena's stands, the Raikage eyed Mei and remarked, "This is proving to be an interesting show. I didn't expect any of this."
Mei smirked. "Yes, the rules are indeed fair, but I'm still wondering why no one from my village came."
She was right on that matter. Only her personal guards were present. No other Mist Village shinobi was here.
When A took notice of the situation, he suggested, "Let's make this interesting then. I wager that at least three of the five ninjas from my village will advance to the second round."
Mei raised an eyebrow. "Go on…"
"If three of my ninjas can't advance, I supply the Mist Village with weapons. If they can, you'll furnish us with one of the Mist's legendary ninja swords."
She considered the proposal and weighed the odds. While she wasn't a compulsive gambler like Tsunade, she had faith in her calculations that other opposing ninjas below were far more capable than the participating Cloud shinobi.
And with more Leaf ninjas participating than Cloud ninjas, this wager actually leaned in her favour.
"Alright, lord fourth," she smirked, "You got yourself a bet."
Meanwhile below, the energy in the arena continued as Naruto's exuberance broke through the applause.
"Let's go!" he shouted, inadvertently drawing attention to the group.
The crowd laughed. Not with him but at him.
Even the announcer paused in his script, smiling at Naruto's unfiltered energy. "Looks like we have a spirited fighter!"
While the crowd cheered more, William, Lee, and Iruka tried to place their hands over the boy's mouth. Jada couldn't hold back her giggle as she watched the commotion. But for Arthur, his focus remained unbroken on the large screen as the announcer continued to prepare for the first match.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's direct your attention to the monitor for our first fight!" There was a quick flicker before letters scrambled to form two names: "Omoi versus Rock Lee!"
The crowd erupted in cheers that reverberated through the arena.
For those who weren't aware, Omoi was a shinobi hailing from the Cloud Village who would one day serve as a close aid to the Raikage. He's more resourceful than intelligent. But it's that level-headedness that set him apart from his more impulsive Cloud Ninjas like Karui.
"Kinda strange to see him here, don't you think, Jada?" asked Margaret.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that he's more of a kenjutsu and ninjutsu user."
"Well," William corrected, "he did train under Killer Bee at one point. And let's not forget that Bee's really great at taijutsu."
"How do you two know this?" Iruka asked.
"We read it somewhere!" they both answered nervously.
Right now, Omoi was still like a child. His adult abilities, which were swift enough to create afterimages, might not have flourished this early. That meant Lee still had a good advantage in this battle.
As the two fighters approached the ring, it became apparent how crucial each detail was: posture, footwork, and decision-making would all dictate the outcome.
Arthur glanced over to Lars' direction and noticed how unmoved he was. He could sense what Arthur was feeling, which was that these fighters may not be worth his time.
"Nice to meet you!" Lee saluted. "I am Rock Lee from the Hidden Leaf Village, and it is a pleasure to be going against a ninja from the Cloud!"
"Ugh…" A sweat dropped from Omoi's face, not having been prepared for Lee's strange manner of speaking. Nonetheless, he smiled and said, "I'm Omoi. It's nice to meet you, too."
The two then remained silent as the arena buzzed with excitement. They looked one another in the eyes, measuring their level of skill without saying a word. Bright flags flapped in the breeze, and the spectators leaned forward, eager to see how this first fight would unfold.
Omoi stood at one end with a relaxed posture. He didn't seem to regard Lee as a taijutsu-only user. Perhaps it was because of Lee's green jumpsuit.
Lee himself smiled with determination, as if not at all worried.
"Let the match," the announcer declared, raising his arm, "begin!"
Quickly, Lee barreled toward Omoi with a flurry of punches. Omoi sidestepped each attack. With every dodge, he countered with swift jabs and kicks, displaying his own agility.
Though Lee was quick, Omoi found enough rhythm to weave in and out of Lee's reach. The Leaf ninja was momentarily caught off guard at Omoi's reaction time.
"C'mon, Lee!" Margaret cheered from the sidelines. "We all know ya can do better than that!"
"Yeah, let's go, Lee!" Naruto's voice rang clear above the crowd.
Neji, standing beside them, had his arms crossed as he noted, "He seems to be handling this quite well. Omoi's speed is impressive, but Lee's still holding his own."
Margaret gave Neji a mischievous grin. "Oh, you don't know the half of it. Guy-sensei wants Lee to go all out."
Neji shot a glance at her, a tad scared at what she was planning. "Did Guy-sensei really say that?"
She gave him a devilish smile. "Maybe...!"
Meanwhile, Lee's expression shifted from determination to frustration. He knew he needed to step up his game. So the taijutsu exchange intensified.
A few solid hits connected with Omoi's arms and legs, but they were not enough to rattle the Cloud ninja, who continued with a nonchalant demeanour.
Omoi's confidence therefore grew, and he couldn't help but smirk as Lee huffed in annoyance.
"I thought the Leaf were supposed to be skilled fighters!" he taunted, dodging yet another punch.
"Just you wait!" Lee replied, still brimming with energy.
"You tell him, Lee!" Jada cheered. "Show everyone how hard you've trained!"
With that declaration, Lee suddenly stood taller thanks to his friends' encouraging words. Omoi was impressed at the bond him and his friends carried.
A few more rounds later, Margaret decided to implement her plan. She hopped on the wall of her cell and shouted, "Hey, Lee! Guy-sensei told me that if I see you struggling, he wants you to remove them!"
"Guy-sensei really said that?!" Lee asked, unsure of that comment.
Neji was now certain Guy-sensei did not at all say this.
But Lee believed the lie, so he quickly leapt back to gain some distance from Omoi. Then, in a swift motion, he dropped to his knees and began removing his leg weights.
Arthur could tell what Omoi was thinking: 'He was holding back this whole time?!'
When Lee flung the weights to the side, the stage trembled, causing a minor explosion of dirt and debris to fly to the air.
"This kid's crazy!" someone said in the stands.
Dust enveloped the area, obscuring the view temporarily. Omoi stumbled back, eyes wide with shock. He'd never expected such a dramatic reveal. The audience, including the Raikage, found themselves taken aback by this sudden scene.
Mei couldn't help but murmur, "Hard to believe his sensei would dare put that kind of pressure into his training."
"Hmm," the Raikage grunted. He had his own methods of teaching that often involved heavy physical training, but even he knew this took it a step further. "Let's see how Omoi handles the situation…"
Lee, now unencumbered by the weights, emanated a different kind of aura. "Here I come, Omoi!" The moment he launched himself forward, he moved like a green bullet!
Omoi's eyes widened in disbelief; he barely had time to react before Lee closed the distance.
Bang-bang-bang!
A series of rapid strikes rained down that seemed impossible to follow.
"It's like he's everywhere at once!" a spectator announced.
Omoi's earlier cockiness evaporated in an instant as he tried to block and dodge. But Lee's newfound speed shot past him, landing a direct hit to his face.
Bang!
The blow drew several 'oos' from the audience.
Omoi was actually struggling to keep pace, so he retreated in order to maintain distance.
"Okay, alright," he muttered to himself. "Just think!"
But to strategize in this condition was quickly hampered as Lee shouted, "I will not hold back any longer!" He then closed the distance again to execute spinning kicks, palm strikes, and soaring jumps.
Bang-bang-bang!
Each move landed, and the crowd continued to cheer at the spectacle.
Once Lee soared through the air, he performed his signature technique: "Leaf hurricane!"
Omoi was caught off guard completely as a roundhouse kick connected against his midsection.
Boom!
He doubled over from the force; the wind knocked from his lungs. The moment he recovered, Lee was already upon him. Omoi tried to swing punches with all his might, but Lee was simply too fast; Omoi's attacks just missed.
Arthur noted that Lee had undoubtedly grown stronger and faster since their last encounter. But the improvement was only lackluster at best. If Arthur were in Omoi's position, things would be playing out differently.
Omoi once again found himself backtracking to maintain security. "He's… too fast…"
With one last burst, Lee leaped into a series of acrobatic flips, springing off the arena grounds in a dazzling display of speed. Many in the audience gasped, caught in the spectacle as he landed in front of Omoi with a grin.
"Remember this!" he yelled, summoning all his strength for one final strike. "I am Rock Lee, and I am a taijutsu specialist!" He then kicked Omoi high into the air and jumped up right behind him. Tying him with his white bands, the two spun into an exhilarating tornado of movement toward the ground. "Primary lotus!"
Boom!
Debris formed across the arena as the impact of the blow echoed. Then, the crowd erupted into more cheers.
Lee landed deftly on his feet, hand on his side, panting but victorious. Omoi lay sprawled on the ground, winded but not unconscious. His eyes, however, clearly said that he had taken the blunt force that last attack.
"You really are…" he begrudgingly admitted, "impressive."
Lee, chest rising and falling with each breath, grinned widely. "This fight was for my sensei! I hope he felt how hard I tried today! And you were a good fighter yourself, Omoi."
The audience approved, chanting Lee's name. "Lee, Lee, Lee, Lee!"
While everyone else was energized, those like Arthur, Lars, and Han were not even remotely impressed.
Yes, Lee's speed was remarkable compared to most his age, but in terms of overall prowess, he was still just average to them. There were times that he could have ended the fight faster. But due to Omoi's durability, Lee required far more strength to finish the deed.
The Raikage soon stood up from his seat, nodding in admiration. Perhaps this young ninja had defeated one of his own, but the training Lee had endured to make it to that level was respectable.
As Lee raised his fists in victory, he couldn't help look at his friends. Especially Jada, since she was the one who had faith that he would recover after Arthur smashed his limbs.