Without hesitation, Lee made the first strike—a jab at Neji's midsection.
Bang!
Neji calmly blocked it, redirecting the momentum to spin and counter with a kick.
Swish!
Lee dodged, pressing forward with a rapid combo of punches and kicks.
Bang-bang-bang!
Neji remained composed, effortlessly deflecting each attack.
"You'll have to do better than that!" he said as Lee unleashed a plethora of strikes.
"Hi-ya! Wha-cha!"
The crowd hollered with excitement from Lee's shouts of effort.
Jada couldn't help but notice how the Byakugan guided Neji's movements.
As soon as Lee began to repeat his combination, Neji seized the opportunity and struck Lee in the chest, pushing him back a little.
"The same tricks don't work on me twice, Lee. You of people should know that."
Lee's brow furrowed, but he quickly gathered himself. "Then I shall change it up!" After one breath, he removed his leg weights as they crashed into the arena floor.
Those who had seen it before, during the first round, were still in awe.
The smoke settled, and Lee darted forward, charging at Neji with greater speed.
"Look at them go!" a surprised spectator yelled. The two stepped into an even faster clash, and with each bang of their punches, it left the audience captivated. "You're telling me they're only fourteen?!"
Lee soon leapt into the air, aiming a kick at his opponent. "Leaf hurricane!"
But Neji's reaction hadn't at all deterred. Pushing off his back foot, he twirled and expelled chakra from his body. "Rotation!"
Bang!
Lee's attack was pushed back like it was nothing.
"I have no blind spots, Lee…"
"I won't give up!" he shouted before charging in again.
But Neji wasn't offering any openings, and with hard-won experience, he flipped over Lee's back, catching his shoulder mid-spin and landing a kick right to Lee's rear.
Bang!
The latter was sent tumbling forward.
When he recovered, he sprang back to action, only to see Neji's back turned. So Lee moved swiftly and aimed a punch.
"It's a trap!" William yelled from outside of the arena.
Neji's awareness was unmatched, and without turning around, he laid a hand back and blocked Lee's incoming strike. Lee knew this was trouble, so he leapt away to gain some distance.
Sweat dripped from his face as he said to himself, "If I had been warned, the match would have ended right there."
Margaret didn't hesitate to hit William on the arm. "What're you thinking?! You could get Lee disqualified!"
William shrugged defensively, caught between his excitement to watch the fight and concern for his friend. "Owe, Marge. I was just trying to help!"
In truth, it was Arthur who was amused by William's warning. How did he recognize what Neji was going to do next? Little did Arthur know that the technique Neji had performed was from the Ultimate Ninja 3 video game, something William had foreknowledge of.
The fight continued with both ninjas on edge as Neji took a stance that the spectators were all too familiar with by now. Lee himself recognized it as the 'Last Resort: Eight Gates Assault.'
"This isn't looking good for Bushy Brow!" Naruto whispered to himself.
"Come at me with everything you have!" Lee spoke, his heart pounding.
Neji lunged forward, and Lee's reflexes kicked in. "You can't escape!"
At that moment, Lee ducked low to execute the Dancing Leaf Shadow technique. But Neji spotted it and threaded back, evading the strike much to Lee's frustration.
'Now is my chance!' Lee thought after composing himself. As he prepared to activate the Eight Gates, he called out, "I follow and abide by my own ninja way!" Then he launched himself forward, glowing with a yellow aura that radiated intensity in every direction. "Fifth gate of vision open!"
Bang!
Neji's eyes widened as he was brought into the air with one forceful kick. Arthur was caught by surprise, having never seen this technique before.
At the peak of Neji's ascent, Lee bolted skyward, screaming the technique's name as he struck from every angle with hawk-eyed speed: "True hidden lotus!"
Zip-bang-zip-bang-zip-bang-zip-boom!
The arena shook once Neji finally fell to the ground. Silence then fell across the audience as Lee slid to the floor, resting his fingers on the arena's surface, head bowed.
The announcer broke the tension, screaming, "And with that, the winner of this match is Rock Lee!"
A roar erupted from the audience, louder than the other cheers, with many chanting Lee's name.
Neji lay still for a moment, processing what had just happened, but then a smile crept across his face. He lifted his head, nodding ever so slightly, and declared with a genuine tone, "You finally beat me, Lee…"
Lee, still catching his breath, hobbled on unsteady legs to help his opponent up. "You had pushed me to my limits, Neji! I went all out just for you, my greatest rival!"
He then extended a hand, lively and filled with jubilant energy. Neji accepted as he confidently responded, "Next time, I'll go all out, too."
"But I gave it my best! Surely, you are kidding?"
Neji smirked. "Who knows? But if you're training harder for the next time we fight, then I might as well stay prepared."
The moment felt monumental, encapsulating everything they had strived for throughout their journeys as teammates and friends. Even Lars had opened his eyes to witness that last attack.
Loud cheers continued in the arena after the two finally made their way back to the stands.
Margaret was the first to meet them. "Lee! I'm glad you won, and Neji, you fought great out there, but, Lee... There's something I should tell you."
"What is it, Marge?"
"Umm… Guy-sensei didn't say anything to me about you using the Eight Gates."
Lee's heart sank. He clasped his hands to his cheeks, eyes turning glassy as he comically wailed, "I have forsaken Guy-sensei's teachings! " For an added show of drama, he fell to his knees in a faux spasm of despair. "Guy-sensei, please forgive me!"
Neji couldn't help but chuckle with a smirk at the spectacle, shaking his head gently. He placed a hand on Lee's shoulder, trying to offer some reassurance.
"It's alright, Lee. The match was fair. Guy-sensei would understand that we pushed each other to our limits."
Jada added, "That's right, Lee. He'd be proud of both of you!"
Lee's cries quieted, but his eyebrows remained knotted with worry. "Do you really think so?" he asked, looking up at Neji.
"I know so," Neji replied with a nod. "If anything, he would see this as a positive thing."
Jada stepped in closer, placing a hand on Lee's opposite shoulders. "And let's remember, the Eight Inner Gates are used to protect others too. You did a fantastic job today! Neji isn't hurt in any serious way that couldn't otherwise be healed."
Margaret added with a playful smile, "Yeah! Besides, you showed outstanding perseverance out there! Guy-sensei would only praise how hard you pushed yourself."
Slowly, Lee's expression turned from sorrow to cautious optimism. He wiped his eyes dramatically before giving them a broad, goofy grin. "You all really think so?!"
"Yes!" came everyone's resounding agreement, punctuated by their shared laughter.
Just then, Naruto added, "Ya've so got to teach me how to do that!"
This drew even more laughter from the group, and Lee felt invigorated by Naruto's enthusiasm.
"You're already so strong, Naruto!" William pointed out. "If you learn the Eight Gates, that's just overkill!"
Arthur, paying close attention to their conversation, would surely be on high alert if the main character learned the Eight Gates. Just the very thought of Naruto, the embodiment of this world, becoming even more formidable?
Something like that was not what Arthur desired.
"And besides," Neji interjected with a wry smirk, "you already have the Nine-Tails."
Naruto touched his belly, remembering something important. That made Arthur's eyes furrow because it seemed as though the boy was getting awfully close with that creature.
"Maybe I'll wait until after the tournament then," Naruto said with a smile.
Arthur could tell by the looks on their faces that Naruto could indeed learn the Eight Inner Gates. It would make the boy the strongest ninja.
That was why Arthur had to be ten steps ahead of everyone, for only he was allowed to be the strongest ninja.