The battlefield was in chaos.
Explosions, elemental jutsu, and the metallic clash of weapons echoed in every direction. The once-forested terrain had become a scorched, cratered wasteland. Flags of different nations were blurred by the smoke, yet the symbol of the Leaf stood tall amidst the flames.
Amidst the storm, Neji Hyūga moved with sharp, calculated grace. His Byakugan was fully active, mapping chakra threads like a war strategist reading an invisible battlefield.
Beside him, Rock Lee was a green blur of pure taijutsu. His fists moved faster than the eye could follow. With a single spinning kick, he sent a Cloud Village ninja flying five meters into a rock, knocking him out cold.
"Thanks to the Sand ninjas, we've got some breathing room," Neji said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Lee grinned and raised his fist.
"But the fire of youth still burns!"
Suddenly, Neji froze. His white pupils narrowed, voice tightening.
"Lee... we've got company."
Three figures emerged from the dust with silent, lethal intent.
The first: a muscular man with spiky hair, half-lidded eyes, and a cold expression. Explosive rings circled his arms and fists — unmistakably Gari from the Hidden Stone, master of Explosion Release.
To his right was a blond ninja with a ponytail, a long katana on his back, and a lazy stance that masked razor-sharp awareness — Omoi, from the Hidden Cloud.
And on the left, a fierce kunoichi with bright red hair, a Cloud forehead protector tied to her arm, and a massive sword resting on her shoulder — Karui, radiating raw strength.
Gari sneered.
"So these are the Leaf prodigies? A Hyūga and some kid in green spandex?"
Omoi sighed, hand still on his blade.
"Guess we're gonna have to break a sweat…"
Karui smirked, eyes sharp.
"Let's end this quick. I'm not in the mood for monologues."
Lee stepped forward, fists clenched.
"You can't defeat the burning spirit of Leaf youth!"
Neji placed a calm hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Careful, Lee. Gari uses Explosion Release — avoid direct hits. Omoi's erratic, but he overthinks. Use that. Karui's reckless, but strong. Don't underestimate her blade."
The enemy trio exchanged glances — Neji's cold assessment had rattled them.
"That damn Byakugan…" Karui growled, already moving.
The battle ignited.
Neji moved first. Reading Omoi's flanking angle, he intercepted with a precise Hakke Kūshō, launching the swordsman backward.
Gari leapt and slammed an explosive punch into the ground — the blast erupted like a triggered mine. But Lee had already jumped skyward. Spinning midair, he opened the First Gate: Gate of Opening.
"Here I come!"
His speed surged. Lee landed a powerful kick on Karui, launching her across the field. She recovered midair, slamming her sword into the ground to anchor herself.
"You little green freak!"
Karui charged, engaging Lee in a brutal clash of steel and fists. Her raw strength met Lee's refined technique. The ground beneath them cracked with every impact.
Meanwhile, Gari and Neji were locked in a deadly chess match. Every punch from Gari was a trap — delayed detonations, misdirected charges, explosive decoys.
Neji evaded with surgical precision, using Hakkeshō Kaiten to shield from the blast radius.
"You think you can win by just reading my chakra?" Gari snarled.
Neji's voice was icy.
"I've read more than you realize."
With lightning speed, he executed Hakke Rokujūyon Shō, sealing several tenketsu on Gari's right arm. The Rock ninja staggered, chakra flow disrupted.
Omoi returned and lunged at Lee with sharp sword thrusts, trying to assist Karui.
Lee, opening the Second Gate: Gate of Healing, accelerated even more. His body became a blur of green lightning.
Despite Lee's speed, Omoi found an opening and slashed Lee's arm — shallow, but precise.
Karui closed in. Now it was two-on-one.
Neji moved to help — but Gari blocked his path.
"You're not going anywhere!"
"We'll see."
Neji spun midair and unleashed Kaiten, hurling Gari into a boulder and clearing his path.
Lee, bleeding, dug deep and opened the Third Gate: Gate of Life. His skin flushed red, muscles screamed, and chakra roared within him.
"Sorry… but I have to go beyond!"
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he rocketed forward.
In a flash, he knocked Omoi out with a brutal kick to the jaw. He dodged Karui's sword and smashed her with a Konoha Reppū straight to the face, sending her crashing.
Karui tried to rise, but Neji appeared behind her — fingers extended.
"Don't move. You won't get another chance."
She collapsed.
Gari, bloodied and half-paralyzed, snarled.
"You Leaf bastards… you're not just words."
Neji's reply was calm.
"No… we're legacy."
Then, with a final synchronized strike — Lee from above, Neji from the front — they brought Gari down.
Lee collapsed to one knee, steam rising from his skin. Neji caught him by the shoulder, steadying his brother-in-arms.
Silence fell.
Karui, Omoi, and Gari were down — defeated with honor, but no match for the unity and strength of the two Leaf warriors.
Karui tried to rise on raw willpower alone — but her legs failed her. Neji intercepted with two fingers. She lost consciousness before even feeling the strike.
Neji's Byakugan faded. His expression was calm, eyes turned skyward — to smoke, war, and memory.
"Lee… do you remember?"
Lee, panting, looked up.
"Remember what?"
Neji exhaled.
"When we were just two genin. Training endlessly. Fighting to prove we belonged… even when no one believed in us."
Lee's eyes misted over. The memories of broken bones, Gai-sensei's roars, and silent tears all returned.
Neji's voice was low, resolute:
"We fought to overcome fate. To prove effort could rival talent. That heart could defeat hate. And now…"
He looked at the fallen enemies around them — foreign headbands half-buried in mud.
"Now we show the world what the Leaf truly is."
Lee nodded, voice trembling.
"All for the Will of Fire!"
Neji gripped his shoulder, eyes steel again.
"But this isn't over. The war still burns."
Lee stood, shaking but unbroken. He raised his fists once more.
"Then let's keep going, Neji… The fire of youth still burns bright!"
Together, they vanished into the smoke — toward the next fight.