Naruto: Martial God Art

Sasuke's eyes widened in shock as his attack was effortlessly deflected. He hadn't anticipated such a response, and now found himself completely exposed.

Lee's calm gaze met Sasuke's. "Is that all the Uchiha have to offer?" he asked with a hint of amusement.

Sasuke clenched his teeth, frustration flashing across his face. This wasn't the outcome he had expected. He was the top of his class, a genius of the Uchiha, and yet… he had been dismissed with a single movement.

"This is…?!" Hyuga Neji's eyes were suddenly full of energy as he watched Rock Lee, shock evident on his face. He stared at Lee as if seeing him for the first time.

With his trained eye, Neji could see the subtlety and precision of Lee's previous move. The crane-shaped fist, though it seemed simple, was a masterful display of control and strength. What disturbed Neji most was that he hadn't thought of using such a refined technique himself. Could it be that Lee's close-combat abilities were now greater than his own?

Or perhaps, Neji thought, his raw talent for combat surpasses even mine. Either possibility was hard for Neji to accept.

"Ah!" Sasuke cried out, startled. The precise strike from Lee's crane-shaped fist forced Sasuke off balance, and he toppled forward, barely managing to stabilize himself with his hands on the ground. But Sasuke wasn't about to give in so easily. He quickly shifted, kicking his legs out in a wide arc toward Lee's face in an attempt to counter.

Lee dodged effortlessly, his feet moving with precision. With a swift pivot, he crouched and swept his left leg along the ground. "Konoha Gale!" he called out in a low voice, his movement fluid and powerful.

Sasuke's eyes widened, realizing too late that he was now vulnerable. He was balanced on his hands, unable to dodge. The power behind Lee's sweeping kick was evident in the forceful whoosh of air as it neared.

He's strong… Sasuke thought with a surge of alarm. In a split-second, he used his head as a pivot, pushing off the ground with his hands to avoid the full brunt of the attack. It was a move fueled by desperation, and although it saved him from a direct hit, Lee's leg still grazed his arms, sending a shockwave of pain up his limbs.

Lee, noting Sasuke's resourcefulness, held back the majority of his power. "Not bad," he murmured to himself, appreciating Sasuke's determination and quick thinking.

Boom!

Despite Lee's restraint, the impact was still formidable. Sasuke tumbled back, hitting a wall a few meters away. He steadied himself and pushed to his feet, his expression tight with pain but filled with renewed determination. He's strong… even stronger than I expected, Sasuke thought. Among all the Genin he'd faced, no one had matched Lee's sheer skill in taijutsu.

"So this is Lee's strength now?" Neji muttered, the veins around his Byakugan bulging as he analyzed every detail of the fight. For Neji, who had seen Lee's taijutsu abilities before, this level of precision and power was both impressive and surprising. Has he really grown so much?

Tenten, watching with wide eyes, whispered, "Is this really Lee? He's become… so powerful."

Not far from them, Naruto clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Lee. "Even someone they called a failure… can become strong with hard work," he muttered to himself. The sight of Lee, who had once been dismissed as a "dropout" by many, holding his own against the Uchiha genius stirred something deep within Naruto. If Lee can do it, then… I can too.

Lee's eyes flickered with amusement as he looked at Sasuke. "So, this is the strength of the Uchiha clan?" he asked with a slight smirk. "If you represent them, it seems the name might not hold up to its reputation."

"Damn it!" Sasuke spat, anger fueling his resolve as he charged forward again. This time, he adopted a more cautious approach, placing his left hand defensively while aiming his right fist at Lee. His movements were calculated, mixing offense and defense.

Lee's calm gaze followed Sasuke's movements. "You're a fast learner," he remarked. With a burst of speed, he shifted, disappearing from Sasuke's view.

"Where did he go?!" Sasuke's eyes darted around, his body tense. Even with the famous Sharingan, he couldn't track Lee's rapid movement, which only heightened his frustration. For the first time, he felt truly outmatched.

"Up here!" Lee's voice called from above. Sasuke's head snapped up, and his eyes widened as Lee's right foot shot down in a powerful kick.

Sasuke reacted instinctively, dropping into a crouch and narrowly avoiding the blow. Lee's kick sliced through the air just above him, and he could feel the wind from the strike. His reflexes are impressive, Lee thought, landing lightly and immediately pivoting, swinging his leg in a wide arc.

Lee's movements were smooth and unbroken, each strike flowing into the next. His skill was such that his attacks appeared almost like a dance, combining strength with finesse in a way that left his opponents struggling to keep up.

Sasuke's expression grew more desperate as he realized he couldn't evade Lee's next attack. He crossed his arms in front of him, bracing himself for the impact.

"Innocent," Lee muttered. Without missing a beat, he switched his side kick into a straight kick, catching Sasuke off guard with the rapid change.

Boom!

Lee's foot connected squarely with Sasuke's chin, launching him backward with immense force. Sasuke's body flew back over five meters before he crashed to the ground, skidding to a painful halt.

The hallway fell silent as everyone looked on, stunned.

Sasuke lay on the ground, trembling as he tried to push himself up, pain radiating through his body. Yet it wasn't only the physical pain that tormented him—it was the humiliation of being so easily bested by someone who didn't even bear the prestigious Uchiha name. How could this happen? he thought, a mix of anger and frustration brewing within him.

"Lee!" Neji's voice broke through the silence, his eyes blazing as he looked at Lee. His Byakugan was active, veins visible around his temples. "When did you… become this powerful?"

Tenten stood nearby, her expression one of disbelief. She had always viewed Lee as "limited" because he could only use taijutsu, yet here he was, showing a level of skill that rivaled even Neji's.

"This… this is incredible," she murmured, her gaze fixed on Lee.

Naruto, too, stared at Lee in awe. "If even someone who was called a 'dropout' can reach this level… then maybe, just maybe… I can do it too," he whispered, clenching his fists with renewed determination. For Naruto, Lee had become a beacon of hope, a reminder that hard work could overcome any limitation.

Lee looked down at Sasuke, his expression calm but serious. "The strength of your clan's name doesn't make you strong," he said softly. "If you want to be the best, you have to earn it through hard work and perseverance."

"Don't lecture me!" Sasuke roared, attempting to stand despite the pain wracking his body. His pride was wounded, but his will remained unbroken. This defeat had ignited something within him—a burning desire to grow stronger, not just for himself, but to reclaim the honor of the Uchiha name.

Lee simply watched, his face impassive. Perhaps this defeat will teach him something valuable, he thought.

As Sasuke staggered to his feet, Neji's eyes remained locked on Lee. If he's grown this strong… then I may need to rethink my approach entirely, he thought, a flicker of excitement mingling with his competitive spirit.

The tension in the room was thick as the Genin around them absorbed what had just happened. The Uchiha had been defeated by a "taijutsu specialist," and this realization was shifting the atmosphere entirely.

Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, the two Chūnin who had been observing chuckled to each other.

"Kakashi and Guy really have impressive students this year," one whispered. "These kids are going to shake things up in the exams."

The other nodded, his gaze lingering on Lee. "The quality of this year's candidates is beyond our expectations," he said quietly. "This exam is going to be… very interesting."