Naruto: Martial God Art

"You... you think I'm weak?" Akimichi Chōji's face flushed red with frustration, his fists clenched tightly. He could handle a lot, but being underestimated in front of his teammates stung deeply.

"Why, are you upset?" Lee asked calmly. "Look, I'm only trying to help. If you want to keep everyone safe out here, you have to stay focused and not let your guard down."

"Damn it!" Chōji threw his snacks to the ground and charged at Lee, determined to prove himself.

"Chōji, don't!" Nara Shikamaru called, alarmed. He could sense that Lee's strength was far greater than they'd anticipated, and provoking him could only end in trouble.

But Chōji was already committed, too angry to hear Shikamaru's warning. He continued his charge toward Lee.

"Very well. But remember, this is only a lesson," Lee said, taking a defensive stance. He raised his right fist, holding back most of his strength.

"Partial Expansion Jutsu!" Chōji shouted, his right arm suddenly swelling to an enormous size. His strength increased tenfold as he prepared to strike Lee.

Lee nodded in approval. As expected from a member of the Akimichi clan, he thought. He's got some real power behind him. Increasing his strength just slightly, Lee met Chōji's attack with a well-timed block and counter.

"Boom!"

Chōji's oversized arm clashed with Lee's fist. The impact sent Chōji rolling backward across the ground, leaving him shaken but unharmed.

Lee hadn't budged an inch.

"Chōji, are you alright?" Yamanaka Ino ran over, concerned. She had practiced with Chōji many times and knew how formidable he could be, especially with his clan's Partial Expansion Jutsu. The fact that Lee had taken Chōji's attack so effortlessly was hard to believe.

"I… I'm fine," Chōji replied, dusting himself off, though he now looked at Lee with a mix of awe and caution.

"See?" Lee said. "You're strong, Chōji, but strength alone isn't enough. Out here, you have to stay sharp and be ready for anything." He turned toward the forest, his voice calm but serious. "Remember, if this had been an enemy from another village, the outcome could have been much worse. Stay focused, and don't let your guard down."

With that, Lee turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji stunned but more aware than before of the dangers they would face in the Forest of Death.

Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Akimichi Chōji stood frozen, staring in the direction Lee had gone, feeling the weight of his words settle over them like a heavy fog.

"Perhaps he was right," Shikamaru finally sighed, breaking the silence. "Our strength is too weak… He wasn't even interested in fighting us seriously."

"I will not let the Yamanaka clan be looked down upon like this," Ino said, her voice firm. Her hands clenched into fists as her resolve hardened. "I'll show everyone what I'm capable of."

"Me too," Chōji added quietly, still shaken but now thoughtful. He looked down at his hands, the same hands that had just been effortlessly repelled. "I, Akimichi Chōji, won't let the Akimichi clan fall short."

Shikamaru nodded. "Let's pass this exam together," he said, glancing between his two teammates. "The Ino–Shika–Chō trio will prove ourselves in the Forest of Death."

Hidden in the shadows, Lee had observed the whole exchange. He felt relieved. Though his words had been harsh, he could see that they had taken them to heart. Each of these three held potential, and their clans were among the most respected in Konoha. But without facing real challenges, that potential might go unrealized.

"Konoha Village has been too peaceful for too long," Lee thought as he watched them, his heart feeling a flicker of pride. "If the younger generation isn't careful, they'll be unprepared for the dangers beyond our borders."

"One day," he thought as he sped through the trees, "they might become my allies. Or perhaps, they'll stand in my way. Either way, they must be ready."

Moving deeper into the Forest of Death, Lee continued his search, eager to encounter the other teams and test his abilities further. His goal was not just to pass the exam or gather scrolls; it was to understand the techniques, strengths, and weaknesses of the other participants. In this unpredictable environment, he could study the various jutsu and skills that each village possessed.

After a while, he spotted another group moving cautiously through the dense foliage. They wore the distinctive forehead protectors of the Rain Village.

"Rain Genin," he noted, his eyes narrowing as he began to trail them from a distance.