harleyscars Page 80
Page 80
"what--!!"
Taki Shinobu only had time to let out a shrill, terrified scream before he collapsed to the ground, his body stiffening, convulsing violently, and quickly losing consciousness.
Shino silently retracted the insect and adjusted his sunglasses: "...Thank you for your kind offer."
The winner is Aburame Shino.
The preliminary rounds are now nearing their end.
Those teams that passed the second test were eliminated due to insufficient strength or serious injuries; those remaining were all elites.
Moonlight Gale looked at the last two names lit up on the electronic screen, coughed a few times, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity and expectation, clearly echoing throughout the now silent hall:
"Group 10, and also the last group in the qualifiers..."
"Sunagakure, Gaara!"
"A head-to-head matchup—"
"Konohagakure, Rock Lee!"
These two names seemed to possess a magical power, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire venue!
On the Sunagakure viewing platform, Kankuro, holding a crow puppet, wore a knowing smile, as if he were watching a good show.
Temari carried a giant fan, her eyes serious.
Gaara slowly raised his head.
For the first time, the figure of the opponent was clearly reflected in those bloodshot, emotionless eyes.
The boy wearing a green bodysuit, bandaged up, with thick eyebrows and a watermelon-shaped haircut.
A cold, viscous killing intent, seemingly capable of freezing the soul, emanated from him as if it were a tangible substance.
Those near the Sunagakure stands couldn't help but shiver.
In the Konoha stands, Might Guy, who looked almost exactly like Rock Lee, suddenly stood up straight.
With his signature gleaming white teeth, he gave a thumbs-up to Li, who was already eager and fired up in the audience: "Li! Burn! Youth!! The moment to prove your efforts has arrived!"
Xiao Li was equally excited, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
He nodded vigorously at Guy-sensei and gave him a thumbs up as well: "Yes! Guy-sensei! This is the ninja way I uphold throughout my youth! Even if the opponent is a monster, I will use these fists to prove the value of hard work!"
Naruto looked at Gaara's inhuman gaze, then at Rock Lee's pure and unwavering fighting spirit, and clenched his fists: "That guy is just like me, I wonder if Thick Eyebrows can beat him?"
Sasuke also opened his eyes, his sharp gaze fixed on Gaara.
He could clearly feel the enormous, chaotic, and hate-filled terrifying chakra within the other person's body, like a sleeping ferocious beast.
Anyone with that kind of aura is definitely a butcher; this opponent is no ordinary person!
Sakura, momentarily forgetting the shock of her own power, looked worriedly at the crowd below: "Lee..."
Shikamaru rubbed his temples: "Tsk, this is a big problem... facing that sand monster..."
In the center of the arena, Moonlight Hayate took a deep breath, suppressing the chill stirred by Gaara's killing intent, and loudly announced:
"Game start!"
Gaara of the Sands, and the hardworking genius Rock Lee, in a fateful showdown.
Amidst countless tense, expectant, and fearful gazes, the curtain rose! An invisible storm was already brewing above the shattered arena.
Chapter 91 Rock Lee VS Gaara
The sound of moonlight and wind still echoed over the shattered site.
A thick, cold, terrifying killing intent, seemingly mixed with the scent of rust and death.
Like an invisible tide, it instantly spread from Gaara's body, sweeping across the entire space.
The temperature seemed to drop several degrees, and the spectators near the Sunagakure stands couldn't help but shiver, feeling as if they were having difficulty breathing.
In the center of the arena, Li, wearing his signature green bodysuit, had a white bandage tied around his head, symbolizing hard work.
Beneath thick eyebrows were eyes brimming with pure fighting spirit.
Like burning charcoal, it fearlessly met Gaara's inhuman, bloodshot eyes.
He leaned forward slightly, assuming the most standard martial arts starting stance, his muscles tense, like a cheetah ready to pounce.
"Li! Let the guests of Sunagakure witness your burning youth!"
In the stands, Might Guy's roar was like a war drum, igniting the final fuse for Lee!
"Yes, Teacher Kai!" Xiao Li's voice trembled with excitement, the purest desire when facing a formidable enemy!
"Gaara of the Sand Waterfall..."
Rock Lee's voice boomed, brimming with fierce fighting spirit, "I've heard of you! A genius with an absolute defense! But! I, Rock Lee, will shatter your defense with my own fists! This is the ninja way I uphold!"
Gaara didn't respond, but the flowing sand seemed to become more active, radiating a cold aura.
In the stands, Kankuro and Temari of Sunagakure wore disdainful smiles, as if they were watching a good show.
On Konoha's side, Naruto clenched his fists nervously, Sakura covered her mouth in worry, and Sasuke secretly activated his Sharingan, trying to track the trajectory of the sand.
"Drink up!" Little Li launched the first attack!
His figure blurred instantly, leaving only a green afterimage!
Its speed far exceeds that of an ordinary genin!
This is an astonishing speed that comes purely from a body honed through countless trials!
"Konoha Tornado!"
A fierce spinning kick, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound that tore through the air, aimed straight for Gaara's side neck!
However, just as Xiao Li's foot was about to hit him!
A thin barrier made of yellow sand, as if it had a life of its own, instantly condensed and took shape beside Gaara!
A dull crash sounded!
Xiao Li felt as if he had kicked a piece of high-quality steel!
The immense recoil made his calves go numb!
That seemingly fragile sand shield remained completely unmoved!
There wasn't even a single crack!
"what?!"
Xiao Li was startled, but his movements did not stop!
The moment he landed, his body sprang back up like a spring, and his fists rained down like a storm!
"Leaf Gale!"
"Konoha Bad Iwasho!"
A barrage of punches and kicks, carrying all of Lee's power and speed, rained down on Gaara's sand defenses!
However, a truly despairing scene unfolded!
No matter how swift or how tricky Xiao Li's attacks were.
The flowing sand can always precisely condense into a shield the instant the attack hits, perfectly absorbing and neutralizing all the power!
Gaara didn't even lift his eyelids, as if he were watching a boring farce.
The sand surrounding him was like the most loyal guardian, or like a living creature with precognitive abilities, forming an indestructible steel barrier!
"it's useless."
Gaara finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, devoid of any emotion, like still water, "Your attacks can't even touch my sand."
In the stands, Naruto was jumping up and down in frustration: "Damn it! That sand is too hard! Even Thick Eyebrow's powerful fist couldn't break it!"
Sakura's heart clenched: "How could this happen... that sand defense was too perfect..."
Sasuke's Sharingan was fixed on the scene below, his brows furrowed: "It's not just defense... that sand... it seems to predict movements? No... it's more like automatic defense..."
In the Sunagakure stands, Kankuro, holding the crow puppet, chuckled smugly: "Hehe, Gaara's absolute defense is not something a brat who only knows brute force can break."
Temari carried the giant fan, her eyes serious, but she did not relax.
She knew that Gaara's terror lay not only in his defense.
Xiao Li, panting heavily, stopped his futile assault.
Sweat trickled down his forehead and dripped onto the cracked ground.
He looked at Gaara, who stood before him like a rock, his eyes vacant.
Feeling the slight numbness in his fists and feet, a strong sense of defeat welled up in his heart.
Is the gap... too big?
Even the opponent's defenses cannot be shaken?
Could it be that... the efforts of mortals are truly so vulnerable in the face of a real "monster"?
Xiao Li suddenly raised his head, and the flames burning in his eyes not only did not go out, but became even more intense!
He looked at the figure in the stands who always gave him strength—Matt Kay!
Teacher Kai! You once said that hard work can surpass genius! I haven't even used my full strength yet! I still have... my last trump card!
"Teacher Kai!" Xiao Li's voice, filled with unprecedented determination and pleading, resounded throughout the room, "Please allow me... to untie it!"
Kai's body jolted violently!
Of course he knew what Xiao Li was referring to!
Those heavy shackles, those burdens that bind true power!
Looking at the indomitable flame in his beloved student's eyes and at Gaara's breathtaking power, a surge of emotion welled up in his eyes!
He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and nodded vigorously at Xiao Li, while giving a thumbs up, his white teeth gleaming!
"Li! Go! Unleash the full potential of your youth!!!"