A New Path

The five-minute break came to an abrupt end as the board flickered with names once more. The tension in the air thickened as the next match was finally displayed in bold letters:

Rock Lee vs. Gaara

Immediately, a hush fell over the arena, save for the murmurs of shinobi who understood just how dangerous this match would be.

On the upper level, Team 7 instinctively tensed. They had met Gaara before—briefly, but it had been more than enough to set off every internal alarm they had.

“That guy screams ‘bad news,’” Naruto muttered under his breath, arms crossed as he eyed the redhead down in the arena.

Sasuke gave a curt nod. “There’s something... off about him.” His Sharingan wasn’t active, but even without it, he could tell that Gaara’s presence was unnerving. There was no wasted movement, no unnecessary twitches of emotion. Just a still, eerie calm.

Harry hummed in agreement, his sharp green eyes tracking the Sand shinobi. “His chakra is... weird.” It felt dense, heavier than normal, like something vast and foreign coiled beneath the surface, restrained only by thin threads. That alone was concerning.

Meanwhile, Kankuro and Temari, standing in the viewing stands, were far less tense. In fact, they looked almost... amused.

“Pffft.” Kankuro scoffed, arms crossed lazily over his chest. “This Rock Lee guy? He’s gonna get crushed.” His eyes flicked over Lee’s stance, then he shook his head. “Doesn’t even look like he has chakra. Gaara’s gonna flatten him.”

Temari nodded in agreement. “This isn’t a match. This is an execution.”

Down in the arena, Lee wasn’t fazed in the slightest. His sharp eyes locked onto Gaara, who stood as still as a statue, his arms crossed over his chest.

Lee could feel it—this would not be an easy fight. His instincts screamed at him that Gaara was strong, maybe even one of the strongest competitors here. And so, he made a decision.

“I suppose I will have to use my full power from the start.”

With that, he reached down, unlatching the weights strapped to his legs. They hit the floor with a deafening BOOM.

The entire arena shook.

“What the hell!?” Naruto blurted, his jaw-dropping.

Sakura's eyes went wide, watching as the dust cleared to reveal two craters where Lee’s weights had landed.

Sasuke’s expression darkened, his mind racing. He was moving that fast with those on?

Even Gaara shifted slightly at the display, his seafoam-green eyes narrowing by the smallest fraction.

Kankuro had visibly stiffened. “Wait... what?”

Temari’s fan lowered an inch as she blinked at the scene in mild disbelief. “You’re kidding.”

Up in the stands, Might Guy grinned like a proud parent. “Ah, yes! The power of youth!”

Lee rolled his shoulders, feeling the freedom of movement now that the weights were gone. His body felt light—far lighter than before.

Then, without another word, he vanished.

The moment Rock Lee launched forward, Gaara didn’t move an inch. His arms remained crossed, his expression still eerily blank.

But his sand moved.

SHFF!

A wall of sand surged up, blocking Lee’s fist before it could reach Gaara’s face. The impact sent grains scattering into the air, but the defense remained unbroken. Lee immediately backflipped, landing a few feet away, his sharp gaze locked onto Gaara’s natural shield. It’s fast.

He darted in again—faster this time. A high kick, a rapid punch, a spinning heel strike. Each one was met with the same result. The sand intercepted him every time, blocking or redirecting his attacks with precise efficiency. Lee’s eyes narrowed as he quickly analyzed the situation. This sand… it reacts automatically. Gaara’s not even moving, yet it’s defending him perfectly. It’s almost like it has a mind of its own.

Then another thought hit him. But how fast can it react?

His lips curled into a small smile.

“I see…” Lee muttered under his breath as he took a stance once more.

Up in the stands, Team 7 watched in stunned silence.

“That sand’s moving on its own,” Naruto muttered, arms crossed tightly. “Gaara’s not even doing anything.”

Sakura frowned. “Yeah. It’s not a jutsu that he’s actively controlling—it’s like the sand has some kind of will.”

Harry, who had seen plenty of strange abilities back in his world, still couldn’t help but be impressed. “It’s almost like it’s instinctively protecting him,” he remarked, his green eyes sharp as he observed the sand’s movements.

Kakashi, standing just behind them, gave a thoughtful hum before deciding to enlighten them.

“It’s an ability unique to Gaara’s clan, the Sabaku (砂瀑) clan,” Kakashi explained. “The power to control sand is something that appears every few generations. That’s why his siblings don’t have it—it’s rare.”

Naruto blinked, glancing over at Kankuro and Temari. “Huh. So they got the short end of the stick, huh?”

Kakashi gave a slight shrug. “Not necessarily. Bloodline abilities can be powerful, but they aren’t everything. Gaara’s case is… special, though.”

Sasuke, still watching the fight intently, spoke up. “So the sand protects him on its own? Without him having to do anything?”

Kakashi nodded. “That’s right. That’s why he doesn’t even bother dodging. His defense is completely automatic.”

That information made Team 7 even more tense.

“So what the hell is Lee supposed to do against that?” Naruto grumbled. “If Gaara doesn’t even have to move, this fight is totally one-sided.”

Sasuke, however, kept his gaze on Lee, who was standing still down in the arena. His fingers twitched. No… he thought. Lee’s not done yet.

Down in the arena, Lee clenched his fists.

Then he vanished.

“!!!”

Gaara’s eyes flicked sideways—just barely. The sand stirred, shifting in anticipation.

Lee reappeared right above him.

THWACK!

A solid kick connected with the top of Gaara’s sand gourd, cracking it slightly. The sand had nearly stopped it, but not fast enough.

Lee flipped back before landing lightly on his feet. His plan had worked.

If I move faster than the sand can react, I can break through!

His grin widened as his body tensed with newfound determination.

“Now then… let’s really get started.”

Down in the arena, Rock Lee’s speed was beginning to overwhelm Gaara’s sand. His strikes were slipping through the cracks in the sand’s defense—little by little, he was making progress.

But it still wasn’t enough.

Lee knew it. He could feel it.

Gaara, despite the light damage he had taken, remained eerily composed. His sand gourd, though slightly cracked from earlier, still churned and moved around him like a living entity, repairing gaps as fast as Lee could make them.

Lee grits his teeth as he lands a few meters away, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. Even with my speed, his sand can still react just in time to block the major hits…

He clenched his fists. There’s only one thing left to do.

Lee knelt before his sensei, sweat dripping down his forehead after another grueling day of training. His arms burned, his legs ached, but his resolve remained firm. Across from him, Might Guy crouched down to his level, his usual exuberance replaced by a rare, serious expression.

“Listen well, Lee.” Guy’s voice was steady, firm. “The Eight Gates are not a technique to be taken lightly.”

Lee swallowed, nodding. He already knew that.

“When you open the Gates, you’re breaking the limits of your own body,” Guy continued, his dark eyes sharp and unwavering. “That power comes with a price. If you overuse it, you could lose the ability to fight forever… or worse.”

A pause.

Then, Guy reached forward, resting a firm hand on Lee’s shoulder.

“That’s why you must only use them in truly dire situations. When there is no other way. Do you understand, Lee?”

Lee met his sensei’s gaze, determination burning in his eyes.

“Yes, Guy-sensei!”

Back in the present, Lee inhaled sharply before clenching his fists tight. He had no other choice. This is a dire situation.

With a deep breath, he lowered his stance, his entire body coiling like a spring about to snap.

Gaara’s pale blue eyes narrowed.

Then—

BOOM.

A pulse of raw, explosive energy surged through the air.

Lee’s skin flushed red as his muscles bulged, veins pushing against his skin from the sheer force coursing through his body. Dust kicked up around him as the ground cracked under his feet. His breath came out ragged—but his speed skyrocketed.

Gaara’s sand immediately shifted, sensing danger.

Lee vanished.

He reappeared in front of Gaara—before the sand could react.

CRACK!

A brutal uppercut smashed into Gaara’s chin, launching him into the air. His eyes widened in shock, blood spilling from his lip as his body flew upward.

Lee wasn’t done.

“Hidden Lotus!”

In a blur, he shot up after Gaara, his speed now completely surpassing the sand’s automatic defense. Before Gaara could even process what was happening, Lee was behind him.

BAM!

A devastating kick slammed into Gaara’s stomach, sending him higher into the air. Another kick—another punch—Lee was everywhere.

The sand tried to catch up, but it was too slow.

Up in the stands, Temari and Kankuro’s jaws nearly hit the floor.

“The hell—?!” Kankuro exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. “He’s—he’s actually getting hits on Gaara?!”

Temari’s brows furrowed, hands gripping the railing tightly. “How is that even possible? He doesn’t have chakra!”

Meanwhile, Team 7 watched with stunned silence.

Sasuke’s eyes were locked onto the fight, his mind racing. This speed… it’s almost like the Sharingan can’t even track it properly.

Naruto’s mouth was slightly open. “Holy crap…”

Even Harry looked slightly taken aback. “I don’t know much about taijutsu, but that… that’s not normal.”

Sakura, still tense, finally voiced the question in all their minds. “What exactly is he doing?”

Behind them, Might Guy had no smile on his face.

His arms were crossed, his expression serious as he answered.

“The Eight Gates,” he said firmly. “A forbidden technique that allows a shinobi to push their body beyond its natural limits.”

Naruto, wide-eyed, turned toward him. “Wait, forbidden?! Why?”

“Because the body has natural limiters for a reason,” Kakashi added, stepping in with his usual calm yet grim tone. “The Gates forcefully remove those limiters, allowing incredible power and speed… but at the cost of severe strain. If overused, it can lead to permanent damage… or even death.”

The weight of that statement made Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Harry stiffen.

“That’s…” Sakura trailed off, looking back down at Lee, her fingers gripping the railing tightly. “Then why is he using it now?”

Guy closed his eyes briefly. “Because for Rock Lee… taijutsu is all he has.”

Down below, Lee struck Gaara down with full force. Gaara’s body hurtled toward the ground like a meteor.

And then—

BOOM!

The impact created a massive crater, a cloud of dust exploding into the air.

The entire room held its breath.

Team 7 leaned forward, eyes wide.

Temari and Kankuro braced themselves.

Even Gaara’s impassive expression had shifted into something resembling surprise.

But—

The sand twitched.

Gaara… was not done.

Silence.

The cratered battlefield was still, save for the lingering dust in the air. For a moment, it seemed like Rock Lee had done it—that he had actually defeated Gaara.

Then—

The sand twitched.

And suddenly, it lashed out.

A sickening crack rang through the air as Gaara’s sand violently coiled around Lee’s left arm and leg, constricting with the force of a vice. Lee barely had time to react. His body, still recovering from the immense strain of the Eight Gates, refused to move fast enough. His exhausted muscles trembled—his breathing was ragged—but he still tried to pry himself free.

He failed.

The sand tightened.

And then—

CRUNCH!

A horrific, bone-shattering noise echoed through the arena.

Lee’s entire body jerked violently, his face contorting in agony as his leg and arm gave way under the immense pressure. His tibia snapped like a twig, the bone breaking clean through muscle and ligament. His humerus suffered the same fate, demolished beneath the force of Gaara’s crushing grip.

A strangled, pained gasp escaped Lee’s lips. His vision blurred at the edges, but he still fought against the overwhelming blackness threatening to take over.

Up in the stands, the entire arena erupted into chaos.

Temari and Kankuro stiffened in shock, their previous smugness evaporating into thin air.

“Gaara!” Temari shouted, her eyes wide with horror. “That’s enough!”

But her younger brother did not listen.

Gaara’s teal eyes were wide, unfocused. He was breathing heavily, his hands slightly trembling. The dark rings under his eyes seemed deeper—his expression a twisted mix of euphoria and unfiltered bloodlust.

More.

I need to… crush him more.

The sand shifted again.

It coiled higher, inching toward Lee’s throat.

“GAARA!”

Before he could finish the job—

BOOM!

A sudden gust of wind slammed into the battlefield, sending dust flying. In an instant, Might Guy was there. The green blur of Konoha’s Strongest Taijutsu User snatched Lee’s broken body from the sand’s grasp.

Guy landed several meters away, crouching protectively over his student, his arms wrapped tightly around Lee’s limp form. His usual beaming energy was completely gone.

Gaara blinked.

His sand, still hovering mid-air, froze.

The arena was dead silent.

Then—

“Gaara of the Sand is the winner.” Hayate Gekkō’s voice rang through the tension-thick air, signaling the end of the match.

Even so, Gaara’s sand lingered.

His fingers twitched. He wanted to attack again.

But before he could make another move—

A gloved hand clamped onto his shoulder.

Gaara’s body went rigid.

He turned his head slightly—only to find Baki, his sensei, standing there.

The older man’s grip was firm.

“Enough, Gaara.”

His voice was calm—but beneath it, there was a warning.

A long, agonizing pause.

Then, slowly, Gaara’s sand receded.

Up in the stands, Team 7 exhaled.

Sakura’s hands were clenched white-knuckled against the railing, her heart hammering in her chest. “That was…” She trailed off, unable to even find the right words.

Naruto swallowed thickly. “That guy’s seriously messed up.”

Sasuke didn’t speak, his gaze fixated on Gaara with a newfound sharpness. He had felt it earlier—a gut instinct that screamed ‘bad news’ the moment they met.

Now, after seeing Gaara fight?

That feeling had only intensified.

Harry let out a slow breath, forcing himself to relax. “Lee almost had him,” he murmured, shaking his head. “But that was brutal.”

Kakashi, who had been silently observing, spoke up. “This match is over. The medics need to get down there—now.”

On the battlefield, medics rushed in. A stretcher was brought out as Guy gently lifted Lee onto it, his normally gleaming white teeth grit behind tight lips. His hands, still gripping Lee’s shoulders, trembled.

Tenten was the first to reach them.

“Lee!” She dropped to her knees beside the stretcher, her eyes darting frantically over his limp body. “Damn it—his leg—his arm—” She stopped herself, squeezing her eyes shut as she swallowed back the lump in her throat.

Neji, who had arrived beside her, stared at Lee with an unreadable expression. His hands curled into fists at his sides. “He won’t ever fight the same again.”

The words were said quietly.

But they hung in the air like a death sentence.

Guy inhaled sharply.

Then, with the utmost care, he brushed a few strands of sweat-soaked hair from Lee’s forehead.

“Rest now, Lee,” he murmured, his voice softer than usual. “You did well.”

The medics began moving.

Tenten stood, watching helplessly as Lee was carried away.

Neji’s frown deepened, but he said nothing.

Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji had gone completely silent.

Chōji absently crushed a bag of half-eaten chips in his grip, his appetite forgotten.

Ino’s usually sharp blue eyes were slightly wider, lips parted as if trying to process what she just witnessed.

Shikamaru was the first to break the silence.

“Man… what a drag,” he muttered. His tone was casual—but his eyes weren’t.

Beside them, Asuma exhaled a plume of smoke. “That kid, Gaara… he’s dangerous.”

Kurenai, standing near Hinata and Shino, nodded. “It’s not just his strength. His mental state is… unstable.”

Hinata clutched her hands together, her eyes full of concern.

Shino adjusted his glasses, his mind working through calculations. “Rock Lee’s injuries… they won’t heal properly, will they?”

Kurenai pursed her lips. “No. He’ll never fully recover from that.”

Silence fell over the group again.

Harry ran a hand through his hair, his brows furrowed in thought. “This Gaara guy… what’s his deal?”

Kakashi sighed, his single eye flickering toward the sand-covered redhead in the arena below. “He’s not just any shinobi. He’s the Jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Beast.”

Naruto stiffened.

Sakura’s mouth parted slightly. “He’s like…” She glanced at Naruto, suddenly putting the pieces together.

Sasuke didn’t react outwardly, but his mind was already working overtime.

Harry blinked, glancing between them. “Wait… what?”

Naruto’s hands clenched into fists.

Kakashi simply sighed again. “I’ll explain later.”

For now, all eyes remained on Gaara.

Even as the next match loomed, his presence left an undeniable weight on the entire arena.

And deep down, everyone knew—

This wasn’t the last time they’d see Gaara’s bloodlust.