Chapter 53: Izayoi's Underling

Chapter 53: Izayoi's Underling

After exchanging a few words in the hallway, Team Eight and Team Seven headed upstairs together to submit their applications, collect seat numbers, and prepare to move to the classroom building.

In the stairwell, Sasuke Uchiha turned to Izayoi. "Izayoi, have you noticed those guys lately?"

"Hmm."

Izayoi nodded. He knew exactly who Sasuke meant—the foreign ninja secretly investigating them. As the class’s top graduate and the last surviving Uchiha, both he and Sasuke were prime targets for scrutiny. Lately, strangers had been lingering near Izayoi’s home, though none had dared overstep. He’d chosen to ignore them.

"Did you encounter a guy carrying a gourd?" Sasuke pressed.

"No. Is he strong?"

"Yeah… a serious threat." Sasuke’s lips curled slightly, as if recalling something. "This year’s Chūnin Exams are packed with monsters. I can’t wait to fight them all."

"Then you might get your wish sooner than you think", Izayoi said, spotting someone approaching from the corner of his eye.

As they entered the administration building’s back hall, a voice called out behind them.

"Please, wait a moment."

At the sound, Sakura Haruno stiffened.

"Again? What does Bushy Brows want now?" Naruto Uzumaki shouted, pointing at Rock Lee, who stood on the second-floor balcony.

Rock Lee leapt down, landing in a martial arts stance. Fixing Izayoi with a determined gaze, he declared, "My name is Rock Lee! I challenge the top rookie of this year—let’s settle this in battle, Izayoi!"

"A challenge for Izayoi?" Team Seven exchanged surprised glances.

"He… seems like Neji’s teammate", Hinata Hyuga murmured, her brows knitting together as her expression darkened, misinterpreting the situation.

"My bugs detected a faint scent of blood on him", Shino Aburame remarked flatly. "His strength isn’t ordinary."

Izayoi raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected Rock Lee to target him instead of Sasuke.

Thinking of the Eight Gates Formation—a legendary technique rivaling the Flying Thunder God and Edo Tensei—Izayoi felt a flicker of interest. But after glancing toward a distant direction, his curiosity faded.

If there were no limits, he’d gladly test the Eight Gates’ power. For now, though, he turned to Sasuke. "You’re up."

"Me?"

Sasuke blinked, then remembered Rock Lee intercepting him and the chūnin guard earlier. His fighting spirit ignited. "Fine. I’ll handle him."

Seeing Sasuke step forward, Rock Lee frowned. "What does this mean?"

Before Izayoi could answer, Sasuke thrust his thumb at himself arrogantly. "Beat me first. If you can’t even defeat me, there’s no need to humiliate yourself."

Rock Lee’s eyes widened. "I see… you’re Izayoi’s underling."

"Who’s his underling?!" Sasuke roared, his eyes shifting to the crimson two-tomoe Sharingan. "Enough talk. Let’s begin."

Staring at Sasuke’s eyes, Rock Lee hesitated briefly before his own expression hardened. "So you’re the last Uchiha. Very well—let me test the power of the legendary Sharingan!"

With that, he bowed formally. "My name is Rock Lee. I look forward to your guidance."

"Save the pleasantries. Let’s end this quickly."

Sasuke lunged forward, while Team Seven and Eight leaned against the hall’s pillars, watching.

Rock Lee tensed as Sasuke’s figure loomed closer. The moment Sasuke threw a punch, Rock Lee vanished.

"Body Flicker Technique? No, this feels different…"

Sasuke’s fist met air, and he quickly extended his senses. A second later, he turned sharply, raising his forearm to block a kick aimed at his face.

His expression twisted in shock. Such power… Could he be—?

In those two seconds of hesitation, Rock Lee retracted his leg, flipped backward with impossible flexibility, and landed in a breakdancer’s pose. Using his hands as leverage, he launched into a full Thomas Flair, striking Sasuke’s face from below.

Sasuke blocked with both arms but was still sent flying into the air, landing with numb hands.

Rock Lee straightened, resuming his stance. "That was high-speed movement and raw power. You’re a taijutsu specialist."

"Correct", Rock Lee nodded, adding, "They say the Sharingan can see through all ninjutsu, genjutsu, and even taijutsu. It lives up to its reputation."

"But what surprises me more", he continued, "is that you not only saw through my moves but could keep up with my speed physically. Truly worthy of the Uchiha genius."

"Keep up? Hmph." Sasuke’s Sharingan spun. "I’ll return that compliment."

His form vanished.

Rock Lee’s eyes widened.

A whistling sound erupted behind him. He turned to see Sasuke’s leg descending and raised his arm instinctively.

Crack!

The collision sent Sasuke flipping backward, landing in the same breakdancer pose. He launched upward, mirroring Rock Lee’s earlier Thomas Flair, aiming a kick at Rock Lee’s face.

Rock Lee barely blocked, flying two meters before landing. Staring at Sasuke—who now mimicked his stance—he stammered, "You…"

Team Seven, still leaning against the pillar, gaped.

"Did I hallucinate?" Naruto rubbed his eyes. "Did Arrogant Sasuke just copy Bushy Brows’ move?"

"Amazing… This is why Sasuke-kun is the best!" Sakura clasped her hands, stars in her eyes.

"Is this the legendary Sharingan replication?" Shino murmured. "Copying an enemy’s technique in an instant… No wonder the Uchiha’s Sharingan is called the ultimate bloodline for one-on-one combat."

Only Izayoi and Hinata remained composed, smiling knowingly.

Sasuke’s strength was no mystery to them. After years of training under Izayoi, if he were still weak, his "teacher" would’ve resigned in shame long ago.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end