Chapter 55
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't comment on Zixu's performance. He had rushed onto the field for a reason—something was off about that Gaara kid. The moment he saw that his opponent was Rock Lee, he snapped.
Handfuls of sand poured out of Gaara's gourd like a never-ending tide. From the start, Rock Lee had no intention of holding back. Relying on his exceptional taijutsu, he weaved through Gaara's relentless waves of sand, but it was only a matter of time before his body began to give out.
"Open the Gate of Opening (Kaimon)! Gate of Healing (Kyūmon)! Gate of Life (Seimon)! Gate of Pain (Shōmon)! Gate of Limit (Tomon)!"
Red energy burst from Rock Lee's body as he pushed himself beyond his limits. He knew he had to go all out if he wanted a chance at victory. Without hesitation, he removed the weights strapped to his legs and hurled them aside before forcefully opening five of the Eight Inner Gates (Hachimon).
The sand that had previously kept up with Rock Lee's speed and automatically defended Gaara finally failed to keep pace. Rock Lee was like a violent storm, striking through every gap in the sand's defenses.
Gaara quickly encased himself in a thick layer of sand, retreating into a defensive state once more.
But with the power of the fifth gate unleashed, Rock Lee became an unstoppable force. He smashed his fists into Gaara's sand shield, over and over again, each blow creating deep dents in the protective sphere.
A muffled "pop" echoed through the arena—the sand dome finally shattered under Rock Lee's relentless barrage. But by then, Rock Lee was completely drained.
"Ha... ha..." Rock Lee panted heavily, his body trembling under the strain. The Eight Inner Gates forcibly removed the body's natural chakra limits, but the price was immense. At this moment, even standing upright was a struggle.
Yet, with his last ounce of strength, Rock Lee staggered forward and threw one final punch.
Clang!