53: Critically Hit Rock Lee, The Dog Licks Fall

[After a day of relaxation with Hinata.]

[The next day.]

[Chūnin exam, first exam room.]

["What has Lord Kakashi been up to recently? Why can't I even see him anymore?"]

[Naruto was puzzled.]

[Before, Kakashi was just late at most.]

[Now he's completely disappeared!]

["Maybe something came up recently."]

[Sasuke responded casually as he raised his legs and walked upstairs.]

[He hoped that Lord Kakashi would figure it out soon.]

[As they walked to the second floor, they saw two Chūnin blocking the way in front of a door. The door number was 301, which was supposed to be their exam room.]

[Sasuke's mouth twitched.]

[This kind of low-level illusion trap—only fools would fall for it!]

[Is this really the level of Konoha Chūnin's genjutsu?]

[However.]

[Just as he thought this, he saw Naruto turning his head, about to walk right toward them.]

---

Uzumaki Naruto: "Damn it! I fell for it too!"

Uchiha Sasuke: "So you're a fool."

Nara Shikamaru: "The setup of this illusion is really crude. If you get tricked, it's probably for the best that you're kicked out of the Chūnin exam."

---

["Naruto!"]

[Sasuke angrily grabbed Naruto's collar from behind.]

[A surge of chakra entered Naruto's body, waking him up.]

["Huh? How did it become room 201?!"]

[Naruto said, slowly realizing.]

["...Even if you couldn't tell it was an illusion, couldn't you remember how many stairs we've climbed? We only reached the second floor!"]

[Sasuke couldn't help but hold his forehead as he spoke.]

[Forget being a ninja, even regular people wouldn't fall for this illusion, right?]

[Honestly, using this kind of genjutsu feels like an insult to intelligence!]

["Damn it!"]

[Even with Naruto's thick-skinned nature, he felt embarrassed and ashamed at that moment.]

[Sasuke sighed and began explaining to Naruto how to recognize and break illusions.]

["Please wait!"]

[A youthful voice called out from behind.]

[Sasuke turned around and saw a boy in green tights who looked like a kappa.]

[Rock Lee?]

[Sasuke had heard of him.]

[He was a year older, only knew taijutsu, yet still graduated from the academy.]

["That lovely girl with the pink hair, please go out with me! I will risk my life to protect you!"]

[Lee gave a thumbs up, his white teeth gleaming.]

["..."]

[Sakura felt her brain tremble.]

[Compared to him, Naruto seemed much more delicate and cute...]

---

Rock Lee: "Whoa, why is this happening?!"

Uzumaki Naruto: "...Sakura-chan, are you complimenting me?"

Tenten: "Lee, your appearance is a bit... intense. It might scare girls."

Nara Shikamaru: "Especially since Sakura stares at Sasuke's face every day, the contrast is way too stark..."

Rock Lee: "Damn it, is being handsome such a big deal? I think I look great like this!"

Might Guy: "Lee! It's good that you think this way! You mustn't doubt yourself because of others!"

Rock Lee: "Yes! Teacher Guy!"

Tenten: "You two are hopeless..."

---

[Sakura trembled and quickly hid behind Sasuke.]

["You want to pursue Sakura? But she's my girlfriend, so that would trouble me."]

[Sasuke shifted slightly, keeping Sakura behind him.]

["You're Uchiha Sasuke, right? I've heard your name at the academy. You and Neji are called the two geniuses of our generation!"]

[Lee's eyes burned with the flames of determination.]

[A genius!]

[That's exactly who he wanted to challenge!]

["Please have a duel with me, a duel between men!"]

[Lee exclaimed excitedly.]

[Defeat Sasuke, and win over Sakura's heart!]

[Just thinking about it made him feel inspired!]

["A duel between men?"]

[Sasuke thought for a moment, turned to look at Sakura, and gestured slightly with his face.]

["Huh? Right here?"]

[Sakura's face flushed instantly, and she gave a quick peck on Sasuke's cheek.]

["There, just as you said, you lost the duel between men."]

[Sasuke turned back to Lee and declared.]

[Click!]

["..."]

[Lee's entire body seemed to turn gray and crumble.]

[He fell to his knees, hitting the ground repeatedly with his fists, tears streaming down his face.]

[Why... why is this happening...]

[Even though he didn't know ninjutsu or genjutsu, he had never felt such a powerful blow until now!]

---

Uzumaki Naruto: "Oh, Sakura-chan, why would you do that?! Damn you, Sasuke!"

Rock Lee: "Whoa, Miss Sakura, please don't do things like that!"

Tenten: "Poor Lee... I can almost hear the sound of his heart breaking."

Hatake Kakashi: "A duel between men... Does Sasuke really interpret it like that?"

Jiraiya: "...That's definitely a loss."

Nara Shikamaru: "The gap between Lee and Sasuke's strength might not be as big as this one."

Kurenai Yuhi: "Wait, how long have Sasuke and Sakura from the parallel world been dating, and only now did Lee get his heart broken?"

Tsunade: "Sometimes, unless they witness the harshest truth, they won't give up."

Mei Terumi: "The poor guy chasing after someone who just flaunts her affection in front of others... It's too painful!"

Rock Lee: "Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..."