Chapter 76: The debt is settled

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

(Four chapters today. 2/4)

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Hayate Gekko, looking even more sickly than usual, retreated from the center of the arena, and the exciting match soon began.

The gourd behind Gaara unplugged itself, sand pouring out to pool around his feet.

Lee, recognizing the threat of Gaara's long-range attacks, knew he needed to close the distance quickly.

He rushed forward without hesitation, his speed leaving afterimages in his wake.

"Leaf Hurricane!" Lee cried, sweeping a powerful kick towards Gaara's head.

Gaara didn't move a muscle, allowing his sand to rise up and block the attack effortlessly. The weakness of the Strong Fist style was highlighted in that moment – its effectiveness diminished against such a malleable defense.

But Lee was far from discouraged. He launched into a relentless combo, his strikes a blur of motion. The entire arena was filled with his afterimages as he attacked from every angle, showcasing the [Konoha Senpuu] technique inherited from Might Guy.

Yet each time, Gaara's sand rose to meet him, an impenetrable shield. At one point, the sand even caught Lee's ankle, hurling him across the arena.

Guy watched his student for a while until he finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Lee!" Guy's voice boomed out, stopping his student's assault.

"You can lift the restrictions!"

Lee, standing at the edge of the arena, hesitated.

"But..." His expression was conflicted, torn between his sensei's command and his own reservations.

The other ninja looked on in confusion, not understanding the exchange.

"It's okay, Lee. I'll allow you to do that," Guy repeated, his voice firm with conviction.

"I see, Guy-sensei." Lee's hesitation vanished, replaced by steely resolve. He reached down, unclasping the weights hidden beneath his leg warmers.

When the weights hit the ground, they smashed two deep craters into the arena floor. The impact left many spectators wide-eyed, including Gaara, who showed a rare moment of surprise.

Sasuke, watching intently, clung to the guardrail, his Sharingan active as he tried to process what he was seeing.

"Guy, it's a bit over the top, but that is so like you…" Kakashi said with a sigh. He couldn't help but worry about the long-term effects such training might have on a fourteen-year-old's body.

"Kakashi, don't worry," Guy responded, his eyes never leaving his student. "Lee is a genius of hard work and physical prowess."

"Come on, Lee!" Guy called out, hope and pride shining in his eyes. "Let everyone see your talent!"

What followed was a display of taijutsu that left many spectators in awe. Lee, freed from his weights, moved at speeds that even Gaara's sand struggled to match.

For the second time in the exam, Gaara found himself on the defensive, actually taking hits as Lee's strikes broke through his sand shield.

After a particularly spectacular flying kick, Lee attempted to end the match with a powerful follow-up. But even as his strike landed, shattering Gaara's sand armor, he realized that Gaara's actual body remained unharmed.

Lee landed, panting heavily.

"Looks like I still have to use that technique," he muttered, steeling himself for what was to come.

"[Eight Inner Gates] - [Third Gate: Life Gate], open!" Lee's skin flushed red as chakra, visible to the naked eye, poured from his body in waves.

But Lee wasn't done.

"[Fourth Gate: Pain Gate], open!" The surge of power intensified, Lee's muscles bulging as they strained against the influx of energy.

Gaara, for the first time in the match, found himself completely overwhelmed.

Lee's increased speed and power left him unable to mount any effective defense, and he was tossed about the arena like a rag doll.

As Lee prepared for his final assault, he couldn't resist calling out to his rival.

"Neji! This move was originally reserved for you, but now I'll let you see it!"

"[Fifth Gate: Limit Gate], open!"

As Lee initiated the [Primary Lotus], his battle cry echoed through the arena. Neji, watching from above, felt the color drain from his face. The realization that his teammate had been preparing such a devastating technique specifically to use against him was sobering.

The already damaged arena suffered another blow as Lee slammed Gaara into the ground with earth-shattering force. When the dust settled, it revealed a scene of destruction – the floor was a maze of cracks and craters.

But even this wasn't enough. Though Gaara's sand armor was gone, his gourd had transformed into a final layer of defense, absorbing much of the impact.

Lee, his muscles strained beyond their limits, could barely move. Gaara, despite the battering he'd taken, slowly rose to his feet. His eyes, filled with a mixture of pain and rage, fixed on Lee. Sand began to swirl around him as he raised his hand, clearly intending to crush his helpless opponent.

It was at this critical moment that Colt spoke up, his voice carrying across the arena.

"Gaara, Lee has already lost. Let's stop here."

Colt's intervention was born from the knowledge of his previous life. He remembered how this moment, originally thought to be the start of Lee's rise to prominence, had instead led to the talented shinobi being sidelined for many episodes of the anime. Gaara's final attack, crushing nearly every bone in Lee's body, had robbed him of much of his potential. Even Tsunade's legendary healing skills hadn't been able to fully heal him.

Now that Colt was here, he was determined not to let history repeat itself.

Baki, the Sand Village Jonin, scoffed at Colt's audacity.

Who did this Leaf genin think he was, speaking to Gaara in such a commanding tone? Did he truly believe Konoha's authority extended to foreign shinobi?

But to Baki's shock – and everyone else's surprise – Gaara hesitated.

For a long moment, the red-haired ninja stood frozen, his hand still outstretched. Then, slowly, he lowered his arm and straightened up.

"I don't owe you anymore," Gaara stated flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. Without waiting for Hayate to officially announce the result, he turned and walked back to the viewing area.

Colt allowed himself a small smile.

He knew Gaara was referring to their encounter in the Forest of Death, where Colt had not only spared him but had also granted him his first peaceful sleep in years. It seemed the debt, in Gaara's mind, was now settled.

"Thank you, Colt-kun!" Guy's grateful voice boomed out as he rushed to check on his student. The medical team, already on standby, hurried into the arena to assess Lee's condition.

"The muscles all over the body are strained, and the bones are broken," one of the medical-nin reported grimly.

"There is nothing we can do here. Maybe Dr. Fujisaki at the hospital may have some solutions."

"No, I'll come," Colt said, his mouth twitching slightly as he jumped down from the second floor.

Fujisaki was actually his own shadow clone, an identity he'd created at the Konoha Hospital. Over the past six years, this alter ego had gained the respect and admiration of countless medical ninjas, even being promoted by the Third Hokage to captain of a medical team.

As Colt's hands began to glow with healing chakra, the attending medical-nin's eyes widened in surprise. "It's the same as Dr. Fujisaki's medical ninjutsu!" he exclaimed.

Colt didn't bother to explain, unsure how to even begin describing the situation. Instead, he focused his efforts on stabilizing Lee's condition. After five intense minutes of treatment, Lee was finally out of immediate danger.

"I'm done," Colt said, releasing his technique. "It's time to go to the hospital for further treatment."

The medical team quickly reassessed Lee's condition, confirming that while he was still seriously injured, most of his bones and muscles had begun to heal. It was now within their capabilities to continue his treatment.

"Colt-Kun, thank you,"

Guy thanked him and then accompanied the medical ninja to send Lee to the hospital.

As the final match was announced, anticipation filled the air.

 "Kamiyo Colt vs Hyuga Neji," the screen displayed.

Colt's lips curled into a small smile as he met Neji's intense gaze.

The Hyuga prodigy had been waiting for this moment, eager to prove himself against the enigmatic Colt.

Standing in the center of the now-empty arena, Colt's voice rang out, clear and challenging:

"Hyuga Neji, come down to get beaten!"

The stage was set for what promised to be an epic confrontation between two of Konoha's most talented young ninjas.