Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

She said no more and quietly retreated to Naruto's side, watching with him as Sasuke chose to fight Rock Lee.

Noticing Naruto and Sakura's actions, Lee said, "You have two great companions, Sasuke."

"I know this myself, I don't need you to remind me."

Sasuke stared at Lee's movements with his red eyes.

Naruto watched Sasuke and Lee from the side.

In the original story, Sasuke gained a single Sharingan with two tomoe during his battle with Haku in the Land of Waves.

During his training before the Chunin Exams, he transformed both his eyes into double tomoe.

However, Naruto has already secretly dealt with Haku and Zabuza, causing Sasuke to miss a rare opportunity for growth.

Even Sasuke with his two-tomoe Sharingan in the original work couldn't beat Rock Lee now.

Not to mention Sasuke, whose Sharingan is still only a single tomoe.

"Then, I'll make the first move."

Xiao Li assumed a defensive stance.

He stood upright, one hand behind his back, and the other hand stretched forward with the palm aligned with his chest.

Lee's movements are not fast to begin with, and the Sharingan can easily capture every detail of his movements.

What is the starting stance for martial arts?

Sasuke was guessing which taijutsu Lee would use, and he was slightly underestimating him.

Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu.

Of these three techniques, taijutsu is the easiest to see through by the Sharingan's "observational eye" characteristic.

Sasuke twitched his eyeballs—but in that instant, Rock Lee vanished from his sight.

"What!?"

Sasuke was shocked; his Sharingan couldn't even see how Rock Lee disappeared.

It's as if Xiao Li has truly disappeared.

Is it an illusion?

Sakura was also surprised and uncertain.

Lee disappeared faster than a normal Body Flicker Technique, so Sakura naturally assumed that Lee had used some kind of illusion.

However, the technique that caused Xiao Li to "disappear" still falls within the definition of the Instantaneous Movement Technique.

The definition of Body Flicker Technique is: using one's own chakra to achieve high-speed movement, making it appear to others as if one has disappeared into thin air.

Escape techniques, high-speed taijutsu, and space-time ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God Technique—

Any technique that can achieve the effect of "instantaneous movement" can be collectively referred to as "instantaneous movement technique".

Xiao Li's disappearance was the result of high-speed physical techniques.

It's just that Xiao Li's speed is so fast that it gives people the illusion that they don't know when he used illusion magic.

Naruto didn't answer Sakura, but instead focused his gaze on what was behind Sasuke.

Naruto's gaze had barely fallen when Rock Lee appeared behind Sasuke.

Everything was accomplished in the blink of an eye!

Rock Lee, who was crouching behind Sasuke, raised one foot and kicked Sasuke.

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

Unable to withstand the immense impact of Lee's kick known as the Leaf Whirlwind, Sasuke was lifted into the air.

"hateful!"

Sasuke, now suspended in mid-air, had completely abandoned his underestimation of his opponent.

He looked back at Xiao Li in mid-air, but Xiao Li had disappeared again, just like before.

Even the Sharingan couldn't see through Lee's movements.

Fire Release:

Sasuke immediately abandoned his battle strategy of using his Sharingan to observe Rock Lee's movements.

Xiao Li's disappearance will inevitably lead to his reappearance and attack on him again.

Sasuke raised his hands, preparing to form the Fire Release hand seals, and relied on his intuition to attack the place where Rock Lee would appear next.

That's too late.

Naruto stared at Sasuke's hands as they flew through the air...

Before Sasuke can even touch his hands together to form hand seals, Rock Lee's attack will arrive first.

"There are less than 15 minutes left to gather for the second exam!"

Naruto suddenly shouted at this moment.

"What! Is there really only so little time left?"

Surprised by how quickly time had passed, Lee responded to Naruto's words.

Sasuke's eyes widened as Lee's voice came from right behind him—so close.

"Enough, Xiao Li! Don't let a small thing ruin everything! You'll be disqualified from the exam!"

Neji also intervened in the battle.

Lee twisted his body in mid-air and landed lightly back beside Neji and Tenten.

Sasuke also flipped over and staggered back to the ground.

Lee noticed the hand seals Sasuke was making with his hands clasped together.

"It seems we haven't decided a winner yet, Sasuke."

Lee's gaze flickered to Sakura for a moment before returning to Sasuke: "I've actually heard that Sakura has someone she likes... Sasuke, next time I will definitely defeat you and prove myself to Sakura!"

"If your eyesight isn't good, get a pair of glasses. Once you can see things clearly, girls will start to like you."

Sasuke closed his Sharingan, and his eyes returned to their usual black color.

He was too lazy to explain the misunderstanding to Xiao Li.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto.

Naruto is something else; he seems completely oblivious to Sakura's change in attitude towards him since the Land of Waves.

Sasuke sometimes makes me anxious just watching him...

"Let's go, Xiao Li."

Tian Tian reiterated to Xiao Li that time was of the essence.

"I'm sorry, Neji and Tenten, for keeping you here with me."

Xiao Li conveyed his apologies to his companion.

The three members of Class 3 used the Body Flicker Technique to leave together.

Now only Class 7 remains here.

"Alright, let's not waste any more time."

Naruto said to Sasuke and Sakura.

Sasuke scrutinized Naruto. Naruto must have seen the outcome of his fight with Rock Lee before he called for a halt.

"I lost just now."

After a moment of silence, Sasuke suddenly uttered something astonishing.

"What are you talking about, Sasuke? Didn't the battle just end in a draw?"

Sakura could hardly believe what Sasuke was saying.

Sasuke simply shook his head and did not answer Sakura.

He focused his gaze on Naruto.

"Naruto, this Chunin Exams is more interesting than I expected... There are many powerful guys... I'm looking forward to fighting them next."

Naruto stared at Sasuke, not surprised by his words.

That's the real Uchiha Sasuke; he's never weaker than anyone else.

Temporary setbacks will only become the driving force for him to continue to become stronger.

"Ah."

Naruto responded to Sasuke.

Sasuke remained silent for a long time before speaking again:

"Naruto, I also... want to fight you."

"Ok?"

Naruto was taken aback by what he heard.

Chapter 36 Borrowing the Wind

Konoha, Training Ground 44, Forest of Death.

The Death Forest is home to plants and animals that are dozens of times larger than those found outside.

The towering trees can even swallow up the sunlight; as far as the eye can see, there is only darkness.

It's as if it's foreshadowing that the ninjas who enter it will eventually be swallowed by darkness.

Outside the Death Forest, surrounded by iron bars, Mitarashi Anko, the examiner for the second exam, watched the three members of Class 7.

"You guys are really lucky. I was just about to disqualify you from the exam."

Hongdou looked at the 60 candidates gathered in front of her, all of whom were present.