Naruto: Zanka No Tachi

"Kurama-san, please spar with me!"

At the edge of the Uchiha clan training grounds, Rock Lee, a boy in a green jumpsuit and a distinctive watermelon hairstyle, bowed deeply to Yakumo Kurama, a girl with long brown hair, formally requesting a sparring match. His teammates, the stoic Neji Hyuga and the somewhat exasperated Tenten, stood behind him.

Tenten, with a look of apologetic concern, addressed Yakumo, "Kurama-san, I'm so sorry. Lee just loves to spar with talented ninjas. If you don't want to fight him, please just tell me, and I'll pull him away!"

Overhearing Tenten's attempt to soften the request, Lee, anxious about a potential rejection, immediately interjected with a loud declaration, "I hear Kurama-san is currently Konoha's most prodigious talent, even chosen by Lord Yusuke himself as a disciple!"

He continued, his voice brimming with youthful enthusiasm, "And my teacher, Might Guy, and Lord Yusuke are fated rivals. I believe that we, as disciples of our respective masters, are also destined to determine the victor between us!"

Intrigued by Lee's words, Yakumo Kurama cast a questioning glance at Tenten and Neji, her eyes seeking confirmation of Lee's rather bold statement.

Upon receiving Yakumo's questioning look, even Neji, who usually maintained a cool and aloof demeanor, found himself blushing slightly. Tenten, too, looked somewhat embarrassed. Lee's claim was certainly a bit of self-aggrandizement, given that Yusuke and Guy, in terms of both reputation and status, were no longer appropriately considered rivals.

However, Yakumo didn't dwell on the hyperbole, instead fixing her gaze on Lee with a serious expression. "Rock Lee-kun," she replied in a firm and respectful tone, "I accept your challenge!"

Yakumo's own heart was a whirlwind of complex emotions. There was a time, not so long ago, when Lee had been someone she deeply admired and envied. Both she and Lee had been initially deemed incapable of learning ninjutsu. Yet, Lee had been discovered by Might Guy, taken under his wing, and set upon the path to becoming a ninja. Meanwhile, she, due to her frail constitution and the uncontrollable power of her genjutsu, had been essentially confined.

"If it weren't for my teacher," she mused to herself, "despite my reluctance, I would likely be a painter, content with a life far removed from the ninja world."

With these thoughts swirling within her, Yakumo resolved to approach this sparring match with the utmost seriousness and respect, both as a testament to her own growth and as a sign of respect for her opponent.

Just then, Kurotsuchi and her team, who had come to gather information on Yakumo Kurama, spotted the group from the periphery of the training grounds.

"Look, that girl must be Kurama Yakumo; she looks just like the description we heard earlier. Those with her look familiar too; they might be the ones Father mentioned in yesterday's intel," Kurotsuchi pointed out to Aka-do and Hai-do, her gaze fixed on Yakumo and the three Konoha genin.

Hai-do, carefully scanning the faces of the group, nodded in agreement. "Correct, that's Kurama Yakumo. The other three are Konoha genin participating in the Chunin Exams. Based on the intel, they're all skilled in taijutsu. Their team is ranked third in Konoha and is considered to be among the top contenders in the overall Chunin Exam."

While Kurotsuchi held the position of team leader for the Iwagakure team, it was Hai-do, with his sharp mind and strategic thinking, who more often than not served as the team's primary planner. Aka-do, a loyal and dependable ninja, fulfilled the role of Kurotsuchi's dedicated bodyguard.

"Is that so? Well, this is interesting," Kurotsuchi remarked, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Then, noticing Lee's rather unique appearance, she couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Wait a minute… that watermelon hairstyle… those incredibly thick eyebrows… and that shockingly bright green jumpsuit… It's hilarious! Hahahaha!!"

Kurotsuchi had noticed that Lee seemed to be issuing a challenge to Yakumo Kurama, but upon taking in Lee's rather striking and unconventional appearance, she found herself unable to contain her laughter.

"Kurotsuchi," Hai-do said sternly, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation, "mocking someone's appearance is inappropriate and could easily provoke them."

Kurotsuchi, still giggling, bent over, clutching her stomach to stifle her laughter. "I'm sorry," she managed to say between gasps, "I really didn't mean to, but I just can't help it."

Looking at Hai-do's impassive expression, Kurotsuchi found herself puzzled. "Don't you find him funny at all?" she asked, genuinely curious.

Hai-do shook his head, his voice unwavering. "As a fully trained ninja, I've undergone rigorous discipline. No matter how funny something might seem, I will not laugh. Unless I absolutely cannot help it!"

Kurotsuchi and her team made no attempt to hide their presence; their movements were quickly noticed by Yakumo and Lee's group. However, this did not interrupt the impending sparring match.

"Rock Lee, specializing in taijutsu, I humbly request your guidance!"

"Yakumo Kurama, specializing in genjutsu, I humbly request your guidance!"

After exchanging formal bows, the sparring match officially commenced, with Neji and Tenten acting as impartial judges.

With a blur of motion, Lee instantly launched himself toward Yakumo, utilizing his signature speed. While Lee's repertoire was primarily limited to taijutsu, he was far from foolish; he possessed considerable experience in engaging opponents of various fighting styles.

He was well aware that Yakumo Kurama was a prodigious talent in genjutsu, capable of subduing him with a single, well-placed illusionary technique. His only hope of victory lay in preventing her from deploying her genjutsu, aiming to defeat her before she could even begin to weave her illusions.

However, much to Lee's surprise, Yakumo was able to match his speed, effortlessly deflecting all of his attacks. Based on both her speed and power, her taijutsu skills were on par with his own.

"This is impossible," Lee thought, a mixture of shock and disbelief washing over him. "She's only just begun her ninja training, and she's a genjutsu-type ninja. Even for a genius, it's inconceivable that she could hone her taijutsu to this level in such a short period of time!"

Simultaneously shocked and spurred on by this unexpected challenge, Lee poured more chakra into his movements, further enhancing his speed and power, engaging Yakumo in a fierce exchange of blows. However, he quickly discovered that his opponent, too, seemed to be steadily growing stronger, leaving him unable to gain even the slightest advantage.

In just a minute or two, Lee and Yakumo had already exchanged dozens of blows, their impressive taijutsu skills leaving everyone around them utterly astonished. Tenten and Neji, well aware of Lee's taijutsu prowess, were particularly surprised by Yakumo's unexpected ability to match, and even surpass in some instances, Lee's skill.

Kurotsuchi and her team, watching from the outer edge of the training grounds, felt a considerable surge of pressure. In terms of pure taijutsu, their skills were clearly inferior to the two combatants currently locked in their intense exchange.

"Something's not right; I have a very strange feeling about this," Hai-do stated, his voice serious and his expression grave.

Hai-do, a highly skilled genjutsu user himself, had a subtle sense that he might be under the influence of a genjutsu, yet he couldn't be entirely certain. He attempted to mobilize his chakra to dispel any potential genjutsu, but found no indication that he was indeed under such an influence.

"Could I be overthinking this?" Haido questioned himself, beginning to doubt his own perhaps overly cautious assessment of the situation.

Simultaneously, Neji Hyuga, renowned for his exceptional Byakugan, also detected inconsistencies in the ongoing sparring match.

"Tenten," he addressed his teammate, his voice low but urgent, "have you noticed that Kurama-san's movements are almost perfectly mirroring Lee's? Their fight is like watching two Rock Lees battling each other!"

Upon hearing Neji's observation, Tenten, who had been captivated by the impressive display of taijutsu, immediately noticed the striking anomaly.

"What's going on?" Tenten exclaimed, her voice laced with confusion. "Only the Sharingan should be able to replicate movements with such precision! But Kurama-san isn't from the Uchiha clan, and even if she did possess the Sharingan, without possessing the same level of muscle strength and reaction speed as Lee, it would be impossible to achieve this degree of mimicry!"

"Byakugan!" Neji declared, activating his Byakugan, his signature dojutsu. Upon observing the scene before him through the enhanced visual perception of his Byakugan, Neji's expression drastically changed, his eyes widening in shock and realization.

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