Rolling across the ground before finally coming to a stop, Sasuke's eyes met those of someone he knew.
'Toru?' he wondered.
"Hey. Want some help?" Toru asked casually, holding out a hand to Sasuke.
In the distance, Naruto looked surprised.
"Toru?"
It had been days since the last time they had seen each other. Sakura, on the other hand, was worried. After all, they had just kicked Sasuke's ass.
"Honestly, I expected more from the Uchiha Clan," the boy in green said. "Even if you used the Sharingan to read my movements, it didn't do you any good. Just like I said before, pure hard work is capable of overcoming natural talent."
"Don't leave me hanging," Toru said, still offering Sasuke his hand.
The Uchiha, however, clicked his tongue and slapped Toru's hand away.
"I don't need your help."
"Fine, but you don't have to be so rude about it," Toru commented, causing Sasuke to look away in annoyance.
The boy in green noticed Toru.
"You are..." He smiled excitedly. "What a great surprise. Not only was I lucky enough to run into an Uchiha, but also an Asahi."
That made everyone look at Toru curiously. Even Toru himself was confused. He even looked behind him to see if there was another Asahi. Then he asked:
"What do you mean?"
"You're seriously asking me that? My sensei told me I had to be careful around the Asahi. That's you, right? Your family was full of scientists and blacksmiths."
"I guess so..." Toru replied, though he wasn't exactly convinced that answering this weirdo was a good idea.
"Since you're here, my name is Rock Lee, and I want to fight you."
"I refuse..." Toru replied flatly.
Rock Lee nearly fell over at such a straightforward answer. Sasuke clicked his tongue in annoyance, while Sakura tried to understand why there was such a fuss over Toru.
'Toru? That weird, quiet kid? Seriously? I don't think he could last even five seconds. Lee managed to defeat Sasuke, so there's no way Toru could beat him. Although he refused... I guess he realized he couldn't take him.'
As she thought about it, her eyes fell on another girl who was watching the events unfold in surprise.
"Ino..."
Sakura was about to unleash her inner beast, but Ino completely ignored her because she was staring intently at Toru. That confused Sakura, since Ino normally would have thrown herself at Sasuke by now. That didn't happen. In fact, Ino looked like she hadn't even noticed Sasuke was there.
Meanwhile, Naruto greeted Hinata. The two looked at each other awkwardly. It was clear that neither of them had any idea what the hell was going on.
"You're refusing?" Lee said. "I don't think you understand. After all, that wasn't a question."
Rock Lee's body blurred, and in an instant, he appeared in front of Toru, raising his right leg to deliver the first strike.
"Toru-kun!"
Hinata's Byakugan activated, but she saw something strange.
"Eh?"
Lee was confused. Toru had disappeared at the exact right moment.
'No way?!'
Sasuke's and Naruto's eyes widened as they saw Toru jump toward a pillar and push himself off it, appearing behind Lee in the blink of an eye.
"That's impressive. You're faster than Sasuke, but let's see if you're stronger than him too."
Rock Lee launched himself into the attack once more. Using his legs and fists, he tried to strike Toru, but Toru quickly dodged every attack.
Seeing how Toru handled the situation, Sasuke clenched his fist tightly. A look of disgust formed on his face.
'How is it possible that he, of all people...?'
"I'm impressed, Asahi. You've surpassed my expectations," Rock Lee said, increasing his pace. "But unfortunately for you..."
His speed increased even further. It became harder and harder for Toru to dodge his attacks. The next moment, Toru was overwhelmed and struck in the face.
"This isn't over yet!" Rock Lee shouted.
Kicking Toru, he sent him flying into the air. Then, the bandages around one of his legs began to unravel.
'I'm sorry, sensei. I'm about to use my forbidden technique,' Rock Lee thought as he moved toward Toru.
However, a chill suddenly ran through his body, and when he looked into Toru's eyes, his body froze, screaming at him that he was in danger.
"Stop," an adult voice said.
A kunai fell between them, preventing Rock Lee from completing his technique. Landing on the ground, Rock Lee quickly got back to his feet, and a nervous expression formed on his face.
Almost immediately, like a storm, Rock Lee appeared in front of what looked like a talking turtle. Its shell was red, and it looked incredibly old.
"I can't believe you, Rock Lee, decided to disobey your sensei," the turtle complained.
Rock Lee panicked. He wasn't entirely sure how to respond.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to..."
"An apology won't be enough. What would Guy say if he were here? This really deserves punishment."
"I'm very sorry. I'll accept my punishment."
"You know better than anyone that a shinobi never reveals his techniques unless necessary, but using them on a mere whim..."
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry," Rock Lee said as he knelt before the turtle.
Meanwhile, everyone watched the strange comedy routine between Rock Lee and the turtle.
"That's a turtle, right?" Naruto asked.
"Obviously it's a turtle, idiot!" Sakura said.
"It's not like it's a dog. What kind of stupid question is that?" Ino added, crossing her arms.
"So... can a turtle be a master?" Naruto asked again.
"I don't think that's what it is..." Hinata replied.
Sasuke and Toru looked into each other's eyes.
'How is it possible that he, of all people, is stronger than me?' Sasuke thought.
After everything he had gone through, after nearly dying during the fight against Zabuza, none of it had been enough...
"You're here for the Chunin Exams, right?" Toru asked.
Sasuke grunted.
"I'm not answering that..."
Toru sighed.
'He hates losing. That's probably why he's so irritated.'
"I'm really sorry. It won't happen again, I swear!" Rock Lee promised with a deep bow.
Sasuke still couldn't understand why someone so ridiculous had managed to defeat him, but it was seriously getting on his nerves.
After a few more seconds of Rock Lee apologizing to the turtle, a cloud of smoke appeared, and from within it emerged a man who looked strangely similar to Lee.
"Hello, youngsters! How has life been treating you?!"
Striking a bizarre pose and flashing an exaggerated smile, the man stood on top of the turtle.
'Ridiculous...'
Everyone except Rock Lee and the turtle thought the same thing.
"Guy-sensei!" Rock Lee said in surprise.
That made everyone look at Rock Lee and notice the resemblance between the two.
"Rock Lee? How are you doing, my boy?" Guy said while giving a thumbs-up.
"Sensei, I..."
"I know, Lee. I can't believe someone like you... I'm disappointed," he said, shaking his head sorrowfully. "That's why you'll have to receive... this!"
Raising his fist into the air, Guy punched Lee in the face. The boy with the enormous eyebrows was sent flying several meters away.
'Seriously?!' everyone thought at the same time.
Lee lay on the ground.
"Rock Lee..." Guy said.
Getting up while rubbing his face to ease the pain, Rock Lee looked at Guy.
"Sensei..."
The two began crying at the same time. A few seconds later, Guy and Rock Lee embraced each other while crying. Even the turtle was crying.
'I can't believe this...' Sasuke thought.
'I don't understand anything...' Toru thought.
"That ridiculous guy is your teacher?"
Naruto said it out loud, causing Rock Lee to rise from the ground with a vein bulging on his forehead.
"Hey! How dare you disrespect Guy-sensei?!"
But Guy intervened.
"Oh... You must be Yamato's and Kakashi's students."
That made everyone look at him with confused expressions.
'That's right. Now I remember, he's pretty well known. He's Might Guy...' Toru thought. 'So he's the one who told Rock Lee to be careful around me. Does Guy-sensei know something I don't?'
Ino stepped forward and asked:
"Wait, how do you know Yamato-sensei?"
Guy answered immediately.
"Ah, right. Yamato was Kakashi's kouhai when they both worked in ANBU. You're probably also wondering why I know Kakashi." He smiled, looking slightly arrogant. He pointed his thumb at himself as if he were the greatest of them all. "Well, let's just say Kakashi and I have been lifelong rivals. And I'm far stronger than him at everything."
That made Sasuke feel irritated.
"Wait, how can someone like you be stronger than Kakashi?" Sasuke said, but instantly realized that Guy was no longer standing in front of him.
"I already told you. I'm stronger than Kakashi," Guy said, placing a hand on Sasuke's head.
Toru watched this curiously. Even he hadn't been able to see Guy move. That meant Guy wasn't lying.
"I've beaten Kakashi fifty times, and he's beaten me forty-nine. That means I'm stronger," he added proudly.
'No way... He's faster than Kakashi. I couldn't even see him move.'
Sasuke trembled. He was both surprised and intimidated by Guy's strange strength.
"That's right! Sensei is the best!" Lee declared.
Guy approached him with a smile and placed a hand on Lee's shoulder.
"Well said, Lee, but I think we're running out of time. Since you disobeyed my orders... how about five hundred laps around the village?!"
"Yes, sensei. That sounds great," Rock Lee said, but the moment was interrupted by Sakura.
"But what about registering for the Chunin Exams?"
Strangely enough, Ino shared the same concern.
"That's right. If you send Rock Lee to do something that crazy, he won't have time to register for the exams."
Guy suddenly realized how stupid that sounded...
"That's true. Then... Lee, your punishment will have to wait until later!"
"Yes, sensei!" Rock Lee replied.
After that, the turtle and Guy disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Now that I remember. Sasuke," Rock Lee said. "I have to admit that I lied to you. It's true that I wanted to test my strength against you, but... you're not the one I want to defeat. In fact, the person I want to defeat with all my strength is on my own team, and he's much stronger than me. His name is Neji Hyuga."
Upon hearing that name, Hinata's eyes widened and her body froze. Toru looked at her strangely.
"And you... what was your name again?" Lee asked, looking at Toru.
"Asahi Toru..."
"Right, Toru. I won't show you any mercy. I hope you don't lose too easily."
"Okay. I guess that's fine."
"Eh...? Well... I'm leaving now."
Just as suddenly as he had appeared, he disappeared. Now everyone was looking at Toru curiously. Those stares overwhelmed Toru, and he simply shrugged.
"This is going to be interesting," Sasuke whispered as he headed toward the registration area.
'Interesting? I think it'll be more stressful than anything.'
"Toru!" Sasuke said, stopping. He smiled challengingly. "I'm not going to lose to you."
"Okay. Maybe it'll be like the old days," Toru replied.
—Minutes Later—
Team 11 was on its way to the next room after registering. As they approached the door, several branches appeared, forming a clone of Yamato. A branch rested on its shoulder, making it obvious that it wasn't the real one.
"Sensei!" Hinata and Ino said.
Yamato smiled as he crossed his arms.
"You're finally here, so listen. Before you go through this door, I'm going to ask you one thing."
Everyone fell silent.
"Are you sure you want to enter? This is my final warning."
His students merely adopted serious expressions before answering.
"Yes."
"I see. Then go ahead. I'll be supporting you," Yamato said.
The three passed through the door and found themselves under the gazes of dozens of shinobi.
"That many?" Ino asked.
"Maybe they couldn't pass the previous exam," Hinata replied.
'So... these are the people we'll have to face?' Toru thought.
Different people stood before him and his team. They were his classmates, the village's rookies, and its promising young talents.