"That guy is pretty cocky. I just wonder if his strength can match his mouth."
On the spectator balcony, Sasuke, who had rarely spoken until now, curled his lips into a cold sneer after hearing Misumi's "bold declaration."
As someone who had fought Rock Lee to a near standstill, he wouldn't tolerate anyone spouting such nonsense—unless, of course, they actually had the strength to back it up.
Down in the arena, Rock Lee remained unfazed by the intense disdain in Misumi's words.
To him, such trash talk was meaningless; true results were carved out through actual combat!
"I declare the third preliminary match officially begun," Hayate Gekkō announced from the sidelines.
Whoosh!
The instant he finished speaking, Misumi lunged at Rock Lee with the ferocity of a leopard, throwing a punch.
'Heh heh, this is called striking first to gain the upper hand. A greenhorn like you wouldn't understand,' Misumi sneered internally.
Faced with this sudden strike, Rock Lee didn't panic in the slightest. He threw a punch, intending to meet the attack head-on.
Smack!
However, the expected sound of knuckles colliding didn't echo. Instead, it sounded more like a high-five.
'What is this?!'
Rock Lee's pupils suddenly constricted, as if witnessing something impossible.
Just as Misumi's fist was about to make contact, his entire arm suddenly lengthened and softened, immediately coiling around Lee's arm like a snake.
Because the scene was so unexpected, Lee's mind went blank for a split second.
By the time he reacted, Misumi had already latched onto his back, his four limbs wrapping around Lee's body like serpents.
One of them was wrapped tightly around his neck, attempting to snap it!
"Heh heh, brat, bet you didn't see that coming. My limbs can soften and stretch at will. Dealing with a rookie like you is a piece of cake."
Perhaps seeing that he had the total advantage and couldn't possibly lose, Misumi smugly showed off his body's unique traits.
After being overshadowed by Kabuto for so long, he finally felt like he could hold his head high in front of others!
After boasting, he began his intimidation: "Hurry up and forfeit. Otherwise, I'll keep increasing the pressure. Don't blame me if I accidentally snap your neck."
In his view, upon hearing this threat, Rock Lee would surely beg for mercy in terror. Then, Misumi could happily savor the scene and enjoy a rare moment of joy.
"..."
However, to his surprise, Rock Lee remained completely motionless after the threat, as if he didn't care at all.
And so, Misumi got angry!
He considered himself quite merciful for not snapping the boy's neck immediately and giving him a chance to surrender—even if that mercy was only because he didn't want to risk exposing his identity as a spy by killing a fellow village ninja.
"If that's how it is, then die!"
Seeing his mercy ignored, his heart hardened. He immediately increased the force in his arm, intending to snap Lee's neck.
But to his shock, no matter how hard he twisted, the opponent's head wouldn't budge an inch. It was sturdier than a solid iron stake!
"How is this possible?!"
His face was filled with shock. How could this guy be so strong? How can he resist my torque?
Just then, Rock Lee, still bound, finally spoke: "Is this all of your strength?"
When he was first caught, Lee had been a bit flustered, cursing himself for his carelessness.
But the moment he felt the weak force coming from his opponent, that panic vanished instantly.
He thought the guy was confident because he was strong, but this was it?
So, he decided not to break free immediately, waiting to see if the opponent had more power to offer.
Afterward, he felt the force increase slightly, reaching a level that could barely be called "average."
And then... there was nothing else. Just the opponent's shocked muttering.
"Damn it, I don't believe I can't break it!"
Hearing Lee's question, Misumi felt a deep sense of humiliation, perceiving endless mockery in those words.
Gritting his teeth, he used every ounce of strength he had, finally managing to move Lee's head... by one millimeter.
At this point, Lee didn't want to play anymore. The arm that was supposed to be immobilized suddenly powered up and began to move, inch by inch.
"What?!"
Misumi was shocked. He tried to suppress the movement but found it futile. He could only watch helplessly as Lee raised his arm and grabbed the limb wrapped around his neck.
Stretch, stretch!
Rock Lee pulled at the limb around his neck, stretching it further and further.
Once it was stretched to a certain point, he gave a powerful heave, throwing the limb—and Misumi—off his neck.
Then, with his neck free and his right arm mobile, he delivered a violent back-elbow strike straight at the wide-eyed Misumi behind him!
Bang!! Crack!
Misumi, unable to react in time, took the heavy blow squarely to the face.
His glasses shattered into pieces, and his vision went pitch black.
Immediately after, with a thud, his body reverted to its original state and slid limply off Rock Lee's back. He was out cold, eyes rolled back in his head.
Seeing this, Hayate Gekkō immediately announced, "Winner of the third match: Rock Lee."
"Haha, I knew Bushy Brow wouldn't lose!" On the spectator stand, Naruto laughed, turning to Sakura.
Earlier, when Lee was bound, Sakura had been worried he might lose unexpectedly, but Naruto had been firmly convinced that was impossible.
The result proved his judgment was spot on.
"That guy's body is a bit like Buu's," Goku said, resting his chin on his hand and watching with interest as Misumi was carried off.
Misumi's limb manipulation reminded him of Buu, who could also change his body shape, though Misumi was obviously leagues behind Buu.
"Who is Buu, Master Goku?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Him? Just a really strong guy." Goku smiled slightly.
After the match between Rock Lee and Misumi concluded, the next bout featured Shino Aburame against the Hidden Leaf spy, Yoroi Akadō.
When vast swarms of insects erupted from Shino's body to attack his opponent, Goku cried out in surprise, "Whoa! Why does he have so many bugs on him?!"
Although he wasn't afraid of bugs, seeing such a dense swarm emerge from a person gave him goosebumps.
"Ho ho, Mr. Goku, this is the secret technique of the Aburame clan. They use their own bodies as a hive for the insects, controlling them in battle," Hiruzen Sarutobi explained with a chuckle from the side.
"Using his own body as a hive?" Goku shivered, unable to imagine the sensation of his body being filled with bugs.