Naruto: The New Beginning

77. Gai the Mentor

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"I admit defeat," Tsubame said, feeling that he could still be rescued.

"The winner, Kankuro," Hayate announced.

The audience began to discuss, "What was that? Is he a puppet master?"

"That's pretty rare."

"It should be quite common in the Hidden Sand Village."

Naruto didn't get involved in the conversation. Instead, he wondered if, in the future, when relations between the villages improved.

He could ask Kankuro to perform a puppet show or even make a cool puppet with him and practice his puppet tricks.

Only Rock Lee didn't care much about puppet masters. He was only concerned about when it would be his turn to fight.

But instead of continuing to pray like he did before, he suddenly figured out a pattern and wanted to try it.

He watched the names on the screen flash by until they finally stopped.

[Inuzuka Kiba vs Akimichi Choji]

"As expected!" Lee punched his left hand with his right fist, a triumphant expression on his face as if he had seen through everything.

Gai is likely on the same wavelength as Lee, as he immediately asks, "Oh? Did you discover something, Lee?"

"Yes, Gai-sensei! I realized that every time I desperately prayed for my turn in the next match, it would not be my turn.
So if I don't pray then maybe it will be?"

Lee looked like someone who believed in reverse psychology, convinced that his desperate "cursed" prayers worked.

But Gai didn't quite get it: "Ah, to figure that out, as expected of you, Lee!"

"Sensei!"

"Lee!"

Inexplicably, the two of them started hugging each other and crying, "Oh, oh, oh! This is youth!" x2

Neji and Tenten slapped their foreheads. Here they go again.

Kakashi chuckled awkwardly. Gai and Lee were still the same. Well, as long as they didn't bother him, it was fine.

"The ninth match of the preliminaries begins!"

Kiba and Choji were familiar with each other.

"Choji, Akamaru and I have gotten a lot stronger, so don't be scared!"

"Woof!" Akamaru barked fiercely.

Choji clenched his fists, steam puffing out of his nostrils.

"I'm ready, Kiba! Asuma-sensei said if I won, he'd treat me to a barbecue! For the sake of barbecue, I won't lose!"

"Stop boasting, Beast Human Clone!"

Kiba dropped down on all fours, his fingernails extending like claws, and then he charged, elbowing Choji.

Choji blocked with his arms crossed, and Kiba jumped back.

"Not bad, but try this! Fang passing Fang!"

Without giving Choji a chance to breathe, Kiba spun like a tornado and charged at him.

Naruto wanted to ask Kiba's family if they sold those toy four-wheel drives—the voice-activated ones.

Choji couldn't take it anymore. He got hit in the stomach, flipping several times before he finally got up.

"Give up, Choji, you can't beat me!"