Naruto Fanfiction

chapter 12

chapter 12

(3rd p.o.v)

After another moment, Hayate walked over as Gaara's body began to fall apart, revealing the sand armor, now hollow.

"No way," Ryuu breathed as Naruto shouted the same thing.

"What?" Lee gasped.

Suddenly, sand rose up behind Lee, revealing Gaara. Lee turned around in surprise as Gaara made one hand seal. Sand shot into the air in three tendrils then at Lee. Lee blocked the first but it shot sideways just in time for the second to blast Lee away. 

Lee struggled to stand but collapsed, too tired to be able to stand. Gaara grinned as a Tsunami roe up around him then fell toward Lee. It swept Lee up then smashed him against the wall before he fell to the ground. Gaara blasted him again and everyone on the balcony watched in shocked silence. 

Gaara retracted his sand then sent several more blasts at him, Lee barely dodging each. Gaara made a hand seal again and Lee instinctively crossed his arms in front of himself. Gaara blasted him, the sand remaining where it was and spinning, pressing down on Lee slowly like a dull drill. 

Finally the sand retreated only to blast Lee backward again as he sat up. Lee stood, panting for breath with his arms crossed in front of his face.

"What good do you think that'll do?" Gaara snorted as sand rose in front of him but didn't attack.

After a moment, it blasted him and Lee landed hard. The sand instantly crashed onto his back, acting as a drill again. After a moment, it retracted again and again he stood, holding his arms up defensively.

"He can't go on," Sakura stated turning to Guy. "Make him quit before he gets himself killed."

This time, as the sand shot forward, Lee vanished, reappearing on one side, then the other, then the other smiling tauntingly. Gaara began sending blast after blast of sand at Lee and Lee avoided every one with ease, if not moving as fast.

"Lee's smiling!" Sakura gasped. "He's running for his life and he's smiling!"

"Yes, but now it's Gaara's turn to run," Guy stated smiling. "The Leaf Village Lotus, blooms twice."

"I've heard that somewhere before," Sakura muttered. "Yeah, Lee told me that."

"But...Guy...no you didn't!" Kakashi breathed.

"Yes Kakashi I did," Guy nodded.

"So that Genin, that boy, is able to open the Eight Inner Gates and use the Hidden Lotus?" Kakashi questioned.

"That's correct," Guy affirmed, voice emotionless.

"Well, if that isn't the most..." Kakashi stopped himself, taking a calming breath. "Okay, so then how many of the Inner Gates is he able to open now?"

"Five Gates," Guy informed lowing his head.

"Okay, what exactly are these Eight Gates you're talking about, and the Hidden Lotus?" Sakura questioned.

"The Eight Gates are like valves, or chakra limiters, that must be opened if one is too release the Hidden Lotus," Guy stated.

"I'm still not following," Sakura stated.

"There are gates along the chakra networks, at the points where the chakra is most heavily concentrated," Kakashi stated lifting his forehead protector and looking at Lee. "Starting at the head, they are the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Rest, of Life, of Pain, of Closing, of Joy, of Shock, and the Gate of Death. These are what are called the Eight Inner Gates. There purpose is to limit the flow of chakra through the body. But the Lotus exerts tremendous pressure on these limiters, eventually forcing the Gates open. This releases the restraints on the chakra. The result being that the person's strength can be increased tenfold, or more."

"The Primary Lotus opens only the first Gate, The Gate of Opening, releasing the Brains restraint on the muscles," Guy stated. "This frees a person to bring forth their body's strength to its full extent. You've...seen the results."

"And the...Hidden Lotus?" Sakura questioned.

"At the second Gate, the Gate of Rest, one's strength is increased further," Guy explained. "And at the third Gate, the Gate of Life, one enters the Hidden Lotus."

"Wait, just the Primary Lotus almost destroyed him, he could barely move," Sakura stated. "What's gonna happen to him if he takes it farther?"

"Exactly," Kakashi sighed. "By opening all eight Gates, you could obtain power beyond even the Hokages. The only draw back is...you die. I don't know what this boy means to you Guy, but I shouldn't have to tell you that we never bring our personal feelings into play. I wouldn't have thought you were capable of this."

"You have no right," Guy stated. "You know nothing about him. Nothing at all! That boy has something important to prove. And he's determined to prove it. Even at the cost of his life. And I am determined to help him reach his goal. Not for his sake, but because that goal is worth reaching."

Lee crossed his arms in front of him as waves of energy began to shoot up around him. A memory of Guy teaching him the technique but warning him that he could only use it on one condition.

And that condition is... Lee thought as the waves intensified.

"I don't know what you think you're planning right now, but this match is over for you," Gaara stated making a hand seal and preparing to blast Lee again.

"You are right," Lee stated. "It is over. One way or another. Neji, Sasuke, and...I am not going to be the only one to lose here."

His hair began to float up as if caught by a slow up current and his skin turned an angry red. "Guy Sensei, please let this work. It is now or never."

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