Naruto: Martial God Art

The Chūnin Exams, held twice a year, were a monumental event in the ninja world. Organized by the five most powerful forces—Konoha Village, the Village Hidden in the Mist, the Village Hidden in the Clouds, the Village Hidden in the Stone, and the Village Hidden in the Sand—it was the only way for Genin to advance to Chūnin. Beyond promotion, the exams were also an opportunity for each nation to evaluate the power and potential of its next generation of shinobi. Word had it that the daimyo of the Land of Fire would attend the final round himself.

"Brother Neji! Brother Neji!" Tenten called, bounding up to Hyuga Neji, her face flushed with excitement. "Did you hear? Guy-sensei has recommended us for the Chūnin Exams!"

She could hardly contain her excitement. For months, she had been looking forward to this opportunity, and it showed.

Neji, however, barely looked up. With his piercing, crystalline eyes fixed on a tree in front of him, he replied coolly, "I already knew." His voice was calm, as though he had expected this all along.

Tenten's enthusiasm faltered as she watched Neji's indifferent expression. "Aren't you looking forward to the Chūnin Exams at all?" she asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Looking forward to it?" Neji replied, dismissively. "It's only a Chūnin Exam. What's there to be excited about?"

Tenten shook her head, exasperated. In the months they'd trained together, she had come to respect Neji's skills, but his attitude could be frustrating. She knew better than anyone how strong he was; in fact, Neji had displayed Chūnin-level skills even six months ago. It was only out of consideration for Rock Lee that Guy-sensei had refrained from entering them in the previous exam.

With a sigh, she turned to Lee, who was quietly observing a tree nearby, deep in thought. "Lee, aren't you excited?" she asked, hoping for a different response.

"Of course, I'm interested," Lee said, not looking away from the tree. "But… what does it matter? With my current strength, even if I enter the Chūnin Exams, I'd probably be eliminated right away."

"Lee, have some confidence!" Tenten said, frowning. "You've been training non-stop these past six months. With Neji on our team, we're sure to pass!"

A dry voice came from Neji's direction. "If he holds us back, I won't help him."

"Neji! That's no way to talk to a teammate!" Tenten shot back, her frustration clear.

"Rather than worrying about others, you'd be better off focusing on your own training," Neji replied, his voice cold. "In the exam, the only person you can truly rely on is yourself."

"You…" Tenten huffed, her anger bubbling over.

But Lee surprised her by nodding calmly. "Tenten, Neji's right in a way. In the end, it's our own strength that determines the outcome." He smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I won't hold you back."

Tenten sighed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Fine! You two can do what you want!" she grumbled, before walking away in a huff.

Neji turned to Lee, his expression impassive. "Don't slow us down during the exam," he said. "If you're in trouble, I won't save you."

Lee simply smiled. "Thank you for the advice, Neji. But if you're in danger, I'll be there to help. After all, we're teammates."

Neji smirked, his eyes flashing with arrogance. "Ridiculous," he muttered, turning back to the tree. He'd been practicing a set of advanced strikes, leaving his palm prints embedded on the bark. With this technique, he believed he'd have no equal in the Chūnin Exams.

…

With the Chūnin Exams approaching, all the Jōnin teachers were summoned for an important meeting, leaving Lee and his team unsupervised. Lee stood near the training ground, meticulously reviewing the martial techniques he could currently practice. Satisfied with his preparation, he decided to leave.

The streets of Konoha were busy, and Lee walked with a keen eye, mentally noting every corner, every narrow alley, and every exit. He understood that his future was unpredictable. If his secrets were ever revealed, he would need a swift escape route. Familiarizing himself with every path in the village would be crucial.

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of raised voices from a nearby alley.

"Let go of me! Let me go!" a boy's voice rang out, filled with defiance and determination.

"Feisty little one, aren't you?" a low, indifferent voice replied.

"Could they be shinobi from another village?" Lee frowned, noticing the slight accent in the man's voice. He could tell that it was different from the typical Konoha dialect.

"Please, don't cause trouble," came a soothing voice—a woman's, trying to mediate.

"Sorry, this is all my fault…" a trembling girl's voice added, her tone pleading. The nervous edge in her voice hinted at her gentle, timid nature.

A loud voice interrupted, "Let him go right now!"

The boldness of this new voice piqued Lee's interest. "That voice… it sounds familiar," he thought. Then, a name came to mind—a name well-known in Konoha, though it rarely carried a positive reputation.

With quick, quiet steps, Lee moved closer, using a basic footwork technique to mask his presence. Though not flashy, this technique allowed him to approach silently, unnoticed by those nearby.

As he rounded the corner, he saw a young boy with bright blond hair and a familiar orange jacket, fiercely standing his ground. There was no mistaking him—it was Uzumaki Naruto.

"Uzumaki Naruto…" Lee murmured to himself.

But as Lee observed Naruto, he sensed something else—an energy, faint but unmistakably potent, radiating from within the boy. Lee's sharp instincts picked up on it instantly, the faint pulse of something powerful yet dormant. "In him… there's something sealed, something terrifying. If it were ever to break free…" He couldn't finish the thought, feeling the weight of the immense energy lurking within Naruto.

Lee remained hidden, watching the interaction unfold.