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Inoiki replied calmly, "Yamanaka Inoiki."
Guy's ever-present smile widened as he tilted his head in curiosity. "Ah, Yamanaka Inoiki! And which team do you belong to?"
Without hesitation, Inoiki descended the stairs, closing the distance until he stood face-to-face with Guy. "I'm from Team Izumo."
Guy's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, so you're the one everyone's talking about—the Genin who's going to take the Chūnin Exams solo?"
"Yes," Inoiki confirmed with a small nod. His tone was steady, respectful but firm. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to register for the exams. Time is running short, and I don't want to be late."
Guy's smile didn't falter, and he nodded in understanding. "Of course, young one. Go forth and let the flames of your youth guide you!"
Inoiki gave a polite bow before turning on his heel, making his way toward Room 301 on the third floor. He walked briskly, not just because of the time but to avoid the inevitable barrage of questions from Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and Lee. He could already feel their curious eyes on his back and had no desire to explain, yet again, why he was participating solo.
As Inoiki disappeared into the corridor, Guy folded his arms and watched him leave, a rare glint of seriousness replacing his usual cheer. "Today, I learned something very interesting," he said, almost to himself. Then, turning to Lee, he added, "Lee, be careful of that one. He's strong—very strong."
Lee straightened, his face unusually solemn. He knew that for his teacher to offer such advice, it was no idle remark. "Yes, Sensei," Lee said firmly.
Guy's smile returned in full force, and he gave Lee a confident thumbs-up. "But I believe in you, Lee! Your dedication and hard work will shine brighter than any obstacle!"
Lee's eyes sparkled with determination, his youthful energy rising to meet his teacher's unwavering faith. "I won't let you down, Sensei!"
Lee's eyes shimmered with tears, his voice trembling with emotion. "Guy-Sensei..."
Without hesitation, Guy and Lee threw themselves into a heartfelt embrace, tears streaming freely down their faces. Their dramatic display of devotion was punctuated by declarations of mutual belief and encouragement.
Team 7 watched in stunned silence, their expressions a mixture of embarrassment and discomfort. Naruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly, while Sakura averted her gaze, her face twitching in disbelief. Even Sasuke, usually composed, found himself raising an eyebrow at the peculiar interaction.
Yet, despite their initial reactions, Guy's words to Lee had struck a chord with them.
If Guy-sensei is warning Lee—who's clearly stronger than any of us—then just how powerful is Inoiki? The thought lingered, unspoken but palpable among the three.
Sasuke, however, was the most conflicted. His brows furrowed as he recalled his match with Inoiki the previous year. During that sparring session, Inoiki had clearly outmatched him in physical strength, defeating him in pure taijutsu. But even then, Sasuke had felt certain that if he'd been allowed to use ninjutsu or his full arsenal, he could have won.
Now, with his Sharingan fully activated, Sasuke was more confident than ever in his abilities. Could Guy be overestimating him? he wondered. Or... is there something about Inoiki that I don't know?
Naruto, on the other hand, dismissed the warning with characteristic brashness. "What's the big deal? I know Inoiki—he's strong, but he's not that strong!" he muttered to himself, crossing his arms.
Sakura, too, found herself skeptical. Having been Inoiki's classmate in the Ninja Academy, she'd seen him grow over the years, but nothing about his abilities seemed to warrant such a warning from a Jonin as formidable as Might Guy. "Maybe Guy-sensei is just being dramatic," she thought, trying to reassure herself.
Despite their doubts, a seed of curiosity had been planted in Team 7. Who exactly was Inoiki now? And what had he done to warrant such serious words from a man like Guy?
As they mulled over these questions, Lee and Guy's tearful embrace finally came to an end, their boisterous energy renewed. "Come on, Lee! Let's make this the best Chūnin Exam yet!" Guy declared with a blinding smile.
"Yes, Guy-sensei!" Lee replied, his determination reignited.
With a swirl of smoke, Guy vanished. Lee turned to Sasuke, his expression unusually serious. "Sasuke, I need to apologize," he began.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, curious but cautious.
"I lied earlier," Lee admitted. "I told you I was the strongest Genin in this batch, but that's not true. There's someone stronger than me—someone I'm participating in this Chūnin Exam specifically to defeat."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, intrigued and slightly suspicious. Lee's words carried a weight that hinted at intense rivalry, though the identity of this mysterious "someone" remained a mystery to Team 7.
Before anyone could question him further, Lee turned and leapt gracefully onto the inner balcony. "We'll meet again in the exams," he called back, his voice filled with determination. And with that, he disappeared from view.
The encounter left a heavy silence in its wake. For Sasuke, Lee's words were a challenge—a reminder that he wasn't the only one striving for greatness. Although Lee's revelation caused a momentary ripple in Sasuke's confidence, it was far from a setback. Instead, it stoked the flames of his ambition. No matter who this stronger opponent is, I will prove myself.
Naruto and Sakura, noticing Sasuke's renewed focus, exchanged a glance. Both were relieved to see him unfazed and more determined than ever.
With determination in his voice, Sasuke said, "Let's go, Naruto and Sakura!" Then they started walking towards Room 301.
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