Chapter 78: I Can Do This!

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Lee's / Fuu's POV (Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)

Fuu watched as Lee stretched before their match slowly and methodically. Truthfully, she would instead get into the fight, but it cost her little to wait for the friendly guy to be ready. She didn't get the chance to make friends often, maybe she should hold back a bit so Lee wouldn't be overwhelmed…

"Begin!" Kakashi called out. Fuu flinched as Lee suddenly surged in with a punch. She sidestepped that and swayed out of the way of a follow-up kick.

"Rude, the match has barely started yet!" Fuu admonished as she effortlessly weaved around a relentless series of jabs and hooks aimed at her head. "Also rude to interrupt, don't you know!" She finished suddenly, kicking out. Lee raised both arms to block the blow. The force of which sent him skidding back.

She needed to be careful with him…

Lee nodded as if the exchange was nothing before racing back in. Fuu shook her head, annoyed as she did the same. She swung for Lee's head, but he dropped low to the ground; Fuu attempted to sweep his legs. But the man hopped over them before dropping to the ground to smash his elbow into her head. Fuu kicked back, narrowly avoiding this, only to blink as Lee kept the distance at close range, now attempting to slam his forearm into her face. Fuu backflipped continuously as Lee attempted to catch and strike her. She couldn't help but giggle as she kicked into the sky. Her wings, two for now, popped out of her back and allowed her to hover over Lee.

"So are you holding back or…" Fuu asked innocently.

"Hmm, I suppose I am." Lee answered earnestly.

"Well, you better stop. I was told I have to do well here." Fuu answered simply with a small smile. "Beetle Bomber: Repeated Volleys!" Suddenly, a second pair of wings sprouted from her back as she raced through the air at high speeds. Lee's eyes raced to keep up with her, but Fuu could tell he couldn't match her speed. As she flew into Lee's blind spot, she flew in even faster. Lee must've heard something because he dived to his right at the last second, barely avoiding the human missile that was Fuu. Fuu smiled, glad to see it wouldn't be overkill, before she quickly readjusted, this time flying in from above Lee. Lee sat still before his head suddenly whipped up to her. Absurdly, he didn't attempt to dodge, instead seeming to spin on his hands before crying.

"Severe Leaf Hurricane!" Lee kicked out while spinning so fast, and with such power, the air whistled as he did. Fuu narrowly avoided this attack with a chuckle. This could be more fun than she had thought!

"You can keep up, barely, but manage to keep up all the same!" Fuu congratulated Lee happily.

"Yes, I see your youth shines bright! I was wrong to assume I could hold back so heavily against such a splendid kunoichi!" Lee said with a bow. Fuu eyed him warily as he fiddled with the leg warmers he wore. Eventually, a pair of weights were removed from them.

"Weights? Isn't that like, really uncomfortable?" Fuu asked innocently.

"Absurdly so," Lee answered honestly. "Now it's my turn to see if you can keep up."

Fuu could not answer as suddenly Lee raced forward twice as fast as before. Fuu narrowly dodged a punch in her face. Feeling the fist graze her cheek. She caught the second punch aimed for her ribs and jumped into the air, her wings holding her up, and she dodged a trip attempt from Lee. With shocking strength, Fuu chucked Lee across the field into the sandy and stone-infested side of the courtyard. Lee skidded against the sand for a few bounces before landing on his feet. He frowned openly before he zig-zagged back in. This time, he appeared behind her, successfully sweeping her legs and finally catching her hands as her wings stopped her from falling. Lee started to spin with Fuu, managing to spin her bodily with pure strength.

"Weeeeeeeee!" Fuu cried excitedly. It seemed Lee wasn't weak!

Lee released her, finally sending her crashing head-first into a stone with a massive boom.

Lee's POV

Lee waited for the other side of the field to clear of dust before he assumed he had won or relaxed. Neji and Sasuke had shown the folly of such. But truthfully, he was worried. An impact like that could be fatal. Perhaps he should've-

Suddenly, the dust was expelled back as Fuu was seen floating in the sky. Her wings cleared the dust so everyone could see her alive and well. Lee blinked as he looked at her. No one should be able to tank a hit like that casually…

"Not bad at all, new friend, but you'll need a lot more than that!" Fuu taunted in a friendly tone. Lee grunted as they released the first gate silently. Gai had told him to only use it in emergencies, yet his failing here would surely count as such. He raced forward at the same speed as before. Fuu somehow kept track of him, spinning to block his punch aimed for the back of her head, yet it was faint. Instead, Lee hit the ground and rolled in front of Fuu. Before she could react, he sprang up, kicking Fuu into the air with a kick to her chin. "More than that, too!"

Lee appeared behind her as bandages wrapped around her and bound her to him. "No worries, friend, this next one packs a punch! Front Lotus!" He slammed her head first into the ground below, kicking off her to impact her harder and propel himself away from the collision. The technique ended with a sickening crunch of stone. He admired his handiwork as he fell to the ground, looking for any sign of her- Lee was suddenly stopped mid-air. He blinked once, twice, three times before his mind caught up and realized his situation. How was he floating?

"Sorry, but I'm pretty tough," Fuu said cheerily, holding Lee above the ring. She was covered in dirt but otherwise somehow seemed unharmed. Slowly, they were rising with lazy flaps of her wings. "So you seem cool and strong, so forgive me for this, but I'm gonna just get you real high into the air and drop you if you don't surrender."

Lee knew Gai had taught them not to let their pride get the better of them. Failure was merely a part of life; it was better not to risk oneself to avoid it. Especially when she held him so high in the air. It would likely break a few of his bones if not kill him. Yet Lee refused; his anger boiled at the suggestion of quitting, and he released two gates instantly. With a flex of his muscles, he freed himself from her grasp, and with a casual kick, he sent her careening back to the earth. Lee landed on the ground after Fuu smashed into it, causing another crater. He then raced forward, determined to prove his worth. He would not be defeated with such ease!

Fuu rose casually, dusting herself off and raising her head to match Lee's gaze. Perfectly timed to allow her to eat a haymaker, the force of the blow cracked the stone alone yet only made Fuu stumble, somewhat stunned. Lee appeared behind her, landing a powerful roundhouse that managed to send the green-haired woman flying back through a tree. Lee chased after her, attempting another punch to the face. Fuu managed to block this with her forearms but was hapless to stop Lee from sweeping her legs. Before she could touch the ground, Lee swiped her as if she were weightless and bodily threw her through another tree. Once again, Fuu attempted to rise, but Lee knew he could not allow such. Although he was in the Gate of Life, Fuu had seemingly been affected by his barrage thus far. He growled as he prepared his following technique. He could hold nothing back!

Lee blurred as he sprinted forth. Fuu, now somewhat used to his speed, flinched and dodged an earth-shattering jab. She sniped her own blow, but Lee merely jumped over her. Fuu spun with her guard up, and Lee landed in an odd posture.

"Leaf Rising Gale!" Lee called as he sprung up into a flexible high kick, smashing into Fuu's guard. The woman block managed to protect her, yet she was launched into the air.

Fuu's POV

Fuu growled as her wings sprouted from her back. She prepared to launch herself back at her suddenly speedy opponent before she heard a wish of air behind her.

"Gate of Pain! REVERSE LOTUS!" Lee screamed.

Fuu was shocked as an even more powerful blow suddenly smacked her face. So fast was it she could barely tell what kind of strike it was. She flew from the air, pumping her wings to gain control of her flight.

'His punch actually hurt!' Her mind whirled as suddenly Lee appeared again, smacking her downward with a double hammer fist swing.

'I need to find a way to.' Lee kicked her back into the air, this blow robbing the air off from her. She could offer no defense or counter as she was battered around the air. 'I… wanted to avoid using… this… but i have no choice…' Her mind decided as she was battered repeatedly.

Fuu rose high before bandages wrapped around her, ripping her even higher into the sky. Fuu merely focused her chakra, whispering to herself calmly. As she did such, Lee was revealed mere feet away, rearing his fist back for what would surely be a decisive blow. Just before the blow landed, Fuu finished her whisper.

"Chomei Style: Beetle Form." A green hue surrounded Fuu; her two wings returned much larger and glowing brighter, and her eyes shone orange. Lee smashed his blow all the same into her stomach. Roaring in pain and effort as he unleashed his power. Yet Fuu's wings merely flapped fast, the woman somehow not budging despite the force she had been subjected to.

Lee looked at her in shock, the display managing to distract him from his pain. Fuu grabbed his arm with a smile. "Sorry, buddy, but it'll take more than that." She then whipped him through the air as if he were weightless before throwing him towards the ground with incredible power. Lee's impact shattered concrete and buried him in a hole. The crowd, which had been buzzing throughout the fight, fell silent. Most expect the battle to end after such a violent and impressive display of power. Fuu wasn't happy to use such force, but Lee had been shockingly powerful. His blows were some of the few to manage to hurt her. She rubbed her cheek, where a bruise was forming. Her nose dribbled with blood, and her body ached with fading pain. It was sadly ineffective; Chomei would ensure such a minor would heal shortly. She was lucky like that.

Lee's POV

Lee rose slowly, painfully gasping as he stood. His jumpsuit was torn throughout, and his warmers had been effectively shredded. His skin was bruised and cut all over. The pain was all Lee could feel; it took all his concentration to stand and focus on maintaining the Fourth Gate. He briefly considered opening the fifth, yet he wondered if it would even give him the power to match her.

Furthermore, he was much too damaged to use it for too long. No, Lee would have to use the technique he had been working on in secret. He needed to be in the gates to use it and would surely be defeated if he didn't.

'Gai Sensei, please watch me; I must become a splendid shinobi, WHATEVER IT TAKES,' Lee screamed in pain as he flexed his meager chakra. He manipulated it roughly, but it was more than enough; he could feel the energy start to trickle into him, the pain increased tenfold, his consciousness flickered, and he stumbled. With pure willpower, he roared with determination as he felt the technique start to fully activate.

'NOW OR NEVER!'

Fuu's POV

She watched warily as Lee roared painfully. Fuu was confused; despite all the racket he was making, nothing was happening. Fuu could feel a slight chakra flexing from him, but it was meager. 'Is the fun not over?' She wondered curiously.

Fuu knew the wise thing would be to stop him from activating his technique, but he was solid and fun! It would be a shame not to see what he had in his arsenal! Fuu decided to see what he could do. Besides, no one had ever managed to do much against her in Beetle Mode.

"Fuu, I suggest not allowing him to finish his technique. I have a feeling it's a lucky one."

Fuu blinked outwardly, but inwardly, her focus was on her tenant. Fuu knew that Chomei had been sealed within her to make her a weapon. It had even been largely successful. Oddly, they seemed to dislike her because of it. It made little sense to Fuu, but in all the grief that Chomei had caused, Fuu had decided to communicate with it and found she had fortune even in misfortune. The two had hit it off, becoming friends quickly enough. When Fuu asked why Chomei had been so kind to her, it responded simply.

"We are lucky to have each other."

"Fuu." Chomei interrupted her reminiscing. "This has been a fun fight, but things could get dangerous if it goes on much longer. That strange man has luck. I can feel it. Perhaps it is time to use our own?"

'Why would that help? It might make him miss or trip. But I doubt that'll be enough.'

'Look at him he was in pain earlier but now he seems to be suffering even more. If it's a risky technique apply a bit of our luck to cause him misfortune…'

Fuu sighed, annoyed to end her fun, but agreed as she flowed through hand signs. "Chomei Style: Lucky Instance," She said as she finished her technique. Seemingly, nothing happened as Lee suddenly stopped roaring, falling back soundlessly. Fuu flew down as she saw Kakashi race forward toward Lee. She flinched when she saw him standing again, prepared to continue before Kakashi stopped her with a raised palm. With a slow wave of his hand in front of Lee, Fuu realized he was no longer even conscious.

"I see it's good we used our fortune in this bout. I can tell he would've been troublesome if he used that technique."

'I trust you, Chomei. Just sad I didn't let him show his stuff.' Fuu internally responded.

"Is he okay?" Fuu asked Kakashi with a worried tone.

"As okay as we could hope him to be." Kakashi answered grimly. "Seems whatever he was trying to do failed and overwhelmed him." He eyed her suspiciously. "How lucky."

"You have no idea." Fuu answered with a smile. Kakashi shook his head at her before announcing the result with a frown.

"Fuu of the Waterfall wins!" The crowd applauded politely, likely because they were disappointed such a flashy match had such a melodramatic ending.