Ch 115 - The Mountain Duel

🌟 HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! 🌟✨

🔥 Let's welcome our newest adventurer… ⚔️ August Ward! ⚔️ 🎉⚡️ Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!

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The evening sun bathed the mountain clearing in soft, golden light. The air was crisp, cool, and alive with the chirping of birds.

Naruto arrived, his steps confident, his eyes sharp. Today's missions were over and the team had performed significantly well. Now it was time for something more.

About raw strength, friendship, and the thrill of combat.

He found Rock Lee in the clearing, the hot-blooded youth already engaged in his training. Lee's body gleamed with sweat as he dropped to the ground, pushing his body with relentless determination. Each push-up was driven by sheer willpower, his face etched with intensity.

"One hundred and ninety-eight... one hundred and ninety-nine... two hundred!" Lee exclaimed, springing to his feet with a burst of energy.

Naruto chuckled, crossing his arms. "You're still at it, huh? I thought you'd be halfway through the mountain by now."

Lee's eyes lit up at the sight of his friend. "Naruto! My rival of youth!" he greeted with his usual exuberance. "It is good to see you! Congratulations on finally becoming a ninja! Your flames of youth must be burning brighter than ever!"

Naruto grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Thanks, bushy brows. But I didn't come here to chat. I came to spar. I figured you'd be the best warm-up before real missions start getting serious."

Lee's face broke into a grin that could rival the sun. "A true warrior's spirit! I admire your dedication! Shall we begin at once?"

"Of course," Naruto said, his eyes narrowing playfully. "I hope you're ready."

Lee took his stance, legs spread, fists raised, his intense eyes locked onto Naruto. "I am always ready!"

The tension in the air grew heavy. It was the calm before the storm.

And just like that, the spar began.

Whoosh!

Naruto moved first, dashing in with a swift punch aimed at Lee's side. Lee twisted, narrowly dodging the attack, his reflexes sharp. His counter came fast—a sweeping kick toward Naruto's midsection.

Thwack!

Naruto blocked with his forearm, sliding back from the sheer force. The impact stung, but he grinned. "Not bad."

Lee responded with a series of rapid punches, each one aimed to test Naruto's defense. Naruto weaved between them, his body moving with fluid precision. He countered with a jab, only for Lee to duck low, spinning into a powerful kick.

Snap!

The kick connected with Naruto's guard, forcing him to stagger back. The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly from the force.

Naruto's eyes gleamed with excitement. "That's more like it!"

He lunged forward, his fist swinging low. Lee jumped, flipping over Naruto and landing with grace. He spun instantly, throwing a sharp backkick, but Naruto pivoted, catching Lee's leg in a firm grip.

"You're open!"

Lee smirked. "Am I?"

With a twist of his body, Lee flipped in midair, twisting out of Naruto's grip, and slammed his knee down towards Naruto's shoulder.

Thud!

Naruto rolled away, avoiding the impact. He chuckled as he stood, brushing dirt off his pants. "Nice try. You're sharper than ever."

Lee landed, straightening himself. "You haven't seen anything yet!"

Their fight intensified. They clashed again and again, fists and feet meeting with thunderous impacts.

Each blow echoed in the clearing, sending ripples through the ground.

Naruto ducked under a punch and lashed out with a spinning back kick.

Wham!

Lee caught the strike, his arms vibrating from the force. With a grunt, he pushed Naruto back. "You're strong, Naruto. Stronger than last time."

Naruto grinned. "And you're holding back."

He leaped back, his chest heaving with excitement. He cracked his neck, eyes sharp. "Lose the weights, Lee."

Lee froze, hesitation flashing in his eyes. "I… cannot. I vowed only to remove them when the time was right."

Naruto's grin didn't fade. "So, you are saying that I am not worthy enough for you to fight me seriously? Are you looking down on me Lee?"

The words struck like a challenge, and Lee's eyes flared with renewed determination.

"I would never betray my spirit of youth! Very well, Naruto-kun. I will show you my true strength!"

With a dramatic pull, Lee unclipped the heavyweights.

Thud! Thud!

The weights hit the ground with a heavy boom, sending dust and pebbles flying. The earth beneath them cracked slightly under the force.

Naruto's eyes widened, but his smirk only grew sharper.

"Damn, how heavy are those?"

Lee stood, his body feeling lighter than ever. "Heavy enough."

The next moment, Lee vanished.

Naruto's senses screamed in warning, and he twisted just in time to block a strike that blurred through the air. The force of it reverberated through his arm.

BOOM!

Lee was faster—far faster than before. His attacks came like lightning, and Naruto's Observation Haki buzzed in response. He could feel the shift in the air, the deadly precision of Lee's strikes.

But Naruto wasn't a slouch. He slid back, using fluid movements to parry, dodge, and counter. His fists met Lee's, the force creating sharp shockwaves that cracked nearby stones.

"You've gotten faster, Lee," Naruto said, gritting his teeth, his excitement surging. "But let's see if that's enough!"

Naruto's body moved on instinct. His feet slid back, weight shifting, and he spun low—sweeping Lee's legs. But Lee leaped again, his reflexes sharp, flipping overhead and slamming a kick downward.

Naruto crossed his arms, blocking the hit, though the ground beneath him cratered from the impact.

Thoom!

For the next hour, their battle became a whirlwind of strikes and counters. Naruto's Observation Haki sang with every move, allowing him to dodge Lee's most dangerous blows by a hair's breadth.

But Lee's strength, speed, and pure determination were relentless. His fists were like hammers, his kicks sharp and devastating. Naruto's defense was perfect, his counter-attacks measured but fierce.

Thwack! Boom! Crash!

Their battle echoed across the mountain, a testament to their strength and will.

Finally, after one last flurry of blows, they both stumbled back, chests heaving, sweat dripping from their brows.

Lee collapsed to one knee, his breath ragged but his spirit undimmed. "You… are strong, Naruto-kun. I have never faced someone who could match me so well… without even using chakra techniques."

Naruto chuckled, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "You're no joke either, Lee. Fast, strong, and disciplined. You're gonna be one of the strongest ninjas out there. No doubt about it."

Lee's eyes shone with pride. "To be acknowledged by you… is the greatest honor."

Naruto smirked but stepped closer, offering his hand. "Honor doesn't mean anything if we don't keep pushing forward. Next time, you'll beat me. I'm sure of it."

Lee took his hand, gripping it firmly. "I will not lose next time! That is my promise!"

Naruto's grin turned teasing. "Good. Because I'll be stronger by then too."

The sun had disappeared into the horizon, replaced by the bright moon in the sky.

Two warriors, bound by friendship and the desire to grow stronger, stood together, knowing this was just the beginning of their journey.

And for Naruto, it wasn't just about strength. It was about the bonds forged in battle—the silent promise that neither of them would ever stop moving forward.

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