50 BSWS CH-50 The Chunin Exams XVIII - Plans, Precautions and a Gamble

Sakura felt a twinge in her heart as she saw Ino getting beaten up. No matter what, she had once been her rival and best friend. But she also knew that Tenten had actually been lenient. She could have done a lot worse but she held back.

Medics carried Ino out and Tenten got back to stands to stand against Lee and Neji. Seeing Lee, Sakura suddenly got the urge to just warn Guy and him about who Lee was going to face in the next match.

Making up her mind, Sakura went up to Lee, who was discussing Tenten's match with his team and Guy.

"Hi, um, Lee," Sakura called out hesitantly.

"Sakura-chan!! Hi! Are you here to wish me luck for my match??" Lee asked excitedly.

"Well done Lee!! A beautiful girl is here to wish you luck for your match!!! You have to let your Youth explode even brighter now!!!!! It has to be the Resplendent Dawn of your Youth!!!" Guy interjected happily.

"Yes, Guy Sensei!!!" Lee said with fire in his eyes.

"Um, Yeah sure.." Sakura said "But listen, I have something to talk with you about. You too, Guy sensei. So, um, can I have a quick private word?"

"Sure, come right this way," Guy said as he led Sakura and Lee to a slightly more secluded corner.

"Okay … here it is. Lee, Guy sensei, both of you have to know something about Lee's match opponent." Sakura said as she tried to frame what she was saying in the most careful words so that she won't end up alarming them in the wrong way.

"First thing you have to know about me is that I am a Chakra Sensor. I can infer things from people's chakra to such an extent that you would not have thought was possible. That forms the foundation of what I am going to tell you next."

"Currently all you know about this person is that he is named Gaara and that he is from Suna. Guy sensei, you may have even got reported from your friends and other Jonin of Konoha about how well trained or powerful he is."

"However, I can assure you, practically none of you see the extent of the danger here. Gaara is dangerous. In fact, I would go so far as to say that Gaara is the very embodiment of the concept of danger."

"Now I am not saying that Lee is not powerful. In fact, I am very sure that if Lee lets go of all limits and regulations and go on a rampage then probably none of the Genin among us stand a chance."

"However, Gaara is not included in that list. Lee, I am pretty sure that you can probably defeat Gaara if you stop holding back. But as soon as you defeat him, you will unleash a monster, a monster that is so terrifying that I don't think even most of Jonin can stand a chance against."

"So, listen to me, and listen carefully please. Lee, I want you to not hold back and go all out from the start. Gaara is worthy of that believe me. He will give you a good challenge, which I suppose is what you are looking for to hone yourself. So, don't waste time testing him and just go all out against him."

"Guy Sensei, you have the most important responsibility of all. When Gaara goes berserk, and he will, I want you to interfere in the match immediately. Don't let Lee continue going up against Gaara once Gaara goes berserk. Please, you have to promise me.." Sakura explained everything to the Teacher and Student.

Lee and Guy looked at Sakura with a befuddled expression. They could see that Sakura had spoken of everything with genuine care for Lee. But Guy just couldn't wrap his head around the concept that someone could defeat Lee after he stops holding back.

Even Neji wouldn't hold up against Lee if Lee opens the gates against him, which is why Guy had forbidden Lee from ever using it unless in the direst of circumstances.

Yet, nowhere was this girl, someone who could challenge Lee and Neji for the title of Best Genin. She was telling him stuff that seemed true yet he just couldn't decide whether he should follow her advice and interfere in Lee's match. If he does interfere, then this would mean the end of the journey for Lee in this Chunin exams.

Guy turned to Lee with a grave expression on his face, "Lee, my boy. I leave the decision up to you. This is your friend, your match, and your decision. Do you want to follow through with Sakura's plan?"

Lee looked at Guy's grave expression and then turned to Sakura. Sakura looked at the hesitant expression on his face and decided to use her final card.

"Lee, I am not saying you can't go head to head with Gaara. Go, do your best, fight with every fiber of your being!! However, I am just saying that when it's all said and done, I would prefer if you are still able to fight in another Chunin Exam if needed, rather than getting crippled, or even killed. Is that really too much to ask?"

Seeing Lee still not convinced, Sakura continued, "Lee, if you still are not convinced then you can forget about it. You too, Guy sensei. You can both be as reckless as you want."

"But let me tell you this Guy sensei, I am not going to lose a friend just because you could not think beyond your pride for even a moment of clarity. When Gaara goes berserk, and he will, I will interfere to stop him if you don't. I don't care if I get eliminated for it, but I won't let Lee suffer for no fault of his." Sakura said heatedly as she started walking away.

She barely walked a few steps when a strong hand gripped hers. She looked behind to see Lee holding her hand with a smile, while Guy was crying like a little girl.

"Oh Sakura-chan, that was beautiful!!" Guy sobbed "Both of you have so much youth and such great bonds of friendship!!"

"Yeah, I am sorry Sakura." Lee said "I have seen how you performed in the first and second stage, and I should have trusted that you won't be speaking about this with me unless you truly had a reason too. I am sorry for doubting your friendship and motives."

"Yes, Sakura-chan. You don't have to worry, Lee and I will both do our best. Lee will give the best he has got against Gaara, and if in the scenario that it plays out as you predicted, I will make sure to stop it before it gets out of hand."

"Also, you are correct about the other matter. I would much rather prefer that Lee is fine and continues to work hard for next time rather than suffering through some horrible injury that would stop his career at this budding stage. Our youth will shine brightly, whether it is sooner or later!!" Guys said, posing in his iconic eye-blinding thumb-raised pose.

"Thank you, Guy sensei. Thank you, Lee. I promise you won't regret it. The following match will make all my claims ring true." Sakura said as Hayate gestured for the next match's participants to assemble.

"Alright, *cough* for the next match, *cough* Gaara of the Sand and Rock Lee of the Leaf, *cough* please come to the sparring area," Hayate announced.