Chapter 11: Demonstration

"So, you're Rock Lee, the special young man with talent in Taijutsu?"

The kindly elderly voice sounded like that of a wrinkled old man in a red and white cloak, with a wide hat on his head and a smoking pipe in his mouth.

The smoke slowly but confidently dissipated in the room while allowing him to fully feel the penetrating gaze of Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with his friendly and calm smile.

Rock was confused about where his teacher was because he was meant to go with him directly to the Hokage. 

After all, Hiruzen had unexpectedly arrived alone which was quite strange and puzzling to him.

Moreover, it's not good to be alone in the field!

However, the following events finally allow Lee to explain everything not really explaining anything but rather leading to absurdity...

"Hokage-sama, did you really have to use Ninjutsu instead of just walking through the door? I'm sorry, but I don't understand your humor. After all, I'm used to using my legs for walking..." 

A burly man in a green jumpsuit and a bowl-cut hairstyle appeared in the doorway while leading several other Shinobi in combat vests.

"Cough, cough, Guy, I am the Hokage, and that's why I can't afford to get my face dirty in front of my people who will undoubtedly protect our village from attack in the future, right?" 

Hiruzen chuckled while looking at the bewildered Lee who had never expected this part of his Genin exam.

"Welcome, Lord Hokage!" 

Rock calmed down, bowed in front of him, and then showed respect to the others who had shown up, including Might Guy and the Chunins.

They were probably there to watch Lee's "created" Rankyaku technique. 

It made sense for Hiruzen to bring someone else along. 

Moreover, Lee told his teacher that Rankyaku was more about Taijutsu than Ninjutsu and the Hokage invited Might Guy.

A true master in the ninja art where it's not about chakra but rather about fists and feet crushing rocks and seas. 

However, Lee couldn't say anything about those Chunins except that one of them was practically picking his nose out of boredom when no one was looking.

"Ho-ho-ho. You have manners, that's wonderful. It turns out you can't use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, but instead, you've taken to training and advancing solely in the art of Taijutsu. This way you won't succumb to the pressure of a difficult life when you're not recognized or acknowledged. I've seen this before boy. There are and always will be unusual and unique Shinobi, hehe..."

After a few seconds, Hiruzen looked at Guy with a smile on his wrinkled face and seemed to be talking about him. 

After all, Might Guy and Lee were alike in their personalities.

Moreover, Hiruzen couldn't help but notice Lee's hands were calloused and rough, as if he had been rubbing the earth and ground beneath him until they bled.

"All right. You'll probably not be able to fully show off your technique here in this crowded office, right, Lee? Then let's go to the backyard of the academy. There's plenty of space there." 

Hiruzen said calmly, puffing on his pipe and then nodding to Guy.

Next, Hiruzen approached Lee, and placing his hand on his shoulder, Lee suddenly felt sharp dizziness and nausea. 

After a second, Lee's vision began to blur, and he saw that he was no longer inside the four gray walls but outside with Hiruzen. 

He squeezed his eyes shut and wiped them with his arm.

"Could it be... The Body Flicker Technique, working like teleportation!" 

Lee exclaimed in excitement and amazement when realizing what it was like—Ninjutsu itself when he got rid of the feeling of confusion after such rapid movement in space.

Lee turned his head and looked around. 

He saw that another academy Shinobi sensei, a man with a dark brown hair tail and a scar across his nose was giving the necessary instructions before the actual training.

He recognized him almost immediately.

Of course, Naruto had sneaked in to prank Iruka Umino while teaching his students how to safely use sharp weapons like kunai and shuriken and how to start throwing them accurately at targets.

There were significant people in the crowd including Naruto.

For example, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Ino Yamanaka trail after him, and they seem to be friends and compete for his love.

'There are a lot of main figures, but they are all still kids and not very strong. However, they all have the potential to become strong especially under the leadership of Jonin Kakashi.'

'After all, it's Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. They all have such a destiny that I'll have to try to surpass their all-powerful luck as the main characters even with the system.'

Rock chuckled to himself and took a few steps away from Hiruzen. 

Hiruzen was looking at Iruka's students and seemed ready to finally concentrate on his own test. 

After Guy showed up, a small whirlwind of leaves followed. 

He was worried about Lee, the "school" teacher from the academy, and some bored Chunins who only seemed to be useful for show. 

"Hokage-sama, I need a target for the demonstration, big or small; it doesn't matter; any will do!" 

Rock said it with determination in his voice. Hiruzen simply nodded and exhaled smoke while gazing at the Shinobi beside him.

"Kato, Hiroshi, did you hear him? Do you understand what he's asking for? Stop sleeping on the job and quickly create a huge earth wall as requested!" 

Hiruzen spoke to the Chunin in a serious voice to wake up at least two of them from their sleep caused by boredom and make them useful immediately. 

The so-called Kato and Hiroshi stepped forward while quickly forming several hand seals and placing their open palms on the ground. 

They had to spend about a quarter to almost half of their chakra just with their combined efforts. 

However, the two Chunin managed to impress the Hokage even more as if they deliberately increased the overall strength of the jutsu. 

A small area nearby was clearly shaking and tremoring, and a rough, high cliff started to rise straight from the ground. 

These cliffs are usually used as a defense by shinobi who are good at Earth Style Ninjutsu. 

After that, Lee found himself facing what looked like a tall mountain.

"Let's go, Lee!" 

Hiruzen's words echoed piercingly in his ears, knocking out of Rock's head several thoughts that had previously raced through his mind.

Lee just closed his black eyes briefly, then opened them while revealing the fire of restrained fury and powerful determination.

He took a step forward towards the wall. He fearlessly filled the atmosphere with excessive physical pressure, ready to turn into a murderous rage. 

He filled his grace with his posture while becoming a mirage of speed and sharpness, then spun with a strike in balance.

He unleashed a sharp wind blade with charka and collided with the stone wall while splitting it in two and leaving Hiruzen in deep shock. 

"What?!" 

Kato and Hiroshi exclaimed with trembling voices.

"Haha! This is what the Power of Youth and the power of Taijutsu can do!" 

Might Guy laughed.

"At least a B-rank..." 

Hiruzen whispered in genuine admiration while assigning quite a high level for a technique "created" by some academy student for the Genin exam...