Chapter 12: Genin

Hiruzen, Might Guy, and the others were taken aback by the surge of his emotions.

Rock Lee didn't stop but instead changed into a new stance. 

He then moved himself towards the wall with lightning speed while landing close to the rocky wall. 

A portion of the wall collapsed with a loud crash and dust, but the sturdy base remained intact to allow Lee to land a series of powerful blows.

He left after images of his legs, palms, and fists blurred through the air. 

Lee hit the wall as if his life depended on it, but he slowly broke it down and created a beautiful web of cracks.

"I see great potential. What do you think, Guy?" 

Hiruzen quietly asked about Lee's overall skill assessment and turned to Guy.

"You know, Hokage-sama, I was actually thinking of taking on a team of Genin as a full-fledged Jonin. Lee would be my ideal student as he has talent in Taijutsu. In addition, he possesses the power of youth—that short yet all-powerful force, haha!"

Guy brightly smiled in the green jumpsuit while giving a thumbs-up to evidently approving of Rock and his abilities.

"Very well." 

Hiruzen nodded and retrieved a thin bundle from his pocket containing a forehead protector that he had prepared just in case Lee passed the exam on his own. 

He did, and it seemed like it wasn't in vain.

The question of Lee's rank was pretty much settled after he finished his demonstration while bringing back memories of the past. 

Hiruzen also immediately gave him the Forehead Protector and told him to wear it with pride to show him that he was a shinobi of Konoha as if he were following the rules of different patriotism tests. 

Lee saw no reason to oppose this and promptly fastened it to his forehead with a smile while making the corners of his lips to appear much more important than usual.

[Name: Rock Lee]

[Shinobi Rank: Genin]

[Health: 100%]

[Stamina: 90%]

[Chakra: 88%]

[Taijutsu Rank: C+]

[Ninjutsu Rank: —]

[Genjutsu Rank: —]

[Inventory]

[Achievements: 1]

[List of Hellish Exercises: 2]

'Huh? Achievements?'

Rock Lee thought, but since Hiruzen wasn't leaving soon and there were still some boring tasks, he had to put "updating" his system on hold.

Moreover, Rock overheard that they actually wanted to join Guy's team not just any random Jonin.

Lee saw Guy from afar, but there's simply no better sensei than a person with Might Guy in the Hidden Leaf!

...

At the end of the day, Lee returned to his clan exhausted and collapsed from mental exhaustion, not physical fatigue. 

He had to fill out an application for his Genin rank and the necessary documents as the last task of the day was boring and drained him. 

Lee couldn't avoid the paperwork and looked tired because of the deep bags under his eyes. He hadn't slept well, but that wasn't the case at all.

It was pretty boring to deal with paperwork just like Konoha's famous interrogators!

"Great job, son! I didn't have much faith in you, but you surprised me, and I'm very proud of your success. However, a Genin and a Chunin, but it's okay!"

"After so many failures and setbacks! Oh, I'm so proud of you, Rock! Your mother would have been proud of you too if she hadn't left us so long ago. Damn her!"

Lee was being pushed around by his relatives who were celebrating especially his father.

He said it in such a rude way when he said that he was proud of his son's success. 

Lee wished he could just disappear out of shame or hit him to make him shut up and stop talking badly about Lee.

Lee was being tossed around a lot, and being with strangers who were "relatives" made him very angry. 

He wasn't introverted, but he was looking at the different angles because they were bothering and distracting him all the time by asking silly questions.

"How are you?" 

"How's your day?"

"How do you feel about your chakra?"

"How's your taijutsu?" 

This irritated him and provoked his emotions.

However, every member of the Lee clan rushed to bed as early as possible to prepare themselves for another morning mission to sustain their insufficient income.

However, Son Lee broke the norm for the first time in honor of the occasion!

"Get ready, Rock! No sleeping, my warrior! We have a special party planned tonight, just the two of us, father and son, and no one else!" 

Son Lee somewhat wagging his eyebrows and even slightly startling Lee with such implications...

"What? We shouldn't, huh? 

Lee awkwardly tried to decline to rest, but Son Lee didn't seem to be asking him or perhaps he truly wasn't.

"We should!" 

Son Lee declared.

And...

In the end, Son Lee brought his son to a restaurant—not just any restaurant, but one from the prominent Akimichi clan! 

They were a clan whose members were known for being overweight and sensitive to jokes about it. 

They also know techniques that can make their bodies bigger and allow them to fight like giants or full, chubby figures.

"Well, what do you think? Haha! You probably thought your old and poor father was a fool without a penny in his name, but no, I've been saving money specifically for you by tirelessly running missions and hardly ever being at home! Yes, we can spend today until it hurts and even brings tears to our eyes, but we'll still celebrate like a royal family, Rock.!"

Son Lee said proudly while nodding towards the colorful, bustling building illuminated with lights with people coming and going.

'Hmm, I misjudged him, didn't I?'

Lee's thoughts flashed as he watched Son who was happily sighing and smiling. 

Son now looked like a good and caring father and ready to make sacrifices and work hard for his own flesh and blood.

"Thank you."

Rock sincerely thanked his father, but he had grown up with his father and would try the best meat with him for the first time... 

In the Akimichi clan restaurant.

It seems the system achievements will have to wait just like the training before bed...

...

The next morning.

The whole classroom was full of Genins who had just become Genins yesterday and were still happy and excited when they arrived. 

Rock Lee was sitting on the top row while watching everyone and listening to their teacher's final warnings. 

Today, their teacher would no longer be their teacher because their main goal would now be to make each trio a qualified Jonin instead.

"Team number 1..."

"Team number 2..."

"Team number 3, Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee."