9 Chapter 8: Rankyaku

It's worth clarifying first.

The original Lee from the anime and manga is a real talent in Taijutsu, and he is on par with Might Guy and his father.

It takes a lot of torture on one's body to learn how to open the Five Gates out of Eight in just over a year and a half. 

Lee probably wouldn't have done as well without a teacher. 

The fact that Rock Lee was naturally good at martial arts is a fact that can't be changed.

Lee is a Taijutsu genius who only needs the right mentor and motivation.

However, the resurrected Madara, Obito, Nagato, Kaguya, and the rest of the Otsutsuki family had other plans. 

The people listed above didn't need training because they already had genetics and Kekkei Genkai. 

Nevertheless, who said it would be easy?

"Hellish Training System! I will tear apart the cheaters of the Shinobi world into pieces with it! I want to eventually consume them and not even notice! This is another goal I have for my life and to become a master and the best of them all!" 

Lee blazed with determination and a stubborn fire in his eyes.

At this moment, Lee stood across from the wooden dummy a few meters away with his right foot raised. 

There were many times when he hit nothing with his blows even sometimes increasing the speed, momentum and force.

However, there wasn't much going on yet, and quick moves of kicks were all that made a weak.

The Rankyaku was barely working, or to be more precise not working at all.

'Why is that?'

In the world of pirates, there was no such unusual energy coursing through the body except for Haki.

A mysterious and inexplicable force that could both "observe" and "arm" themselves. 

Therefore, Rock Lee's fighting style and Rankyaku were just compressed, sharp blades of air that one only needed to learn to release.

It seemed like nothing complicated, but Lee was standing in one place and comparing it to the teaching method from the bronze chest.

So...

There was nothing left to do but keep swinging at the air with strained muscles and tendons and sweating and rising dust that made it painful to see.

Nevertheless, Lee was lucky because a man in a green jumpsuit with a vest, thick curly hair, and a strange glossy pot hairstyle was passing by.

Rock Lee's slender frame caught his attention as he thought deeply. 

Rock's jerky movements and inconsistent panting breaths made him look more like he was playing with the air than training. 

Might Guy couldn't help but shake his head and smile in a friendly way. He knew Lee was probably trying to copy a move he had seen somewhere else. 

Lee was familiar to him precisely because of gossip from others about his efforts in Taijutsu, but he could also recall that they had just recently seen each other once.

"What are you doing, kid?"

Of course, Lee flinched while lowering his leg. He was startled at the unexpectedly low and confident voice that sounded nearby. 

Rock laughed quietly when he saw him because he looked a lot like him while walking quietly in his famous outfit with a protector around his waist. 

He calmed down and replied with a friendly nod and the following words. 

"Usually, I hit the log to get used to my limitations and pain, but today, I decided to just practice fighting with shadow boxing, and what about you?" 

Lee asked in the end.

"You have that same Power of Youth that I live with burning blood for, and as a respected follower of the Taijutsu path. I cannot ignore the slight mistakes you make especially when I clearly see how you put in the effort and try to grow your skills, but where is the rhythm?"

"You don't have rhythm! Your lunges are shaking and unsuitable for delivering a good, forceful blow! Be smoother and follow my lead, okay? Let's go! Let's start!" 

Guy suddenly and abruptly fired up with a deep and lengthy speech, promptly getting into position just like Lee and raising his right leg.

'Is this even normal?'

Lee was confused because he didn't know how Might Guy got to be in front of him and was ready to teach him for no reason. 

It's important to note that they weren't close and weren't the teacher and the student yet. 

Nevertheless, Lee was mesmerized while watching him effortlessly deliver thunderous blows to the air.

There was a burst of wind and, most importantly the sound of blasts with each of Guy's hits. 

After every second, Lee could no longer see his right leg because he was moving so fast that it was impossible to see. 

Guy made a strong mini-hurricane that carried Lee's hair, including the short braid behind his back. 

Rock unexpectedly wanted to applaud the vivid performance but realized he didn't have time. 

Guy wasn't putting on this display for mere admiration. 

Lee instantly meditated by covering his eyes and blocking out the howling wind. 

He focused his mind and chakra which flowed peacefully through his channels. 

He clearly saw new scenes using the Rankyaku technique as if they were paintings with new colors. 

Meanwhile, Might Guy stopped his strikes into the wind and simply grinned widely.

Guye had done his job but merely gave a thumbs-up and vanished in a puff of smoke.

On the other hand, Lee seemed to dwell in his mind. 

This is inspiration or enlightenment, but everything seemed to have developed before him. 

What was once shrouded in fog was now revealed—what he had previously lacked the strength for.

Lee was in a deep trance and could feel the scene with the Rankyaku technique becoming more real in his hands with his enlightened hands. 

Rock didn't know how much time had passed and he didn't wake up until the cold, strange moon lit up and showed his serious face and black eyes. 

Then, his chakra center moved, and the pressure point near his legs almost grew bigger, and the channels in those areas felt the breakthrough flow.

Lee manifested a blue energy shell with his right leg by swinging it around and releasing everything accumulated in him.

A thunderous vibrating sound spread across the polygon. 

As soon as Rock swung his legs, the chakra blade covered in the wind cut the wooden dummy in half easily.

This strong force could kill, but this consumed all his chakra with about a quarter of the full center.

[Chakra: 78%]

'Unlike Ninjutsu and elemental transformations, I released pure chakra and only formed it because I struck the air with my leg. Unfortunately, a lot of energy was spent.'

'This is the first flaw that shows nothing will work out immediately. I'll have to refine it if I don't want to lose consciousness from exhaustion after a few Rankyakus...'

Lee reflected while already calculating an approximate plan for future training.