Naruto : The ultimate Troublemaker

Lee barely dodged a Soft Palm that would have struck his tenketsu, but the power of the blow caused a shockwave that sent leaves flying around them.

"Hinata, stop!" he cried out.

But she didn't respond, continuing to unleash a barrage of Hyuga techniques.

However, Hinata used a gravitational manipulation to suddenly pull Lee towards her. Taken by surprise, Lee barely blocked a strike aimed at his heart, but the impact sent him crashing violently against a tree.

He quickly got back up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"If this is what I have to do to bring you back to your senses, then I'll fight seriously."

Lee charged at Hinata with increased speed, launching a series of powerful kicks. Hinata blocked several attacks with a gravity barrier, but one strike managed to get through, hitting her shoulder and making her take a slight step back.

Hinata retaliated by creating Truth Orbs, propelling them towards Lee.

"Damn it!" Lee murmured as he dodged the destructive spheres.

One of them grazed his arm, leaving a deep burn. But he used his agility to close in again, aiming for a reverse kick.

Hinata anticipated the attack and blocked with a Gust Palm, sending Lee crashing to the ground with crushing force.

Lee launched a series of attacks that forced Hinata to retreat, even breaking through her gravitational defense. The battle became intense, with each movement resonating in the forest.

However, Hinata, despite having the upper hand, showed signs of an internal conflict. Several times, her body hesitated, her movements becoming slightly clumsy.

"Hinata, I know you're still there, somewhere. Snap out of it!" Lee shouted, hoping to reach her consciousness.

For a brief moment, Hinata seemed to waver, her golden gaze losing some of its luster.

Taking advantage of this moment of weakness, Lee executed a reverse kick of the Whirling Wind, striking Hinata in the face with such force that she was knocked to the ground.

The blue tattoos on her body began to fade, and the shimmering horn shattered into ethereal fragments. Hinata lost consciousness, her body falling heavily onto the ground.

***

Lee, breathless and injured, approached Hinata. He looked at her for a moment, his expression shifting from determination to sincere concern.

"Hinata-chan..." he murmured.

He then turned to Ino, still lying in a pool of blood.

"Ino-chan, hold on. I'll—"

A sinister noise interrupted his words.

A massive snake emerged from the bushes, its venomous fangs ready to strike. Lee, with lightning-fast reflexes, barely dodged the attack.

The snake hissed, then opened its mouth wide. To Lee's astonishment, a man emerged, wearing a long dark cloak and donning a Shinigami mask.

"Kukuku..." the man cackled. "Impressive, Konoha Shinobi. You have good reflexes."

Lee straightened up, his gaze hardening. "Who are you?" he asked, adopting a combat stance.

The man didn't answer immediately, content with observing the two bodies on the ground.

"I am... merely an observer for now. But it seems I've arrived at the right time."

His sinister laughter echoed through the forest, as Lee prepared for another confrontation.

***

The forest reverberated with the dull sounds of blows as Lee faced off against the Snake Hermit. This man, slender and pale-skinned like a snake, wore a Shinigami mask that partially concealed his face. His movements were fluid, reminiscent of a reptile, and his power surpassed anything Lee had encountered so far.

Lee leaped forward with blinding speed, launching a series of rapid kicks towards the hermit. But each attack seemed predicted, dodged, or blocked with disconcerting ease.

Without warning, sharp bones erupted from his arms, forming a barrier that pushed Lee back. Taking advantage of the opening, the hermit sent a volley of white snakes rushing towards him with sparkling fangs.

Lee barely dodged by executing a backward roll, but one of the snakes managed to bite his forearm. A searing pain immediately spread, forcing Lee to remove the snake with a sharp jerk.

"These snakes are not ordinary," Lee murmured, wiping a drop of sweat from his forehead.

"They grind flesh from the inside," the hermit explained, his reptilian eyes gleaming with amusement. "So, how long can you hold out?"

Feeling he had no choice, Lee opened the seventh gate, his green aura becoming explosive. The increased power allowed him to accelerate, closing the gap between him and the hermit.

"Enough talk," Lee grunted as he disappeared from sight, suddenly reappearing above his opponent to deliver a downward kick.

The impact shook the ground, but the hermit had anticipated the attack, moving at an almost supernatural speed to dodge. He immediately counterattacked by launching a salvo of bone projectiles mixed with poison.

Lee jumped into the air, dodging each projectile with precision.

"You're not lacking in agility, but it's not enough," the hermit cackled, before composing a series of hand seals at an incredible speed.

An immense flaming snake emerged from the ground, rushing towards Lee. He responded with a series of rapid strikes, breaking the attack before it reached him.