Reika arched an eyebrow at him, her expression unreadable. Xero, oher hand, couldn’t hold back a snicker. He turo Kuro with a raised eyebrow, teasing him just a little. “What? You gotta pee or something? Gonna leave us hanging like that?”

  Kuro gave him a shrug, the smirk still in pce. “Exactly. Earthly deeds, as you’d call them.” His voice yful, but the hint of mystery still lingered around his words.

  Xero ughed, shaking his head, clearly amused. “Alright, alright. Don’t take too long, okay? Don’t want you getting lost or anything, See ya at 301.” he added, with a mock serious tone, but his eyes twinkled with good-natured teasing.

  Reika gave Kuro a skeptical look, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she didn’t press the issue. She knew Kuro well enough to know when he wasn’t in the mood for expnations. Instead, she just gave him a curt nod and tinued up the stairs with Xero, both of them leaving Kuro behind without another word.

  As soon as they were out of sight, Kuro turned and began following the group ahead of him, his pace measured and quiet.

  In the spacious hallway ohird floor, Naruto and Sakura stood to the side while Sasuke faced Rock Lee. The air betweewo boys practically crackled with energy. Lee’s polite demeanor had shifted into one of fierce determination, his eyes locked onto Sasuke’s with an iy that couldn’t be ignored.

  Lee stood tall, his hands csped behind his back, his eyes focused ily on Sasuke. “I would like to challenge you, Sasuke Uchiha,” he said, his voiwavering, full of a quiet yet powerful determination.

  Sasuke raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed. His smirk never faltered as he looked Lee up and down. “Why me?” Sasuke asked, his tone dripping with casual curiosity.

  Lee, without missing a beat, replied with an air of fidence, “Because I’ve heard of your skill, and because I want to test myself against someorong. I believe you will help me grow stronger.”

  Naruto, standing nearby, immediately cut in, eyes wide with disbelief. “Hey, bushy brows! You ’t just challenge people out of nowhere like that!” he shouted, arms filing a little.

  Lee turoward Naruto, his expression softening into that all-too-familiar warm smile. “Five me, Naruto,” he said, his voice carrying a calm siy. “But this is important to me. I o bee stronger. Sasuke will help me do that.”

  Naruto ched his fists, frustration building as he watched Sasuke once again take the spotlight. Why is it always Sasuke? he thought, irritation fshing across his face. His pride wouldn’t let it go any longer. “Let me hahis. I’ll take care of him in five minutes!” Naruto decred, his voice brimming with determination. Without wasting a sed, he charged toward Lee, ready to prove himself. But Lee, with his unparalleled speed, was faster than Naruto anticipated. In an instant, Lee delivered a powerful sidekick that sent Naruto spinning through the air like a top. “Konoha Reppu!” Lee shouted as the wind from his swift kiocked Naruto off banaruto twirled untrolbly, his body spinning in a dizzying blur before crashing forcefully into the nearby wall. Dazed and disoriented, Naruto groaned, realizing he might have uimated Lee just a bit.

  Kuro, who had been leaning against the wall at a distance, watched the exge unfold. There was something almost magic about Lee—his relentless determination and focus. It was hard not to be impressed. Even if the whole challenge felt a bit strange, Kuro couldn’t deny the raw energy Lee brought to the table.

  Sasuke stepped forward, his smirk widening just slightly. “Fine, sounds fun.” he said, his voice dripping with nonce. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  The moment Sasuke gave his sent, Lee sprang into aoving with lightning speed. Sasuke barely had time to react as Lee’s fist shot toward him. It was almost too fast to track. Sasuke dodged just in time, his body twisting to the side in a fluid motion.

  The hallway seemed to e alive with the sound of their battle. Lee was relentless, each attaing in quick succession, precise and calcuted. Sasuke, though skilled, was struggling to keep up. His Sharingan spun, trying to predict Lee’s move, but even with the added adva was clear that Lee’s speed and teique were pushing him to his limit.

  “Whoa,” Naruto muttered, his eyes wide as he watched the fight unfold. “This guy’s insane!” he added, pletely amazed by Lee’s ability.

  Sakura, standio Naruto, was watg the fight with a mixture of and awe. “ Sasuke handle him?” she whispered, her eyes darting nervously betweewo fighters.

  Kuro, standing in the shadows, smiled to himself. *This is what happens when sheer willpower meets talent,* he thought, arms folded as he observed the iy of the battle. Lee’s speed was something to behold. Sasuke, no doubt, had his work cut out for him.

  Then, as if to prove just how much Lee had to offer, the move came out of nowhere. With a sudden burst of speed, Lee leaped into the air, twisting his body mid-flight. He aimed a powerful kick straight at Sasuke’s shoulder, the force of it s that it cracked the wall behind Sasuke when he dodged. The sound echoed down the hallway, drawing the attention of others nearby.

  Sasuke stumbled back, his expression tightening. It was clear he was struggling to keep up with Lee’s uing assault. Lee stood tall, not even winded, his gaze unwavering.

  Naruto’s eyes lit up. “Did you see that?!” he shouted, pletely amazed. “This guy’s on a whole different level!”

  Sakura’s eyes flickered from Sasuke to Lee, her worry for Sasuke growing, but there was something else in her gaze—a curiosity about Lee’s abilities, even though she didn’t fully uand his drive.

  But the attention in the room shifted again, this time from the fight to Lee. His eyes, once focused entirely on Sasuke, shifted to Sakura. A soft blush spread across his face as he stepped toward her, his heart rag. The battle seemed to fade away as his gaze locked onto her.

  “Sakura,” Lee said, his voice suddenly much softer, almost reverent. “There is something I must fess.”

  Sakura blinked, fused. “What are you talking about, Cripe?”