Chapter Fifteen. Here Goes Nothing.

She didn't have time to figure out. With a piercing cry, Lee sped towards her. He started doing kicks at a normal speed, the kind she could counter easily. Curiously, he didn't use Konoha Senpuu, which took Sakura quite aback: she had quite counted he would use that kick.

After a series of frontal kicks aimed to her solar plexus, he finally shouted "Konoha Senpuu!", allowing his platonic love to raise the guard.

And Sakura jumped, not upwards... but backwards. She made a complex somersault flip and slid back, her back arched, a hand touching the floor. Lee, in front of her, had his Tan-Sau at the ready. His eyes were now full of that look Gai so often had in his eyes. A you-are-promising-but-not-there-yet sort of stare.

Sakura felt humiliated, he was holding back and he didn't even seem to break a sweat. I'll teach you to mess with me holding back, Lee-san!

She flipped forward, trying to hit him with all her might, her fist arched, raised and anxious to hit. Lee did a backflip and stood in the battleground statue's fingertips. He was smiling.

"She has gone a long way to reach this level. But this fight is not about strength. I can almost feel there is a different tension here"
Tsunade was looking down at the two young ninjas she knew so well, wondering about the strange feeling she harbored in her chest. Just who would win, there?

- Sakura is too lucky, Kakashi. As you can see, my Lee is holding back. Had he used his full strength, she'd be at the ground begging for mercy.
- Don't understimate Sakura: knowing Tsunade-sama, you haven't seen anything yet.
- I know. Now, with Lee holding back, she'll be piqued and risk more. I'm sure she will unleash her all, and knowing Hokage-sama, I hope Lee is ready to counter that...
... but I trust he will...

Just then, Sakura's palms glowed intensely blue. Lee's eyes bulged. This was the attack he had seen her use before, the needle-like medical jutsu.

He had to end this up quick. Lee searched for his sensei and Gai, this time, didn't nod or say anything.
"Lee, this time it's your battle. You have to judge your rival, and act as a result"

The green-clad Genin moved around as Sakura began throwing small acupuncture needles at him. No problem, he could dodge them easily. Only when he saw her chakra creating a cluster of needles, almost a cloud, he resorted to Konoha Dai Senpuu to send them flying away.

It was Sakura's turn to smile at him.
Lee's courage returned: she trusted him, and understood he was not going to hurt her to reach his goal. He was not Sasuke, after all...
But still, this was the Chûnin exam. And only one should pass.

What to do?

Then, it clicked.

Lee half-lowered his head and chuckled softly to himself. Gai's eyes widened: what was he thinking?!
"The Primary Lotus", he said to himself.

With a wide smile, the Green Beast bit on his bandages, which unzipped themselves from his arms with a weezing sound.
- LEE!!! – Gai's shout of despair almost froze his pupil.

- You said it was my battle, Gai sensei. – was the serene answer. – Please understand and allow this move of mine.

The jounin, eyes wide, held to dignity by a narrow hair. His anguish was on par with the one he felt when he learned his student had taken the saké by mistake.
- You can kill her and damage yourself! Stop, Lee...!

Gai's cry died in his throat. His Genin was not still anymore, he had opened the first gate and was going on to Sakura... But it wasn't the Omote Renge attack... he circled her as if he was going to do...

"Kamisama, no... Lee, not the the Ura Renge!"