Night.
Lee carried a wild boar on his shoulders, walking tiredly back to the village.
However, just as he stepped out of the forest, Inari, standing at the village entrance, suddenly questioned, “Why do you go to such lengths to train so desperately?” “No matter how much you train, you won’t be able to beat Gato’s men.
No matter how many pretty words you say or how hard you work, in the face of the truly strong, the weak can only be defeated.” Carrying his prey, Lee silently approached Inari.
Then, he tossed him into the water.
Splash!
The sudden fall into the water made Inari immediately start struggling.
Lee came to the shore and asked, “Inari, why are you struggling?” Inari coughed up a few mouthfuls of water and said angrily, “Of course I’m struggling, otherwise I’ll drown!” Fortunately, he knew how to swim a little, or he really would have drowned just now.
Lee continued, “That’s right.
If you don’t struggle, you’ll die.
I’m the same.
If I don’t work hard to get stronger, I’ll die too.” “But there’s one difference between us.
You struggle and you know you can live.
Whereas I, even if I struggle, don’t know if I’ll survive.” “You keep taunting us only because we’ve shown the side of yourself you least want to face.
Because it only makes you look even more incompetent.” Inari shouted, “You’re lying!” “You don’t understand this country at all, and you don’t understand our pain.
I’m not like you, someone who just laughs and shouts all day long.” Lee watched Inari swim ashore, then turned and continued toward the village.
As he left, he said, “Don’t make excuses for things you gave up on yourself.
No matter what you say, I will never give up.” These words seemed directed at Inari but they also seemed directed at himself.
Because, other than working hard, he had no other choice.
— Tazuna’s house.
“I’m back.” Seeing him return, Tazuna joked, “Since you arrived, our house can barely fit all the meat.” Lee dropped the wild boar at the door with a thud and grinned, “You have to eat plenty of meat when you’re growing.” He looked around and asked, “Kakashi-sensei, haven’t Naruto and the others returned yet?” Kakashi shook his head.
“No, they’ll be back later.
We’ve already eaten, your food is in the pot.” Lee brought out a basin of cooked meat and began to wolf it down.
Ever since he increased the intensity of his training, his demand for food had skyrocketed.
Now, he ate nearly 10 kilograms of meat in a single meal.
If he hadn’t been hunting wild beasts himself, Tazuna’s family might not have been able to afford to feed him.
Even Kakashi was left dumbfounded by his ever-increasing appetite.
He thought to himself that he shouldn’t treat him to meals unless absolutely necessary.
Still, Lee’s strength is growing incredibly fast.
He remembered that when they first arrived, it was only 2.5 kilograms a meal.
In less than a month, it had actually increased to 10 kilograms.
Based on the consumption rate, Lee’s training intensity had increased several times over during this period.
On the other side, a soaking wet Inari had changed his clothes and sat silently watching Lee gorge himself, lost in thought.
The conversation between Tazuna and the others caught Lee’s attention.
Since the bridge construction was in its final stages, it should be completed in another two days.
What caught his attention was a comment stating that Gato’s men would come tomorrow to kidnap Tsunami, Tazuna’s daughter.
However, there were very few comments discussing this, and they didn’t specify who it would be.
Nevertheless, Lee kept this in mind.
Time passed quickly, and the night went by without incident.
Early the next morning.
Kakashi, Naruto, and the others accompanied Tazuna to the bridge construction site.
The bridge was nearing completion.
If Gato and his men were going to make a move, it would definitely be in these last two days.
Therefore, Kakashi was very attentive to security during these days.
When he asked Lee if he wanted to go along, Lee replied, “Kakashi-sensei, you guys go ahead.
I’ll head over in a bit.” Kakashi didn’t force him.
Lee wasn’t officially a member of this mission’s team, so it made sense for him not to follow.
But after Kakashi and the others left, Inari sat on the wooden bridge and mocked, “You talked so big last night, but when the time comes, you’re just scared.
Just a guy who likes to play the hero.” Lee smiled and didn’t explain.
After all, he was the only one who knew about what was mentioned in the comments.
Seeing Lee remain silent, Inari went back inside, feeling bored.
In his eyes, Lee was just a big talker who didn’t have the courage to fight Gato at all.
However, what they didn’t know was that by the time Kakashi and the others reached the bridge, they found the craftsmen collapsed all over the ground.
Those who had attacked them were none other than Zabuza and Haku, who had been missing for a long time.
At the same time, two Samurai under Gato had arrived at Inari’s house.
Seeing Lee doing push-ups, they mocked, “I didn’t expect a brat to be left here on guard.
For a ninja to still be doing such basic exercises, how embarrassing.
Then let me cut him down, and then we can just take the hostage.” Lee didn’t stop his movements and asked, “Are you Gato’s men?” The Samurai wearing a knit cap laughed.
“That’s right.
We’re under orders to capture Tazuna’s daughter.
But it’s all the same if we finish you off first.” After saying that, both prepared to draw their swords and attack.
However, though they were decisive, Lee was faster.
One second he was doing push-ups, and the next, he kicked off with both feet, his body launching toward the two like a cannonball.
Before they could react, his hands grabbed both of their heads.
Then he slammed them against the wooden bridge.
Crack…
Thud…
Without even drawing their swords, the two were slammed onto the bridge, knocked unconscious.
Tsunami, who was cleaning inside, heard the noise and hurried out to check.
“Lee, this is…” Lee smiled sheepishly.
“They’re Gato’s men, they came to take you hostage.
But I think I used too much force and broke your bridge.
I’m really sorry.” Tsunami shook her head.
“That doesn’t matter.
But what about you?
Are you hurt?” Lee confidently gave a thumbs-up, flashing his classic bright smile.
“Not at all.
However, I need to rush to the bridge now.
Tsunami-san, could you help me deal with them?” Tsunami nodded blankly.
She hadn’t expected that Lee, who was always shouting about hard work, would be this strong.
Inari, who had rushed over, watched Lee heading toward the bridge in stunned silence.
He murmured, “Is he really not afraid?”