The battle had just gotten a lot more interesting.

" What the-" Sakra began.

" Oh!" Lee gasped.

" An empty shell!" Aceso gasped. The empty shell cracked, falling in, and sand was everywhere.

" But how?" Gai demanded. " He didn't do it."

" It was when you closed your eye to pray," Kakashi said. " At the moment, Lee closed his eyes too because of the pain. That's when he did it." A sand mound started to form behind Lee, Hayate and Aceso walked back to the sidelines, out of the fight.

"Huh?" Lee asked he turned around, and the sand fell, revealing Gaara. He was laughing evilly.

" Oh, no it's," Temari panicked.

" So it's happened," Kankuro breathed. " Just as I thought. That look in his eyes. It could only mean the demon inside him has been awakened" Gaara tilted his head, smiled more, and did a hand sign, multiple lines of sand shot out.

" Aah!" Lee gasped, the sand slammed into him, and he went flying back. He struggled to get up, and just fell down. He turned to see Gaara sending another attack.

" Run, Lee!" Naruto yelled. Gaara formed a sand wave and it swept Lee away, he hollered. He was slammed against the wall, the sand retracted, and then prepared to attack again.

" The poor kid is helpless," Kankuro said as Aceso held her arm up. Trying to protect her eyes from the flying sand particles. " He doesn't have anything left. Gaara's just toying with him now."

" I don't get it," Sakura said as Gaara licked his lips. " What's Lee doing just standing there? With his speed, he should easily be able to get out of the way of those blasts. Why doesn't he dodge them?"

" For a very simple reason," Gai answered. " He can't dodge them."

" Why is that?" Sakura asked.

" The Lotus us what you might call a double-edged sword," Kakashi explained.

" Wha-What does that mean?" Sakura answered.

" You know it's a forbidden technique," Kakashi said. " Why do you think that is?"

" Well--" Sakura began.

" The Lotus isn't ninjutsu or Genjutsu. It's taijutsu requiring extreme physical effort," Kakashi explained. " The strain it puts on the body is unimaginable. No one can sustain it for long. Right now, Lee is in so much pain he can hardly move at all. Isn't that right, Gai?"

" But-But that means--"Sakura began as she looked back at the floor. Lee was in the hole carved in the wall, sand falling in front of him, panting heavily. Sand flew at him, he grunted, yelled, and dodged it.

" Uh," Gaara smiled. Lee put his arms up, cringing in pain. Gaara put his hands together.

" No ninjutsu or genjutsu," Sakura said,

" All he's got is taijutsu," Ino said. " And not much of that."

" There's no way he can win this," Choji said.

" Win?" Shikamaru asked. " He'd be lucky to survive, Aceso will need to be his side as soon it's over." The sand swirl up and then plummeted into Lee, he screamed out in pain, Aceso's heart dropped, she didn't like to hear anyone in pain, this scream was almost unbearable.

" Aceso," Hayate whispered, she looked over at him. " You can't do anything till it is stopped."

" I know" Aceso breathed as she looked back as Gaara continued to toy with Lee.

" I can see it in your eyes that you want to," Hayate admitted.

" I won't do anything till it is over," Aceso assured him.

' Hang in there, Lee' Aceso thought to herself.

" It's painful to watch," Temari smirked. " Why doesn't he give up?

" He should quit while he can," Kankuro suggested. " It was just bad luck he got Gaara as an opponent."

" Come on, Bushy Brow," Naruto encouraged. They plummeted into, sending him back, he was screaming. He slammed into the ground and bounced a couple of feet from the initial fall. Gaara was growling as the sand particles flew around him. Lee got up panting, his arms crossed in an x in front of his body.

" What good do you think that'll do?" Gaara asked with an evil laugh.

" I pity the kid," Kankuro said. " Gaara will just toy with him till he begs for mercy."

" Well, then, Gaara's in for a long match because that will never happen," Guy said.

" Huh?" Everyone asked.

" Lee doesn't know how to give up," Gai explained. The sand pushed Lee away, and when he was trying to get back up, the sand plummeted into him, Lee screamed in pain, the sound was unbearable. Gaara let the sand off, and Lee got up and in the same defensive position.

" He can't go on!" Sakura exclaimed. " Make him quit before he gets himself killed." Gaara sent the sand to Lee, he dodged it this time and went all around it.

" What?" Kankuro asked.

" He's still able to-" Neji began.

" Move like that?" Naruto asked.

" How?" Aceso asked as Lee stood up, one hand behind his back with a smile. " Lee's smiling. He's running for his life."

" Yes," Gai said as Lee ran from the sand. " But now it's Gaara's turn to run." She looked up at Gai. " The Leaf Village Lotus blooms twice."

" I've heard that somewhere before," Sakura said. " Yeah. Lee that told me that."

" But--No, Gai, you didn't," Kakashi wished.

" Yes, Kakashi, I did," Gai confirmed.

" So that Genin, that boy, is able to open the Eight Inner Gates and use the Hidden Lotus?" Kakashi asked.

" That is correct," Gai confirmed.

" Well, if that isn't the most-" Kakashi grunted. " Ok. So then how many of the Inner Gates is he able to open now?"

" Five Gates," Gai answered.

" Gai-sensei, I've heard you mentioned the eight gates in the past, but what are they?" Aceso asked. " And the Hidden Lotus?"

" The Eight Gates are like valves or chakra limiters that must be opened if one is to release the Hidden Lotus."

" Elaborate?" Aceso requested as she turned her body towards him.

" There are Gates along the chakra network located at those points body where is most heavily concentrated," Kakashi explained as he moved his headband, revealing his Sharingan. " Starting at the head, they are the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Rest, of Life, of Pain, of Closing, of Joy, of Shock, and Gate of Death. These are what are called the Eight Inner Gates. Their purpose is to limit the flow of chakra through the body. But the Lotus exerts tremendous pressure on these limiters, eventually forcing the Gates open. This releases the restraints on the chakra. The result being that a person's strength can be increased tenfold or more. "

"The Primary Lotus opens only the First Gate-" Gai began. " The Gate of Opening releasing the brain's restraints on the muscles, freeing a person to bring forth its body strength to its full extent. You'll see results."

" And the Hidden Lotus?" Aceso asked as she looked back at the battle.

" At the Second Gate, the Gate of Rest, one's strength is increased further. And at the Third Gate, the Gate of Life, one enters the Hidden Lotus," Gai explained.

" Wait a minute," Aceso began. " Just the Primary Lotus almost destroyed him. He could barely move. What's going to happen to him if he takes it farther?"

" Exactly," Kakashi agreed. " By opening all Eight Gates, you could attain power, beyond even the Hokages. The only drawback is you die." Aceso gasped as she grabbed the end of the second rope. " I don't know what this boy means to you, Gai. But shouldn't have to tell you that we never bring our personal feelings into play. I wouldn't have thought you were capable of this."

" You have no right," Gai declared. " You know nothing about him. Nothing at all. That boy has something important to prove. And he's determined to prove it even at the cost of his life. And I am determined to help him reach his goal. But because that goal is worth reaching." Lee looked to the side, his eyes connected with Aceso's eyes, he tightened the rope around his waist.

" Whatever happens, I do not want you shedding tears for me," Lee requested, he then looked back, crossed his arms and air formed all around him, it was intense.

" What?" Sakura gasped, as everyone else gasped.

" I don't know what you think you're planning right now," Gaara admitted. " But this match is over for you."

" You are right," Lee agreed. " It is over one way or another. Neji. Sasuke. And-" The circle of air around him started to get more intense. " I am not going to be the only one to lose here. Gai Sensei, please let this work." The pebbles around him started to rise up. " It is now or never." Chakra was seen forming all around him. He brought his arms down, the veins on his face popped out, his skin was a dark shade of red, eyes pure white, lighting struck around him, his hair flying upward. " To protect and maintain one's own ninja way. The Third Gate, Gate of Life, open!" The air around them was blowing, Aceso put her arm up, trying to block it a little, her braids flying all over.

" His whole body's changing," Aceso noted.

" He's turning red!" Naruto exclaimed as Temari gasped.

" Aaahhh!" Lee growled as things grew more intense around him.

" What's it mean?" Kankuro asked. " What's happening!"

" Ahh!" Lee growled more.

" He's opened the Third Gate," Kakashi answered. " The Gate of Life. Now he'll attack."

" Oh no," Gai denied. " Not yet."

" Hm?" Kakashi asked as Lee crunched over a little.

" The Fourth Gate. Gate of Pain. Open!" Lee shouted. " Aahh!" Something was going on with his hands, and Aceso couldn't tell what was happening.

" Incredible," Kakashi breathed. " No one can do that through sheer effort alone. The boy's truly a genius!"

" Ahhh!" Lee shouted. He then took off like a rocket, tearing up the arena. Through the smoke, Aceso could see that Gaara was kicked in the chin. Everyone also held their arms up, crying in strain.

" That speed," Aceso breathed. The smoke disappeared and the floor was empty of combatants.

" Gaara?" Kankuro asked looking around.

" Woah," Naruto breathed. " Where'd they go?"

" Up there!" Shikamaru shouted they looked up to see Gaara's body emerging from the smoke. His armor was cracking once more, he groaned in pain.

" There's Gaara, but what happened to Lee?" Ino asked.

" He's just gone," Choji said as he looked down at the lower level. The sand moved up, it was way behind.

" Hiding behind that sand armor again, eh?" Lee asked as he popped out of nowhere. " Well, we will see about that." He popped up in front of Gaara and smacked him down. Lee then began to hit Gaara as if he was a ping pong ball, popping up where ever he was falling. " You are a tough one. Try this!" He pushed off the ceiling, and the muscles in his arm began to rip as Lee started to form a punch.

' I'm going to have them both in the hospital to treat' Aceso thought to herself.

" One more, and we are finished!" Lee declared. " The Fifth Gate, Gate of Closing, open!" He disappeared and then reappeared, repeatedly pounding Gaara in the stomach. He went flying down, and then Lee grabbed the end of his sash.

" Uh-ugh!" Gaara cried out, the sand shield wasn't keeping up at all. Lee pulled Gaara forward.

" Hidden Lotus!" Lee yelled as he plummeted his fist into Gaara. Smoke spread everywhere. Aceso put her arms back up and closed her eyes. All she could hear was the explosion, someone crying out and muscles tearing apart. The smoke cleared and Aceso looked up in time to see the gourd turn to sand and smoke spread every once more.

" Ah-uh!" Lee cried out as he tumbled out, looking normal. " Unh uh eh ah." He finished flat on his back.

" Unbelievable," Naruto cheered. " He did it!"

" Gaara!" Kankuro cried out.

" Is it over?" Sakura asked.

" What's that?" Ino asked as the smoke cleared out. " Down there?" Gaara was lying down, surrounded by sand, gasping, he was looking straight at Lee with murder in his eyes. He struggled to stretch out his arm. He closed his hand a little, putting it in the line of Lee as he slowly sat up. Sand started to blow away, and Lee started to crawl away, but stopped, he was too weak to move.

" I know what's coming now," Shino said as a hand-formed out of the sand. Lee kept trying to get up, but his body couldn't handle anything. The sand-covered Lee's left arm and leg, he tried to get out of it.

" Aahh ahh!" Lee cried out as Gaara stretched out his hand.

" Sand coffin," Gaara breathed as he closed his hand. Lee then let out a horrifying scream as the sand crushed his arm and leg. He went flying back and slid across the ground. The said moved towards him once more. " Now you die." The sand stopped, it was swept away by Gai Sensei. " I'll just go around." The sand retracted and started to go around, the sand went up and started to aim for Lee's head. Gaara was breathing shakily, he was sitting up, trying to get a closer Gaara. He then turned to the side, grabbing his head and groaning.

" But why?" Gaara asked as he looked over at the two. " He failed. Why save him?"

" Because-because he's, he's my student," Gai answered. " And also because he's precious to me."

" Hm?" Gaara asked.

" He's precious to him?" Temari asked. " A student?" Gaara stood up, the sand began to form the gourd on his back, and he began to walk away.

" I quit," Gaara declined.

" He what? He quits?" Naruto asked.

" But it's too late for Lee," Kakashi said. " He lost the match, the minute Gai intervened.

" The winner is--uh?" Hayate began.

" Huh?" Everyone gasped. Aceso turned to see Lee was back on his feet, he wasn't even conscious, he was in a fighting position. She quickly went over to the bowl-cut boy. Lee was shaking badly, blood dripped down his arm, all over his leg warmer, on the rope.

" It can't be!" Gai gasped as everyone looked over.

" This shouldn't be impossible," Aceso breathed as Gai walked over.

" No, Lee," Gai denied as he grabbed his shoulders. " It's all right. It's all over now. Anyway, you're in no condition to--Lee." Gai's voice began to break, and tears formed in his eyes. " Oh, Lee. What have I done?" He began to sob, Aceso held in her tears, Lee told her to not cry for him, and she wasn't going to let him down. " Look at you. Not even conscious, and still determined to show the world what you can do."

" He's out cold," Kakashi said as he covered his eye. " Nothing keeping him up but sheer willpower."

" Lee, you've already proven it," Gai confirmed. He then pulled Lee closed to him as if it were a hug. " You are a splendid ninja."

" The winner is Gaara," Hayate announced.

" Lee!" Sakura shouted as Gai handed Lee into Aceso's arms, she slowly lowered him to the ground.

" Sakura!" Kakashi stopped her as Aceso put her hands on his body, observing the damage. " There is nothing you can do for him right now. There are times when sympathetic words can only make things worse." His arm and leg were totally crushed, bone fractures, and muscle tears, and his back was greatly damaged physically and psychologically.

" I knew he couldn't beat Gaara," Temari smirked as Hayate walked over to Gai, Lee, and Aceso. She put her hands on the center of his chest and started to surface heal, Lee. She would need to be in the hospital to do everything else. Aceso heard footsteps running over, she looked back to Naruto passing by Gaara. She then went onto the second stage as she did with Hinata, healing chakra covering Lee's body.

" Hurry," Hayate insisted as more medics came over. The other medics joined Aceso as Naruto went and stood by Gai.

" You are his teacher, aren't you?" a medic asked.

" I am," Gai answered. " What is it?"

" Take Gai-Sensei aside to talk privately," Aceso ordered. " This won't be easy news to hear."

" Yes, ma'am," the medic nodded as he stood up and took Gai away.

" We need to move his body," a medic informed as they readied the stretcher.

" Careful," a medic said as she let go. " Easy with him." They carefully placed Lee on the stretcher. Naruto walked over as Aceso stayed kneeling beside him, she then put her hands on him once more and began to heal him once more.

" The boy's breathing is steady," a medic said to Gai. " There are bone fractures and muscle tears throughout his body. He's facing a long and difficult rehabilitation. Depending on how fast Aceso can mend him. But I'm afraid that's not the worst of it." There was some silence. " His left arm and leg, in particular, has suffered massive damage. I'm sorry. I know how much it means to you both, but he'll never fight again. His days as a Shinobi are over." Naruto and Gai gasped.

" They aren't over yet," Aceso declined.

" That's a risky operation, even for you," the medic said as he looked at her.

" I made Lee a promise," Aceso said. " And I intend to keep that promise." The other medic came over, Aceso stopped what she was doing and collapsed onto the ground as they lifted up Lee. Naruto grabbed her and lifted her up.

" His days over as Shinobi can't be true," Naruto denied as he stared down at Lee. " He's wrong. It can't be true." He started to shake. Naruto was crying as Gai walked over. Soon they took Lee away to the infirmary. " It's not true. It can't be true. Easy for you to say it's over! What about Bushy-brow? What's he supposed to do now? If Aceso says she be able to heal him so he can be Shinobi! Then believe! Do not deny her abilities! " He then grew a bit angrier, mixed with sadness. " Failure! I thought you said we could win! I thought you were going to show how a failure can--"

" That's enough Naruto," Aceso cut him off as she looked up at him.

" It was a lie, wasn't it?" Naruto as his eyes didn't break away from the other medics, were passing Gaara.

" Enough," Aceso ordered as Kakashi appeared and put his hand over his mouth.

" But Sensei," Naruto protested as he pushed his hand away. " It isn't fair! All he ever wanted was to prove himself against Sasuke and Neji."

" And maybe that's what led to his downfall," Kakashi said. " He was so fixated on that goal that he sacrificed his body, his future, to attain it. And now that goal could be unattainable." Naruto sobbed some more. " But you're wrong about one thing, Naruto. It wasn't just Sasuke and Neji he was thinking of. It was you too." His eyes went wide. " That's right. He risked everything just for the hope of meeting you in combat. Remember that. " He put a hand on his head. " Be worthy of his sacrifice." Naruto let go of Aceso, and she fell onto her knees and hands, she coughed out blood.

" Aceso," Gai breathed as he knelt beside her.

" I am going to heal Lee, Papa," Aceso said softly, so the only two of them could hear. " You can count on me."

"The medics said it was a risky operation even for you," Gai brought up. "I don't--"

" He's my friend," Aceso said. " I'm sure he would have done the same for me." She then coughed more and spat out blood.

" And you're done," Kakashi said as he picked her up and put her in the side of his armpit. Gai stood up, nodded, and walked away. Blood dripped on the ground, Aceso turned her shaking hands and saw them covered in blood...Lee's blood. She looked back to see Gaara watching. The cork on his gourd popped off, everyone paused, the sand picked up the chakra ointment that was on the ground, and then went over and held it out for Aceso to grab.

'What's with this boy?' Aceso asked. ' One minute he is trying to kill everyone in the room, the next he is trying to help, trying to be a friend.'

" Gaara?" Kankuro breathed as Aceso reached out, she accidentally knocked it over with her shaking hands. Naruto then picked up and Gaara used the sand to transport himself back to the top, next to Temari.

" Good to have you back, Gaara," Temari smiled. He just glared at her. Kakashi turned and walked over to Gai with Aceso still dangling in his arms.

" Gai," Kakashi said.

"Huh?" Gai jumped.

" What I said earlier, it was out of line," Kakashi apologized. " I was being a self-righteous fool. I realize now that if I'd been in your shoes, I probably couldn't stop him either." He looked back at Naruto and then at Gai. " Come on, Gai. Let's go up. They can't start the next match with us standing here.

" Right," Gai agreed, they all started to go back up.