**Chapter 43: The Strongest Mouth King!**

**What just happened?**

Sasuke stared at Rock Lee, utterly bewildered. This was not how he’d imagined things playing out.

Yet there was Lee, kneeling earnestly in the puddle, his wide eyes shimmering with unshed tears. It didn’t seem like an act.

**Could there be some misunderstanding?**

Sasuke decided to wait and see what Lee had to say.

“Ahem...”

Clearing his throat, Sasuke struck a thoughtful pose: left hand behind his back, right hand propping up his chin. Narrowing his eyes just enough to look profound, he addressed Lee with an air of authority.

“Tell me your understanding.”

+4.

The notification flashed in Sasuke’s mind. He maintained his composed facade, but internally, he was panicking. **What is this guy even thinking?!**

“Yes!”

Lee’s face lit up with excitement—eerily reminiscent of how he reacted to Might Guy’s approval. He pushed himself upright, sitting cross-legged despite his exhaustion.

“Sasuke, thank you for enlightening me through jump rope! I understand now!”

Lee’s voice was brimming with vigor, and he gazed at Sasuke with the admiration one reserves for a mentor.

**What?!**

Sasuke was at a loss.

*Enlightened you? About what?!*

*All I did was show off! Don’t tell me you’ve figured out how to become “Show-off Lee” now?!*

But Sasuke kept these thoughts to himself.

No matter the turmoil inside, outward calmness was essential. This was the foundation of being a masterful show-off.

“Lee,” Sasuke said, gazing down with an imperious air, “tell me what you’ve understood.”

+2.

“I’ve understood everything!” Lee declared, eyes sparkling with determination. His newfound insight seemed to radiate from him.

Sasuke suppressed a grimace.

“You’re still young, Lee,” he said, shaking his head like a patient teacher. “Don’t claim to understand *everything* so hastily. Let’s test your comprehension first.”

He wagged his index finger for emphasis.

+5.

Lee’s jaw dropped in awe. Sasuke was testing him, not to question his abilities, but to guide him further! **What a thoughtful genius!**

Lee’s chest swelled with emotion. They had clashed the night before at Ichiraku Ramen, and yet here Sasuke was, generously offering guidance.

**Such magnanimity! The Uchiha truly are unparalleled!**

Lee took a deep breath, steadying himself. “Sasuke, you’ve clearly observed my taijutsu closely, haven’t you?”

Sasuke nodded without hesitation.

“I have,” he said simply.

The truth was, he’d only seen Lee’s moves in the anime back in his previous life. But leveraging the gap in their knowledge was part of his strategy now.

“Actually,” Sasuke added, folding his arms, “I have some advice for you regarding your taijutsu.”

+5.

“Please share it!” Lee practically shouted, leaning forward eagerly.

Sasuke chuckled inwardly. Lee’s full trust was a boon to his plans. But then Lee’s expression shifted, as if he’d stumbled upon a revelation.

**Ah... so this is why Sasuke has no friends,** Lee thought. **It’s because he’s too extraordinary!**

Sasuke cleared his throat, pulling Lee back to reality.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’ve tied weights inside your leg guards,” Sasuke said casually.

+8.

Lee’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How... how did you know?!”

“Your movements,” Sasuke said, his tone matter-of-fact. “No matter how well you adapt, the strain shows when you’re tired. Look at the puddle where you did push-ups—notice how much deeper your footprints are compared to mine?”

+10.

Lee’s jaw hung open. Sasuke’s analysis was beyond anything he’d encountered. Even Might Guy hadn’t demonstrated this level of observational skill.

“Sasuke, you’re incredible!” Lee exclaimed, his blood pumping with newfound admiration.

“So, you admit it?” Sasuke smirked slightly. “You do use weights in your training.”

“I do,” Lee confessed, sensing there was no point in hiding it now.

“Your method improves speed, but it creates an imbalance,” Sasuke said, stepping into his self-appointed role as mentor. “Your reliance on your lower body undermines your upper body and core strength. That lack of coordination will limit your growth, especially if you rely on techniques like the Eight Gates.”

Lee hung onto every word. His body and mind were at a bottleneck, and this felt like the breakthrough he’d been searching for.

“Sasuke...” Lee began, his voice trembling. “Do you also know about the Eight Gates?”

Sasuke’s eyes gleamed, his expression unreadable. Lee’s awe was like fuel to his system points.

“I do,” Sasuke said cryptically. “And if I’m correct, your most powerful attacks rely heavily on kicking, don’t they?”

+12.

Lee gasped.

“Yes! How did you—”

“It’s simple deduction,” Sasuke interrupted, folding his arms. “Your lower body is overdeveloped compared to your upper body. If you don’t address this imbalance, your strength will plateau. And relying too much on opening meridian points will only leave you vulnerable in the long run.”

Every word struck Lee like a lightning bolt. Sasuke wasn’t just giving advice—he was reshaping Lee’s understanding of his own body and techniques.

Meanwhile, Sasuke couldn’t help but smirk internally. **Is this what being a genius feels like?**

“I... I hadn’t thought of that before,” Lee admitted, his voice trembling with humility. “What should I do?”

Sasuke straightened, his demeanor exuding confidence.

“Start with building core and upper body strength to match your legs. Balance is the foundation of power,” he said.

Of course, Sasuke wasn’t entirely sure if this advice was correct, but it sounded impressive. He was improvising based on scraps of memory and sheer bravado.

**But if it earns points, it’s worth it!**

(End of Chapter)