"Stop, Gaara! Lee has lost the ability to fight! You cannot—!"

Seeing that Gaara was about to deliver the killing blow, the proctor, Gekko Hayate, quickly intervened. But Gaara, in his heightened state of bloodlust, paid him no mind. Just as he was about to clench his fist and crush Lee with the sand, Might Guy appeared in a flash of green, swatting the sand away with a single, powerful slap.

"Damn you! Why did you save him?!" Gaara snarled.

"Because he is my cherished student!" Guy declared, his voice unwavering.

"Hmph!" Gaara straightened up, the sand armor reforming around his body. "Boring. I am done fighting."

Gekko Hayate breathed a sigh of relief, then raised his hand. "The winner is Gaara."

"Medical team, get in here now!"

The medical-nin rushed onto the field with a stretcher. After a brief examination, the squad leader said nervously, "Might Guy, thank goodness you stopped that final blow. Otherwise, this boy would likely never be a ninja again."

"As it is, his muscles are ruptured throughout his body, and several of his bones are shattered. It will take a very long time for him to heal."

"I feel I must remind you, you should have him use that taijutsu less in the future. Not everyone has a physique like yours. He still has a long way to go before he can fully master that technique. He is not ready."

Hearing this, Might Guy looked at the unconscious Lee with a pained expression and nodded. "Yes… I understand."

As Lee was carried from the arena, Gekko Hayate coughed twice and raised his hand. "Alright, let us move on to the final two matches."

"Match eleven, Choji Akimichi versus Dosu Kinuta. Will the competitors please enter the arena."

With only four contestants left, including the last Uchiha, and his opponent being the Sound-nin, Choji knew he wouldn't have to fight an Uchiha. "Woohoo! I'm saved!" he cheered excitedly.

"Hmph…" Dosu looked at the large boy before him, a sinister smile on his face. "To be so underestimated… It seems I'll have to make you suffer, you fat pig."

"What did you say?!" Choji roared, his usual good nature vanishing in a flash of anger. "Who are you calling a fat pig! I'm just plump! You bandage-wrapped cucumber roll! I'm going to beat you to a pulp!"

"Ninjutsu: Multi-Size Technique!"

POOF!

Choji's body instantly expanded. He retracted his head and limbs, transforming into a massive sphere of flesh, and then charged at Dosu like a runaway boulder. "Human Bullet Tank!"

Facing Choji's attack, Dosu was completely unfazed. "Hmph. Your speed is far inferior to that boy from before." As he taunted, Dosu took a light step back, leading Choji on a chase until he finally backed him into a corner.

"This time, let's see you run!" Choji put all his strength into one final charge, certain he had his opponent trapped. But at the last second, Dosu simply leaped into the air. Choji's attack missed completely, and his massive body slammed into the wall, becoming stuck.

"What a simple-minded, weak-limbed fool! Die!" Dosu fell from the air, his arm-mounted Melody Gauntlet aimed directly at Choji's back. A powerful blast of sound and chakra slammed into Choji.

"Waaaaaah!" Choji howled in pain before losing consciousness.

"Winner, Dosu Kinuta!"

After Gekko Hayate announced the result, the medical team entered the arena once again.

"Hey, wake up! Are you alright?" one of them asked, shaking Choji gently.

Choji's eyes fluttered open, stars spinning in his vision. "I… I really want some barbecue," he mumbled.

"Ah…" The medical-nin sighed, a headache already forming. "What a foodie…"