Original subtitles

I don't know.

Thank you for watching!

Loser. I have two pieces of advice for you.

First of all, if you intend to call yourself a shinobi, stop that stupid

cheering of yours. It's disgraceful.

And second, once a failure, always a failure. You can't change that.

We'll just see about that.

Naruto, I get where you are coming from, believe me.

But the rules say all fighting must be done officially in a match.

The loser beating the gifted genius through sheer willpower.

Now would not that make for an exciting match?

Hinata, I give you my word.

Sarah versus Rock Lee! The power of youth explodes!

Whoa, Choji.

Glad I'm not you.

I mean, you've still got the toughest ones left.

I wouldn't want to face any of them. That creepy guy from the Sound Village.

And Rock Lee's gotta be tough if he took on Sasuke.

And especially not that Sand Village guy. I don't even like being in the same

room with him.

feeling so good.

Maybe I ought to go ahead and forfeit right now. What?

You know, if you win, I'll take you for barbecue.

What? Come on.

Shoji, come on. Don't worry.

If it gets bad, we'll step in and stop the fight just like with Hinata.

Okay? Think of it. All the short ribs you can eat. That's a low blow. Playing

his weak spot?

When did he step in and stop the fight anyway?

I've seen that look before.

I can sense his bloodline.

That last fight, I wonder, did it stir up his inner demon?

I'm still curious about that Neji guy.

Yeah, that might work.

Where are you going?

Just doing a little recon.

I'll be back.

Hey, you!

How come you're all by yourself?

Why aren't you hanging with your buddies?

Huh? What's it to you?

Well, well.

Touchy.

So tell me something about this guy, Neji.

I get the feeling we didn't see the full extent of his powers in the last fight,

did we? So what's his story?

I'm gonna pulverize him! That's his story!

Okay, but that's not quite what I meant.

Man, this idiot's out of his league.

You know, you seem like a nice guy. I like you.

Well, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't like you!

This kid is toast.

Now then, we'll continue the competition.

All right!

This time you'll be kicked, I just know it!

You ready, Lee?

No. Huh?

I have been waiting so long. I do not care.

I might as well go last.

What's up with Lee?

Is he sulking?

Oh, come on.

Let's do this.

Safe again!

Stop that!

You want everyone to know you're a chicken?

Lee!

It worked like a charm. I knew if I said I want to be last, I would be next. I

simply applied the principle which states that sometimes the surest way to

something is to stop trying to hit it.

It is a form of reverse psychology!

Hoo -ah!

That's my student!

I absolutely was not going to be last, no matter what!

Ha -ha! I sure fooled them, did I not?

Fooled who?

Now then, listen carefully.

A piece of advice before you begin.

Sir!

Look. You see that gourd that Gaara is wearing?

Watch out. There's something weird about it.

Good advice, sir.

Don't write it down? What are you thinking? After all, you're not going to

time to read any notes during the match, are you?

Ah, more good advice.

He just figured that out about the gourd?

I hope Lee will be all right.

Yeah, all right.

I knew that sooner or later we would have to meet, and I'm glad it is sooner.

I don't know what kind of moves that guy with the dumb haircut has got, but

he'll never take gotta down.

Not in this lifetime.

He's fast on his feet all right, but his kick isn't that great.

Wrong! What?

Why are you in such a hurry?

Be careful.

Stay on your toes, Lee.

Alright then.

If you are both ready, begin.

What is that? It's sand.

That's an unusual jutsu.

So that's what he's got in that gourd.

That's... Is that all you can

do?

Sand coffin!

Sand!

That nightmare.

Not again.

A sand manipulating jutsu, hmm? It will not be easy getting through that. But

nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Even as fast as he is, Lee can't get anywhere close to him. The sand!

He's using it as a shield!

He's not doing it. The sand is protecting him of its own accord.

Huh? It's almost like a living thing. It'll come to Gaara's defense without

doing anything.

That's why Gaara's never been injured. No one can get at him.

No one's ever even been able to touch him.

How is he doing it? He is not moving a muscle.

Well, is that all?

I hope you haven't finished entertaining me.

We haven't had enough.

using Taijutsu.

Can't you see that's never going to work?

Why doesn't he get some distance and use Ninjutsu?

Yes, that might be a good idea.

That is, if he had any.

Huh? Lee has no Ninjutsu or Genjutsu skills at all.

You're kidding.

Oh, that's nothing. You should have seen how hopeless he was when I first met

him. No talent whatsoever.

Really?

I can't believe it.

A ninja who can do neither ninjutsu or genjutsu is certainly a rarity.

Lee has only his taijutsu to rely on.

Some might consider that a disadvantage.

But that's what makes him a winner.

Huh? All right, Lee. Take him off.

But Gaisensei, you said that was only as a last resort when the lives of very

important people were at stake.

That's right, I did.

But this is an exception.

Really? Really?

Huh?

Are those... How old -fashioned leg weights?

Basic training equipment.

Totally cool!

Totally dumb.

Ah, that is better. Now I will be able to move freely.

Come on, you really think you'll be able to get through Gaara's defenses just by

dropping a couple of pounds of weight?

Gaara!

Gaara, you are too much.

Gaara!

You can see that Lee had no aptitude for ninjutsu or genjutsu.

So he skipped them and focused all of his time and energy into developing his

taijutsu. That way we turned his disadvantage into a blessing.

Now he doesn't need those other things to win because he's transformed himself

into the world's greatest taijutsu specialist.

I don't believe it.

God has been hurt.

Impossible.

Whoa, that's Jerry.

And I thought he was quick on his feet before.

He's been that fast?

That's incredible.

I've never seen anyone that bad.

Makes me dizzy just trying to keep track of them.

Uh -oh.

Yeah, uh -oh is right. Your friend with the eye makeup is getting the stuffing

beaten out of him. That isn't what I was talking about, kid.

It's like a shell made of sand.

Look, there's not a mark on the guy.

That is so weird.

He encased himself in sand, huh?

Things must be bad.

I haven't seen that look on his face for a long time.

I knew it. I sensed him getting more and more unstable as the tuning exams

progressed.

His inner demon has been awakened.

I don't get it. Is he made of sand or what? All those blows and kicks Lee hit

him with. Did any of them get through?

No. It's like he's wearing a suit of armor.

A what?

Ordinarily, those shifting clouds of sand are enough to shield him.

But in the event the shield is penetrated, Gaara can also wear the sand

armor. As a last line of defense.

This guy's too much. He's got armor now? Does he have any weak spots?

Huh. If you only knew, kid.

Actually, that armor is one big weak spot.

Unlike the sand shield, the armor can be broken.

And then there's the enormous amount of chakra that Gaara has to use to keep it

in place.

That takes its toll.

Proof that Gaara is feeling the pressure.

He would never have resorted to the armor otherwise.

Fifth Lee is good, no doubt about it. But that's not the same as winning.

It may not be as easy as we thought.

But the outcome's a given.

Gaara can't lose.

Well, is that all?

My speed will not be enough.

He is impossible to get at behind those sand defenses.

But maybe...

If I can get him up off the ground and away from the sand, then hit him hard

from above with the lotus.

That's right, Lee.

Good work.

That flimsy shield of sand will protect him from your high -speed lotus.

What are you waiting for?

Okay, you asked for it.

He's not floating!

Try this!

What an incredible

series of kicks.

Even an ordinary loaded puts an enormous strain on the body, let alone this.

You've got to finish him off now!

It is over.

I got him.

Right on!

Amazing. He really did it. No, I don't believe it.

You did it!

Way to go, Lee!

Izzy, that guy isn't dead, is he?

What?!

Thank you.

go crazy on the appetizers and don't leave room for the main course.

Better get it in gear, Bushy Brow, otherwise this guy's liable to eat you

dessert.

Next time, Lee's Hidden Strength, Forbidden Secret Jutsu.