Original subtitles

For the next three days, I'm gonna give it everything I've got...

...for Lord Gaara

Lord Gaara, putting up your Sand Guard won't help you train.

Sorry.

My Sand Guard's a automatic response, not a conscious one.

Your Sand is like armor.

Even if it's solid, you'll still sustain damage...

...if your taijutsu's weak.

[thud, heavy breathing]

Just stay on the offensive and maintain your breathing.

Then your body will move naturally.

[pow]

So now...

...try to defend yourself...

... before your Sand Guard activates.

[thwack]

[growl]

[clunk]

[thump, swish]

I'm impressed, Lord Gaara.

You've progressed so much in such a short time.

Once you master taijutsu, you'll be able to combine it with your Sand Guard to make it even more formidable.

It's all thanks to you.

Shira, are you taking the Chunin Exams?

Yes.

I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity. Thank you for giving it to me.

Of course. You have the skills.

I know in time, you'll become a great shinobi of the Sand.

They're finally here! The Chunin Exams!

I'm getting kinda antsy.

It's too soon to get nervous.

Our goal isn't simply to pass the Chunin Exams ourselves,...

...but to have as many Sand entrants as possible pass.

That will be my way of repaying Lord Gaara.

Wow, Shira! When your mind's made up, you don't budge!

I want...to live up to his expectations.

By the way,...this time around, the Chunin Exams are shorter than they were before.

Yes, it is three days this time as opposed to five days.

Simply put, what that really means is this place is just that much more dangerous.

When the sun rises, the temperatures soar in the desert. And getting around will become very difficult.

I see...

So what you're saying is we may barely have enough time to make it to the goal.

Then we cannot stop for anything!

Either way, our priority is to acquire the scroll quickly.

To do that we'll have to battle another team.

But still, we can't just pick any team.

I came up with something.

What is it, Neji?

Yesterday's brawl in the cafeteria was a fortunate turn of events.

I was able to get a rough idea of the other teams' strengths.

[wham, thud]

In my opinion, the teams to watch are the one with Shira, who stopped Lee's kick.

And then...

[clank, boom]

The team from the Hidden Waterfall. With our skills, we should have no problems with the rest of the teams.

You're amazing, Neji! You analyzed all of that already?!

So we'll avoid the strong teams and aim for the weaker ones, is that right?

But,...

I do not like to do things in that way...

Yes,...I figured you might say that, Lee.

But we've waited two and a half years for these Chunin Exams. You don't want to fail, do you?

No, but I...

But...I...

Determination never betrays you.

I want...

...to fight him!

[kapow]

There's the start signal.

Let's go!

[hiss]

So, what do we do?

We were told not to enter the Demon Desert, so what now?

I have a message from Lady Tsunade.

[hum]

What is it?

Uh, huh...I'll read it...

"According to intel from agents who've just returned, opposition forces have been on the move recently in the Land of Wind."

In other words...

...the anti-Gaara faction. An assassination attempt has already occurred.

In spite of this, supervisors from other villages are prohibited from entering the Demon Desert,...

and Gaara himself intends to supervise the Second Exam as a proctor.

Needless to say, the danger is enormous if Gaara plans to set himself up as a decoy.

Not only to Gaara, but to the Hidden Leaf Village as well.

If anything happens to Gaara... our alliance with the Hidden Sand will become unstable.

Guy,...Aduma,...Kurenai,...

Sneak into the Demon Desert and investigate the Hidden Sand's movements.

And if Gaara's safety is threatened, then protect him!"

What? Assassins?

Gaara himself is the decoy...?

The Hidden Sand Village must be at their wit's end over this...

Whatever happens, we must protect the Kazekage!

Right. Yes.

Scatter!

Your eyesight is amazing, Yome.

To see what's reflected on a water droplet that's dozens of kilometers away...

And once she fixes on the relay point, she can see even farther!

But,...the sun dries the water so I can't use it, for long.

I see them! That's the Hidden Leaf!

The Hidden Sand is close by, too!

Send the Sand a signal to stay away from the Leaf.

Right.

[gasp]

It's a signal from Shira.

Well? Do you see anybody, Neji?

No, there's no one.

But ther has to be. We've run really far into the desert!

What is going on...?

Why can't I find anyone with my Byakugan?

Neji, Tenten! Please! Come here!

What is it, Lee?

[clank]

I am positive that this is my kunai.

What?!

In case we got lost, I stuck a few kunai in some rocks when we were running by them.

But finding this here means that we...

[gasp]

We've merely been running around in circles...

Is it genjutsu?

No way! We haven't even confronted an enemy yet!

Release!

I knew it...

What's going on?

[gasp]

There!

I found them!

Let's hurry! According to Shira, there are some pesky Leaf shinobi nearby!

Why should we bother listening to that guy, anyway?!

He's useful to us for now.

We can thank him later...with our fists!

Damn! They found us!

Now, we don't need to be nice to these guys, right?

No way! Get the scroll!

All right!

Here I go!

[thud, shouting]

Leaf...

Whirlwind!

[wham]

Datsuji! Goji!

[gasp]

You're already within my range.

And I'm going to deal with you swiftly.

Eight Trigrams...

Two Palms!

[gasp]

What?! 4 Palms!

8 Palms!

16 Palms!

32 Palms!

64 Palms!

[growl]

He blocked every one?

Shira!

We'll handle the Lead. Leave while you can.

[grunt]

I cannot believe I get to fight you so soon!

What's that?! What are you so happy about, Lee?!

Don't fight him carelessly!

Oh, too bad...

The Cactus Genjutsu got broken already, huh?

Cactus Genjutsu?

[hiss]

Back then, I did catch a faint floral scent...

That was the genjutsu?

We were aware that the Second Round was gonna take place right here within the Demon Desert.

So we set up several jutsu as traps in advance.

But don't hold it against us. We just happen to have te advantage here.

But you do not have it this time!

I wouldn't be to sure of that...

[gasps]

I'm usually very cautious, so if I'm willing to confront you like this,what do you think that means...?

[gasp] What?!

I cannot move!

No, not again! !

Oh, I'll release it for you this time.

Release!

[gasps]

I don't have time to deal with you three now. I'm sorry.

Please, just wait!

Shira! Why will you not fight me right now?

You're quite strong. I knew that the moment I blocked you.

[grunt]

That's why I won't fight you.

Otherwise, one of us will get hurt.

A shinobi fights despite the risk!

We have an important goal right now...

...to make sure as many Sand entrants as possible make it through the Exams.

You're helping other entrants? But why?!

Instead of asking questions, you should worry about yourselves. Sen, Yome,...Let's go!

Shira!

The sand is moving!

Huh?! [grunting]

Lee! Help me!

I cannot! I am stuck! [grunting]

Don't struggle! You'll get pulled in deeper!

[gasp] It seems that I've miscalculated our strategy...

What do you mean?

Last night...

He was also busy analyzing the Hidden Leaf's strengths.

They've had us under surveillance from the start!

Not only that, but he took command over the other Hidden Sand entrants...

...and he ordered them not to confront us.

That is why we did not encounter any other teams! He is not only skilled, he is very smart as well!

Lee! It's not the time to be impressed!

Wait, do you hear that noise...?!

[gasp] Damn, so this is what he was talking about!

[gasps]

Oh, no! We're going over! [screams]

We're gonna die! We're- [coughing]

Eight Inner Gates! The Second Gate of Rest! Open!

[bam]

[inhale, exhale, coughing]

Is everyone okay, now?

Yes, thanks, Lee!

Yeah, but...where are we?

There's no way out of this waterfall area.

What?! So we just have to wait 'til someone comes to rescue us?!

No way! Does that mean that we will be disqualified?!

Is everyone safe?

The others?

Taken care of.

They fell into the Sand Waterfall Pit. They won't get out until the Exams are over.

I see. That's a relief.

Now's our chance to get scrolls from the other teams.

[gasps]

Yeah, that's a good idea. We'll start by taking one right now!

What is this?!

Like we just said! We're gonna tkae one of these scrolls from you guys.

But why?!

That's an easy answer, Shira.

It's because we don't like you.

What did you want to talk about?

We just wanna help make sure that everyone passes.

Your team and ours will start out close to each other for the Second Exam.

However, a Hidden Leaf team with a Byakugan user will also be nearby. They're quite strong.

So what?

The chances are good that one of us will confront the Hidden Leaf team near the beginning of the Exam.

Their team is not to be take lightly. But still,...we'll slow them down.

While we do,...I want you to get as far away from them as possible.

Oh...?

In other words, you're gonna order us all around, is that it?

I merely want as many Sand as possible to pass, that's all.

That is my way of repaying Lord Gaara.

[scoffing]

This is all about Lord Gaara, huh...?

You see, Shira, that just doesn't sit well with us.

A guy like you, who barely just became a shinobi, catches Lord Gaara's eye and then has the nerve to act all high and

mighty toward us!

Hey! Did you forget Shira saved you earlier?!

So? We don't owe him anything.

Now....[yell]

No, wait!

I have no intention of fighting you!

Maybe you don't, but we sure do!

Hey!

You're just too good with that fan...

...even using it to control your Genjutsu Powder.

But take it away, and...you're no match for me.

[growl]

Squirmy...

little--!

I learned from Shira, too! I can use this Evasion Jutsu better than anyone!

I know your moves...like the back of my hand!

It seems to me that you have one serious weakness!

Your eyes see too well!

IDIOT

Idiot...?

That's right.

[shriek]

My eyes! My

[gasp]

Yome!

Sen! Yome!

[clanking, gasp]

Don't make a move!

If you do, we'll shoot!

[thunk]

Shira!

It's over, Shira! Don't show your face around here again! Not like you'll be able to anyway!

[grunt]

Die!

Leaf...

...Hurricane!

Rotation!

Why are you--?

Shira and his team are useless. But with the six of us...

Forget it. We're out of here!

What?!

Retreat!

Shira! You all right?!

You guys...

Why?!

I thought that you all fell into the Sand Waterfall Pit?

[chuckle] Oh, that? That wasn't any trouble at all!

You guys are pretty good...

But...why did you save us?

We aren't so unprincipled as to torment opponents who've been weakened.

Well, whatever the reason, thanks for your help.

May I ask you something? Why would your own comrades do this to Shira, the very one who protected them?

Well, you see...

It's just that...Shira wasn't a shinobi until recently.

He wasn't a shinobi?!

Someone of his skill?!

Perhaps that is due to his special situation...

Do you know something about this, Lee?

Shira has almost no skill at all for ninjutsu or genjutsu.

Shira and I are alike...

We are shinobi who can only perform taijutsu.

I am livid with rage!

Shira has persevered through and trained so much more than I...

So why do you insult him? You are comrades from the same village!

Please apologize to Shira!

Until you apologize to Shira...

Next time on Naruto Shippuden: "As a Taijutsu User."

I will never forgive you!