Original subtitles

[gasp]

I didn't know Lee continued with that training...

[Thinking] We are in the middle of the Chunin Exams...

...What are they thinking?

Shira! I will show you how serious I am!

I really should warn you, Shira's super strong, you know!

[building power grunt]

I have become super strong, too!

I believe this is going to be my last fight.

Last fight...?

Here I come!

No way! Their speed's incredible!

A battle between two powerful fists is not something you get to see very often.

He stopped my jutsu...

He blocked every one?

I would have liked to fight him, too...

Amazing! I have not faced a taijutsu user this strong since Guy Sensei and Neji!

He has great technique. I feel his passion in every punch.

Lee&the intensity of your training shines through!

[grunt]

Lee! I'm very grateful to you.

Huh...?!

You see, it's all because of you that I can be a shinobi.

Back then, Lord Gaara said to me...

I've met someone like you. He's a shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Through sheer perseverance, he has become a fine shinobi.

And Shira...I think you'll be as splendid a shinobi as he is.

It might've been your fists that changed Lord Gaara.

Not true! That was not my doing.

[grunt] Instead, it was your perseverance that moved Lord Gaara.

Lee, I'll show you my gratitude in earnest!

Yes, well said!

That is the creed of those dedicated to taijutsu!

They really seem to be enjoying this.

Maybe Lee has finally met someone he can consider a true rival.

You can only go so far training alone.

But to surpass your limits, you need...a rival.

Oh...? Do you have a rival, Neji?

My rival...?

It may be the Hyuga way to cave in to destiny, it's not mine!

If you think it's futile to fight, then don't! Just stand there and take it!

I'll change the way of the Hyuga clan... After I become Hokage!

You're the only one who can be my rival&

So hurry up and come home, Naruto!

Neither of them has delivered a decisive blow.

They're just sizing each other up right now.

Huh? They're not fighting at their full potential?!

(Neji) More like fifty percent.

But how much can a body endure? If they stay evenly matched...

No...They are not quite equal.

Huh? What do you mean, they aren't?

They're equal in speed and in the number of moves that they possess...

...But Shira's physique is much bigger than Lee's.

(Neji) In boxing, weight influences the intensity of the blow...

...They may look evenly matched, but with Lee's smaller build.

So Lee's sustaining more damage?

I'd say that he should be feeling the effects very soon...

Blow for blow, Shira's punches are harder than mine!

At this rate...

Lee...!

The stance he's in...

Don't tell me Lee plans to use the Lotus!

It's too risky!

But he is an opponent who is worth that risk!

[power yell]

[power yell]

Yaa!!

No way! The First Gate will not open! Why?!

You hit my Chakra Points and stopped the flow of my chakra!

As a taijutsu user, too, I know your strengths and weaknesses.

And that you're versed in the Hidden Jutsu the Eight Inner Gates!

[grunt]

From now on, I mean business!

Shira's switched his mode!

He's getting serious now!

Let's go, Lee!

What's happening?!

Suddenly his attacks are relentless and accurate!

This is--! [gasp]

The sound!

What sound?

Shira's attacks are totally silent!

We taijutsu users are able to counter supersonic moves because we've honed all our 5 senses...

...one of which is hearing.

I remember...

...Lee said he once fought a shinobi from the Hidden Sound who gave him a hard time!

This time, it's the exact opposite!

Shira is making no noise at all!

Yeah, but... how?

Byakugan!

Now I see! It's the theory of the owl.

What? The owl?

Yes. Did you know owls can fly without making a sound?

Owls have special comb-like feathers that muffle the sound of their flapping wings.

Using chakra that only works with taijutsu,

he's cloaked himself with the same type of feathers.

To come up with something like that all on his own...

What a waste for someone like that to be an enemy.

[grunt]

Silent Fist! See if you can handle this!

[grunt] How can I...?

All the effort is pointless unless you believe in yourself.

[Rock Lee's Thoughts] Yes! I have trained and worked just as hard as Shira has!

Nine hundred ninety-nine! One thousand!

[panting breaths]

And now we will do one thousand sit-ups!

What?! Seriously?!

Seriously!

Wait, wait, wait! Just hold on, there, Lee, all right? Enough bodybuilding!

I think we all have to accept that you're in far better physical condition than we are!

Yes, but. Guy Sensei, I have never beaten you or Neji even one time!

Yes! That's because you haven't been using your noggin!

What does using my head have to do with taijutsu?

A lot!

'Cause mental visualization is a fundamental part of taijutsu.

Before I weave a sign, I'm already seeing a hundred moves ahead.

What!?

Is such a thing even possible?!

Of course! Through visualization alone, thanks in part to

fighting Kakashi so many times, I can see as far as one thousand moves ahead.

Th-that far?

[laughter]

Wait, is that true?

Who knows?

For example, if I were to come at you and attack with a right Seiken Fist...

Lee...what would your fiftieth move after that be?

Huh?

What technique is your fiftieth move going to be?

My technique&?

Maybe...

A right-hand thrust!

No. Wrong.

Well, then&A clockwise kick!

Correct! So what's your hundredth move?!

Let me see... Hm.

Perhaps a left heel kick!

Wrong! The answer's a counter-clockwise kick.

Huh?

Watch, I'll prove it to you right now!

Ready?

Hm!

Hiya!

Forty-eight,...forty-nine...

[gasp]

(Guy Sensei) Continue!

Whoa, Sensei was right all along!

Ninety-eight,... ninety-nine... One Hundred!

He's right again!

I get it...! Sensei's making it happen!

[panting]

That is amazing, Guy Sensei! So what is your trick?

It isn't a trick. I simply made you move the way that I wanted you to.

That's it. There is no more.

You made me move...?!

That's right! I just used counters that forced you into making certain moves.

In battle, there's a sequence to techniques and jutsu.

When you control that flow, predicting what comes next isn't hard at all.

Just now, I controlled the flow of my opponent,

who though more physically fit than me, lost steam before I did!

It is true! Guy Sensei, you are not even breathing hard!

By controlling the flow of our battle,

I was able to deplete your stamina while preserving my energy.

There aren't many chances to take down a foe in the midst of battle.

All attack strategies are just attempts to create such a chance!

And that's what I meant by using your head!

[Rock Lee Thinking] That is right!

From opponents I have faced before, I pretty much know the patterns Shira will use.

All I need to do is control the sequence of my opponent's moves.

Then, even if his moves are silent, I can anticipate his fist.

Yes!

How did--?

Lee isn't getting hit anymore!

It seems that Lee finally remembered that training session.

He's countering so fast! I can't wait to see when you're giving it your all, Lee!

[grunt]

[grunt]

[Thinking] He missed the chakra points...

...What is going on? Was it by chance?

Guy Sensei would be able to activate the Sixth Gate instantly. Even if I cannot...

[strength building roar]

Now! The Third Gate of Life! Open!

He went straight to the Third Gate?!

He's trained that far? I had no idea!

So that's one of the rumored Eight Inner Gates...

Well then...

[strength building roar]

Seven Heavenly Breaths! First Activation!

Second Activation!

Third Activation!

What is he doing?!

It's a taijutsu breathing method Shira invented himself.

He inhales large amounts of oxygen to invigorate his whole body.

When he's performing this technique, his lung capacity increases by nearly four times!

So it's his version of the Eight Inner Gates, huh?

No way. He thought of that on his own?!

Those two really drive home the fact...

...that there is no limit to perseverance.

No kidding!

Lee! Shira! Do your best, both of you!

Here I come, Shira!

Good!

Not yet!

Fourth Gate of Pain! Open!

Fifth Gate of Closing! Open!

Argh!!

So this is what you're like when you're serious!

My chakra...My sound-muffling feathers are getting blown away!

I'm starting to hear the sound of your wings!

[grunt]

Leaf Hurricane!

I'm not done...

His wound's opened up again! Shira!

Shira!

Are you okay, Shira?!

I'm fine...

Well, I guess that we will have to postpone this match.

Lee, I envy you.

I wish that I could have trained under Guy Sensei, too.

Shira, why did you release my Chakra Points?

So you noticed?

I wanted to fight you when you could give one hundred percent.

As I expected, you're very strong...

...It was a great experience.

What are you saying?

You were too reckless!

Shira. I want you to have this.

Guy Sensei gave it to me long ago. This is what helped me become strong.

It is unique, with superior breathability and wicking properties,

and it lets you move easily! You will definitely feel a difference!

And you will love it immediately!

Wear this and it will be like we are brothers!

Thank you, Lee. I accept it.

Shira, you said earlier that this would be your last fight.

Over in the Land of Wind, there's a battalion that guards the northern border.

That battalion never leaves its station. The environment there is extremely harsh,

so there are hardly any candidates for the position.

It's my intention to go and volunteer for it if I pass these Exams.

[grunt]

It's by my hometown.

My parents are sick. I want to be near them.

Which means that I probably won't see any of you again after this.

I understand how it is...

Shira, I really had no idea!

I guess that I won't see you around either, Yome.

You're gonna follow Shira and go with him, right?

[flustered squeals]

I don't have any regrets about my life whatsoever.

But I'm certain it would have been a lot more interesting if I'd had a friend like you in it.

I am going to remember that as your greatest compliment to me!

That's just how I mean it-as a compliment, Lee.

(Rock Lee) Now we have both scrolls!

Then let's head straight for home base!

Two Heaven scrolls...When should I break it to them...?

(Sand Proctor) According to reports from the investigative team,

two members of the Hidden Waterfall's Team Fuu, Tocchi and Kun, are not genin.

It's believed they're jonin named Kegon and Yourou.

Damn Hidden Waterfall... What are they up to...?

Hold on...

Huh?

I'll handle this situation myself.

-What? -What?

Keep this information between us only.

-But, sir...! -But, sir...!

The Second Exam will continue uninterrupted.

Got it?

What's Lord Gaara thinking?!

It'll be sundown soon.

Yeah...From here, we can sense the enemy right away.

It's the perfect spot to make camp.

Hey, where's Fuu?

Huh...? She was here just a second ago&!

[groan]

Fuu!

That brat! She's so impulsive.

[gasp] What is she...?!

Poke-poke!

[gasp]

Huh...

Fuu! Huh?

Don't run off like that!

Damn it! What if someone from another village attacked you?

You're extremely valuable to the Hidden Waterfall!

Okay, I get it! Be right there!

Damn it, guys! If you make a fuss, you're gonna get us found out.

Fuu...

So she's a...

(Kiba) Cool trick, huh?

I wanna try to wrap things up in a seriously cool way for the Second Exam.

(Hinata) I think that's a good idea!

It's kind of like something Naruto would do, or...

(Kiba) This has nothing to do with him!

(Hinata) I wonder where Naruto and Master Jiriaya are training...

(Kiba) Let's focus on passing these Chunin Exams.

That way we can get a leg up on him.

(Shino) Next time on Naruto Shippuden: "Escape vs. Pursuit."

(Kiba) Let's go, Kurenai's Team 8!