A Ninja janitor sweeps up Hinata's blood, and Shikamaru's needling Choji about how the only people left for him to fight are the strongest - Lee, Dosu and Gaara. Choji plans to forfeit if he comes up against Gaara, and he's clearly smarter than he looks. Asuma knows his students, though, and if Choji forfeits that means he also gives up a super-special never-ending BBQ buffet. Choji's still reluctant, but Asuma promises to stop the fight like he did for Hinata (which he didn't, which makes Asuma an amusing liar) and Ino thinks it's low to taunt Choji with prime short ribs. It works, though! With fire in his eyes, Choji's ready to take on the world for the power of B-B-Q! On the opposite side of the duel arena, Kankuro notices Gaara's all twitchy from watching Hinata and Neji's epic beatdown. Fun fact: the symbol on Gaara's head means 'love.' Gaara's sibs wonder if this means his inner demon's waking up. INNER demon? Kankuro's curious about the people his brother might face, so he heads off to do a little recon.
He smugly wanders up the other side's stairs, where Naruto's brooding over... well, lots of things, probably. The Sand Ninja asks Naruto if doesn't ge think Neji's pretty tough, so Naruto immediately declares he'll be triumphant over the older Hyuga. Kankuro is amused and says he likes Naruto, but the feeling's not mutual. This might be the first instance of Naruto harshing somebody who says he likes the kid. I don't blame him, since Naruto probably remembers the whole Konohamaru incident in the village. Hayate hackingly announces it's time for the next bout, and Guy just knows it's Lee's turn to fight this time, but Lee would rather go on last now that he's waited so long. Sakura wonders if this is Lee's version of sulking. The Billboard of Fate does its randomization thing, and Gaara sand-ports down to the ring. Choji is about to pass out from relief. The Billboard was the subject of Lee's reverse psychology, which he hilariously explains with specious logic. Guy offers Lee some advice: that giant-ass gourd on Gaara's back is a little suspicious! Kakashi and Sakura are suddenly very worried for Lee, who dutifully takes notes. Hah!
Lee leaps down to the floor, and tells Gaara he's happy to have the chance to face off against the Sand Shinobi. Kankuro and Temari think Lee doesn't have a prayer, but Naruto tells Kankuro he doesn't know what he's talking about. Hayate signals for the match start, and Lee is first on the move! He charges in with a Leaf Hurricane spin-kick, which Gaara sand-blocks, forcing Lee to backflip away when the Sand Shield crashes down right where he stood. Of the non-Sanders, only Shino's seen what Gaara can do before, and while not the most empathetic fellow doesn't want to see it happen again. Still, Lee's game for some more, but nothing he gets can get through Gaara's defense, and all the while the Sand Villager just stands there with his arms crossed. Then the sand comes after Lee, who hacks away with a kunai before having to flip away. Kankuro tells Naruto that's what Gaara's sand does, it protects him without Gaara having to lift a finger. Lee's getting frustrated, and Gaara's getting bored. He wants blood, and sends the sand after Lee. It grabs him by the leg and slams him into the wall, and Lee keeps trying to use Taijutsu which is beyond ineffective. Sakura asks why he doesn't use any Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, and Guy says it's not that he won't, but he can't. Gaara throws another sand tidal wave at Lee that looks like it hits, but our boy manages to flip away in time. Guy tells Sakura that the only part of being a Ninja Lee can do is Taijutsu, and that's why he'll win! He calls over to Lee and yells that the word has been given, Lee can take the gloves off. Or rather his legwarmers, which hide weights he's been wearing the whole time. Nobody's impressed, until Bushy-Brows drops the weights which crater on the duel floor. Kakashi: "A bit extreme, I'd say, Guy."
At Guy's signal, Lee leaps into action - leaps so fast that even Gaara's suprised. His Sand Shield can barely keep up with Lee's attacks, and it is amazing to watch. The look on Gaara's face is priceless. Lee leaps into the air, spins, then brings both feet down onto Gaara's head! IT CONNECTS! Lee skids to a halt and Gaara's bleeding from his cheek. Temari and Kankuro can't believe it. Guy: "Youth is... explosion!" Now on the defensive, Gaara throws more sandlbasts at Lee which he dodges, then Lee lands a super-sonic right cross onto Gaara and sends him to the floor, sand spilling out of his gourd. Gaara pushes himself up, and it's not pretty. The sand that apparently covers him is cracking, bits of it falling off, but underneath he's fine. Well, except for his expression, which is a twisted, wild-eyed grin that might make the Joker say, "Whoa! Calm down, slick." This is Gaara's second defense - Sand Armor. It actually uses Chakra to form, unlike the Sand Shield, so Lee's doing really good, but Temari still doesn't think Lee's got any kind of prayer.
Gaara asks if that's all he's got, and Lee decides if he wants to do any damage, he's got to rain it from above. There will be Lotus! Bushy-Brows unwraps his wrists a bit, then laps Gaara so fast it disrupts his Sand Shield. It leaves Gaara open enough so Lee can kick him into the air, and follows it up with an awesome series of half-speed bicycle kicks. This effort is putting tremendous strain on Lee, and Guy prays that his next blow is the finishing blow. Gaara's Sand Armor starts to crack and Lee wraps him up in his wrist-tape for the Primary Lotus! It craters Gaara in the center of the ring! Lee lands on his feet, breathing hard, and Gaara's Sand Armor is all cracked and he's not moving. Hayate moves to check his condition, but it turns out it's just a hollow Sand Shell. SAND SUBSTITUTION! Of course, this means... oh, poopie.
Next Episode: Gaara's psychotic, but Lee's not worried!
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