Naruto Shippuden

The Ultimate

Huh?!

PERSEVERANCE

I didn't know Lee kept going with that training.

We're in the middle of the Chunin Exams!

What is he thinking?

Shira! I will show you how serious I am!

Let me warn you…

Shira's super strong!

I've become strong too!

This is my last fight.

Last?

Here I come, Lee!

What is this? Their speed is ridiculous!

A battle of powerful fists…

It's not something you get to see often.

He stopped my jutsu.

He countered every move?!

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

Amazing…

I haven't faced a taijutsu user this strong

since Guy Sensei and Neji!

He has a fine technique…

I feel his passion in every punch he throws.

The intensity of his training comes across clearly.

Lee!

I'm grateful to you.

Perhaps it's all because of you that I can be a shinobi.

Lord Gaara said this to me back then…

I once met someone just like you in Hidden Leaf Village.

Through sheer determination, he has become a fine shinobi.

Shira… I predict you will be as good a shinobi as he.

It might have been your fists that changed Lord Gaara.

No, I had nothing to do with that!

It was your perseverance that moved Lord Gaara.

Lee, I'm going to show you my gratitude in earnest!

Well said!

That is the creed of those of us

who are dedicated to the mastery of taijutsu.

They seem to be enjoying this.

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

You can only go so far training alone.

Having a rival is what helps you surpass those limits.

I see.

Do you have a rival, Neji?

My rival?

I don't know what the Hyuga destiny of hatred is!

But if you're going to say it's futile,

you don't have to do anything!

After I become the Hokage…

I'll change the Hyuga!

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

So hurry up and come home, Naruto!

Neither one of them has delivered a decisive blow yet.

They're just sizing each other up right now.

What?

They're not fighting at their full potential?

It's more like 50%.

How much can a body endure?

If they stay evenly matched like this…

No…

They're not quite equal.

Huh? They're not?

They're equal in speed and in the number of moves they have…

But Shira's physique is a full size bigger than Lee's.

In boxing, the difference in body weight

influences the intensity of the blow.

While they may look evenly matched,

Lee with his smaller build…

Is sustaining more damage?

Lee should be feeling the effects pretty soon.

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

At this rate…

Lee!

That stance!

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

It's too dangerous!

But he is an opponent who is worth that risk!

No way! The First Gate won't open!

Why?!

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

As a taijutsu user like you,

I know all your strengths and weaknesses.

As well as the fact that you are versed in the secret jutsu,

the Eight Inner Gates!

From now, I mean business!

Shira switched his mode.

He's getting serious now!

Here I come, Lee!

What's happening?!

All of a sudden, his attacks became relentless and accurate!

This is—!

The sound!

Sound?!

His attacks are silent!

We taijutsu users can counter supersonic moves

because we have honed our five senses.

One of those senses 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 absolutely no noise!

But how…?

Byakugan!

I see!

It's the theory of the owl.

The owl?

Did you know that owls fly without making a sound?

Owls have special comb-like feathers

that muffle the sound of their flapping wings.

Using chakra that can only be used with taijutsu,

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

To come up with something like that all by himself…

What a waste to consider someone like that an enemy.

Silent Fist!

See if you can take this, Lee!

How can I…?

There's no point in working hard if you don't believe in yourself!

Yes! I've trained and worked just as hard as Shira!

999…1000!

Now, 1000 sit-ups!

Are you serious?

I am serious!

Wait, wait, wait!

Enough bodybuilding!

You're in far better physical condition than we are, Lee.

But Guy Sensei, I've never beaten you or Neji even once!

That's because you don't use this.

Use my head for taijutsu?

Certainly!

It can be said that mental visualization

is a fundamental part of taijutsu.

When I weave a sign, I'm already seeing 100 moves ahead.

What?! Is such a thing possible?!

Yes, it's possible!

Through visualization alone, if I'm going to fight Kakashi,

I can now see 1000 moves ahead.

Th-That far?

Hey, is that true?

Who knows?

For example, if I attack with a right seiken fist…

Lee, what would your 50th move be?

Huh?

What technique is your 50th move!

Well…

Let's see…

A right thrust!

Wrong!

Then… A clockwise kick!

Correct!

So what is your 100th move?!

Uh… A left heel kick!

Wrong.

The answer is a counter-clockwise kick.

What?

I will prove it to you right now!

Ready?

48…

49…

50.

Continue!

Sensei was right!

98… 99…!