Naruto Columns
11/27/2023
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Rock Lee's Birthday on 11/27! Looking Back on the Drive and Grit of Konoha's Handsome Blue Beast!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the fierce taijutsu specialist known for his passion and hard work: Rock Lee!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the fierce taijutsu specialist known for his passion and hard work: Rock Lee!
■Rock Lee
・Birthday: November 27th (Sagittarius)
・Favorite Food: Moderately spicy curry with rice, curry pilaf
The Hot-Blooded, Hard-Working Ninja!
Lee prepares for the Chunin Exams alongside his teammates, Neji Hyuga and Tenten.
He runs across the members of Team Seven, who are also planning to take the exams, and challenges Sasuke Uchiha to a one-on-one fight.
Sasuke's popularity and reputation as a genius make the Uchiha's victory seem inevitable, however...
He runs across the members of Team Seven, who are also planning to take the exams, and challenges Sasuke Uchiha to a one-on-one fight.
Sasuke's popularity and reputation as a genius make the Uchiha's victory seem inevitable, however...
"MARK MY WORDS...
NONE OF YOU WILL BEAT ME.
I...AM THE GREATEST FIGHTER AMONG ALL THE JUNIOR NINJA IN KONOHA VILLAGE!"
As good as his word, Lee defeats Sasuke and his Sharingan soundly.
The skills Lee wished to test against him in that fight are the hard-won results of rigorous daily training.
Shortly after, the Chunin Exams begin.
During the second exam, he gallantly swoops in to aid Sakura, standing alone against three Hidden Sound shinobi!
The skills Lee wished to test against him in that fight are the hard-won results of rigorous daily training.
Shortly after, the Chunin Exams begin.
During the second exam, he gallantly swoops in to aid Sakura, standing alone against three Hidden Sound shinobi!
In order to protect a person who means the world to him, Lee unleashes a forbidden jutsu he spent long hours perfecting: the Forward Lotus!
However, the technique is not quite enough to defeat the Sound trio, and Lee loses this battle.
Lee promises to persevere, continuing to face life with unstinting diligence.
Perhaps his earnest desire to show off his strength for a person he values is one of his motivating forces.
Perhaps his earnest desire to show off his strength for a person he values is one of his motivating forces.
Konoha's Lotus Blooms Once More!
In the ninth match of the third exam's preliminaries, Lee faces the Hidden Sand shinobi Gaara.
In order to keep up with the speed of Gaara's Shield of Sand, Lee removes the weights he has been wearing all this time.
Written on these weights is "根性 ( konjo, 'guts, willpower')", a suitable representation of Lee, who has come this far despite being unable to use ninjutsu or genjutsu by doggedly putting his all into mastering taijutsu.
Like a beast released from its chains, he strikes faster than the eye can see, shocking Gaara! And then...
Written on these weights is "根性 ( konjo, 'guts, willpower')", a suitable representation of Lee, who has come this far despite being unable to use ninjutsu or genjutsu by doggedly putting his all into mastering taijutsu.
Like a beast released from its chains, he strikes faster than the eye can see, shocking Gaara! And then...
Lee manages to land a blow on Gaara, whom nobody up to this point has even been able to touch!
However, Gaara's entire body is revealed to be covered in Sand Armor, allowing him to maintain an impenetrable defense. Lee uses his Forward Lotus, but fails to settle the match with it.
Even faced with an amazingly talented shinobi such as Gaara, Lee rises once again.
However, Gaara's entire body is revealed to be covered in Sand Armor, allowing him to maintain an impenetrable defense. Lee uses his Forward Lotus, but fails to settle the match with it.
Even faced with an amazingly talented shinobi such as Gaara, Lee rises once again.
"I WANT TO PROVE THAT EVEN A PERSON WHO CAN'T USE NINJUTSU OR GENJUTSU...
...CAN STILL BECOME A SPLENDID NINJA!
IT'S MY ONLY GOAL!!"
Behind Lee's strength lies an unbreakable spirit and a pure heart full of optimism.
He is also bolstered by the words of his teacher, Might Guy, a man more passionate than any other:
He is also bolstered by the words of his teacher, Might Guy, a man more passionate than any other:
"ALL YOUR HARD WORK WILL PROVE WORTHLESS...
...UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!"
These two scenes from their past paint a clear picture of the shinobi way Lee pursues.
Not giving up, Konoha's "Handsome Blue Beast" flies toward even greater heights!
Not giving up, Konoha's "Handsome Blue Beast" flies toward even greater heights!
Lee pushes past his limits by releasing some of the Eight Inner Gates he learned about during his training with Guy.
When he opens the fourth gate, "Shomon (Gate of Pain)", his fierce attacks start to strip Gaara's Sand Armor! Pressing on, Lee opens the fifth gate, "Tomon (Gate of Closing)"!
When he opens the fourth gate, "Shomon (Gate of Pain)", his fierce attacks start to strip Gaara's Sand Armor! Pressing on, Lee opens the fifth gate, "Tomon (Gate of Closing)"!
He pulls off the Reverse Lotus, a forbidden series of attacks that boasts even greater speed than the Forward Lotus!
But despite going beyond his body's limits, he narrowly falls short of victory, failing the exam and suffering extensive injuries.
The spirit and grit he displays during this fight with Gaara prove the depth of his convictions, and demonstrate his incredible potential as a shinobi.
But despite going beyond his body's limits, he narrowly falls short of victory, failing the exam and suffering extensive injuries.
The spirit and grit he displays during this fight with Gaara prove the depth of his convictions, and demonstrate his incredible potential as a shinobi.
The Cruel Fate That Befell Him, and His Decision
Tsunade returns to the village in order to take up the mantle of Hokage.
For Lee, who had been gravely injured during his battle with Gaara, she is the bearer of a harsh truth.
The only way Lee may continue as a shinobi is to undergo surgery—but that surgery carries great risk.
For Lee, who had been gravely injured during his battle with Gaara, she is the bearer of a harsh truth.
The only way Lee may continue as a shinobi is to undergo surgery—but that surgery carries great risk.
A gut-wrenching choice is laid before him.
For the very first time, he doubts his own shinobi way, and finds himself at a loss.
For the very first time, he doubts his own shinobi way, and finds himself at a loss.
Lee has chased his dream this far by believing in himself, and the one who answers his anguished cries is none other than the mentor who taught him to do so, Guy.
Guy bets his life as well in a promise to Lee, and the surety of his words strikes a chord in Lee's heart.
"I want to prove that even a person who can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu...can still become a splendid ninja!"
In order to make that dream come true, Lee decides to believe in himself once more, and undergo the surgery.
"I want to prove that even a person who can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu...can still become a splendid ninja!"
In order to make that dream come true, Lee decides to believe in himself once more, and undergo the surgery.
Reviving Like a Phoenix!
While pursuing Sasuke, who has abandoned Konoha, Naruto's way is blocked by the deadly Kimimaro.
Naruto is caught off guard and it seems his fate is sealed, but he is saved when...
Naruto is caught off guard and it seems his fate is sealed, but he is saved when...
"KONOHA'S HANDSOME BLUE BEAST IS BACK...
THE NAME'S ROCK LEE!"
After his surgery is completed, Lee rushes to the aid of his friends in an impressive comeback!
Recalling Naruto's promise to Sakura, Lee makes his own promise of victory. Naruto leaves to pursue Sasuke, entrusting Lee with the duty of stopping Kimimaro!
Three years later, Team Guy is tasked with rescuing Gaara alongside Team Kakashi.
Lee displays incredible coordination with his teammates Neji and Tenten, and the three of them show off a combination strike!
Recalling Naruto's promise to Sakura, Lee makes his own promise of victory. Naruto leaves to pursue Sasuke, entrusting Lee with the duty of stopping Kimimaro!
Three years later, Team Guy is tasked with rescuing Gaara alongside Team Kakashi.
Lee displays incredible coordination with his teammates Neji and Tenten, and the three of them show off a combination strike!
No matter how many times he gets knocked down, he believes in himself, perseveres, and gets back up again.
Never straying from his shinobi way and pursuing his dream with a blazing passion, Lee's ninja training continues into the future!
Never straying from his shinobi way and pursuing his dream with a blazing passion, Lee's ninja training continues into the future!
Article and Composition: Ayano Kobayashi (Caramel mama)
That's all for Lee's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the indomitable spirit of Rock Lee!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the indomitable spirit of Rock Lee!
