Chapter 36, “Sakura’s Depression!!”
Birthday
November 27
Rock Lee has always been an underdog in theNarutoseries. He was introduced as a shinobi with no innate talent for ninjutsu or genjutsu; however, his relentless work ethic and admiration for his mentor, Might Guy, shaped his future in the series.
InNaruto Shippuden, Lee’s growth is more subtle and not sudden like Naruto or Sasuke, yet he developed himself massively by looking up to his mentor and peers. Even though Lee does not have much screen time, there are some moments in Shippuden that highlight his evolution into a stronger and more confident shinobi.
The Legacy Of Hardwork
Lee’s Growth As A Shinobi
InShippuden,the shinobi world is in turmoil, and the stakes are higher than in the first part of the series. In this vein, personal development is necessary to survive the constant assault in the Hidden Village, especially by the villainy group Akatsuki. Lee steps into this era with the same mindset he has always had, which is to train harder and never give up due to his inability to use taijutsu alone.
Lee looks more like the successor ofMighty GuyinShippudenrather than the underdog he was before. Hence, Lee closes the gap with his peers in this second part of the series. He continues refining his taijutsu and pushingthe Eight Gates’limits further than he ever could in part one. By the Fourth Great Ninja War, he can open at least six of the Eight Gates, which makes him fight at a higher level. In other words, his speed and strength in combat could rival even some of the strongest shinobi during the war.
Lee’s growth takes a huge leap forward inShippuden. In the first part of the series, his insecurities are clear because he constantly compares himself to Neji and worries about whether hard work alone is enough to make him great. While he had moments of belief in himself, like when he took off his training weights against Gaara, there was always a lingering doubt about his potential, especially after the loss inthe Chunin exams. However, inShippuden, that doubt is almost nonexistent. Lee fully embraces his identity as a taijutsu specialist and no longer feels the need to prove himself against prodigies like Neji or Shikamaru. He knows his worth and fights with the confidence of someone with nothing to prove.
Moreover, Lee did not get any striking power upgrade inShippudenlike Naruto or Sasuke, nor did he have a major villain to overcome in a one-on-one battle. However, one certain thing is that his growth is undeniable as he becomes one ofthe strongest taijutsu users in the series. More importantly, Lee’s story reinforces one ofNaruto’score messages: hard work can rival natural-born talent. This is the case with Hatake Kakashi and Mighty Guy.Kakashi’s father, Sakumo, told his son that Mighty Guy would surpass him at the rate he was training.
Kakashi realizes this in the fourth great ninja war when Mighty Guy fights against Madara’s Ten Tail form. Hence, Lee enters Shippuden as a young ninja trying to prove himself and leaves it as a true shinobi, carrying the lessons of his sensei andthe memory of his fallen friend. Neji. In that sense, Lee’s evolution is among the most inspiring in the entire series.
Lee’s Role in Major Battles
Hard work And Effort Can Make A Great Shinobi
ThoughShippudendoes not focus on Rock Lee as much as Naruto did, he still played key roles in some battles. Lee proved in Shippuden that his hard work over the years was not in vain, and each fight in the second part of the series highlights his growth as a true shinobi.
The Battle Against Kisame’s Water Clone
One of Lee’s earlier contributions inShippudencame during the fight againstKisame of Akatsukiwater clone, where he fought alongside Guy and Neji. The main role of the Team Guy group was to provide backup for Team Kakashi. While this was not a high-stakes moment for Lee because their sensei, Mighty Guy, was there with them, it still showed that Lee and his team had surpassed their younger selves. Hence, this battle sets the tone for Lee’s increased combat abilities in the series as he is now fighting alongside Jonin-level shinobi and standing his ground against some of the deadliest enemies in the shinobi world.
The Fourth Great Ninja War
In the fourth great ninja war, Lee proves his worth as a fully-fledged shinobi. As part of the Allied Shinobi Forces, he fights alongside thousands of other shinobis against the overwhelming power of thewhite zetsu armyand the revived shinobis summoned by Kabuto’s Edo Tensei. This war pushes every fighter to their limit, and Lee steps up in several key moments. One of Lee’s most emotional moments comes after Neji’s death at the hands of the Ten-Tails. However, Lee did not succumb to grief and fought to helpthe allied shinobi force.
Perhaps Lee’s most defining battle inShippudenhappens when he engages Madara’s Ten-Tails clone during the final phase of the war. Moreover, when Naruto gives him some of Kurama’s chakra, Lee moves at great speed, cutting down Madara’s clone with a single strike. As the war reaches its climax, Lee continues fighting alongside the shinobi forces against the remnants of the enemy army. Though he does not have a one-on-one battle with a major villain, his endurance and resilience prove he belongs among his generation’s greatest shinobi.
