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Naruto Season 5 Episode 23

Showdown: Gaara vs. Kimimaro!

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9.3

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 12/29/07

As Naruto continues to chase after Sasuke, Gaara stops Lee from fighting Kimimaro anymore and takes Kimimaro on himself. Kimimaro underestimates Gaara and falls into Gaara's trap. Gaara uses some of his best attacks but still fails to kill Kimimaro. Since he is still alive, Kimimaro sees he still has a reason to live. He then activates his Cursed Seal Level 2 and attacks Gaara again. Can Gaara defeat this persistent and powerful foe?moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (13)

Rock Lee: "Hey what up Gaara...thanks for helping me, even though you tried killing me before...boy this is awkward!"

8.5

By ZaleIsBackAgain, Dec 24, 2008

This is what I love about the rescue Sasuke arc, lots of great character development and even better action. Rock Lee vs. Kimimaro already delivered an eye candy fest and then it immediately follows it up with Gaara vs. Kimimaro which isn't quite as good but is still a very great fight. Watching Gaara go to work with Kimimaro dodging while shooting bullets at Gaara had me left in awe. The Kimimaro flashback sequence was also interesting, wasn't as tearjerking as a Rock Lee moment but it felt a lot more poetic; a character who was bred to fight ever since he was born. It was also fun seeing a cameo appearance from Haku and Zabuza.moreless
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Nice Scenes of Battle.Again Gaara is my Fav,he is cool ,tg=his episode is "all time-watching-full of action episode" Strate ACTION!some flashbacks,but Decent and ncie to watch!

9.2

By Sony-tha-champ0, May 24, 2008

Gaara once fought Rock Lee,now he helps finding Sasuke and ending up helping Rock Lee,against a very tough opponenent ,Kimimaro!which even Naruto (clones and Kyuubi form) couldnt land a scrach on him,looks cool,nice fighting,a little bit of flashes at the end,But strate fighting!

Gaara sure did awsome stuff,no matter how hard he made his Finishing blows,Kimimaro still stood up,battle was awsome,Naruto go`s finding sasuke cozz he left the village,its up to "The sasuke reetrivel Sqaud to fins him"

Not much to say about this episdoe non-other that this is just strate Action games,very fun and really cool.

i`l give episode a 9.2 ,i liked it alot,nice to watch,Gaara fans would compltely enjoy it!moreless
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Showdown between Gaara and Kimimaru

10

By stitch069917, Feb 14, 2008

Rock Lee still thinks that he can fight, but Gaara knows that Lee is in no condition to fight Kimimaru. Lee charges toward Kimimaru, but Garra trips him with sand and stops him. Now the fight is solely between Kimimaru and Gaara. Kimimaru tries several attacks to break through Gaara's defence, but with no results. Gaara tries to catch Kimimaru in a sand trap and finds that Kimimaru is too fast to catch until he tricks him into another trap. It seems as if maybe Gaara has won, but Kimimaru uses his level two curse seal and breaks out of the trap and charges towards Gaara.....moreless
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Great to see Garaa in control of his demon and aiding Rock Lee

10

By mxrider208, Jan 08, 2008

After feeling sorry for Garaa for his childhood, then rejoicing when Naruto beat him in his demon form, I had hoped his character would evolve into a more heroic form. I was not disappointed. It was also ironic that he would be the one to assist Rock Lee in his efforts to defeat Kimimoru. Rock Lee's character brings in so many aspects for those of us who have been following the entire series. I am a newbie to Naruto but have been avidly recording the shows from Cartoon Network on my TiVo as well as purchasing the box sets as they are available. I look forward to seeing the characters evolve, especially Garaa.moreless
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Finally Bone VS Sand!

10

By ThunderDude14, Jan 07, 2008

What goes down in this totally awesome episode of the anime series, Naruto is Lee, wanting help, tries to bypass Gaara and attack Kimimaro. Because Lee is still recovering from his operation, Gaara forces him to sit. Using his sand, Gaara tries to crush Kimimaro, though by activating his cursed seal Kimimaro survives the attack. Calling upon a greater amount of sand, Gaara tries to bury Kimimaro, though advancing his cursed seal to level 2 allows Kimimaro to survive and escape this as well. Totally awesome, there I said my opinion of this episode now it's time to dance! Strike of Thunder!!!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Liam O'Brien (V)	Gaara
Maile Flanagan	Naruto Uzumaki
Brian Donovan	Rock Lee

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Keith Silverstein	Kimimaro Kaguya	Guest Star
Kyle Hebert	Kaguya Clan Leader	Guest Star
Steven Jay Blum	Kaguya Clan Member	Guest Star

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- Throughout the episode, the cuts on Lee's face appear and disappear.
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- It looks like Kimimaro is younger than Haku in the flashback, but really Haku is around Naruto's age.
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QUOTES (17)
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- Kimimaro: (Thinking back to his youth and first battle) What is it that I fight for? What am I? I knew none of these answers. I continued to fight.
  Kaguya leader: (During flashback) The time has come for you to be of use.
  Kimimaro: (Thinking) Someone needed me. That was all that got my body moving. That and the obvious of course, I had to fight to survive.
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- Naruto: Oh man, I can't see anything in here. The darkness is too thick.
  (An apparition of Neji appears)
  Neji: Sometimes your eyes are better than mine.
  Naruto: Huh?
  Neji: Sasuke is in the darkness now.
  Naruto: Neji?
  Neji: If you stay here too long, you'll never catch Sasuke.
  (Apparition disappears)
  Naruto: Neji?! You were right. You were right about all of it. What am I standing around here for? Just you wait! I'm gonna bring Sasuke home for sure if it the last thing I do!
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- Kimimaro (Thinking) I was put on this earth to protect Lord Orochimaru and his ambitions.
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- Orochimaru: Maybe, just maybe, there is no purpose in life. But if you linger for a little while longer in this world, you might discover something of value in it... Like how you discovered that flower, or how I discovered you one fateful night. Come, it's time to go.
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- Young Haku: His eyes were the same as mine, before I met Zabuza.
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- Orochimaru: What you're seeking is just below this ridge, child. Go on, have at it.
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- Kimimaro: (Thinking back to his youth) I don't mind the darkness. It was in the darkness in which I was raised.
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- Gaara: When I look at this guy, it reminds me of him.
  Lee: Huh?
  Gaara: Uchiha. His eyes... Sasuke had the same eyes this guy does.
  Lee: The same eyes?
  Gaara: (Thinking) Seeking to prove the value of their own existence, eyes like that.
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- Kimimaro: Gaara of the Desert, rather a foolish nickname, isn't it? You're nothing without that sand of yours. (Thinking) Why else would you go through the trouble of lugging it around?
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- Lee: (Thinking) Nothing is wasted in his movement. His level of Taijutsu is considerable.
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- Kimimaro: You are Gaara of the Desert. You wield sand, hence the name.
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- (Lee charges Kimimaro, but Gaara uses his sand to trip him and he falls into it)
  Lee: (Muffled) I've got sand in my mouth!
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- Young Kimimaro: I'm alone again.
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- Gaara: Orochimaru's brainwashing? You're pathetic.
  Kimimaro: No! You're wrong!
  Orochimaru: (From Kimimaro's memories) There probably isn't any meaning in life. Perhaps you can find something interesting to do while you are alive. Like how you found that flower. Like how I found you.
  
  ~Japanese version
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- Kimimaro: If I can't be of any use, then there's no reason for me to live.
  
  ~Japanese version
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- Gaara: What an annoying guy!
  
  ~Japanese version
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- Rock Lee: This is my fight. You be my backup! (Gaara trips Lee) Agh, there is sand in my mouth.
  Gaara: You're not doing anything in that condition.
  
  ~Japanese version
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NOTES (5)
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- YTV Airdate: March 14, 2008
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- Gaara has two new techniques: Sand Tsunami and Sand Shower.
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- Original Airdate: March 16, 2005
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- Original Episode Title: Battle of the Strongest! Gaara vs. Kimimaro
  Romaji Episode Title: Saikyou Taiketsu! Gaara VS Kimimaro
  Kanji Episode Title: 最強対決！我愛羅VS君麻呂！
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- Zabuza and Haku are seen in Kimimaro's flashbacks. This is Zabuza's first appearance since episode 19, and Haku's first appearance since episode 80 (from Naruto's flashback).
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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