Bushy Brow's Jutsu: Sasuke Style!

As the match against Gaara begins, Kakashi arrives late and offers Sakura an apology for the worry, then quietly remarks to Guy about the Anbu stationed around the arena and Konoha's uncertainty over when an attack might land. Watching from the stands, Naruto senses how dangerous Gaara is and realizes only Sasuke can meet his thirst for battle. On the field, Sasuke launches into an assault quick enough to slip past the Shield of Sand, his movements strikingly like Lee's.

Kakashi reveals the reason behind the resemblance: having witnessed Lee's taijutsu through his Sharingan, he spent the past month training Sasuke to match that speed. Lee understands from experience that speed alone will not fell Gaara, and Guy suspects the pace serves a deeper aim. Battered by the relentless strikes, Gaara withdraws into a sphere of sand to buy time for a transformation.

Unable to shatter that shell with speed alone, Sasuke stalls. Naruto and Shikamaru reflect on Gaara's conviction that his purpose is to kill, and conclude Sasuke will die if the fight continues. They dash up to alert Kakashi, who tells them not to fret and promises there was sound reasoning behind the team's delay.

Part of the Chunin Exams arc, this installment adapts chapters 111 and 112. It highlights the month of intensive speed training Sasuke undertook after observing Rock Lee, setting up the confrontation with Gaara's ultimate defense.