Gaara of the Sand Waterfall is the 215th chapter of the Naruto manga, part of the Sasuke Recovery Mission. It centers on Gaara's showdown against Kimimaro, where crushing walls of sand meet an opponent whose reinforced bones let him shrug off death.
Summary
Unwilling to let Gaara carry the fight alone, Lee lunges at Kimimaro hoping to create an opening. Gaara pins him in place and tells him to stand down, insisting he has no need for aid, least of all from someone as battered as Lee is. Studying the pair, Kimimaro registers that Gaara fights with something other than the taijutsu his two foes rely on and weighs how best to react.
Key Events
Gaara's sand snares Kimimaro and crushes him, yet the bone user survives by triggering the first level of his cursed seal and hardening his skeleton against the pressure. Refusing to relent, Gaara pours out an even larger flood of sand that grinds down both his enemy and the ground around them.
Notes
Even the second, more devastating assault fails to finish Kimimaro, who walks away from the crushing sand once again. The chapter, printed in volume 24, sets up the deadly persistence that defines the rest of their clash. Its Viz edition carries the shortened title Gaara of the Sand.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is special about Gaara's sand in this chapter?
In Gaara of the Sand Waterfall, Gaara's sand snares and crushes his opponent Kimimaro with immense force, capable of grinding down both the enemy and the surrounding ground.
Why does Gaara tell Lee to stand down during the fight with Kimimaro?
Gaara pins Lee in place and insists he has no need for aid, least of all from someone as battered as Lee already is.
How does Kimimaro survive Gaara's sand attack?
Kimimaro survives by triggering the first level of his cursed seal, hardening his skeleton against the crushing pressure of Gaara's sand.
Does Gaara defeat Kimimaro in "Gaara of the Sand Waterfall"?
No, even Gaara's larger second flood of sand fails to finish Kimimaro, who survives and walks away from the crushing sand once again.
What is the Viz Media title for this chapter?
The chapter Gaara of the Sand Waterfall was released by Viz under the shortened title Gaara of the Sand.
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and Toho.
- Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
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