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Naruto S1E48 — Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!

9.3

Naruto•Season 1•Episode 48

Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!

9.3/10 · 4,583 votesSep 3, 200324 min

Ranked #2 of 52 in Season 1•+1.7 vs season avg

The second-to-last match finally arrives! Rock Lee must face down the mysterious and dangerous Gaara, a ninja who is said to have never been truly injured in a fight before.

Directed byToshiyuki Tsuru

Written bySatoru Nishizono

Previous episodeE47 · A Failure Stands Tall!Next episodeE49 · Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!

Seasons4

Season 1 Episodes52

Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! still

Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!

My Name Is Konohamaru! still

My Name Is Konohamaru!

Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes? still

Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?

Pass or Fail: Survival Test still

Pass or Fail: Survival Test

You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision still

You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision

A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves! still

A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves!

The Assassin of the Mist! still

The Assassin of the Mist!

The Oath of Pain still

The Oath of Pain

Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior still

Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior

The Forest of Chakra still

The Forest of Chakra

The Land Where a Hero Once Lived still

The Land Where a Hero Once Lived

Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns! still

Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns!

Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors still

Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors

The Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja Joins the Fight! still

The Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja Joins the Fight!

Zero Visibility: The Sharingan Shatters still

Zero Visibility: The Sharingan Shatters

The Broken Seal still

The Broken Seal

White Past: Hidden Ambition still

White Past: Hidden Ambition

The Weapons Known as Shinobi still

The Weapons Known as Shinobi

The Demon in the Snow still

The Demon in the Snow

A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam! still

A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam!

Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals still

Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals

Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke! still

Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke!

Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off! still

Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off!

Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins! still

Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins!

The Tenth Question: All or Nothing! still

The Tenth Question: All or Nothing!

Special Report: Live from the Forest of Death! still

Special Report: Live from the Forest of Death!

The Chunin Exam Stage 2: The Forest of Death still

The Chunin Exam Stage 2: The Forest of Death

Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest still

Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest

Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In! still

Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!

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The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!

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Bushy Brow's Pledge: Undying Love and Protection!

Sakura Blossoms! still

Sakura Blossoms!

Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho! still

Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!

Akamaru Trembles: Gaara's Cruel Strength! still

Akamaru Trembles: Gaara's Cruel Strength!

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The Scroll's Secret: No Peeking Allowed

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Clone vs. Clone: Mine Are Better Than Yours!

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Surviving the Cut! The Rookie Nine Together Again!

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Narrowing the Field: Sudden Death Elimination!

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The Ultimate Battle: Cha!

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Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!

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A Failure Stands Tall! still

A Failure Stands Tall!

Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes! still

E48 9.3Now viewing

Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!

Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu! still

Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!

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The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born

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A Shadow in the Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke

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Ebisu Returns: Naruto's Toughest Training Yet!

Cast18

Junko Takeuchi

Junko Takeuchi

Naruto Uzumaki (voice)

Noriaki Sugiyama

Noriaki Sugiyama

Sasuke Uchiha (voice)

Chie Nakamura

Chie Nakamura

Sakura Haruno (voice)

Kazuhiko Inoue

Kazuhiko Inoue

Kakashi Hatake (voice)

Hidekatsu Shibata

Hidekatsu Shibata

Hiruzen Sarutobi (3º Hokage) (voice)

Koichi Tochika

Koichi Tochika

Neji Hyuga (voice)

Masashi Ebara

Masashi Ebara

Might Guy (voice)

Yōichi Masukawa

Yōichi Masukawa

Rock Lee (voice)

Yukari Tamura

Yukari Tamura

Tenten (voice)

Ryoka Yuzuki

Ryoka Yuzuki

Ino Yamanaka (voice)

Unsho Ishizuka

Unsho Ishizuka

Zabuza Momochi

Showtaro Morikubo

Showtaro Morikubo

Shikamaru Nara (voice)

Crew12

N

Nozomu Abe

Key Animation

Hideto Komori

Hideto Komori

Key Animation

T

Toshihisa Kaiya

Key Animation

M

Miwa Sasaki

Key Animation

T

Takaaki Sekizaki

Key Animation

C

Chikara Sakurai

Key Animation

R

Retsu Ohkawara

Key Animation

K

Kazunobu Hoshi

Key Animation

S

Shigeki Kawai

Key Animation

T

Toshiyuki Tsuru

Storyboard Artist

S

Satoru Nishizono

Writer

T

Tetsuya Takeuchi

Key Animation

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Episode Summary

"Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!" is episode 48 of Naruto season 1. It scored 9.3/10 from 4,583 votes, ranking #2 of 52 episodes this season (season average 7.6). Directed by Toshiyuki Tsuru and written by Satoru Nishizono, it aired on September 3, 2003.

Next: E49 · Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!Best of Season 1