Naruto Vol. 24

Rock Lee arrives and takes Naruto's place against Kimimaro, allowing Naruto to continue pursuing Sasuke Uchiha. Although Lee has only recently undergone surgery, his speed and taijutsu initially allow him to evade Kimimaro's bone-based attacks. Lee accidentally drinks medicine containing alcohol and enters an unpredictable drunken state, momentarily overwhelming his opponent before Kimimaro activates the first level of his Cursed Seal.

The retrieval team's other battles turn when reinforcements arrive from the Hidden Sand Village. Temari rescues Shikamaru Nara and defeats Tayuya by destroying the surrounding forest with a powerful wind technique. Kankurō saves Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru, trapping Sakon and Ukon inside his Black Ant puppet before killing them with Karasu's concealed weapons.

Gaara intervenes before Kimimaro can finish Lee. His increasingly powerful sand techniques reshape the battlefield, but Kimimaro survives each attack through the strength of his kekkei genkai. After activating the second stage of his Cursed Seal, Kimimaro raises a forest of bones from the earth and launches one final attack, only to succumb to his terminal illness moments before striking Gaara and Lee.