Why do u underrate Zabuza so much? Dude the guy was a Legendary Swordsman, Anbu, feared as the Demon of the Hidden Mist, ETC. He's strong dude.
I'm actually surprised someone like u agreed with that.
Well i agreed; because it seemed plausable.
Characters are introduced at different points of story and their levels more or less increase at such points.
I am not saying Zabuza is weak; but after that arc; we saw different rookies with their own talents, then a superior sound five, then the same rookies improved, then Akatsuki, main villains etc. Almost every known characters have their own hype. Sakura is pupil of a sannin. Lee is the pupil of the best taijutsu user. Chouji and Shino are members of reknown clans etc.
Not for everyone on the list; but i can debate for Lee. The points you have adressed in the OP can be easily countered; they are commonly used words like "Lee is a drooling dumbass who does not know what to do" "Gates take time to perform" "He does not go gates at the proper time" etc. Most of these either changed or not true.
Zabuza>Lee. Lee uses Gates as a last resort and he isn't intelligent, at all.
Well who said this? Contrary to popular belief there is not much indication in the manga suggests Lee is a below average moron. Besides no one would give someone a chuunin rank if said person is both have no affinity for nin-genjutsu and a complete moron.
Few examples to show he is not a complete idiot:
Acting accroding to an attack he have seen before:
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Using different techniques from his arsenl after understanding his attacks are not working:
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Undersatnding how inner chakra coil system and gentle fist works:
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Giving info to ally right away (which is what a shinobi suppose to do)
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Gaara did not say what he did with the material of sand; but he understand it:
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Observed how metamorphosis of Kimimaro effected his movement:
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^^Just a few; i think these are enough. He is not someone who would be able to outsmart majority of NV; but not that dumb either.
You think once Zabuza puts up the Mist, Lee is going to know exactly what's going on and immediately go to Gates?
He had no other choice against Gaara; he used the gates.
He had no viable choice aginst Kimimaro, he opened the first gate and he was borderline crippled. If he feels trapped or without a choice; he would use gates.
Also, you think Zabuza is going to stand around even if he does? Silent Killing was said to be so fast that you would pass through this life time without even knowing what happened, Lee doesn't stand a chance. If you think Lee would immediately go to Gates, then why didn't he when he actually was battling against Zabuza during this war?
He can wait or not; it does not change the outcome granted by numbers folded speed and strength which is already high. Lee is also so fast that he was able to best a sharingan user (the same sharingan user who bested Haku in speed outside of mirrors wo sharingan) with weights on his legs, was able to bypass Gaara's sand which blocked every assasin's attack, also blocked Haku when he was in ice mirrors at war arc. With gates; these feats are easily left behind the dust.
He did not go gates because he was fighting along with a platoon; why would it be nececcary; and Kakashi was commandor; people were generally taking his orders.
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It's because Zabuza could strike at any given time, if he took the chance by starting up the Gates which was shown to take quite some time and let down his guard, he'd die in a heart beat.
Of course he would follow up the formation which suggested by who had experience with Zabuza.
And gates do not take much time for him anymore and does not have same stamina issues:
Here he opened the 5th gate while in the mid air and with no prior waiting:
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And he does not have visible physical restraints; 3 chapters passed and minutes of events happened:
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Just because Lee has the technique to beat Zabuza doesn't mean he starts in that state and could beat him the first second their battle starts. Do you see Itachi always starting with Susanoo or Jiraiya starting with Sage Mode? No.
So yeah; gates are capable of defeating Zabuza. He does not start of with gates; but he can use it at the times he feels as right.
Not to mention he can use this technique to disarm Zabuza:
Team Gai was battling with Kisame; both Lee and Gai were infront of him and Kisame made an attack that would put Gai in defensive position:
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Lee seperated Kisame from Samehada; even though Lee was not his aim and caught off guard; this guy is one of the best swordsmen and said to be incredibly strong by Gai, and his reaction timing and sped was good enough to reacting Bee's attacks and Gai's base taijutsu:
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There are other points i can adress for Lee; but all in all i think he wins this and these are enough for the ones in OP.
