Naruto Shippuuden Episode 12

[RyougaZell]

That is a plothole I've been waiting Kishimoto to explain someday....

The turtle that scolded Lee was with no doubt a summon, since it could talk and then puffed away. If Lee knew it and it presented Gai its because he has the summon scroll.

Yet we have never seen him use it... so yeah... its more like suppositions but with more bases than saying Gai can't use Ninjutsu when it has only been stated that Lee is the only one that cant.

[Kraco]

I think it's pretty safe to say Gai can but just chooses not to. There are a number of scenes of Lee's history that pretty much elaborated how Lee is special (or hopeless) because he can't use ninjutsu. If Gai, a jounin, couldn't do it, I don't think there would be anything for Lee to worry about, having such a model. Besides, one only needs to have his name on the scroll, not carry it around or even possess it. After all, Naruto's name is on the scroll Jiraya carries around (for who knows what purposes - to gather more frog summoners?).

Perhaps Gai just uses little ninjutsu for his own reasons and lately because he wants to keep the bond between him and Lee strong. As long as he relies on taijutsu only Lee can purely look up to him.

[DarthEnderX]

I don't know why people think Lee doesn't have chakra either. His opening the gates is ALL chakra.

That's what it does, it increases his chakra flow.

It's just Lee focuses all his chakra on making himself faster and stronger, rather than manifesting wierd powers.

[Animeniax]

For Lee it's more than just a choice to use his chakra only for Taijutsu. He can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu. I figure it's like each skill or technique is like a puzzle. Some people can solve the puzzle with practice and use the skill, and others can't. Some get cheats like when Naruto read the scroll and learned the kage bunshin technique, or are shown how to solve the puzzle, like when he was taught rasengan. Some have a natural affinity for solving the puzzle, or get the answers via a bloodline technique like the Uchiha sharingan. Mostly it's just practice or natural skill. Lee is just dumb when it comes to puzzle solving. The rubix cube would put him in a coma.

I don't think it was ever implied that Gai couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu techniques. He just prefers taijutsu, probably because he's exceptional at it.

[XanBcoo]

For Lee it's more than just a choice to use his chakra only for Taijutsu. He can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu. I figure it's like each skill or technique is like a puzzle. Some people can solve the puzzle with practice and use the skill, and others can't. Some get cheats like when Naruto read the scroll and learned the kage bunshin technique, or are shown how to solve the puzzle, like when he was taught rasengan. Some have a natural affinity for solving the puzzle, or get the answers via a bloodline technique like the Uchiha sharingan. Mostly it's just practice or natural skill. Lee is just dumb when it comes to puzzle solving. The rubix cube would put him in a coma.

That's a nice analogy, except it implies that Lee's faults are a result of a lack of trying. Lee's just not good at anything, even Taijutsu (I remember Neji saying this early on). He's only good at Taijutsu because he was able to practice it so much. I think that if he had the ability to use nin or genjutsu at all, then he would have practiced it 'til he killed himself.

He's just defective in that respect, I think, not dumb.

[ASSpirine]

Anyone remembered Kakashi saying Lee was a genius? It was when Lee opened the gates, and Gai told Kakashi that Lee could open 5 of the 8 gates. That's when Kakashi said it, he also mentioned that this wasn't from hard work alone. So, Lee does have hidden talent, cause I don't think anyone can do that.

[Animeniax]

That's a nice analogy, except it implies that Lee's faults are a result of a lack of trying. Lee's just not good at anything, even Taijutsu (I remember Neji saying this early on). He's only good at Taijutsu because he was able to practice it so much. I think that if he had the ability to use nin or genjutsu at all, then he would have practiced it 'til he killed himself.

He's just defective in that respect, I think, not dumb.

I don't think his inability is due to a lack of trying and I don't think I implied that. Like for anyone, there are some subjects that will beyond that person's grasp no matter how hard they work at it. And I agree he's not dumb, just inept at the process of solving the intricacies of learning skills in ninjutsu and genjutsu. So he relies on Taijutsu because it allows him to continue living his dream of being a ninja, and because it is something he can get good at with practice. Whereas the other skills are like the rubix cube analogy, you can practice them all you want, but you may never solve it.