</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>`the only genius that Lee managed to beat came back and out did him with so little time, if hardwork payed off then Lee wouldnt be injured the way he is.`

Hm? if Gaara had fought anyone else in the prelims they would be crippled too.

as for all the battles he`s lost, my take on it is: firstly, he was, and probabaly always will be, a struggling character. If Lee beat Gaara, the whole...dramatic effect of his character disminishes. The fact that hes forever trying to prove how great a ninja he is makes him such a great character - and the fact that, after each setback, he just gets up and keeps walking furthers that. I have a feeling sooner or later, tho, we will see hard work DOES pay off.
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thats what i think too, there&#39;s NO way kishimoto would teach readers the moral value of &quot;practice does&#39;t pay off&quot;. Lee got beat by 3 geniuses, but in later, he will probably defeat something greater than geniuses to show how much he&#39;s improved due to training.