Naruto, Vol. 41 (Paperback)

In this volume Jaraiya faces off against Konan and Pain. He reflects on when he trained Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko. Jaraiya shows off a new technique sage mode and we meet two new characters, Ma and Pa toad. Also a prophecy was given to Jaraiya from the Great Lord Elder about Naruto and that he would grow up to be a pervert. Jaraiya also discovers more about the rinnegan and the secret behind Pains power. Besides the editing(which I hate) this is another great volume.

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style). Jiraiya's Decision Mysteries from Naruto's teacher Jiraiya's past rise up to confront the Toad Sage. Could something that the Three Great Shinobi of Konoha legend did in their youth have deadly consequences now? Find out as Jiraiya's investigation into the secrets of Pain and the Akatsuki organization bears shocking fruit!

About the Author
Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his manga Karakuri ("Mechanism"). Kishimoto decided to base his next story on traditional Japanese culture. His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.

Naruto, Vol. 40 (Paperback)

This volume wraps up the fight Sasuke has w/ Deidara. It also shows the member of Akatsuki who proclaims to be Madara and claims to have the true power of the sharingan. Also Naruto and the gang is still looking for Sasuke, who finally meets up w/ Itachi only for Itachi to tell Sasuke to meet him in the Uchiha hideout. Also Jaraiya and Tsunade discuss personal matters and we find out Naruto is the son of the 4th Hokage. We also meet the ninja Jaraiya is looking for.

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style). The Ultimate Art It's Deidara vs. Sasuke! Is even Deidara's Ultimate Art no match for the all-powerful new Sasuke? Plus, deep inside the Land of Rain lies a secret of the Akatsuki that sheds doubt on the mysterious organization's true intentions as well as their bizarre leader, Pain.

About the Author
Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his manga Karakuri ("Mechanism"). Kishimoto decided to base his next story on traditional Japanese culture. His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.



Naruto, Vol. 39 (Paperback)

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style). On the Move It's shades of the influence of Orochimaru when Sasuke names his new ninja cell Team Serpent. While Naruto and the others try to keep tabs on Sasuke, their long-lost pal ends up in fierce battle with an old enemy. The outcome could bring the ninja world as Naruto knows it to an end faster than he ever imagined!

About the Author
Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his manga Karakuri ("Mechanism"). Kishimoto decided to base his next story on traditional Japanese culture. His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.

Naruto, Vol. 38 (Paperback)

I have been collecting the Naruto manga from volume 28 which, as far as the anime adaptation is concerned, the start of Naruto Shippuden. I have to say that I'm a little disappointed with Viz's editing habits in these volumes. For the purpose of this review I will only discuss the editing that is done in this volume, not the other ones.

Aside from some of the swearing being toned down there are two major incidents of editing done in this volume. The first being on the eighth page of chapter 347. Konohamaru shows off his improved version of "sexy justsu," to Naruto which involves two naked women holding each other.

In the original version you can actually see the women's faces and bodies, although even in the original nothing explicit is shown. In this version you can only see the women's silhouette's. There is another similar instance two pages later involving Sasuke and Sai in similar positions. Again, you can only see their silhouette's. This editing is a problem for me but not really a deal breaker.

The manga continues from where we left off in volume 37 with Naruto and company battling it out with an Akatsuki member. This particular volume contains a very important scene involving Sasuke and Orochimaru; it is so important that I cannot talk too much about the second half of the volume without spoiling everything unfortunately.

If you have been keeping up with this series until now there should be no reason why you wouldn't purchase this volume as well. Viz has included two bookmarks in this volume featuring Naruto on both of them. There are also bookmarks in volume's 39 and 40. Volume 41, however, does not contain bookmarks but stickers. As of this review 41 volumes of Naruto have been released in America and come April Volumes 42-44 will be released. At this point America will have all but caught up to the Japanese releases.

Naruto, Vol. 37 (Paperback)

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style). Shikamaru's Battle Shikamaru's team is out for revenge against their mentor's murderers. Tsunade tries to stop them, but Kakashi wants to help! As the divide among the ninja grows, the mysterious Akatsuki organization continues their brutal attack on the tailed spirits, the Biju, and the young ninja who host them, including Naruto! He's older and stronger, but has Naruto trained enough?!

About the Author
Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his manga Karakuri ("Mechanism"). Kishimoto decided to base his next story on traditional Japanese culture. His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.


Naruto, Vol. 36 (Paperback)

While searching for a jinchuriki host in the Land of Fire, Hidan and Kakuzu happened to stumble upon Chiriku, a priest who used to be one of the Guardian Shinobi 12. The two Akatsuki defeated and killed Chiriku and are now looking to collect his 30 million ryo bounty to finance their operations.

Asuma, who also used to be in the Shinobi 12, sets out with Shikamaru and two other elite ninja to track down and kill or capture Hidan and Kakuzu. Meanwhile, Naruto continues to train with Kakashi and Yamato, struggling to master the art of making a "super rasengan". Even the ever-optimistic and driven Naruto is at the end of his rope and is thinking about giving up the attempt. He must figure out a way to change the form and nature of his chakra at the same time, something even the 4th Hokage could never master.

Volume 36 marks the first time we get to see the Akatsuki in action, well, I mean in a fight to the death capacity. I know Itachi showed up at the Leaf Village many volumes ago and had a minor battle with Kakashi, but I saw that as merely a brief skirmish. Yeah, I know, Naruto and his team also fought and defeated Deidara and Sasori. But all these battles have been cakewalks compared to fighting Hidan and Kakuzu. They're in a completely different league.

Hidan has the ability to curse his enemies and cannot be killed. He takes most of the lead in the battle against Cell 10, so confident is he in his abilities. Kakuzu helps Hidan a little bit, but otherwise takes no part in the actual battle. You knew back in earlier volumes that Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi were not going to die fighting Sasori or Deidara, but when Cell 10 fights, being composed of supporting characters, there is more of a sense of danger. Somebody could get killed.

It's also cool to see Kakashi's faith in Naruto. He's giving the boy a full plate by asking him to master the super rasengan. He really believes that Naruto is special and could become not only Hokage, but maybe the most powerful ninja ever. Naruto has come a long way from the early volumes of the manga when he was seen as a village pariah. Now, he seems to be a vital part of Konoha's very survival. What a series!


Naruto, Vol. 35 (Paperback)

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style). Two-Man Teams Naruto accelerates his training while the Akatsuki systematically continue their assault on those with the Tailed Beasts inside them. First on the list is Yukito, a ninja from the Land of Clouds believed to harbor the Two-Tailed Beast. Will yet another ninja fall to the evils of the Akatsuki?

About the Author
Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his manga Karakuri ("Mechanism"). Kishimoto decided to base his next story on traditional Japanese culture. His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.

Naruto, Vol. 34 (Paperback)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure! Reads R to L (Japanese Style).  

The Reunion Naruto finally finds Sasuke! But Sasuke won't return to Konoha without a fight. This time it might take all of Team Kakashi to bring him down--and bring him back.

 

About the Author

Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his manga Karakuri ("Mechanism"). Kishimoto decided to base his next story on traditional Japanese culture.

His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.