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Naruto [ナルト] #42
Naruto Vol. 42
This series has won the highest rating both as comic and as anime. The protagonist aspires to be the greatest ninja among a village full of shinobi warrior-magicians. But he must first earn the respect of his peers and teachers while maintaining his integrity. In Japanese. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.
Unknown Binding
First published May 2, 2008
About the author
Masashi Kishimoto
1,110 books3,838 followersMasashi Kishimoto (岸本斉史 Kishimoto Masashi) is a Japanese manga artist, well known for creating the manga series Naruto. His younger twin brother, Seishi Kishimoto, is also a manga artist and creator of the manga series O-Parts Hunter (666 Satan) and Blazer Drive. Two of his former assistants, Osamu Kajisa (Tattoo Hearts) and Yuuichi Itakura (Hand's), have also gone on to moderate success following their work on Naruto.
Kishimoto's first work as a manga artist was Karakuri (カラクリ?), which he submitted to Shueisha in 1995. This earned him the Weekly Shōnen Jump's monthly "Hop Step Award" in 1996, granted to promising new manga artists. This was followed in 1997 by a pilot version of Naruto (NARUTO－ナルト－), published in Akamaru Jump Summer. In 1998, Kishimoto premiered as a Weekly Shōnen Jump artist with a serialized version of Karakuri in Weekly Shōnen Jump, but it proved unpopular and was canceled soon after. In 1999, a serialized version of Naruto began publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump and quickly became a hit.
Kishimoto's first work as a manga artist was Karakuri (カラクリ?), which he submitted to Shueisha in 1995. This earned him the Weekly Shōnen Jump's monthly "Hop Step Award" in 1996, granted to promising new manga artists. This was followed in 1997 by a pilot version of Naruto (NARUTO－ナルト－), published in Akamaru Jump Summer. In 1998, Kishimoto premiered as a Weekly Shōnen Jump artist with a serialized version of Karakuri in Weekly Shōnen Jump, but it proved unpopular and was canceled soon after. In 1999, a serialized version of Naruto began publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump and quickly became a hit.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 185 reviews
June 12, 2022
10/10 stars
Waaah! RIP Jiraya... ;( One of my favorite characters in the series is gone. He was a great mentor for Naruto, as fun-loving and optimistic as his assumed grandson. Loved the tiny touches in which their lives entwined even before Naruto was born. I feel like Jiraya's fate should've been depicted with more panache, though. These last panels have a forlorn feel, but are small and followed by a totally tonally different arc. Still, the brotherly fight between Sasuke and Itachi is one of the coolest moments of the series. Love the visuals here, and the eerie physical similarity. I can't help but like Itachi more than his Special Snowflake little brother - and I can't help but wonder whether their relationship has something to do with the famous Japanese intense doting on children. Also, Uchiha are seriously weird. I guess that's what happens when you create a warrior caste and they become unhappy with their position - militant coups start to seem very tempting, especially in times of peace.
Waaah! RIP Jiraya... ;( One of my favorite characters in the series is gone. He was a great mentor for Naruto, as fun-loving and optimistic as his assumed grandson. Loved the tiny touches in which their lives entwined even before Naruto was born. I feel like Jiraya's fate should've been depicted with more panache, though. These last panels have a forlorn feel, but are small and followed by a totally tonally different arc. Still, the brotherly fight between Sasuke and Itachi is one of the coolest moments of the series. Love the visuals here, and the eerie physical similarity. I can't help but like Itachi more than his Special Snowflake little brother - and I can't help but wonder whether their relationship has something to do with the famous Japanese intense doting on children. Also, Uchiha are seriously weird. I guess that's what happens when you create a warrior caste and they become unhappy with their position - militant coups start to seem very tempting, especially in times of peace.
August 7, 2015
Very sad. I knew it had to come even as I was reading it the first time, but it's still sad. I'll miss Ero-senin.
If that wasn't enough, we've finally got the long awaited fight between Itachi and Sasuke. It's only been forty-two volumes in the making. It's not like anyone had been waiting, what, eight years to finally see?
Do I sound bitter? Naaah... It's a fucking awesome battle.
If that wasn't enough, we've finally got the long awaited fight between Itachi and Sasuke. It's only been forty-two volumes in the making. It's not like anyone had been waiting, what, eight years to finally see?
Do I sound bitter? Naaah... It's a fucking awesome battle.
May 2, 2021
Jiraiya's battle with Pain is probably one of the most intense and epic events in this series and it is executed perfectly, fully exploring both characters' stories and secrets throughout the battle.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
October 10, 2022
Yahiko has been dead for quite some time. All that remains is pain.
-damn right
Yahiko's one of my favorite characters, so those two sentences had hit home a little bit too hard, haha... ha. Anyways, to be a little bit more clearer, the conclusion to Jiraiya's last stand against Pain earns a well deserved 5 stars. Everything about it was perfect. The plot could have taken several other directions, Jiraiya could have survived and returned to Konoha, but he didn't, because to this point, Pain was the worst our main characters could ever face, not even a Sannin could be spared. And he (they?) is probably the biggest mystery out there to be solved yet. And one that, unlike so many other hyped up plot points we're about to face in the next arcs, does pay off.
However, one that doesn't is the thing between the Uchiha brothers. I don't care about them or their big clan drama whatsoever. 2 stars. Also, I'm both tired and a little bit disturbed by how many characters want Sasuke for his body parts. First Orochimaru, then Itachi, and of course, Karin, Sakura, and Naruto. No wonder he ends up travelling alone once all the action is over, poor guy needs a break to deal with layers and layers of trauma.
-damn right
Yahiko's one of my favorite characters, so those two sentences had hit home a little bit too hard, haha... ha. Anyways, to be a little bit more clearer, the conclusion to Jiraiya's last stand against Pain earns a well deserved 5 stars. Everything about it was perfect. The plot could have taken several other directions, Jiraiya could have survived and returned to Konoha, but he didn't, because to this point, Pain was the worst our main characters could ever face, not even a Sannin could be spared. And he (they?) is probably the biggest mystery out there to be solved yet. And one that, unlike so many other hyped up plot points we're about to face in the next arcs, does pay off.
However, one that doesn't is the thing between the Uchiha brothers. I don't care about them or their big clan drama whatsoever. 2 stars. Also, I'm both tired and a little bit disturbed by how many characters want Sasuke for his body parts. First Orochimaru, then Itachi, and of course, Karin, Sakura, and Naruto. No wonder he ends up travelling alone once all the action is over, poor guy needs a break to deal with layers and layers of trauma.
September 4, 2024
One of the best volumes of manga ever made
January 27, 2021
This was actually a pretty great volume.
The end of a era as one of the main characters is killed. There's no coming back from this death as it cements a brutal finish and a heavy weight will be carried to other characters. We also get the fight we've been waiting for. Sasuke verses Itachi, and it's pretty goddamn awesome to see both go all out. No more holding back and it shows.
Overall, fast paced and exciting volume.
The end of a era as one of the main characters is killed. There's no coming back from this death as it cements a brutal finish and a heavy weight will be carried to other characters. We also get the fight we've been waiting for. Sasuke verses Itachi, and it's pretty goddamn awesome to see both go all out. No more holding back and it shows.
Overall, fast paced and exciting volume.
October 18, 2022
This is one of the best volumes of manga ever written. I LOVE to see when authors (in any medium) decide to take their gloves off and stop messing around. It's almost like you can feel their passion to make something special coming through their work. I love analyzing and pondering massive jumps in quality like this. I try to imagine what the headspace of the writer is like just before they step on the gas like this. Were they trying to prove a point to someone? Were they just struck by inspiration? What drives writers to drop a piece of fiction within their already-ongoing series that just blows the roof off?
The previous volumes were great. This volume is magic. Pure magic. It's impossible to not be on the edge of your seat for the entire damn thing. If you disliked this volume in particular, I do not trust you.
The previous volumes were great. This volume is magic. Pure magic. It's impossible to not be on the edge of your seat for the entire damn thing. If you disliked this volume in particular, I do not trust you.
September 2, 2023
Why's there so much Pain in this volume? (pun intended)
I knew, after that long sentimental farewell to Jiraiya-sama, that something is going to happen.
Why! I was literally sobbing while reading this. Getting killed by one's own pupil. That's too low! Yes it has happened before, but this was way too pathetic! Especially with those flashbacks and internal monologues about Naruto! I can't believe Jiraiya-sama died that way.
I knew, after that long sentimental farewell to Jiraiya-sama, that something is going to happen.
Why! I was literally sobbing while reading this. Getting killed by one's own pupil. That's too low! Yes it has happened before, but this was way too pathetic! Especially with those flashbacks and internal monologues about Naruto! I can't believe Jiraiya-sama died that way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2016
VERY strong comeback from the huge flop that was volume 41.
July 26, 2020
My feels...
May 31, 2022
nah they should've made a separate vol for jiraiya's * and the uchiha bros' fight bcos :-( it looked like jiraiya's * was just a minor shit in the story when hes literally played a big role in naruto's life
June 18, 2022
JIRAIYA!!!! The end of Jiraiya’s battle against Pain. And I’m feeling Pain. Also the beginning of the long fated Sasuke and Itachi battle! Which is mostly two brothers just staring at each other. Intense!
June 28, 2023
Volume 42: Chapter 380-389
Arc 10: Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant
Arc 11: Fated Battle Between Brothers
- One of the Six Paths of Pain is Yahiko, one of Jiraiya's student.
- The mystery about Pain is still shrouded in Jiraiya's head.
- Sasuke and his Hebi team were stopped by Kisame.
- By following Itachi's order, Sasuke was allowed to pass to the Uchiha's hideout while Kisame restraining the Hebi.
- A brutal fight between Jiraiya and Pain comes to conclusion.
- All the six members possessed a unique technique draws from the Rinnegan.
- Jiraiya managed to kill one of the Pain and the toad sage brings the corpse for further analysis.
- Jiraiya remembers that all the six Pain are the shinobi he had encountered before.
- Finally, Jiraiya knows who Pain really is.
- Pain launched a brutal attack to crush Jiraiya's throat.
- On his final breath, Jiraiya remembers a book he wrote, Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant. The character in his book were named while he was eating ramen, and it was inspired Minato and Kushina to named their son, Naruto also.
- Jiraiya leaves some message on the back of the toad sage before Pain launch some final attack.
- Jiraiya sinking into the deep ocean and declared dead by Pain.
- At the same time, Konoha Pursuit Team were stopped by Tobi.
- A long waited battle between Sasuke and Itachi is going to start.
- The secret about Mangekyo Sharingan and Uchiha Madara is revealed bt Itachi.
- The fight is start with genjutsu battle until Sasuke managed to break Itachi's Tsukuyomi.
- Their battle changed to ninjutsu battle and Itachi used Amaterasu.
Arc 10: Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant
Arc 11: Fated Battle Between Brothers
- One of the Six Paths of Pain is Yahiko, one of Jiraiya's student.
- The mystery about Pain is still shrouded in Jiraiya's head.
- Sasuke and his Hebi team were stopped by Kisame.
- By following Itachi's order, Sasuke was allowed to pass to the Uchiha's hideout while Kisame restraining the Hebi.
- A brutal fight between Jiraiya and Pain comes to conclusion.
- All the six members possessed a unique technique draws from the Rinnegan.
- Jiraiya managed to kill one of the Pain and the toad sage brings the corpse for further analysis.
- Jiraiya remembers that all the six Pain are the shinobi he had encountered before.
- Finally, Jiraiya knows who Pain really is.
- Pain launched a brutal attack to crush Jiraiya's throat.
- On his final breath, Jiraiya remembers a book he wrote, Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant. The character in his book were named while he was eating ramen, and it was inspired Minato and Kushina to named their son, Naruto also.
- Jiraiya leaves some message on the back of the toad sage before Pain launch some final attack.
- Jiraiya sinking into the deep ocean and declared dead by Pain.
- At the same time, Konoha Pursuit Team were stopped by Tobi.
- A long waited battle between Sasuke and Itachi is going to start.
- The secret about Mangekyo Sharingan and Uchiha Madara is revealed bt Itachi.
- The fight is start with genjutsu battle until Sasuke managed to break Itachi's Tsukuyomi.
- Their battle changed to ninjutsu battle and Itachi used Amaterasu.
July 24, 2024
(4.25 stars)
This was a good fucking volume.
I have over 20 bookmarks in it.
So much happened…
Finishing off Jiraiya’s fight with Pain,
showing Naruto’s parents, Minato and Kushina.
Hearing how Jiraiya had written a book with the main character being Naruto, and Minato wanting to name is son after the fearless and determined main character.
Jiraiya loves Naruto like a grandson because he loves Minato like he’s his son. It’s easy to tell that Minato feels the same way.
Naruto’s parents are shown to be caring and kind, loving and accepting.
I love Kushina.
Sasuke and Itachi’s fight is FINALLY here.
Everything they’ve been waiting for, along with the fans!
We get to hear about the Mangekyo sharingan…
How it’s achieved, and the Uchiha’s supposed “accursed bloodline”.
We hear the backlashes of using a superior ocular jutsu.
Honestly though, when White Zetsu and Black Setzu came to watch the fight, I thought it was funny.
“They’ve just been standing and staring at each other for so long.”
We heard a little about the early days of Konoha.
And the lithographs, we’ve found out that Sasuke has been able to read them, only because he has sharingan now.
Amaterasu has been unleashed.
I’m SOOOO excited that Madara is finally entering the story!! Omg, so excited. He’s one of my favorite characters in Naruto.
I’m rating it this high because I love Minato and Kushina. They’re my favorite couple in Naruto.
It could’ve been one page of them and I’d still rate it this high.
This was a good fucking volume.
I have over 20 bookmarks in it.
So much happened…
Finishing off Jiraiya’s fight with Pain,
showing Naruto’s parents, Minato and Kushina.
Hearing how Jiraiya had written a book with the main character being Naruto, and Minato wanting to name is son after the fearless and determined main character.
Jiraiya loves Naruto like a grandson because he loves Minato like he’s his son. It’s easy to tell that Minato feels the same way.
Naruto’s parents are shown to be caring and kind, loving and accepting.
I love Kushina.
Sasuke and Itachi’s fight is FINALLY here.
Everything they’ve been waiting for, along with the fans!
We get to hear about the Mangekyo sharingan…
How it’s achieved, and the Uchiha’s supposed “accursed bloodline”.
We hear the backlashes of using a superior ocular jutsu.
Honestly though, when White Zetsu and Black Setzu came to watch the fight, I thought it was funny.
“They’ve just been standing and staring at each other for so long.”
We heard a little about the early days of Konoha.
And the lithographs, we’ve found out that Sasuke has been able to read them, only because he has sharingan now.
Amaterasu has been unleashed.
I’m SOOOO excited that Madara is finally entering the story!! Omg, so excited. He’s one of my favorite characters in Naruto.
I’m rating it this high because I love Minato and Kushina. They’re my favorite couple in Naruto.
It could’ve been one page of them and I’d still rate it this high.
June 17, 2021
"𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡. 𝙊𝙣𝙚'𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙛𝙖𝙣����𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠?"
The tale of Jiraiya the Gallant has come to an untimely end. It was a sad, but glorious demise. On the other hand, Sasuke has the upper hand in his battle with Itachi. What will Sasuke do against Itachi's secret weapon Amaterasu is remains to be seen.
The tale of Jiraiya the Gallant has come to an untimely end. It was a sad, but glorious demise. On the other hand, Sasuke has the upper hand in his battle with Itachi. What will Sasuke do against Itachi's secret weapon Amaterasu is remains to be seen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2020
2.5/5.0
May 2, 2021
Muy triste la muerte de ese personaje, pudimos ver un flashback de Minato y Kushina que me saco lágrimas de los ojos y la pelea de itachi y Sasuke me está pareciendo genial
June 4, 2022
Man, I’ve been spoiled a couple of times, but I think Itachi is good… 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2024
RIP. Also my *favorite* thing about the brothers is that when they fight you can’t tell if it’s real or not (I am being sarcastic)
October 23, 2024
Jiraiya Sensei... 💔
Il duello tra Itachi e Sasuke è qualcosa di epico 🔥
Il duello tra Itachi e Sasuke è qualcosa di epico 🔥
October 28, 2023
RIP Jiraya !! 😞
September 15, 2020
This is a review of the entire series.
Once upon a time, the spirit of an evil Nine Tailed Fox wreaked havoc on Konohagakure; the Village Hidden in the Leaves, killing hundreds of honorable ninja in the skirmish and leaving many children without homes or parents. The Fourth Hokage (leader of the village) unleashes a forbidden jutsu (magic spell/ninja ability) to seal the spirit of the evil fox into the body of a newborn baby named Naruto at the cost of his own life. He did this in the hopes that the boy could one day learn to master the power of the demonic spirit and use it to protect the village and become a great hero of the people.
Unknown to the citizens of the Leaf, the Nine Tailed Fox was being controlled by an even more powerful adversary, a legendary rogue ninja that plans to wage war against the entire world from the shadows. The identity of the mysterious ninja that attacked the Leaf Village using the Nine Tails died with the Fourth Hokage, and he used what remained of his life to gift Naruto with the power of one day being able to stop this evil ninja and a clan of outlawed S-rank criminals called the Akatsuki from committing mass genocide against the many hidden villages and clans of the world.
Because of the evil spirit sealed inside him, Naruto grew up hated by the other children of the village because they believe him and the Nine Tails to be one and the same. They believe he’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, waiting for the perfect moment to kill them all just like the Nine Tails killed their parents and families. Shunned, dehumanized and treated like dirt, Naruto vows to become the greatest hokage the world has ever seen so that he can receive the love and acknowledgement he never got as a child.
On top of the Nine Tails power and the will to never quit, Naruto also possesses the uncanny ability to turn everyone he meets into a potential comrade. He brings out the best in his peers and tries his hardest to make his enemies see the errors of their ways. He disobeys the rules and ignores cultural traditions to try and make changes to the world and break the eternal cycle of war and hatred through his own methods. His determination is infectious to friend and foe alike. He earns himself the respect he deserves by overcoming one impossible obstacle at a time.
Naruto encounters many fascinating and terrifying ninja over the course of his journey to become hokage. Among them are Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto’s best friend and rival who is driven by the vengeful lust to murder his elder brother after he wiped out their own clan in cold blood. Sasuke warms up to Naruto, but his hatred and trauma are dangerous forces that threaten to break his moral code as a ninja and destroy his reputation among his peers.
Kakashi Hatake is a notorious copycat ninja that survived one of the most brutal and devastating wars in history as well as the Nine Tails attack on the Leaf Village. He becomes Naruto and Sasuke’s mentor and teaches them a great number of valuable lessons about surviving in the dangerous world of rogue ninja, bloodthirsty assassins and clans ruled by corruption.
Jiraiya is a perverted yet wise sage who taught the Fourth Hokage everything he knew and he’s regarded as a god among shinobi that’s famous for his heroic actions in the second great ninja war. He takes an interest in Naruto and raises him as a father figure to carry on the legacy of the Fourth Hokage to prepare him for the many dangerous people that want to use his power for their own nefarious purposes.
The Akatsuki is one such group of wicked ninja. Among them are Sasuke’s brother Itachi who murdered his clan and possesses many dangerous techniques involving illusions, psychological torture and elemental manipulation. Sasori who controls poisonous puppets with magical threads, Orochimaru who mastered the forbidden arts of reanimation and quasi-immortality, Deidara who fights from afar using detonating clay and many other deadly foes.
The entire series chronicles Naruto and his fellow ninja comrades growing through countless trials and tragedies. There are hundreds of unique jutsus, clans, and techniques which lead to some very intense, creative and strategic battles between skilled ninja with diverse abilities that don’t always match up evenly. There are clan based abilities such as the Aburame clan’s ability to control insects, the Yamanaka clan’s ability to jump into other people’s minds and control their bodies and the Inuzuka clan’s ability to bond with wolves that learn to mimic their master’s battle skills. Then there’s ocular genetic abilities such as the sharingan which allows the user to create psychological illusions, copy their enemy’s abilities and manipulate elemental energy. The byakugan allows the user to read their enemies vital points and detect their spiritual energy from faraway. The rinnegan grants control over space and gravity and so on.
On top of having countless unique abilities, nearly every character has a tragic backstory that makes them sympathetic and relatable, even the nastiest of the villains have well-explored reasons for following the paths they do and becoming the way they are. One of my favorite aspects of the series is how well it explores the physical, emotional and psychological effects war can have on society and culture as well as the survivors and future generations that are forced to live in them. How it breeds racism and cultural disputes, how it inspires hatred in orphaned children and war veterans robbed of their homes toward foreign nations, as well as how this eventually leads to further death, war, poverty and destruction. Learning to forgive the ones you hate to prevent further conflict and damaging the world for future generations even further is a major theme throughout the story.
Being a massive 700 chapter series, it’s not too surprising that there’s some plot holes and consistency issues. A rule might be stated regarding the requirements and usage of a certain jutsu or ability only for that rule to be repeatedly broken 400 chapters later. Sometimes the characters and rules contradict themselves, sometimes the chronology of certain events and historical facts don’t match up perfectly, the lore and general backstory go through several retcons that change the philosophy and power scaling of the characters and the scope of world-building; the final arc especially drags on and breaks a lot of the logic and rules that the story spent the whole series setting up, etc...
Naruto’s far from perfect, but I remember it very fondly for being one of the first series that introduced me to things like manga and Japanese entertainment in general. It was one of those childhood classics like Dragon Ball, Inuyasha, Yu Yu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin. The series grew up with me and I can’t help but feel grateful to it for introducing me to hundreds of other franchises that I’m still a huge fan of to this day and I continue to find many new ones on the regular. Naruto's journey from a clownish, disrespected outcast into a talented, well-loved and admired hero is a memorable one.
Once upon a time, the spirit of an evil Nine Tailed Fox wreaked havoc on Konohagakure; the Village Hidden in the Leaves, killing hundreds of honorable ninja in the skirmish and leaving many children without homes or parents. The Fourth Hokage (leader of the village) unleashes a forbidden jutsu (magic spell/ninja ability) to seal the spirit of the evil fox into the body of a newborn baby named Naruto at the cost of his own life. He did this in the hopes that the boy could one day learn to master the power of the demonic spirit and use it to protect the village and become a great hero of the people.
Unknown to the citizens of the Leaf, the Nine Tailed Fox was being controlled by an even more powerful adversary, a legendary rogue ninja that plans to wage war against the entire world from the shadows. The identity of the mysterious ninja that attacked the Leaf Village using the Nine Tails died with the Fourth Hokage, and he used what remained of his life to gift Naruto with the power of one day being able to stop this evil ninja and a clan of outlawed S-rank criminals called the Akatsuki from committing mass genocide against the many hidden villages and clans of the world.
Because of the evil spirit sealed inside him, Naruto grew up hated by the other children of the village because they believe him and the Nine Tails to be one and the same. They believe he’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, waiting for the perfect moment to kill them all just like the Nine Tails killed their parents and families. Shunned, dehumanized and treated like dirt, Naruto vows to become the greatest hokage the world has ever seen so that he can receive the love and acknowledgement he never got as a child.
On top of the Nine Tails power and the will to never quit, Naruto also possesses the uncanny ability to turn everyone he meets into a potential comrade. He brings out the best in his peers and tries his hardest to make his enemies see the errors of their ways. He disobeys the rules and ignores cultural traditions to try and make changes to the world and break the eternal cycle of war and hatred through his own methods. His determination is infectious to friend and foe alike. He earns himself the respect he deserves by overcoming one impossible obstacle at a time.
Naruto encounters many fascinating and terrifying ninja over the course of his journey to become hokage. Among them are Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto’s best friend and rival who is driven by the vengeful lust to murder his elder brother after he wiped out their own clan in cold blood. Sasuke warms up to Naruto, but his hatred and trauma are dangerous forces that threaten to break his moral code as a ninja and destroy his reputation among his peers.
Kakashi Hatake is a notorious copycat ninja that survived one of the most brutal and devastating wars in history as well as the Nine Tails attack on the Leaf Village. He becomes Naruto and Sasuke’s mentor and teaches them a great number of valuable lessons about surviving in the dangerous world of rogue ninja, bloodthirsty assassins and clans ruled by corruption.
Jiraiya is a perverted yet wise sage who taught the Fourth Hokage everything he knew and he’s regarded as a god among shinobi that’s famous for his heroic actions in the second great ninja war. He takes an interest in Naruto and raises him as a father figure to carry on the legacy of the Fourth Hokage to prepare him for the many dangerous people that want to use his power for their own nefarious purposes.
The Akatsuki is one such group of wicked ninja. Among them are Sasuke’s brother Itachi who murdered his clan and possesses many dangerous techniques involving illusions, psychological torture and elemental manipulation. Sasori who controls poisonous puppets with magical threads, Orochimaru who mastered the forbidden arts of reanimation and quasi-immortality, Deidara who fights from afar using detonating clay and many other deadly foes.
The entire series chronicles Naruto and his fellow ninja comrades growing through countless trials and tragedies. There are hundreds of unique jutsus, clans, and techniques which lead to some very intense, creative and strategic battles between skilled ninja with diverse abilities that don’t always match up evenly. There are clan based abilities such as the Aburame clan’s ability to control insects, the Yamanaka clan’s ability to jump into other people’s minds and control their bodies and the Inuzuka clan’s ability to bond with wolves that learn to mimic their master’s battle skills. Then there’s ocular genetic abilities such as the sharingan which allows the user to create psychological illusions, copy their enemy’s abilities and manipulate elemental energy. The byakugan allows the user to read their enemies vital points and detect their spiritual energy from faraway. The rinnegan grants control over space and gravity and so on.
On top of having countless unique abilities, nearly every character has a tragic backstory that makes them sympathetic and relatable, even the nastiest of the villains have well-explored reasons for following the paths they do and becoming the way they are. One of my favorite aspects of the series is how well it explores the physical, emotional and psychological effects war can have on society and culture as well as the survivors and future generations that are forced to live in them. How it breeds racism and cultural disputes, how it inspires hatred in orphaned children and war veterans robbed of their homes toward foreign nations, as well as how this eventually leads to further death, war, poverty and destruction. Learning to forgive the ones you hate to prevent further conflict and damaging the world for future generations even further is a major theme throughout the story.
Being a massive 700 chapter series, it’s not too surprising that there’s some plot holes and consistency issues. A rule might be stated regarding the requirements and usage of a certain jutsu or ability only for that rule to be repeatedly broken 400 chapters later. Sometimes the characters and rules contradict themselves, sometimes the chronology of certain events and historical facts don’t match up perfectly, the lore and general backstory go through several retcons that change the philosophy and power scaling of the characters and the scope of world-building; the final arc especially drags on and breaks a lot of the logic and rules that the story spent the whole series setting up, etc...
Naruto’s far from perfect, but I remember it very fondly for being one of the first series that introduced me to things like manga and Japanese entertainment in general. It was one of those childhood classics like Dragon Ball, Inuyasha, Yu Yu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin. The series grew up with me and I can’t help but feel grateful to it for introducing me to hundreds of other franchises that I’m still a huge fan of to this day and I continue to find many new ones on the regular. Naruto's journey from a clownish, disrespected outcast into a talented, well-loved and admired hero is a memorable one.
June 29, 2013
Naruto vol. 42 Summary: Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He's got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the world's greatest ninja!
THE SECRET OF THE MANGEKYO
To truly end the Akatsuki's reign of pain, Naruto's teacher Jiraiya must delve deep into the past to uncover the secret of Pain's origin. At the same time, Sasuke moves toward the final battle of the Uchiha brothers when he closes in on the elusive Itachi!
MY OPINION
As Jiraiya continues to battle against pain, he learns something shocking. Having once believed Pain to be Nagato, he now believes Pain is really Yahiko, as one of Pain's forms looks just like an older version of the boy Jiraiya once mentored. But this would mean that Yahiko stole Nagato's Rinnegan. Why would he do that? And who are these other five forms of Pain that also seem to possess the Rinnegan? They're all ninja Jiraiya has faced before in battle, but why are they now part of Pain? Just as it seems Jiraiya has figured out who Pan really is, he's cut down. He manages to send a code via one of his toads before drifting into his death. Meanwhile, Naruto's group have come across Tobi of the Akatsuki and are facing him in battle. Sasuke and Itachi have finally come face to face once again, and as even more secrets about the Mangekyo Sharingan are revealed it appears Sasuke may finally have the upper hand over his older brother.
Quote: "Madara is alive... whether you want to believe me or not is your choice."
THE SECRET OF THE MANGEKYO
To truly end the Akatsuki's reign of pain, Naruto's teacher Jiraiya must delve deep into the past to uncover the secret of Pain's origin. At the same time, Sasuke moves toward the final battle of the Uchiha brothers when he closes in on the elusive Itachi!
MY OPINION
As Jiraiya continues to battle against pain, he learns something shocking. Having once believed Pain to be Nagato, he now believes Pain is really Yahiko, as one of Pain's forms looks just like an older version of the boy Jiraiya once mentored. But this would mean that Yahiko stole Nagato's Rinnegan. Why would he do that? And who are these other five forms of Pain that also seem to possess the Rinnegan? They're all ninja Jiraiya has faced before in battle, but why are they now part of Pain? Just as it seems Jiraiya has figured out who Pan really is, he's cut down. He manages to send a code via one of his toads before drifting into his death. Meanwhile, Naruto's group have come across Tobi of the Akatsuki and are facing him in battle. Sasuke and Itachi have finally come face to face once again, and as even more secrets about the Mangekyo Sharingan are revealed it appears Sasuke may finally have the upper hand over his older brother.
Quote: "Madara is alive... whether you want to believe me or not is your choice."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2015
"¿Me muero? ¿He fallado a todo el mundo? La auténtica vida de un shinobi no es como vive, sino como muere. Lo que importa no es lo que hacen en vida, sino antes de morir, lo que prueba su valía. Pensándolo bien, mi historia está llena de fallos. Quería morir como ellos. Había concluido cómo debía acabar mi vida hace tiempo. ¡Viví creyendo que mis inconvenientes sólo eran distracciones divertidas! ¡Que mis fallos ayudarían a forjar mi carácter! Y a cambio, ¡tras todas esas pérdidas y errores, se me concedería una gran aventura al final y moriría como un verdadero shinobi! Estaba muy emocionado por ello... Pero esto... Esto no es lo que quería que acabase siendo. El gran sabio dijo que criaría a un revolucionario, alguien que traería la destrucción o la paz... el camino que escogiese dependería de una única decisión que yo debía tomar. Y cuando llegó el momento, decidí derrotar a Pain de Akatsuki y salvar al mundo de la ruina... Una más de mi larga lista de fallos."
"Así... este es un final mejor... La rana del fondo del pozo llega al océano... Sí, honorable, jodidamente honorable... Creo que es hora de abandonar mi pluma. Necesito un título para mi próximo libro... Veamos... Ya lo tengo... "El cuento de Uzumaki Naruto" ... Perfecto".
Adiós, a mi personaje favorito.
"Así... este es un final mejor... La rana del fondo del pozo llega al océano... Sí, honorable, jodidamente honorable... Creo que es hora de abandonar mi pluma. Necesito un título para mi próximo libro... Veamos... Ya lo tengo... "El cuento de Uzumaki Naruto" ... Perfecto".
Adiós, a mi personaje favorito.
February 12, 2019
Impressions for volumes 41 and 42
These two volumes are all about Jiraiya’s past and his battle with his former student, Pein. It was intriguing at first to see him being part of a mystical prophecy that would bring about a savior that would save or destroy the world, but ultimately it only ruined the initial appeal of the manga even further by beginning to turn Naruto from an underdog to a savior that was prophesized to appear all along.
The battle with Pein was fairly interesting in terms of abilities, although it’s mostly mysterybait as we still don’t get how the Akatsuki leader uses his ninja arts. The ending to the fight is one of the most tragic moments in the story, as yet another iconic character dies.
These two volumes are all about Jiraiya’s past and his battle with his former student, Pein. It was intriguing at first to see him being part of a mystical prophecy that would bring about a savior that would save or destroy the world, but ultimately it only ruined the initial appeal of the manga even further by beginning to turn Naruto from an underdog to a savior that was prophesized to appear all along.
The battle with Pein was fairly interesting in terms of abilities, although it’s mostly mysterybait as we still don’t get how the Akatsuki leader uses his ninja arts. The ending to the fight is one of the most tragic moments in the story, as yet another iconic character dies.
February 28, 2016
I'm getting back into this after a year, or so, and I don't understand what all the Japanese words mean. It seems like I have to do some research.
December 8, 2016
Love it!! <3
September 24, 2019
starwars flashbacks!!!!!😂😂iiii knewww it! can we plz have more about the mom can we can we?
June 29, 2013
Crying on this one too- *Ughhh* Jiraya....Minato...Kushina.... *sobs again*
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