Title:

Naruto (English)

Naruto (Japanese)

Creator:

Author and Artist: Masashi Kishimoto

Publishers:

Shonen Jump / VIZ Media (US)

Shonen Jump / Shueisha] (Japan)

Volumes:

39 volumes (continuing)

Manga Genres:

Shonen (Boys') Manga

Action / Adventure

Drama

Martial Arts Action

Content Rating:

Teens - Age 13+ for martial arts violence



About the Manga:

Naruto debuted in 1999 in the pages of Shonen Jump, the most popular shonen manga magazine in Japan. Naruto quickly became a reader favorite, and today the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki and the ninjas of Konoha village are enjoyed by readers worldwide. Naruto has been translated into several languages, including Chinese, Korean, English, German and French.

In North America, Naruto is serialized in the English-language edition of magazine and is also a top-rated animated series on the Cartoon Network.

About the Author / Artist:

Masashi Kishimoto, creator of Naruto is a former apprentice of Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragonball Z). Like Dragonball, Naruto is filled with memorable characters and pulse-pounding fight scenes within a detailed Japanese-inspired, yet fictional world. Kishimoto-sensei was the recipient of the prestigious Hop Step Award for new talent awarded monthly by Shueisha, a major Japanese manga publishing company.

Story Summary:



Naruto follows the adventures of a teen ninja-in-training, Naruto Uzumaki. Orphaned at birth, Naruto is a practical joker who’ll do anything for attention. His grades at the Ninja Academy suck, and he’s shunned by most of the adults in the village.

Naruto’s secret? His body is the living prison for the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon that almost destroyed the Village Hidden in the Leaves 15 years ago.

The 39-volume (and counting) series is an epic journey, as the teen Naruto grows from a bratty misfit to a powerful ninja with the potential to become the next Hokage, or the leader of Konoha village.

Main Characters:

Naruto teams up with two other genin, or junior ninja: The talented but tormented Sasuke and the spunky and intelligent Sakura. The three-man team is mentored by Kakashi, a laid-back jonin or senior ninja with a taste for tacky 'adult' fiction and an arsenal of unbeatable fighting techniques.

As the story develops, numerous other ninjas are introduced from Konoha and rival villages, each with their own battle techniques, personalities, loyalties and rivalries. The young ninjas also test their skills against fearsome opponents, including ruthless assassin for hire, Zabusa Momochi and the evil snake ninja Orochimaru.

Main Characters

Naruto Uzumaki

Orphaned at birth, Naruto Uzumaki is a teen ninja in training who can’t seem to do anything right in the eyes the ninjas of his village. Unbeknownst to Naruto, the main reason why he’s treated this way is a secret locked inside his body since his birth: He is the living prison for the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon that nearly destroyed the village 15 years ago.

Sasuke Uchiha

Moody Sasuke is almost the opposite of Naruto. While Naruto was the class dunce, Sasuke always got top marks for his skills in the ninja arts. However, Sasuke bears the burden of a tragic past: His entire clan was murdered by his older brother Itachi.

Sakura Haruno

Sakura may not have Sasuke’s innate talent or Naruto’s raw strength, but her intelligence, spunk and discipline allows her to surpass the boys when their hot-headed, attack-first/ask-questions-later approach fails.