Another entertaining and action-packed volume of the “Naruto” manga series, as well as an emotional storyline which also features the return of Sasuke Uchiya who starts his attack on the village elders, including the Raikage. Also, Naruto learns about his destiny alongside Sasuke. Another highly recommended manga volume of “Naruto”!
© 1999 by Masashi Kishimoto. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Naruto Volume 49
STORY AND ART BY: Masashi Kishimoto (岸本 æ–‰å²)
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shonen Jump Manga
RATED: T for Older Teen
RELEASE DATE: October 5, 2010
As the five leaders of the strongest villages in the ninja world meet to discuss the fate of their universe – and how to deal with the ever-looming threat of the rogue organization, the Akatsuki – plans are made that will affect Naruto deeply. The new Hokage, leader of Naruto’s village, is not afraid to make the final end move against Naruto’s old pal, Sasuke!
The popular manga series “Naruto” has been going strong since its debut in Shueisha back in 1999 via “Weekly Shonen Jump” magazine.
The manga by Masashi Kishimoto is about a young ninja named Naruto Uzamaki, a ninja of the Konoha leaf village who grew up facing prejudiced within his fellow ninjas because the evil nine-tailed fox was sealed inside him. But throughout the series, we have seen how Naruto is a kind-hearted boy who has worked hard in protecting his friends and staying true to his word with the goal of someday becoming the next Hokage of the village.
In the beginning, Naruto was part of Team Kakashi, alongside Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno and as a team, have grown up together taking on missions and also, joining with other teams of Team Konoha as well as other villages in taking on other major missions as well.
But now years have passed since those earlier years of Team Kakashi and Naruto and his friends are much older and his teammate Sasuke has left the village to pursue his brother Itachi for revenge of killing everyone of the Uchiha clan but worst of all, Sasuke is in search of the traitor of the Konoha village, the evil Orochimaru, in order to obtain more power.
During Naruto’s last confrontation with Sasuke, it appears that a black evil curse has consumed him. But as a promise to his teammate Sakura, Naruto will do what it takes to bring Sasuke back despite whether or not Sasuke has become evil.
Now, Sasuke along with his new team featuring team captain Yamato, Sakura and a ninja named Sai (an emotionless young ninja who was hired by the Black Ops leader Danzo to spy on Naruto) are now on a mission to investigate the Akatsuki criminal organization led by its founder Madara Uchiha who have been doing all they can to capture all tailed-beasts including Naruto’s nine-tailed demon fox.
In Japan, a total of 52 volumes have been printed (as of August 2010) and in the US, the 49th volume has been released.
The story takes place after Pain has tried to destroy the Konoha village and Hokage Lady Tsunade uses up all her energy to summon Katsuyu to protect the village but in exchange for the powerful summon, she has now gone into a coma and Danzo of the Black Ops (a rival that Tsunade has never trusted) has now been appointed as sixth hokage in Tsunade’s place.
Raikage has summoned all Ninja leaders to come to Gokage summit.
Here is a brief summary of each chapter of “Naruto Volume 49”:
- Number 454 – Enter the Gokage…!! – Leaders of various villages make their way to Gokage, meanwhile ninjas punish Naruto for not giving the information on Sasuke.
- Number 455 – Links…!! – Naruto wants to meet with the Raikage.
- Number 456 – Naruto Heads Out…!! – With the Gokage summit heavily guarded, will Naruto, Kakashi and Yamato make it through?
- Number 457 – The Gokage Summit Commences…!! – Naruto tries to plead with a ninja leader to not pursue vengeance against Sasuke.
- Number 458 – The Great Gokage Debate…!! – The Gokage Summit begins and various leaders debate on who should be the next Gokage. Meanwhile, Sai confronts Sakura.
- Number 459 – Sakura’s Resolve…!! – The ninjas of the Konoha village and friends of Sasuke know that with him joining up with the Akatsuki, they have no decision but to take him down.
- Number 460 – Trapping Sasuke…!! – Madara Uchiha makes his presence known to Naruto, Kakashi and Yamato.
- Number 461 – Kumogakure vs. Taka!! – Sasuke and the Akatsuki barge into the Gokage summit and start attacking the village elders.
- Number 462 – Sasuke’s Shinobi Way…!! – Madara explains to Naruto, Sasuke’s ninja way and how Naruto and Sasuke were destined to be rivals.
- Number 463 – Sasuke vs. Raikage!! – Sasuke vs. Raikage in a battle.
The latest volume of “Naruto” is a pretty action-packed volume in which we finally get to see Sasuke making his move and also displaying his new power of utilizing not just fire but also lightning. We also get to see Sai confronting Sakura about Naruto’s true feelings about her and how this promise he made to her to find Sasuke has started to take its toll on him.
Also, in this latest volume of “Naruto”, Madara Uchiha explains the destiny of Naruto and Sasuke and why the two will always be at odds with each other.
So, we get a pretty solid series featuring a lot of action, return of Sasuke but also some new developments on Sasuke’s ninja way and also showcasing other powerful ninja warriors from other villages as they try to take on Sasuke and those working with him.
It’s a pretty thrilling volume by far and it will be interesting to see how things develop between Naruto and Sakura from here on in.
Also, it will be interesting to see how often the “Naruto” volumes will be coming out because the US releases are getting caught up to the manga releases in Japan and are only three graphic novels behind. So, more than likely we are going to see these manga releases spaced apart about five months as volume 50 is slated for February 2011.
Overall, “Naruto” is an awesome manga series and for those who have appreciated the anime series first, will definitely enjoy the manga series as well. A thrilling, action-packed as well as a more emotional volume of “Naruto” the manga series.
Definitely recommended!