Another action-packed volume of “Naruto” as Guy takes on Kisame, Konan vs. Tobi, Tsuchikage vs. Kabuto and the race to protect Naruto and Killer B from the Akatsuki continues!
© 1999 by Masashi Kishimoto. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Naruto Volume 54
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: January 3, 2012
Naruto and his team engage in an intense battle with the Akatsuki organization as both sides seek the power to determine the future of their land. Internecine fighting weakens the Akatsuki, but will their dark forces sideline Naruto?
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.
As for the story thus far, Sasuke has aligned with the Akatsuki who wants to destroy the Leaf Village – Konoha. Madara has declared war and thus an Allied Shinobi Force is formed. The elder leaders of all villages, allies to the Leaf Village have realized that the Akatsuki are after Naruto (Nine Tail) and Killer B (Eight Tail Beast). They have since accomplished extracting the beasts (Jinchuriki) from others.  Meanwhile, Naruto’s mother has reappeared to explain the secrets of his birth and learns about heir hopes and renews his vow to be come Hokage!
In volume 53, all was revealed about what transpired during the day of Naruto’s birth and who was responsible for attacking the Leaf Village with the nine tails. And given the final moments to meet and speak with his mother one last time and eventually gaining the power to seal the Nine Tail jinchuriki.
And now the story continues…
For Volume 54, in order to hide the fact from Naruto that he is a prime target of the Akatsuki, Yamato, Guy and a few other Leaf Ninja, including Killer B have convinced Naruto that he is on an S-Ranked Environmental Mission at an island.
But hiding among them is the Akatsuki Kisame (who was thought to be dead) and has been spying on them all this time and now is trying to leak the intel back to the Akatsuki. But in order to stop them, only one man will be to take him on…Guy.
Meanwhile, in a battle for peace, Konan of the Amegakure takes on Tobi (Madara Uchiha) in the battle to the death. Who will become victorious?
Also, Kabuto unveils his secret army to use in the war.
Here is a brief summary of each chapter of “Naruto Volume 54”:
- Number 505 – Nine Tail’s Chakra, Opened!!! – Naruto learns how to control the chakra of Nine Tails.
- Number 506 – Guy vs. Kisame – Kisame tries to escape with the intel and Guy tries to stop him.
- Number 507 – A False Existence…!! – The history of Kisame and how he met Itachi.
- Number 508 – Shinobi Death Style – Kisame escapes!
- Number 509 – Peace Viaduct – Konan vs. Tobi
- Number 510 – Forbidden Jutsu Shock!! – Konan vs. Tobi continues…who survives?
- Number 511 – We Shall Return – A flashback when Konan, Nagato and Yahiko were taken in by Jiraiya and learned from him.
- Number 512 – The Truth About Zetsu!! – The elders learn about the leaked intel and know they must send help to where Naruto is located.
- Number 513 – Kabuto vs. Tsuchikage!! – A battle between Tsuchikage vs. Kabuto.
- Number 514 – Kabuto’s Plan!!! – Kabuto’s plan unveiled.
With the emotional volume 53, that revealed what happened on the day of Naruto’s birth and how he was sealed with the nine-tail jinchuriki, the setting of the danger of impending war continues.
With volume 54, we have another action-packed volume as Guy takes on Kisame, who had been thought to be dead. But to realize, he had transformed and affixed himself onto Killer B’s sword and spying on the group all this time. Now its a race against the clock as they try to stop him from leaking the intel to the Akatsuki.
Meanwhile, fighting for a peaceful future, Konan takes on Tobi (Uchiha Madara) but can Konan survive against Madara? And the plant of Kabuto is unveiled when you learn about the secret army he had developed.
Needless to say, the actions of this “Naruto” manga volume has major ramifications that will affect the course of the “Naruto” manga series.
While the last volume was primarily focused on the history of Naruto’s parents and revealing that his father was the fourth hokage and that his mother was the previous shinobi that had the nine-tails within her, we now know that the ninjas look at Naruto, even from his birth, as possibly the person who will save the world from evil and right now, through this volume that Tobi and Kabuto working together is a significant evil, especially with the unveiling of this second army.
I can’t wait to see how this overall storyline develops.
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. And once again, another thrilling, action-packed volume of “Naruto” the manga series. Highly recommended!