Recently Read: Naruto, Vol. 29, by Masashi Kishimoto

 

Creator Masashi Kishimoto rachets up the suspense in Vol. 29. Granny Chiyo (certainly one of the coolest Grandmas in fiction) joins Kakashi's team to rescue Gaara from the evil Akatsuki - not least because her grandson Sasori is one of them. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki are extracting the Biju (tailed beast) from Gaara's body in a bizarre, Lovecraftian ritual. Both Kakashi's team and Might Guy's team are fiercely tested on their way to the Akatsuki by doppelganger-like body doubles utilized to detain the teams (as well as lesson their chakra). It all ends on a terrific cliffhanger. It's also great to see some longstanding characters again, such as Neji and Pakkun, the talking, super-tracking Ninja Hound.

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Recently Read: Naruto Volume 26

 

This is another excellent volume in the action-packed series. The epic fight between Naruto and Sasuke reaches a conclusion with both exhibiting powers never before displayed. With Naruto vowing his friendship and determination to bring Sasuke back to Konoha, he accesses powerful red chakra provided by his fox spirit, while Sasuke can only retaliate with forces which can threaten his own life. Kakashi, meanwhile, learns of Naruto's pursuit and tracks him down with the help of Pakkun. The volume ends with the various ninja healing in a hospital, with Shikamaru determined to make good on a mission he considers a failure.  

The flashbacks are poignantly written, the artwork magnificently detailed and imaginative, the pacing and editing constructed for maximum suspense. I recommend this series. 

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Recently Read: Naruto, Vol. 14: Hokage vs. Hokage!!

The long plotted attack on "The Village Hidden in the Leaves" continues as Orochimaru revives the dead in order to combat the Third Hokage, and Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru and Kakashi's talking dog, Pakkun, are sent to stop Sasuke, on the trail of the evil and ill Gaara. Orochimaru's Frankenstein-like experiments in raising the dead are told in flashback and beetle king Shino takes on Kankuro, allowing Sasuke to catch up with the rest of his group. It's a flurry of activity after the Chunin exams were interrupted by the coup, and author/artist Masashi Kishimoto is a master of plotting, timing, suspense, characterization and world building. As a plus, the chapters are headed by Kishimoto's musings on his first attempts to seriously create manga. This is a worthy addition to an amazingly complex story. 

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