Naruto Volume 37 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

When Uzumaki Naruto was a baby, a nine-tailed fox spirit was imprisoned within his infant body.  Naruto grew up to be an incorrigible, young ninja-in-training, but after two years of training, he is now fully a ninja.  His quest to become the world’s greatest ninja and “Hokage” (village champion) of his home, Konohagakure, continues.

In Naruto, Vol. 37 (entitled Shikamaru’s Battle), the remnants of Cell Number 10 (Shikamaru, Ino, Choji) demand the right to avenge their mentor, Lord Asuma Sarutobi, who was killed in a battle with the Akatsuki, Kakuzu and his partner, Hidan.  Tsunade relents after Naruto’s mentor, Hatake Kakashi, agrees to join Cell #10.  Meanwhile, the Akatsuki continue their attacks on the tailed spirits (the Biju), so is Naruto, who has a tailed spirit within him, ready for them now that he is older and stronger?

THE LOWDOWN:  There was a point in this 37th volume of Naruto when I was starting to believe that this particular tankoubon (collection) wouldn’t live up to the rest.  Then, a great battle begins, and all doubt dissipates.  Like J.K. Rowling did with Harry Potter, Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto fills this series with great characters and deliciously evil villains.  That’s best exemplified in this volume in Shikamaru’s heroic quest to stop his mentor’s killers, which pits him against some awesome villains.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of shonen manga must have this, the ultimate shonen title, Naruto.

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