Naruto Volume 44 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.  The incorrigible Naruto became a young ninja-in-training, but after two years of training, he is now fully a ninja – one of the illustrious Konoha shinobi.  His quest to become the world’s greatest ninja and “Hokage” (village champion) of his home, Konohagakure, continues.

Naruto, Vol. 44 (entitled Senjutsu Heir) begins with the aftermath of Uchiha Sasuke’s battle against his brother, Uchiha Itachi, whom Sasuke considered a traitor for killing their people.  However, Sasuke learns from Uchiha Madara that there is more to that story of his village’s destruction.

Later, Sasuke gives his ninja cell, The Hebi, a new mission and renames it, Taka.  Taka joins forces with the Tailed Beast-hunting, Akatsuki.  The next move of this new union is to procure the remaining two (of nine) Tailed-Beasts that the Akatsuki haven’t captured.  Taka goes after Killer Bee, the ninja who has the Eight-Tailed beast within him, while the Akatsuki plot to capture Naruto, who holds the Nine-Tailed beast within his body.

Speaking of Naruto – he follows the toads back to Mount Myoboku to learn Sage Jutsu…

[This volume also includes a set of four exclusive stickers.]

THE LOWDOWN:  As the storyline moves towards its next big event – the invasion of Konoha, Vol. 44 is quite, but nonetheless filled with intrigue, drama, magic, and some levity, because young Naruto is always good for a laugh.  For all the action violence and awesome power series creator Masashi Kishimoto puts around his star character, he also allows the character to retain his rambunctious, mischievous spirit.  That is what endears readers to Naruto; this two-dimensional boy is more fully human than most comic book characters.

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