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Naruto volume 65 (manga review)

Naruto 65Title: Naruto volume 65

Creator: Masashi Kishimoto

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date: Nov. 5th, 2013

Format: Manga / Paperback / 192 pages

Genre: Shonen, Action, Adventure, Supernatural

Age Rating: T for Teen

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

The ninja war approaches its climax as Obito and Madara manage to awaken the powerful beast known as Ten Tails. Standing in their way are Naruto and the Allied Shinobi Forces. However, the entire war may be turned upside down when Sasuke succeeds in doing what many thought was impossible!

With Sasuke and Orochimaru returning to Konoha to revive all of the Hokages this take a turn for the strange. Orochimaru is able to bring them back and also give them enough freewill to be able to answer Sasuke’s questions. As the enlightenment follows what comes next is the real question. Will Sasuke decide that Konoha still needs to be destroyed or will he take the power of the Hokage and use it to help defeat Madara and Obito and end the great war?

Commentary:

I know that most Naruto fans dislike Sasuke and over the years he did become even more of a punk than he should have, but now that he is back it looks like maybe his brother, Itachi did have an impact on him after all. This reunion with the Hokages does something that I never thought I would enjoy in this extra long series. That something is the journey back in time and the almost inevitable flashbacks that always seem to drag on and on. In volume 65 history actually makes a difference in the story. No only does it help enlighten us in the motives of Madara but it also gives us insight into what makes the Uchia Clan so different and also the motivation that lead to their destruction. Honestly, I found it rather nice to read about this history. Most of the time the flashbacks and history lessons don’t have much meaning and just muddy to waters and extend the series in a way that is not always desirable.

Masashi Kishimoto does us a big favor her and in the end I think everyone will be happy with what happens. I’m not real sure why it took so long to get to this point other than the fact that the longer the series the more money they will make. I think the movement in this volume just might make all the difference and allow the series to actually bring a few issues to a close. At least that is what I hope to see.

Overall Grade: B+

Just the fact that I didn’t find this volume tedious is a huge plus, but there is also the fact that part of the plot finally turns a corner and allow some light to be shed in a possible closure of a long running plot device. I was also impressed with the speed in which the answers came to Sasuke, I expected it to take several volumes to get to this point and have to live through some rather pointless flashback and history lessons. Naruto 65 should be a huge hit with all of the Naruto fans and maybe just maybe Sasuke can find a little appreciation for the person who he is becoming.

Naruto volume 64 (manga review)

Naruto 64Title: Naruto volume 64

Creator: Masashi Kishimoto

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date: Jan. 7th, 2014

Format: Manga / Paperback / 192 pages

Genre: Shonen, Action, Adventure, Supernatural

Age Rating: T for Teen

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

With Tobi’s identity finally revealed, Naruto will have to summon the strength from within to stand up to him. But as the Gedo statue is used to awaken the Ten-Tailed Beast, it’ll take the entire Allied Shinobi Forces working together to win this war! Naruto and Kakashi continue to battle against Obito and are discovering that his will is very strong. Naruto exhibits some of  Obito’s youthful idealism and he uses it against Naruto to try and break his will. Naruto almost sub comes to this strategy, but with the help of his friends and fellow ninja he just might be able to regain his focus.

The real question now is if Naruto and Bee can manage to take on the Ten Tails and defeat it before all is lost. They have a good idea of how to and the only question is if they can pull it off. Will the natural optimism that drives Naruto manage to give them the edge they need or is it possible that Obito and Madara have the power to destroy everything they love?

Commentary: 

As we near what appears to be the end of this battle some things are coming to the forefront that are helping maintain the narrative that this series has help too for a very long time. I still have to hand it to Kishimoto for creating such an optimistic series. There is plenty of loss and more than enough reasons for a young man to give up but at the core of this story there is the undying optimism that Naruto exudes that makes this sappy tale worth reading. I have always loved the way Naruto keeps fighting even when it looks like all is lost and in the end he proves that you never give up on the people you care for. This volume goes straight to the core of this sentiment and pushes his beliefs to the edge. I guess that is the best example of why this series is so popular and also why it is a great read for people of any age.

There really isn’t anything new about the way this volume is put together that sets it apart from any other volume and at the same time it doesn’t move the story much closer to it’s finally, but it does manage to reaffirm what Naruto is all about.

Overall Grade: B+

With everything that happens in this volume I think it managed to hold itself together rather well. I could see it becoming a little confusing but it pulled the reins back in and stayed on course. Naruto is a series that people either love or hate and over such a long time it has managed to become somewhat redundant, but Naruto volume 64 reminded of what it was that attracted me and many others to the series initially. I know I am ready to see the conclusion of this battle and eventually the series, but for now I am very content with the idea that Naruto really is a hero for all the right reasons even when it would be easy to be blinded by hatred and the blind delusions others maintain.

I have a feeling that Naruto volume 64 will be a big hit amongst the hard core fans and just might have a positive effect on the ones that are beginning to fade away.