BOOK REVIEW: NARUTO VOL: 38 BY MASASHI KISHIMOTO

Naruto Vol: 38
Author: Mashashi Kishimoto
Publisher: Viz Media
Pages: 192
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

As usual, Masashi Kishimoto gives us an interior uncoloured version of the cover, urging us to have a go at colouring it in ourselves. This time it's a split image of Sasuke and Naruto with Konoha as the background.



As the story unfolds, Shikamaru and the rest of the team face the Akatsuki in the form of Kakuzu while Kakashi-sensei takes a breather. Naruto offers to take down Kakuzu with his new Rasen-shuriken move, but it has more deadly consequences both for him and his enemy. Kakashi shows a more sinister side to his personality when he finishes off Kakuzu, (reminded me of what Kisuke Urahara did to Aizen in Bleach) happy that Naruto has progressed so much since the training. Back in Konoha, it's a different story as the medical team run an autopsy on Kakuzu only to find that if Naruto uses Rasen-shuriken again, he will not only kill his enemy, but he could lose his ability to use chakra altogether.

Having to try out another style of combat is daunting enough, though Sasuke, under the care of Orochimaru is planning to leave him and go on his quest to find his brother, Itachi. Orochimaru thinks he is nearly ready for him to take his body, and we also see Kishimoto-san's rendition of Where's Wally, which turns out to be Where's Sasuke in a detailed scene that gets you thinking.

For most of us, when we saw Sasuke leave Konoha and be Orochimaru's understudy, we thought he would be taken in by Orochimaru's charms and evil, but it hasn't turned out that way, even if the above pic shows differently. All this time, Sasuke has duped him into thinking he will stay with him forever, being a part of the Sound Ninja he founded. What I thought was more fun was the fight scenes between an annoyed Orochimaru and SUPER cool Sasuke.

For fans, this is what they have waited for in years, hoping Sasuke wasn't under his spell, not denying fans a chance to see Sasuke and Naruto be friends again. What I liked most about this series of images was the aerial acrobatics Sasuke manages while he is confronted by Orochimaru's snakes, even changing into second state.

Sasuke's second state includes his hair turning white and growing huge wings that contain other arm attachments as part of what happens to him when his curse mark is activated.

As Naruto has sustained quite heavy damage, he is in repair mode for the rest of the novel which should raise more laughs than normal as Naruto is unable to feed himself and needs help. He thinks there is a possibility that Sakura could feed him, but his dream is thwarted by the ever efficient Sai and the caring friendliness of his sensei, Kakashi.

Shikamaru tells the pregnant Kurenai that he is prepared to help bring up her baby in the absence of her husband, his sensei Asuma and a short game of shogi with his father has him become aware of his responsibilities and his intention to become strong enough to be able to protect the children of Konoha who are the future of the village.

Fan service in this volume is comical enough with Konohamaru intent on showing how well he has done with his shadow dopplegangers. The first one is best not done in front of Sakura as she gets her rage on when he does his Art of Onna-Noko Tachi (two girls naked and hugging) but she does approve of his alternative, Art of Otoko-Noko Tachi (a silhouette of Sasuke on top of Sai).

I must admit I had waited a long time for this volume to come out and enjoyed it as much as I did the anime that came out after it. Naruto Volume 38 also comes with two bookmarks, one to keep and one to give to a friend.