Masashi Kishimoto

Naruto, a ninja-in-training, faces his greatest challenge when he is pitted against Neji in the third phase of the Chunin Selection Exams, a young man considered to be the most talened ninja in the village of Konohagakure.

In the village of Konohagakure, school is literally a battlefield where classmates are ninjas in training competing to become the greatest ninja in the land.

"In another world, Ninja are the ultimate power--and in the village of Konohagakure live the stealthiest Ninja in the world. But twelve years ago Konohagakure was attacked by a fearsome threat--a nine-tailed fox demon which claimed the life of the Hokage, the village champion. Today, peace has returned, and a troublemaking orphan named Uzumaki Naruto is struggling to graduate from the Ninja Academy. His goal: to become the next Hokage. But unknown...

In the village of Konohagakure, school is literally a battlefield where classmates are ninjas in training competing to become the greatest ninja in the land.

Through Naruto's pluck and a healthy dose of luck, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura passed the written portion of their Journeyman Ninja Selection Exams ... but that was only the beginning. They're now in the thick of the exam's second portion, help in the aptly named Forest of Death, and instructor Mitarashi Anko has promised to cut the number of advancing teams by half! Each team is turned against the others, using stealth and cunning to purloin the scrolls...

What does Sasuke's older brother want with Naruto? As Jiraiya trains Naruto to push beyond his limits, secrets of the past are revealed, and a mysterious shinobi who could change everything begins to take center stage.

As a bloody Sasuke looks on with Mangekyou, Gaara tells Sasuke his eyes are still the same. Karin quickly takes her chance to locate Danzou, which in turn is felt by Root member Fuu. Raikage demands Shii hurry and Darui moves to assist the Sand siblings. All four unleash attacks forcing Sasuke to utilize both eyes. As the dust of the resulting explosion clears, the dark spectral form of Susanoo protects Sasuke. The Uchiha states that his absolute...

Sasuke and Naruto find that their powers are ever-increasing. Sasuke can now use the Mangekyo Sharingan in multiple ways, and Naruto may have become more even more powerful than his fallen sensei, Jiraiya! But is anyone powerful enough to stop the ultimate attack as the Pains of the Akatsuki launch their deadly strike against Naruto's home village?!

Shikamaru's team is out for revenge against their mentor's murderers. Tsunade tries to stop them, but Kakashi wants to help! As the divide among the ninja grows, the mysterious Akatsuki organization continues their brutal attack on the tailed spirits, the Biju, and the young ninja who host them, including Naruto! He's older and stronger, but has Naruto trained enough?