Book Cover

I need to have faith in myself. Have faith that I am the man they all believe in.

# Review

It would be an understatement to say that Naruto had a massive impact on my childhood; I grew up watching Naruto anime on YTV, reading the mangas from the library, and talking with friends about the story and the characters. At the core, Naruto is about the young eponymous ninja who is seeking recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming Hokage, the leader of his village. The story follows many plots involving both his friends as well as his enemies. The plots cover many themes, such as friendship, courage, and perseverance. Growing up, I remember being inspired by the characters' bravery in the face of adversity and how dedicated the characters are in chasing their dreams and aspirations.

While I don't have time to watch the 700+ episodes of the anime, I did read all 72 volumes (700 chapters) of the manga. The world building is incredible and the character development is second to none. I especially like the aesthetic of the characters, which are not overly cartoonish, but also not overly realistic. The action sequences and the mechanisms of the world are also both well thought out and there aren't many major plot holes, which is rare for a series which spanned over a decade.

Much like Harry Potter, the reader of Naruto is meant to grow up and mature with the characters as the story progresses. At the beginning, the stories are straightforward with simple themes and clear good vs evil narratives. As the story progresses, the themes are much more complex and the story much more nuanced. The characters also face many of the same problems as typicaly people of their age in the real world, such as loneliness, fights with friends, and the pain of loss; the characters, through their own willpower and the support of friends, always overcome their obstacles and end up doing the right thing. This manga series is almost like a Chicken Soup for the Soul for children and young adults growing up.

# Conclusion

One of the first manga I got really into; I'm glad I had the chance to complete it.

# Overall rating: 8.7

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