Masashi Kishimoto uote 9

One day, after | bought a book for

background research, | noticed it
had a special feature on the artist
Claude Monet. | actually have very
little interest in paintings and
painters, but ever since my student
days, | loved the grand old man
Monet—I! went to exhibits of his
work and owned several books of
his paintings. | envy Monet
because, although in his later years he was virtually blind,
he Kept on painting right up until his death, and was able
always to paint whatever he wanted. | would love to Keep
drawing whatever | want for the rest of my own life, too.

—Masashi Kishitmoto, 2007

Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural

Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college,
he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his
manga Karakuri (Mechanism). Kishimoto decided to base his
next story on traditional Japanese culture. His first version of
Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits;
his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in
1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.
 NARUTO VOL. 9
SHONEN JUMP Manga Edition

This manga contains material that was originally published in

English in SHONEN JUMP #36-38. Artwork in the magazine
may have been slightly altered from that presented here.

STORY AND ART BY MASASHI KISHIMOTO

English Adaptation/Jo Duffy

Translation/Mari Morimoto
Touch-up Art & Lettering/Heidi Szykowny
Additional Touch-up/Josh Simpson
Design/Sean Lee
Series Editor/Joel Enos
Editor/Frances E. Wall

NARUTO © 1999 by Masashi Kishimoto. All rights reserved. First

published in Japan in 1999 by SHUEISHA Inc., Tokyo. English
translation rights arranged by SHUEISHA Inc. t, ;
a |
| Zz
The rights of the author(s) of the work(s) in this publication to be i
so identified have been asserted in accordance with the | Ij
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. A CIP catalogue record / |
=o
for this book is available from the British Library. Se
SSE

The stories, characters and incidents mentioned in this publication

\
are entirely fictional.

No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any >

form or by any means without written permission from the
copyright holders.

Printed in the U.S.A.

Published by VIZ Media, LLC

P.O. Box 77010
San Francisco, CA 94107

109
First printing, March 2006
Ninth printing, December 201 |

PARENTAL ADVISORY THE WORLD'S

NARUTO is rated T for Teen and is
recommended for ages 13 and up. This
volume contains realistic & fantasy violence.
ratings.viz.com www.shonenjump.com

Lary
CHUTE BEB ae *S

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 SAKURA ++ 77 NARUTO JUV SASUKE *}A/77
Smart and studious, Sakura When Naruto was born, a The top student in
is the brightest of Naruto’s destructive fox spirit was Naruto’s class, Sasuke
classmates, but she’s imprisoned inside his body. comes from the presti-
constantly distracted by her Spurned by the older gious Uchiha clan. His
crush on Sasuke. Her goal: villagers, he’s grown into an goal: to get revenge ona
to win Sasuke’s heart! attention-seeking trouble- mysterious person who
maker. His goal: to become wronged him in the past.
the village’s next Hokage.

( ax Ea
Hyuga Neji [i] KL
Yamanaka Ino [1 -FusD Neji shares many traits with
Though Ino and Sakura were once close Hinata, including the all-seeing
friends, their bitter rivalry for Sasuke’s affection Byakugan eye. But what is
has turned them against each other. their relationship?

i} }

Gekko Hayate Ft) \V7

As the proctor of the third portion of the
exam, Hayate has the job of stepping in and
This shy young kunoichi (female ninja) has a stopping any fight where there’s a clear
monster crush on Naruto. winner...to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.

THE STORY SO FARR...

Twelve years ago, a destructive nine-tailed fox spirit attacked the ninja village of Konohagakure. The
Hokage, or village champion, defeated the fox by sealing its soul into the body of a baby boy. Now
that boy, Uzumaki Naruto, has grown up to become a ninja-in-training, learning the art of ninjutsu
with his classmates Sakura and Sasuke.

Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura (along with six other teams of student ninja) have moved on to
the third portion of the Chdnin (Journeyman Ninja) Selection Exam—a series of no-holds-
barred, one-on-one bouts that begin with a set of preliminary matches.As the preliminaries
continue, Sakura faces off against her rival, Ino! Although strategic taunting by Sakura seems to
have sent her opponent over the edge, Ino craftily distracts Sakura long enough to trap her
into succumbing to the Mind Transfer Technique (Shintenshin no Jutsu), Ino’s signature move!
With Sakura under her control, Ino has all but won the match...or has she?!
 NARUTO
WoL. F
NEI VS. HINATA

CONTENTS
ote

NUMBER 73: A DECLARATION OF DEFEAT...?

NUMBER 74: THE SIXTH ROUND MAATCH,

PID THe

NUMBER 75: NARVTO'S COMAING-OF-AGE 1

NUMBER 76: KIBA TURNS THE TABLES...

...AND §$O DOES NARVTO?!

NUMBER 77: NARVTO’S CLEVER SCHEME!

NUMBER 78: NEI VS. HISATA

NUMBER 79: THE HYVUGA CLAN

NUMBER 80: THE ONWJTER LIMAITS

NUMBER 81: GAARA VERSUS...

PREVIEWS
If

MT

MINO TRANSFER
TECHNIQUE
STRUCK HER
 OVERTAKEN
ANO
SUPPLANTED
BY THAT

LF.

\\
..WISH TO
WITHORAW...
FROM
THE
MATCH...

IF YOU LET
YOURSELF
LOSE NOW
TO THAT
CRAZY
SASUKE-
CHASER...
 NARUTO
ISsO
LOUD!

Y}

| AND
WITH- 'S HE’S RIGHT...
DRAWING WHAT | CAN’T
FROM WRONG? LET THIS
WITCH BEAT

}Z
ey)
i)
KIDDING? 7
IN
STWNG
Wl
 THE WAY
THIS IS
GOING,
I'LL BE
LUCKY IF |
CAN EVEN
HANG ON!

THE
SHINTENSHINY.

V Co
EVEN THE \,
SWEETEST \ ae
GIRL NEEDS . NU bee eve . | DIFFERENT
. f | PSYCHES INSIDE
\. YOU BEFORE
: |GOT
 ANO A\\\.BUT WHAT
IT WAS \\Y REALLY WON
NARUTO'S \\ THE BATTLE
RAZZING THAT WAS THE
AWAKENED FIGHTING
SAKURA'S SPIRIT INO’S
ORIVE PRESENCE
ANO EGGED ROUSED IN THE
HEART OF HER TO ORIVE THE
RIVAL!

IT’S REALLY NOT

SO STRANGE.
AT THIS POINT, LIKE NARUTO,
THOUGH, SAKURA bg
| DOUBT POSSESSES jap
WHETHER AHEART THAT |'€2 73
EITHER CANNOT BEAR
COMBATANT TO BE BEATEN.
HAS MUCH
il CHAKRA LEFT...
GER
UNS, !

..NEITHER NEITHER
COMBATANT CANDIDATE
IN THE IS ABLE TO
FOURTH CONTINUE.
BATTLE AS ARESULT OF
MOVES SIMULTANEOUS
FAST THE KNOCKOUTS...
PRELIMINARY
ROUND!
 READ
« THIS
WAY
 THEY ' NEITHER
SHOULD ONE IS HURT
BOTH BADLY ENOUGH
REGAIN }
CONSCIOUS- |j
NESSWITHIN |
THE NEXT |

7 NARUTO
ANO SASUKE

YOU ALL. IN
THE CHUNIN
SELECTION
wTENTEN 4 THE FIFTH
AGAINST MATCH
TEMARI. OF THE
PLEASE
STEP Fie INARI
FORWARD.

HEY, LOOK...
ANOTHER
CANDIDATE
 SO YOU
FINALLY

TENTEN,
THAT'S USE THE
MATCH THE SPIRIT! POWER
IS OVER KEEP OF YOUR
ANDO CHEERING YOUTH!
Kii«

LOVELY
FLOWER.
 BUT, JUST
SO YOU KNOW...
THE NEXT TIME
WE FACE EACH
OTHER, YOU
DON’T GET TO
TAKE THE EASY
WAY OUT BY
FAINTING!!

AND BY
THE WAY...
NO MATTER
WHAT YOU SAY,
I'M NOT GOING
TO JUST
HAND OVER
SASUKE
TO YOU!
WARRIORS
FROM THE
LAND OF ABOUT TO LET WHAT’S WHA...?
SAND... OURSELVES BE HER
ARE TRULY DEFEATED INA
FEARSOME! PLACE LIKE THIS,
NOW WERE
 THE WORLD OF KISHIMOTO MASASHI
MY PERSONAL HISTORY, FART 8
| PLAYED SOFTBALL FORA WHILE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
ANDO WHEN | ENTERED MIDDLE SCHOOL, | DECIDED TO JOIN
THE BASEBALL CLUB. MY YOUNGER TWIN WAS INTO BASEBALL
AS WELL, SO WE JOINED THE CLUB TOGETHER.THIS WAS
WHEN THE BASEBALL ANIME 7OLU/CH WAS A MONSTER
SUCCESS ALL OVER JAFAN. IT WAS CREATED BY MITSURU
ADACHI, AND WAS A STORY ABOUT TWIN BROTHERS WHO
JOIN A BASEBALL CLUB. IN THE END, THE YOUNGER
BROTHER DIES, AND THE OLOER ONE |S INSPIREO TO REALLY
STEP UP AND DO A GREAT JOB FOR HIS BROTHER'S SAKE.
THE IDEALISM OF THAT THEME APPEALED TO ME
TREMENDOUSLY AT THE TIME.
AS AN ADOLESCENT, | GOT ALITTLE CONFUSED AND
DECIDED THAT THE STORYLINE IN J7OL/CH TRULY REFLECTED
MY OWN LIFE, SO | BOUGHT ANDO VORACIOUSLY CONSUMED
THE MANGA SERIES AS WELL AS THE ANIMATION. BUT MY
FASSION FOR IT COMPLETELY COOLED DOWN WHEN MY
LITTLE BROTHER RUDELY TOLD ME, "OUR BASEBALL
CLUB REQUIRES YOU SHAVE YOUR HEAD TO GORIVGAA/
STANDARDS -- NO HAIR LONGER THAN A MILLIMETER...
AND BY THE WAY, FOOL, WE BOTH SUCK AT BASEBALL." | HAD
TO AOMIT HE WAS RIGHT, SO | SWITCHED MY ALLEGIANCE
TO ANOTHER MANGA CALLED HEMNOW AISA YAKYLULIEL --
"THE GLORIOUS #3 BASEBALL CLUB" AND CONVERTED
TO THE ASUNARO CAMP -- THE ADMIRERS OF THAT
SERIES' MAIN CHARACTER, ASUNARO.

yom
oe. oe
fie a
~ DNtL. OB?
Cie«
WHAT’S WRONG
WITH YOU?!
YOURSELF OH, THAT’S NOT
ANO THAT SHUT j\ HOW YOU TREAT
{ AWORTHY
OPPONENT...
ESPECIALLY
NOT ONE
YOU'VE JUST
DEFEATED!!

rae
se <3

F
 YOU'VE
ALREADY
BEEN
DECLARED
THE WINNER...

HOW LONG
DO YOU
INTEND TO
TRIFLE WITH
THAT HOMELY
LITTLE PRINCE
CHARMING?
FROM SANC...
IF YOU DON’T
MINO, I'0 LIKE
TO OFFERA
WORD OF
ADVICE...
 HE ACTUALLY
PICKED A
FIGHT WITH
THOSE
FREAKS
FROM THE
SAND...

TH-THEY
REALLY
CREEP
ME OUT!
 READ
< THIS
WAY

IF YOU LET
YOURSELF ioe
on ee SAKURA...
LOSE NOW, WORRY
YOU'LL BE A ABOUT pt
poor
ALREADY
pieeesee eae FEELING
aT : BETTER?!
MEN!
ANDO
SASUKE
WILL NEVER

.. THANKS,
NARUTO...
FOR HELPING
ME OUT
BEFORE!

UNTIL |
HEARD YOUR
OBNOXIOUS
VOICE,
TRUMPETING
THAT
RIDICULOUS
BATTLE CRY.

THINKS
HE CAN
TAKE ME?!
LIKE THAT
TO BEAT
Me!

IF THAT'S \ y, :
THE way \. AND HOW ae \/-> SIGH <-
YOU FEEL, | EMBAR- "
"LL PUT p | RASSING... THIS IS
YOU OUT 6 or | )=6BEING SUCHA fos
OF YOUR | EXPECTED . \NUISANCE,
MISERY {| “° TO FIGHT AC
QUICKLY! 4

SHIKAMARU, INO'S :
DON'T 4 SUDDENLY &
YOu f\ FULLOF pe
DARE ENERGY!
LOSE!! ‘
Z ¥g 7
| DON’T ” EVEN THOUGH
HAVE A | LEARNED
CLUE ABOUT THE
ABOUT = STRENGTHS OF
WHAT THIS = THE SOUND
ONE’S —NINJAWHEN WE
SPECIALTY BATTLEDOURING
IS. THE SECOND

VY OTHER HAND, =
SHE’S HAD
AGOOD
| OPPORTUNITY
WONDER... TO OBSERVE
ME IN

ALL I'VE
GOT TO CO
IS KEEP AN
EYE ON YOUR
SHADOW’'S
MOVEMENTS...
PIECE OF

PAT TTI
 TO
Vv.| SUPPOSE
MISLEAD NEXT YOU'LL
MEINTO BEFLINGING WHAT
THINKING youR NEEDLES A TIREO
VM SAFE IN TWO OLD
ONCE I'VE GROUPINGS, TRICK!
DODGED WITH ANDO
THE ONES WITHOUT
1 CAN BELLS.
HEAR. :

UNTIL THE
SILENT ONES
PERFORATE
Me...
 ONCE I'VE \ |II 14 / /ALL 1HAVE
MASTERED \ / TOCOIS
S THE aw =EVADE THE
SILENT,
PHANTOM
D\ neeoves:

eget BE
ieee

yo1| | \,
i}Hi
\\ \ ri |

AN re a
iN 1\ i j! }

CRUD...!! fo
\ li {
Se

It].
I

YOU NEVER
STOODA
CHEK
l
TIME TO
DEPLOY MY
SHADOW
POSSESSION
TECHNIQUE...

YOU
IDIOT!

THERE’S
NO WAY
THEY UF ix
COULD
CAST
SHADOWS!
 THE
THE SHADOW
THREADS IS
DION'T GROWING
CAST AND
THOSE SPREAD-
\\ SHADOWS

WHEREAS
1 CAN
MAKE
MY OWN
SHADOW
AS BIG AS
| WISH...
ORAS
SMALL...

NZ

THOSE
DELICATE —
FILAMENTS
OF DARKNESS
ARE MINE,
ALL MINE...

Ze
Me: a TALORED TO

TO YOU!

DON'T BE
TELL AN IDIOT.
ME WILL WHILE
SOMETHING HURT WE RE
| YOU, LOCKED
DON’T Too! INTO THIS
KNOW! MIMICRY,
j ANY INJURY
DONE
TO ME...

AW...
YOU :
WOULDN'T!
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YOU WERE
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LOCKED EVERYTHING
INTO TO HIS
THE SAME ADVANTAGE...
MOVEMENTS INCLUDING

ARCHITECTURE,
AS WELL
CK
ONLY
BUT

ENOUGH

TO GIVE
HERSELF A
CONCUSSION!

E
=|, | /|_ NOTICE
WOUL
ON’T
SHUTRHIKEN
WINNERIS
SAP

A
HIKcAAMIARU! _/)\) / \WHEWREERE YOU _ DsISuTsRTAC-
STANDING.

ce
ACTSMBTLOET.A.L.LY
HU
THAT WAS l, SHIKOANMEA,RU!!
ar
 Wn
| THIS YEAR’S THE ONLY ONES
WHO HAVEN’T
PLEASE, COMPETED YET
JUST ARE ME, HINATA,
DON’T NARUTO, ONE OF
LET IT BE THE SOUND NINJA...
THE SAND CHOJI, NEJI AND
LEE...AND THAT
Ck

THANKS
FOR
BEING
PATIENT,
EVERYONE!

AT THAT SAKURA
He WILL HATE ME
x FORHAVING
 i ee

ITT
fe
] li —
1is

il
i 4
=
S SS SSSSS
=
TSS
Ss

UZUMAKI
NARUTO
VERSUS
INUZUKA

HEY, KIBA! DON'T LUCKED

SEND BE SO OUT,
YOUR COCKY, AKAMARU!
YOU JERK! THIS FIGHT
ISAS
GOOD AS

wa
rire
nks \ AR
THE RU LER.
CLEA S
came ANIMALS AND YOU'RE
ASANY INSECTSUSED KIDDING,
RIGHT?
OTHER IS THAT
WEAPONS =—ASANIN
FART OF
JA'S ALLOWED?
ART...
 HMPH! FINE.
|0O MY BEST
WORK WITH
ALITTLE
HANDICAP,
ANYWAY!

CR
Borla
Ne

AUD!

SIT THIS
ONE OUT,
AKAMARU.
LL HANOLE
HIM ALONE.

MWISH COULD,
CHEER FOR BREAK sear
NARUTOS -
BUT KIBA 1S myg_ |KAKASHI. NARUTO, DON'T YOU
TEAMMATE, AND If |Wouc HUNH?! DARE LET
DON'T WANT TOR |youn poy . | THAT LOSER
UPSET HIM! Burm |OO - 1
 ll
ee, Ci MUCH SKILL
CH
ZY
ZZ
gWAT
EIA
Dang
GEA

REVIEWING
Wet
a
ey
Wy
AMARA
uted
Mm HENGE NO JUTSU -- ¥
THE ART OF BRTHE RANK
TRANSFORMATION. Ja OF GENIN™
PLEASE TAKE ¥@
THE FORM OF
LORD
Ciie«

NARUTO...
YOU'VE

KNOW... HE HA
eeHA...
HAS AGOOD
GRASP OFTHE | TRANSFERRED
niger bbe) | INTO THIS
WASADECENT
IMITATION OF
THE HOKAGE... /"

a ss Z
 \ WY
(\
\\

‘
:

)
D
NS

MASTE
RING
THEeAa
RT OF S
FORMATI
ON! Aa 2
 "LL
FINISH
WELL... YOU OFF
RIGHT FAST
BACK INSTEAD
ATCHA! OF
DRAGGING

YOU'RE NOT
FOOLING
ANYONE WITH
THAT COOL

BEGIN!

i=
 ‘ii ib
lhli
Mit
ea
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hy i
are il

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gual. . .
:
Ms ‘
A

bh SSB AS
HN AN \

Lit
 NO WAY
ALOSER
LIKE NARUTO
COULD EVER
STAND UP
TO KIBA!
 ALL
THE
LL
VILLAGERS
J OUTSHINE
W UNDERESTIMATE
Me!

SO...
HE’S
LIVING UP
 YOU'RE SO
HIGH ON .5O |
YOURSELF... COULD DON'T YOU
YOU JUST GO FINO OUT GET IT?
AHEAD ANO FIGHT WHAT |LET YOU
ME ALONE, YOU'RE POUND ME...
OR WITH MACE OF '!!
YOUR DOG,
OR ANY OTHER
WAY YOU WANT!

HIM,
| AKAMARU!!
 i)WL

|GOTTA
GETOuT Ff
OF THIS =
BA TI
LA iNh
PY

ALL
RIGHT!
1010
IT!
 THEARTOF |
TRANS- a a. : GOTCHA!
FORMATION?! ‘

yA\INes:
ot

YOU TASTE
LIKE DOG!
YUCK!
«tie
THAT CAN’T AMAZING!
BE NARUTO. NARUTO WAS
NO WAY ABLE TO USE
COULD HE THE ART OF
eee Ss STAND TRANSFORMATION
UP TO KIBA... RIGHT ON THE
FLAWLESSLY. OR MAYBE HEELS OF CREATING
EVEN HIS SHADOW
BEAT HIM! DOPPELGANGERS!
| CAN'T i THERE'S
BELIEVE... \ |) NO Wéy...!

BUT WHAT A FREAK...

ACTUALLY
WHAT AN BITING KIBA...
INTERESTING AND THEN HAVING
DEVELOPMENT. IT BACKFIRE
ON HIM.
HE’S HILARIOUS.

EVER
SINCE THIS
EXAM BEGAN,
HE’S REALLY
SEEMED TO
BE COMING
INTO HIS OWN...

—J™,
SE tl
 THE WORLD OF KISHIMOTO MASASHI
MY PERSONAL HISTORY, FART 7
FOR ME, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ALL ABOUT BASEBALL,
AND DURING EVERY SUMMER VACATION WE HAD TRAINING
CAMP. AT OUR SCHOOL, THE ENTIRE BASEBALL CLUB WENT
TO SHODO ISLAND, FAMOUS FOR ITS OLIVES ANO ITS MONKEYS.
EVEN WHILE ON THE TRIP, EVERYONE WAS REQUIRED TO WEAR
OUR BLACK SCHOOL UNIFORM FANTS WITH WHITE SHIRTS.
THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN THE BASEBALL CLUB USUALLY
TOTALED ABOUT 45, ANO WE WOULD RENT A BUS AND SET
OUT FOR CAMP WITH GREAT POMP AND SPLENDOR.
WE HAD GOOD TIMES -- AND MORE THAN ALITTLE FAIN --
DURING OUR STAYS ON SHODO ISLAND, ANO IT WAS OUR
TRADITION TO END THE EXPERIENCE EACH SUMMER BY
CLIMBING THE LOCAL TOURIST RESORT'S "MONKEY MOUNTAIN"
RIGHT BEFORE WE LEFT.
IF | REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT WAS WHEN | WAS IN THE
EIGHTH GRACE THAT | WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT SO
TERRIBLE THAT ITS INFAMY IS UNFARALLELED IN THE ANNALS
OF THE TRAINING CAMP HISTORY -- A DISASTROUS EVENT THAT
COULD HAVE GOTTEN ALOT OF PEOPLE KILLED. WHENEVER
| RECALL WHAT | OID ANO WHAT HAPPENED | WISH | COULD
FORGET... BUT I’M RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS FOR THIS FEATURE
NOW, SO I'M GOING TO FINALLY TELL THE TALE...
.NEXT TIME.

TO BE CONTINUED...
 a //1111//)
3/// SP,
fe
Wl
f ‘am
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Se
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f.
ff
af
df

Se
 OH,
N-NARUTO...

THAT
WAS
AWESOME,
NARUTO!!

| THINK
WE’RE
LOOKING
ATA
WHOLE NEW
NARUTO!
« READ
THIS
WAY Vv
« «
READ
THIS
WAY
WOOF
WOoF!!
(NINJA
ART OF
HUMAN
MIMICRY!)
 ISN'T THIS
CONSIDERED
"DOPIN G"? HOPPED
BE iat
IS THIS
ALLOWED?! iNSOMETHING!
SS

THEY'RE HYOROGAN -- |
HIGH IN MILITARY RATIONS AA,
PELLETS -ARE A WG ae
PROTEIN ANO
ARE EASILY CLASS OF Hi RATION
ABSORBED, NUTRITIONAL | Mee W PELLETS ARE
ARO TLy SUPPLEMENTS. :
HAVE A PEOPLE SAY THAT ! OSS >) BL snABLE
ACCEPT
TAKING A SINGLE ‘. HN
Bi heNG
RELAXI PILL ALLOWS A
Z SOLDIER TO FIGHT
EVEN AS THEY ) FOR THREE DAYS
BOOST AND NIGHTS
_ ENERGY. WITHOUT

Po CALLED f
13 JA HYOROGAN,

PROBABLY
DOUBLE | WHAT DID
‘- io ; THEY
Suer
ies:
NORM AL Hit i are
LEVEL... ih ‘

IN BATTLE
SITUATIONS,
THE PELLETS ACT
AS AMEDICINE
THAT DISTRIBUTES
THE USER'S CHAKRA
FOR UNIFORMLY TO
KIBA, EVERY PART OF
IT’S HIS BODY, MAKING
IDEAL. IT FUNCTION AS
AN ANIMAL'S
 4 1A fie i b
VEN IF | ORIVE =
HI}HT iOF MY CHAKRA 77
iy| | ||| DOWN INTO my, f}
i) //| LEGS, IT STILLS
TAKES EVERYTHING
I'VE GOT JuSTpA/f/
TO EVADE HIM“! ///
AT THIS RATES ///

(i
\ y fg

YU lke XK | LA
JZ as
¢ Gi CZ ZA

MAN-BEAST
ULTIMATE
 PERFECTLY |=
ILLUSTRATES
THE
DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN

LEVELS OF

NO ONE'S . .BE I’M Ny e eg

DELUDED ENOUGH THE GONNA.) os
N=
TO THINK YOU
REALLY HAVE
WHAT IT TAKES
TO BECOME THE
NEXT HOKAGE...
NOT EVEN YOu!

TELL YOU WHAT,

THOUGH...
I'LL BECOME
HOKAGE IN
YOUR PLACE!
 "LL
BECOME
THE
e HOKAGE
AY SOMEDAY.
| WILL!
IT's
 NARUTO!!
GET

VEIERONE LSEE
IS i his,
ty, ns, :oe
2 po"
i meee 3 . AT
Hin anes
HIS
~
Cie«

WHIMPER... b

A
WHIPPED
 ; 7m roa. Wh my e IT'S STILL
WE'RE i A TOUGH EVEN
NOT vA om ae so, [ ONE TO THOUGH
DONE Tot fot pt dy Now (% | HAVETO I'VE SEEN
YET!! Te td Ue etae GI WHAT?! KEEP THIS
LV 7 Gre z, | CODGING! TECHNIQUE
(A wt ef Bt . BEFORE...
Wt

JUST GET
ONE OF
THEM...
IT’S GOT TO
BE KIBA,
OR WHAT'S
THE
POINT?!

WHAT'S
NARUTO
UP
To?!
I'VE GOT
 NARUTO AKAMARLU THE

~
NARUTO
Fabs, 4 REALLY
\ y THOUGHT
MA- THIS ONE
OUT!
THE A NARUTO |AKAMARU NARUTO

w a

ae 2 VI

©@ ©/|x©
NARUTO NARUTO | CAN’T AKAMARU KIBA KIBA
CAN CAN AT TACK CAN CAN'T CAN
ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK | ATTACK ATTACK
NARUTO IS THE LIKEWISE, IF NARUTO TRANS-
ONLY ONE WHO AKAMARU FORMS INTO KIBA,
KNOWS FOR SURE | DOESN'T KNOW | THEN THE REAL KIBA
THAT BOTH OF THE | WHICH “KIBA” IS WON'T KNOW WHICH
OTHERS ARE HIS HIS MASTERANO |Fake KIBA IS AKAMARU
ENEMIES, WHICH ONE |S ANO WHICH ONE |S
SO HE CAN ATTACK NARUTO, NARUTO... IF HE
EITHER ONE WITH SO AKAMARU ATTACKS EITHER ONE,
IMPUNITY!! CAN'T ATTACK. HE RISKS TAKING OUT
HIS PARTNER.

OF TRANS-
FORMATION
TRICK NO
LONGER
WORKS
ON ME..
 ESTIMATE
A CANINE’S
OLFACTORY ff
ACUITY!
Kie«
_ TOHISNOSE,
IBA CAN MULTIPLY.
 ZY

mf i

|
Pf

f; Me
Mince COI)

WHAT IN
THE WORLD
IS GOING

COUD AZ
“fj
LEZ ZZZ iboll |
7 we ra a

THEN
YOU ear
MUST BE
NARUTO... ——
MOCKING
 Uy Ba pss
Vy, J ff ifi ¢ : \\ \\ \ AX WN

i $ i Lf! Z \ \\ ; \
\\ \\

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Ze y 3 ed | X |

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a * Wn jj | \Vy oy Z

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iqWo) AR
Xi
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| A HA en \ : 4 4
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: a ae A

hemell
. [

/
 ‘ -
y
\
IN
RATEN \
 |GET IT!
AFTER KIBA’S
NOSE EXPOSED
NARUTO’S DECEIT,
NARUTO WAITED
CHANCE! UNTIL KIBA
PUNCHED HIM...
TRANS- ANO THEN
FORM!! TRANSFORMED
HI MSELF INTO YZ:
NARUTO AS KIBA KIBA AKAMARU AKAMARU!!
WN
AS KIBA
IMMEDIATELY
TRANSFORMED i | i
INTO AKAMARU \2/

BAM HUNH? =x
PS TAT
{7b ; nKAMARU
NARUTO AS AKAMARU
eo
BY TIMING IT PRECISELY,
NARUTO TRICKED AS KIBA
KIBA INTO THINKING
THAT THE MAN-BEAST
TRANSFORMATION
HAD COME UNDONE,
ANO THAT HE’O TAKEN
OUT AKAMARU INSTEAD!
 SHOULD REALLY
THINK ABOUT THEIR YOU START
CONSEQUENCES... THROWING
OTHERWISE THEY'LL THOSE
JUST BE USED B\\ TECHNIQUES
AGAINST YOU, AROUND...
 BABS THERE'S
VLU WATCH HIS -NO
\

2 MOVEMENTS

| CAN GETé
HIM WITH
THE ’
7 DOWN
JON ALL
FOURS ;
TECHNIQUE!

FINALLY
TAKING ME
SERIOUSLY,
EH, KIBA?

WELL,
THERE’S
ANEW
KILLER
MOVE
I'VE BEEN
PRACTICING...

SX
=

(15

Ni 5|
|+

al\
Ss
 EVEN
NOw,
HE STILL
HAS A NEW
TRICK UP
HIS SLEEVE?

HE HAVE ..HUNH? |
MASTERED
THAT ?!?

| DON’T
RECOGNIZE
THE
TECHNIQUE,
 7 iy\ BEAST,
ZAINMICRy!!
aa
\\

i)
t\\\
ZA\\\\

\)1
”

NY
Ay
. iG

\
HAS BECOME
HIS UNDOING!
 BUT NOW...
IT’S TIME FOR
ME TO START
SHOWING NARUTO!
YOU MY NEW NOw’sS
MOVE!!! YOUR
CHANCE!

IT’S TIME
TO REPAY ALL
THE ABUSE
I'VE TAKEN
Y, / j
 W
————SS
RR
NY
. az
9 NS
\
So S
USSS
ese=
SSy
SA.
U;
UZUMAKI
NARUTO!
 INCREDIBLE!
NARUTO
BEAT KIBA!

OH, YEAH!
THAT
FEELS

</VE
GOTTEN
STRONGER®
i
WOO HOO!
EASY
AS PIE!
 AN
OINTMENT...

THANKS.
YOU'RE
A GOOD
GUY,
HINATA!

FEEL ASHAMED, \*Ak=>

KIBA. IT TURNS
OUT YOU FOUGHT
AWORTHY
OPPONENT
AFTER ALL!

LADY
HINATA?

103
THE WORLD OF KISHIMOTO MASASHI
MY PERSONAL HISTORY, FART [0
.. THE INFAMOUS INCIDENT... IT HAPPENED RIGHT
AFTER THE END OF TRAINING CAMP, THE DAY THAT
ALL 45 OF US IN THE BASEBALL CLUB CLIMBED
THE RESORT’S MONKEY MOUNTAIN TOGETHER.
TO BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING, AS WE STARTED TO
CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN, WE SAW A PLACARD THAT
SAID, “BO NOT LOOK THE WILD MONKEYS IN THE
EYE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.” THE SIGN
ALONE WAS ENOUGH TO GIVE US THE JITTERS,
BUT AS WE CONTINUED UP THE 200-METER
MOUNTAIN FATH WITH THE GLARING EYES OF VAST
NUMBERS OF WILD MONKEYS UPON US, WE
GOADED EACH OTHER FURTHER, SAYING STUFF
LIKE, “WHOA! GETTING CLOSE TO MONKEYS |S
SCARY! THEY'LL GET MAD IF YOU SO MUCH AS SPIT
OUT YOUR GUM! ANDO THEY'VE GOT THESE HUGE
FANGS, MAN. THEY ARE BAD NEWS!” AND SO ON
ANO SO FORTH... WE WERE GETTING THOROUGHLY
FREAKED OUT. WHEN WE REACHED THE SUMMIT,
THERE WERE ABOUT 100 TAME MONKEYS BEING
MANAGED BY AN ANIMAL TRAINER, ANO THEY
CAME OVER TO GREET US. UNLIKE THEIR WILD
COUNTERPARTS THAT WE'D BEEN WARNED AGAINST,
THESE TAME ONES WERE GENTLE, PEOPLE-
FRIENDLY, SWEET MONKEYS, ACCORDING TO THEIR
HANOLER. HE TOLD US THAT THERE WAS ONE
ALPHA MALE AMONG THE SUMMIT MONKEYS, ANDO
THEY SEEMED TO BE CREATING AN INDEPENDENT
COLONY. AND THEN HE POINTED THE BOSS MONKEY
OUT TO US. NOT SURPRISINGLY, IT WAS HUGE... WE
COULON’T HELP NOTICING THE MANY SCARS THAT
CRISS-CROSSED ITS BODY, EACH UNDOUBTEDLY
REPRESENTING A VICTORY IN ONE OF THE
HUNOREDS OF DIFFERENT BATTLES IT HAD
ENOURED ON ITS ROAD TO BECOME THE HEAD OF
THE COLONY. WHILE | LOOKED UP AT THE ALPHA
MONKEY, WHICH WAS SITTING FIRMLY ATOP A
PROMINENT BOULDER, | NERVOUSLY EDGED
TOWARD IT, WANTING TO GET A CLOSER LOOK.
AND THAT WAS IT!
THE MOMENT WHEN IT HAPPENED!!

(TO BE CONTINUED...)
 x
\\
:
(Y\\

TN

NINE-TAILEO
FOX WITHIN
GIVES YOU WILL HEAL
AMAZING AS QUICKLY
RECUPERATIVE AS YOURS,
NARUTO.
 READ
< THIS
WAY
\\h,
Le | pe Il
Mgt THERE ARE
/

IF THEY ° D >) SOULEFT.

ee ZY | x | YOU, CHOSI, NEJI,
! LEE, ONE OF THE
THAT SAND ‘| SOUND NINJA...
NINJA... NO THAT
WITHORAW ii ‘GUY FROM
IMMEDIATELY!

THE SAME
THING GOES
FOR NEJI.
IF YOU HAVE
TO FACE
HIM, DON’T

WELL THEN...
THE NEXT
MATCH WILL
 ——| | NEVER
DOREAMED
WE'D FINO
OURSELVES
FIGHTING
OTHER...
q \ 4

LADY
HINATA.

..BOTH ARE
MEMBERS OF

ANO MOST
ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY,
THROUGH WHOSE
VEINS FLOWS THE
MOST ELITE ANDO
ACCOMPLISHED
BLOOD... THE
HYUGA CLAN.

THEN...
HOW ARE
THEY
\ RELATED?
 WELL... IT’S
BRANCH COMPLICATED...
ANO | GUESS YOU
TRUNK...? COULD SAY
THEY'RE
RELATED
IN THE
SAME WAY...

r Zap
a ea c ‘LG Ald
RELATED
TO THE
W/A\A iN

YES! HINATA
ISAMEMBER
OF THE MAIN
BRANCH OF
THE HYUGA
CLAN...

AND NEJI
ISAMEMBER
OF THE CADET
BRANCH THAT
SUPPORTS IT.

THAT'LL —...SO

THERE'S
BEEN STRAIN
BETWEEN
THE CENTRAL
RELATIONS
aREnY “NO CADET
BRANCHES
EXACTLY OF CLAN
SOME
TIME...

110
 READ
< THIS
WAY

esl
DON'T
KNOW
ALL THE
DETAILS,
BUT...

..1T SOUNDS
: LIKE APRETTY
IT’S SAID COMMON TALE
THAT MEMBERS AMONG OLOER
OF THE CADET FAMILIES. THE FIRST
BRANCH STILL GENERATION OF
BURN WITH s THE HYUGA
ANGER ANDO CLAN...
HUMILIATION.

..MADE ALL
Setia SORTSOF
PRESERVE RULESAND
THE FAMILY CECREES
THAT
LINE AND
RETAIN FAVORED
THE MAIN
THE PURITY geanicy
OF THEIR
es OF THE
BLOOD. FAMILY...

SO IT’S
ONE OF
THOSE
FATEFUL
SHOWDOWN
THINGS,
THEN...
 THERE'S
SOMETHING
| HAVE TO
POINT OUT

WITHORAW
FROM
THE =
MATCH! y ia SHINOBI.

aA
PEACEMAKER, YOU'RE ALL
NOT _ ~| SWEETNESS
TROUBLE- ANO
MAKER. - LIGHT...

YOU'RE
EASILY
LED,
NOTA
LEADER.
Cie
/ BUT
APPLICANTS
R | FOR THE
PARTICIPA- HIGHER-LEVEL
TION BE, | CHUNIN
HAS BEEN {
RELUCTANT EXAM MUST
\ COMPETE AS

COMFORTABLE
AND CONTENT
STAYING AT
THE GENIN

WANTED

rT
MYSELF.
il
sui
HINATA IS THIS DAY
SUPPOSED FORWARD,
TO BE : HINATA
THE HEIR Za
APPARENT LA ney MY
UNDER
= sa COMMAND...

wl THAT
TRULY
MEETS
WITH YOUR
APPROVAL.

INHER
WE REGARD WORK ASA
GENIN, SHE
HER AS WILL BE
ary ee CONSTANTLY
SURROUNDED
CLAN... BY AND IN
SHE'S A oF
OEATE
FAILURE
WHO CANNOT
EVEN MEASURE
uP TO
HANABI, FIVE
YEARS HER
JUNIOR.

IF
YOU HAVE
NOTHING
MORE TO
DISCUSS,
| PLEASE GO,
Fac \YOU'RE IN
~~ \THE WAY!
« meg

LEOFARD
DOESN'T
SHELTERED
CHANGE
LITTLE BABY
ITS
OF THE MAIN
SPOTS.
BRANCH,
AREN'T
YOU?

BECOME
STRONG.
 IT’S
PRECISELY
BECAUSE
IT’S WHY OF THE
WE'VE UNCHANGING
COINED NATURE OF
TERMS LIKE HUMANKINO THAT
ELITE’ OCIFFERENCES
ANO BETWEEN
“FAILURE.” PEOPLE ARE
BORN...

IT DOESN'T
YES, IT’S MATTER WHO
AFORM OF YOU ARE.
DISCRIMINATION. WE'RE ALL JUDGED
AND THE FACTORS ON THE BASIS OF
THAT IT’S BASED ON OUR LOOKS, OUR
DON’T CHANGE. INTELLIGENCE, OUR
WE HAVE NO TALENT, OR OUR
CHOICE... PERSONALITIES...

WE
MUST LIVE
WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES .. JUST AS
SET FORUS WE JUDGE
BY THE OTHERS IN
JUDGMENTS THEIR TURN.
OF OTHERS.

AS THE FACT
THAT I'M OF IT’SAS
THE CADET UNCHANGE-
BRANCH OF
THE FAMILY...
ANDO YOU'RE A
MEM6ER OF
THE MAIN
 READ
« THIS
WAY

THIS
COURAGE
YOU'RE SEEN
DISPLAYING THROUGH
IS JUST A MANY THINGS
BLUFF! WITH THIS
ALL-SEEING
BYAKUGAN
IN THE
TRUEST,
DEEPEST
PART OF YOUR
HEART, YOU'RE
DESPERATE TO
RUN AWAY FROM
HERE RIGHT
NOW.

THE
“BYAKUGAN” THEY SAY
THAT HE THAT OUR N...NO...
MENTIONEO SASUKE’S OWN | REALLY
IS ONE OF THE UCHIHA CLAN THE WANT TO...
KEKKE! GENKAI* CAN TRACE ITS BYAKUGAN
FASSED 2!
ORIGINS BACK
DOWN IN THE
HYUGA TO THE HYUGA
FAMILY...

AN OCULAR
ART IN SOME
WAYS SIMILAR
TO THE
bd SHARINGAN...
WN) , Aa 1

RITABLE TRAITS

BYAKUGAN
SURFASSES PENETRATING
THE PERCEPTIVE
SHARINGAN ABILITY...
COMPLETELY.
Ci«
MY
EYES
CAN'T
. YOU BE
AVERTED DECEIVED,
YOUR OWN
EYES...

.GLANCING
TOWARDS THE
..ONE UPPER LEFT.
THAT IT SIGNALED
BROUGHT YOUR RECALL
YOU OF A FAST
FAIN. EXPERIENCE...

IN OTHER
.YOU WORDS...
IMAGINED YOU RECALLED
THE YOUR OWN
OUTCOME PREVIOUS
OF THIS EXPERIENCES,
MATCH. AND BASED
UPON THOSE
MEMORIES... wlT
INDICATED
THAT
YOU WERE
ENVISIONING GLANCED TO
PHYSICAL ANDO THE LOWER
MENTAL
AGONY.

.YOUR YOU
OWN FORESAW...
DEFEAT!!

119
 YOu EVEN
IMPLORE
ME TO COME Poke
NO FURTHER, BRING YOUR
--BECAUSE TO PEER NO ARMS
Se caine
| HAVE SAID Vee Serie
INTO THE INYOUR
FRONT OF
BODY
SO FAR HAS INNERMOST
BEEN RIGHT SECRETS ASIF TO
ON TARGET! OF YOUR

... YOUR BODY

IS SIGNALING
YOUR DESIRE
‘
TO RAISE A WALL
BETWEEN US...
ANa
\ TO CREATE
\\
LANNY SOME DISTANCE
fzH FROM ME. |

THE WAY
IT’SA YOU'RE
DEFENSIVE TOUCHING YOUR
REFLEX... LIP...IT’S ANOTHER
AN ATTEMPT OF THOSE TENDER,
TO EASE YOUR INTIMATE
OWN ANXIETIES BEHAVIORS THAT
ANO DOUBTS... EXPRESSES
THE AGITATION
IN YOUR

IT’S
COMPLETELY
CLEAR...
WHETHER
YOU ADMIT
IT OR NOT,
THAT YOU
ARE AWARE...
Ki«

YOu
CAN'T JUST
ARBITRARILY
DECIDE
THESE THINGS
ABOUT OTHER
PEOPLE,
YOU FOOL!

121
 COME ON,
JUST HEARING
HINATA.
HIM HAS MACE |
AT LEAST
ME MAO,
TALK BACK
ANO IT’S YOU
TO HIM!!
WHO HAS TO
FIGHT HIM!

IS SO
ANNOYING
!
 READ
KTHie<
WAY

.. THANK YOU.
 TO RUN
ANYMORE!
 READ
< THIS
WAY

THEY HAVE THE

SAME HYUGA
STYLE, AFTER
ALL... EVEN
HER STANCE
IS IDENTICAL
TO NEJIS.

STRONGEST
SCHOOL OF
NINJA ISA TAIJUTSU
MEMBER IN
OF MY OWN KONOHA!
\ TEAM"!

127
 #
af aE VP
\ t f
g ; xe A
SGD!
PANN f
/ + By, : i)
id bp
\
« «
READ
THIS
WAY

129
 AMONG THE "S WHY
HYUGA, THERE THE HYUGA
ARE UNIQUE CLAN IS OFTEN
TAIJUTSU PASSED REGARDED
DOWN FROM AS KONOHA'S
ONE GENERATION MOST
TO THE NEXT! ILLUSTRIOUS
FAMILY.

THAT ... THE HYUGA

LEADS TO THE CLAN EMPLOYS UNLIKE THE
BREAKDOWN JUKEN, OR TAIJUTSU THAT LEE
OF THE “GENTLE FIST,” TO ANO | SPECIALIZE IN,
INTERNAL INFLICT DAMAGE WHICH IS ALL ABOUT
ORGANS, TO THE ENEMY’S BEATINGS, BRUISES
DESTROYING KEIRAKUKEI], ANO BROKEN BONES --
THE FOE THROUGH WHICH A STYLE ITS
FROM THE CHAKRA PROPONENTS
WITHIN. CALL GOKEN, OR
“FEROCIOUS FIST”...

ms
Sime

... THE EFFECT

THERE'S GROWS
ANY NO WAY OF GRADUALLY
ENEMY STRENGTH- AFTER THE “| LOOK LIKE
STRUCK ENING THE INITIAL MUCH,
WITH THAT \ INTERNAL BUT...
BLOW IS A ORGANS,
GOING TO
SUCCUMB!
 ii
TENNNNS
NN
NS

HINATA'S |) |
PUSHING }
HIM..!

131
 mete ! Hf SIOATIAGK epee WHAT
KEIRAK©UKEI?! \| eiraKuKels!7! ARE
PEOPLE
THEY...

KEIRAKUKE!
ISAKINO OF
NETWORK OF
ENERGY LINES,
SPREAD
THROUGHOUT
OUR BODIES IN
MUCH THE SAME
WAY AS THE

CIRCULATORY
SYSTEM. aid

IT’S LIKE
A SYSTEM
OF VESSELS
THAT CARRY
CHAKRA
THROUGHOUT
OUR BODIES!!

ATTACK oe OH... LIKE

THE a AND IT’S FASSAGEWAYS
KEIRAKUKE |... DELICATELY FOR CHAKRA,
{ es INTERTWINEO
WITH THE
ORGANS THAT
MANIPULATE
AND THE
ORGANS
WILL
SUFFER
ASWELL!
 READ
< THIS
WAY
WHOA...
I'M BOWLED
OVER BY YOUR
\ INTELLECT...

AS HIS
GREATEST
FOE,
SO...

| MEAN, \itz, |
..5O HOW THIS ~~
DO YOU “KEIRAKUKE|”
ATTACK THING IS JUST Fm
4
We
SOMETHING ENERGY LINES
ee ’ : INSIDE THE ;

MLN
 THOSE
TWO...
THEIR
BYAKUGAN
CAN SEE
THEM.

.. WHERE YOU TAKE YOUR

ANO GENTLE
IT CAN OWN CHAKRA
FIST ATTACKS
INFLICT ANO RELEASE IT
ARE DIFFERENT
MASSIVE THROUGH THE
ENERGY PORTALS FROM THE PURELY
DAMAGE BRUTE-FORCE,
IN YOUR HANDS,
ON THE PHYSICAL KINO...
ENEMY’S FORCING IT INTO
KEIRAKUKEI. THE BODY OF
: =I raetae
us|

=
/ i/
“ail
atSl
i
a
=

WF
eeowes
ZIT

i
heal

£
yl
136
KK
MOM MWACAV Gi Yi
 My, MY" IT SEEMS
THOSE WHO'VE CALLED aa

OVERSTATED THE CASE,

 THESE NODES
ARE CALLED KEIRAKUKE!
TENKETSU... THAT WE
AND, IN THEORy, SPOKE OF
IF YOU CAN EARLIER,
ACCURATELY THERE ARE 36!
HIT THEM.

YOU CAN
HALT THE FLOW
OF AN ENEMY’S
CHAKRA, OR
ENHANCE IT,
CONTROLLING
IT IN ANY WAY
YOU WISH. Seon
Bose
Dear

REGARDLESS
OF HAVING ALL-
PENETRATING
EYES,
TO BE ABLE TO --
IN THE HEAT
OF BATTLE --
PERCEIVE SO
ACCURATELY
AND...
 LADY
HINATA...
THIS IS THE
UNALTERABLE
DIFFERENCE
.. THE
DISTINCTION \
THAT \
SEPARATES |
THE ELITE
FROM THE
FAILURE.

Y THE ONLY THIS IS THE

POSSIBLE THE MOMENT UNCHANGE-
OUTCOME YOU SAID ABLE
WAS YOUR YOU WOULON’T REALITY.
PRESENT RUN, YOUR
DESPAIR. DEFEAT WAS
: INEVITABLE.
Cie
 THE WORLD OF KISHIMOTO MASASHI
MY PERSONAL HISTORY, FART I!
| COULON’T BELIEVE IT. |WAS SO FIXATED ON THE ALPHA MALE,
| HAODN’T BEEN LOOKING WHERE | WAS GOING, ANO | STEPPED
RIGHT ON ONE OF THE YOUNG MONKEYS!
THE POOR LITTLE MONKEY RAN OFF SCREAMING...ANO IN
ALMOST THE SAME INSTANT, | FELT SOMETHING CLAMP ONTO
MY BACK! | LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER, AND TO MY HORROR,
IT WAS THE LITTLE MONKEY'S MOTHER, BARING HER TEETH
AND LOOKING DETERMINED TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF ME! ALL |
COULD THINK WAS “I’M GOING TO BE EATEN!!” | DESPERATELY
TRIEO TO SHAKE OFF THAT MOTHER MONKEY ANO RUN AWAY,
BUT | LOST MY BALANCE ANO FELL OVER. AS | SCRAMBLED TO
GET BACK UP, |LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT THE ENORMOUS
BOSS MONKEY HAD LEAPT FROM HIS BOULDER TO ATTACK ME!
IT WAS LIKE HE HAD TRANSFORMED INTO A CRAGONGBALL-STYLE
SAIYAN MONSTER MONKEY, SO | TRULY THOUGHT | WAS GOING
TO DIE. | TRIED AGAIN TO STAND AND RUN AWAY... BUT MY KNEES
WERE LIKE RUBBER AND | COULO BARELY STAND! | THOUGHT
THAT WOULD BE THE ENO FOR ME, BUT RIGHT THEN THE
MONKEYS’ HANOLER TACKLED THE ALPHA MONKEY ANDO
TRAPPED HIM. BEFORE THE RELIEF COULD EVEN FULLY
REGISTER IN MY BRAIN, THE HANOLER GLARED AT ME WITH
AN EXPRESSION THAT SCARED ME ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE
HEAD MONKEY'S HAD AND YELLED, “RUN!”
AS MY SENSES BEGAN TO RETURN TO ME, | LOOKED AROUND
AND SAW A RIDICULOUS NUMBER OF MONKEYS CHARGING AT
ME! “THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS TAME, FRIENOLY MONKEYS,”
| THOUGHT, CRYING MY EYES OUT AS 1 RAN!! AND ON TOP OF ALL
THAT, | SAW THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE THING: THE ENTIRE
AMAUGH | CLUB WAS UNDER ASSAULT BY THE MONKEYS!!

IT WAS AN AMAZING SIGHT. THERE WERE PLENTY OF OTHER,

ORDINARY TOURISTS AROUND, AND THEY WERE BEING LEFT
ALONE. WHY WERE THE MONKEYS ATTACKING ONLY THE
BASEBALL CLUB?! THEN, THE OBVIOUS ANSWER CAME TO ME!
WE ALL HAD THE SAME GORINGARI BUZZ-CUT HAIR AND WERE
WEARING WHITE SHIRTS AND OUR BLACK SCHOOL UNIFORM
FANTS. TO THE MONKEYS, WE PROBABLY LOOKED LIKE SOME
WEIRD, SHAVED-HEADED, WHITE-AND-BLACK GANG OF INVADERS.
IN ANY CASE, WE LEFT THE MONKEY MOUNTAIN JUST AS FAST
AS WE COULD. ONCE WE WERE ALL SAFELY INSIDE THE BUS,
EVERYONE WAS TRYING TO CATCH THEIR BREATH ANO EXCITEDLY
DISCUSSING THE INCIDENT, WONDERING WHY IT HAPPENED. IT
OCCURRED TO ME THAT MY HAVING ACCIDENTALLY STEPPED
ON THE LITTLE MONKEY WAS A PRETTY JUICY TIOBIT... SO |
CONFESSED, EXPECTING THE REST OF THE CLUB TO LAUGH.
BUT NO ONE FOUNO IT THE LEAST BIT FUNNY.
(THIS IS A TRUE STORY!)
BECAUSE...

MY SHINOBI
 aw \
_——
a AS
ta
@
"‘util
NA LL
)
ah WTB A! Mi DY | \ at)
}
(iid

I'VE NOTICED
THAT SHE’S
ALWAYS
WATCHING
YOU, \
AN
NARUTO... 4“)
SAS
 NEJI'S
STRIKES ON
HER TENKETSU
NODE POINTS HAVE
COMPLETELY
ARRESTED THE
FLOW OF HINATA’S
CHAKRA.

WHEN THE TENKETSL SHE'S. LOST

HAVEBEEN PRESSED THE CAFACITY TO
PERFORM THE
JUKEN (GENTLE FIST)
ATTACKS THAT FLOOD
HER CHAKRA INTO
HER OPPONENT'S
BODY.

146
Ci«

LEVEL OF
STRENGTH...
(T... ITS
NOTA
FAIR
FIGHT!

HANG IN
THERE,
HINATA!!
 Uf if J yi HH)
/
y/ J 4
fifi / y
( Wy , a | f

Ua “UV t/ )
Kie«

SOMETHING!
Ge
 READ
< THIS
WAY

NARUTO! |

——$— ; =YOURE=
la '|| \~
SS KOS WATCHING=
— : Nt = =MEr 2
y a Zz
 FROM
THE START, DON'T
YOUR YOU KNOW
ATTACKS
HAVE BEEN
COMPLETELY
INEFFECTIVE!
 |'

|
it | | ||
* PLEASE, |
_ HINATA... |
CALL THIS OFF.
YOU HAVE LOST
THE MATCH,
BUT YOU'VE
SUCCEEDED
, INCHANGING
YOURSELF!:
| YOU DID A |
| CREAT JOB! |

tf
NY WHAT ARE YOU LL tT /f
;
XY TALKING ABOUT,
YOU IDIOT?!
SHE’S GOT
NOTHING LEFT!
SHE’S ALREADY
COLLAPSED!!
 Lhe
—«
ACURA

METLTRLS

q
 IF YOU
PUSHronan
ves}
QkSG
2 wW

~
rQ

WS
<<
e
oN
MP,

YOU'VE HATED YOU WERE

ANO PUNISHED BURDENED
YOURSELF FROM BIRTH
FOR YOUR OWN WITH THE
WEAKNESS DESTINY OF IcCAN \.
AND FRAILTY... THE HYUGA SEE WITH
THESE
BUT
EYES...
IT'S TAKING |S
YOU CAN'T
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NATURE... STRENGTH FOOLING
OR CHANGE er ie? ANYONE.
YOUR FATE.
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NOW...
THAT EVEN
MORE
THAN
Me...

YOU WHO
ARE TORN AND
SUFFERING...
CAUGHT BETWEEN }
THE DESTINIES
OF THE MAIN
BRANCH AND
CADET BRANCH
OF OUR
CLAN!
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WOULDN'T CRAG
PROTECTION
FOR THE MAIN THE ISSUES YOU
HAVE WITH YOUR
FAMILY’S MAIN
BRANCH INTO

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IS SO FALE...!

MANAGED
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JUST A IF MAYBE l..
LITTLE BIT...
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A TRUE SHINOBI
WARRIOR WOULD
AND HAVE TOO MUCH HEY...
ONE CLASS TO MAKE A HEY, YOU!
SPECTACLE OF MR.
Li HIMSELF BY FAILURE!
“CHEERING DURING
A SERIOUS

ONCE
A SWELL
FAILURE, eee
ALWAYS WHO YOU
A
FAILURE! aie
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ACCEPT
WHO YOU
ARE.

ONCE A
FAILURE,
ALWAYS A
FAILURE!
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ALMOST

WHAT YOU'RE
FEELING,
NARUTO!
BUT...

..WE HAVE
TO LIMIT OUR
BATTLES TO
THE CONFINES
OF THE
SCHEDULED
FIGHTS.

wlT REALLY
MAKES YOU PROSPECT
LOOK FORWARD OF SEEING A
TO THE FINAL FAILURE DEFEAT
ROUNDS, A GENIUS
EH..? THROUGH
OPPONENT SHEER FORCE
COULD OF WILL...
VERY WELL
BE Me!

BUT EVEN
IF IT’S YOU IN
THE FINALS,
NARUTO...
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SCOWLING
AT ME...
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OUTRANKED / | PLACE,
You eA IT'SFUNNY..
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TT ..BUT OURS
HAS AN...
..NOW WE
KNOW THERE
INNER NATURE ARE TWO
THAT'S MONSTERS
UNIQUELY

THIS
ISN’T GOOD...
GAARA'S SMELLED \'
BLOOD...AND NOW
THAT THING IS
WAKING UP...
STARTING TO
FIOGET...
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WE'VE GOT
YOU’O THINK HE . BUT
TO START THAT
PLANNING HADN'T EVEN
AHEAD... ;) | |
| TO PREPARE| THAT HE STILL
Z4 HAS HIDDEN
Nese A| Merexcr OF
‘oe > ESTRENGTHE

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BUT HE'D oa GATHER “7
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FIRST TIME
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WHAT THE ~
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YOU WANT?!
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GUY...
BUT...

BUT THAT'S
NOT WHAT
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TIME
FOR THE
NEXT
BOUT!!
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IT’S

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I'VE WAITED
THIS LONG...

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ONLY THE
STRONGEST CHOJI,
YOU'RE IN
TROUBLE
NOW...
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WELL, YOU'LL BE
GIVING UP YOUR "LL JUST
CHANCE FOR AN WITHDRAW
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT
VICTORY BARBECUE
RIGHT AWAY...H
ONCE THE EXAM SOIT WON T
1S OVER...

ESPECIALLY
THAT KID
THE FROM SANC...
MOST THE LOOK IN

DANGEROUS 5
WWSOES
HISEYES

DON’T
WORRY. IF
IT GETS BAD,
"LL JUMP IN
ANO STOP N Ae ie P
THE FIGHT. aS Ba. Vi
JUST LIKE ul i ga cere rie
WITH HINATA! ee

..WILL HE? YOU HEAR THAT,

WHEN HINATA CHOJI?
GOT INTO YOU CAN GO FORIT.
TROUBLE, MASTER ASUMA
HE WAS THE WILL BE LOOKING
ONLY TEACHER OUT FOR
FROM
KONOHA...

WHO DION’T
JUMP IN TO
UNLESS Hh STOP IT!
youceT ¥ | HOPE CHOJI
EATEN FIRST, WILL BE ALL
YOU POOR
SAP!
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DON’T
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ME
WAITING.
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SO
IT'S
LEE
WHAT'S IT
FOR?!

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ABOUT
THIS...
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THEN... \ een
WHO'S WANT TO
THE ONE BE THE
WHO GOT ||| FINAL ACT
CAUGHT?! /\'|.— \

AS SOON
AS|SAIO |
WANTEO TO
LEE! I'VE BE LAST...
NOTICED IWAS
SOMETHING
CRUCIAL THAT TAWARTER!
MOST PEOPLE BUT THE
MAY HAVE OVER MINUTE YOU IT’SA
LOOKED. AIM TO MISS, NATURAL LAW...
‘4 ia YOU END UP YOU CAN THROW
Y HITTING THE A STONE ATA
5 THING DEAD TELEPHONE POLE
A(\( CENTER. TIME AND AGAIN
evvi AND NEVERHIT IT...
i MK Y

STOP TAKING THAT GOURD

NOTES!
YOU WON'T HAVE ee
THE TIME TO
CONSULT THEM SUSPICIOUS...
IN THE HEAT '
OF BATTLE!

HOPE \
LEE WILL
BE ALL
« « READ
THIS
WAY

181 “TO BE CONTINUED IN NARUTO VOL. I0! 180