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Naruto [ナルト] #23
Naruto, Vol. 23: Predicament
Orochimaru's nefarious plans for Sasuke are revealed, and Naruto vows to save his friend. But first he must battle the mysterious Kimimaro, who has deadly past ties to the Sound Ninja Four!
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2004
249 people are currently reading
1901 people want to read
About the author
Masashi Kishimoto
1,134 books3,953 followersMasashi Kishimoto (岸本斉史 Kishimoto Masashi) is a Japanese manga artist, well known for creating the manga series Naruto. His younger twin brother, Seishi Kishimoto, is also a manga artist and creator of the manga series O-Parts Hunter (666 Satan) and Blazer Drive. Two of his former assistants, Osamu Kajisa (Tattoo Hearts) and Yuuichi Itakura (Hand's), have also gone on to moderate success following their work on Naruto.
Kishimoto's first work as a manga artist was Karakuri (カラクリ?), which he submitted to Shueisha in 1995. This earned him the Weekly Shōnen Jump's monthly "Hop Step Award" in 1996, granted to promising new manga artists. This was followed in 1997 by a pilot version of Naruto (NARUTO－ナルト－), published in Akamaru Jump Summer. In 1998, Kishimoto premiered as a Weekly Shōnen Jump artist with a serialized version of Karakuri in Weekly Shōnen Jump, but it proved unpopular and was canceled soon after. In 1999, a serialized version of Naruto began publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump and quickly became a hit.
Kishimoto's first work as a manga artist was Karakuri (カラクリ?), which he submitted to Shueisha in 1995. This earned him the Weekly Shōnen Jump's monthly "Hop Step Award" in 1996, granted to promising new manga artists. This was followed in 1997 by a pilot version of Naruto (NARUTO－ナルト－), published in Akamaru Jump Summer. In 1998, Kishimoto premiered as a Weekly Shōnen Jump artist with a serialized version of Karakuri in Weekly Shōnen Jump, but it proved unpopular and was canceled soon after. In 1999, a serialized version of Naruto began publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump and quickly became a hit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
August 1, 2015
I have relatively little investment in Naruto's battle with bone-guy except for getting Sasuke back, but on the other hand... eeeewww.
On the other hand, Shikamaru's battle, like practically all of his battles, are pretty damn awesome. I'm a sucker for a relatively underpowered guy outsmarting insanely powerful foes. It was also my same reason for liking Lee, too, but Shikamaru takes it much farther.
On the other hand, Shikamaru's battle, like practically all of his battles, are pretty damn awesome. I'm a sucker for a relatively underpowered guy outsmarting insanely powerful foes. It was also my same reason for liking Lee, too, but Shikamaru takes it much farther.
March 15, 2022
2/10 stars
Boring. Blah. More of the same: weird jutsus, lots of shouting, pages filled with yawn-inducing battles with predictable outcomes and no real stakes or emotional power. A filler volume if there ever was one. I read this one only to get to the next, in the hopes that this manga will get better again.
Boring. Blah. More of the same: weird jutsus, lots of shouting, pages filled with yawn-inducing battles with predictable outcomes and no real stakes or emotional power. A filler volume if there ever was one. I read this one only to get to the next, in the hopes that this manga will get better again.
March 8, 2019
The end of the hunt is near. Three battles take place simultaneously and are interweaved in another. The most entertaining of them all so far is Kiba's life-threatening challenge and his willpower to do just about anything to keep his puppy safe and to come out alive.
Kimimaro also appears in this volume and isn't a sight for sore eyes with his disgusting ability!
Can't wait for the story to enter Shippuden territory!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Kimimaro also appears in this volume and isn't a sight for sore eyes with his disgusting ability!
Can't wait for the story to enter Shippuden territory!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
August 13, 2016
Keeps getting better and better as the story moves forward and the fights are interesting as each character gets one. Good volume.
June 4, 2022
Kiba and Akamaru stole the show this volume! And Naruto and Shikamaru are getting into intense battles of their own!
January 26, 2021
Loved Shikamaru's fight!
July 5, 2011
I must say it is and it will forever be(fingers crossed) my favorite Manga novel read.
the way Masashi Kishimoto described the characters is just awesome, you get to see them growing up, becoming responsible... powerful...
and it is not just characters,
The plot itself is so much bigger... u simply can't get enough of it. and add to that,
u get more than just entertainment, you learn...
what is
responsibility,
respect,
kindness,
friendship...
so it is not just a manga it is a way of living... The sprite of never giving up!!!
NARUTO!!!
the way Masashi Kishimoto described the characters is just awesome, you get to see them growing up, becoming responsible... powerful...
and it is not just characters,
The plot itself is so much bigger... u simply can't get enough of it. and add to that,
u get more than just entertainment, you learn...
what is
responsibility,
respect,
kindness,
friendship...
so it is not just a manga it is a way of living... The sprite of never giving up!!!
NARUTO!!!
September 20, 2015
I really like Kiba's loyalty to Akamaru in this one, and Shikamaru is always a joy to read. I can't wait to see the Kimimaro v. Gaara & Rock Lee!
July 21, 2025
Que buenas peleas en este arco ☺️
March 1, 2017
In this volume we pick up right where we left off with Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba devising a plan to halt Sakon and Tayuya. Everything goes according to plan until the unexpected Kimimaro shows up and takes control of Sasuke, Kiba gets blasted into a canyon with Sakon, and Shikamaru finds himself locked in a duel with Tayuya. Now all three of them are forced into one on one deadlocks with the rest of what is actually the Sound Ninja Five. Kiba and Akamaru put a gallant fight until Sakon reveals a secret. Shikamaru outwits Tayuya and her flute. All that's left is to retrieve Sasuke back from Kimimaro. But can Naruto take down this Kimimaro alone?
February 2, 2017
A new enemy appears now!!!! Kimimaro is shown as the strongest of Orochimaru's apprentices. Meanwhile, Shikamaru, Naruto and Kiba are engaged in different battles. Shikamaru is my favorite and his fights are always fun to watch. His ability to assess and analyze opponent in the heat of battle is very impressive. Kiba and Akamaru have their moment but Naruto is now getting frustrated with this. With each having their own battle who will win? Will this mission be successful? It seems like it is the beginning to come at conclusion. But who knows?
February 26, 2011
Once again, a little much violence and blood. I don't really love a whole lot of action if there's not any moments of calmness in between. It really takes over my mind, and I don't like the feeling of being taken over. I prefere to be in controll of my own mind.
Read
August 5, 2011I love at least Part 1 of this series!!!! I don't know how Part 2 is, but I loved Part one! :D
December 23, 2022
Chapters 200-208
200: Shikamaru being smart is so sexy omg
That apnnel with akamaru crying breaks my kokoro
And now kimimaro ay dios this is gonna get good.
201: "A horrendous enemy suddenly appears"
Shikamaru thinking Kimimaro is nuts and being cautious and Naruto just screaming and jumping towards him demanding that they give them Sasuke back just to be super punched and sent flying will never get old.
All this shit just for sasuke wtf
202: tayuya calling them homos for doing all this shit for sasuke... she kinda right tho da fak
I love shikamaru so much omg best captain ever
204: that guy kiba had to fight is honestly strong and scary as fuck. what a technique. I forgot how he wins
205: BONES?! hehehehe
206: RUNN SHIKAMARU
207: so smart, so hot, whataman
208: why did it look like the shadow was grabbing her boob?
again... so smart, so hot, my god
200: Shikamaru being smart is so sexy omg
That apnnel with akamaru crying breaks my kokoro
And now kimimaro ay dios this is gonna get good.
201: "A horrendous enemy suddenly appears"
Shikamaru thinking Kimimaro is nuts and being cautious and Naruto just screaming and jumping towards him demanding that they give them Sasuke back just to be super punched and sent flying will never get old.
All this shit just for sasuke wtf
202: tayuya calling them homos for doing all this shit for sasuke... she kinda right tho da fak
I love shikamaru so much omg best captain ever
204: that guy kiba had to fight is honestly strong and scary as fuck. what a technique. I forgot how he wins
205: BONES?! hehehehe
206: RUNN SHIKAMARU
207: so smart, so hot, whataman
208: why did it look like the shadow was grabbing her boob?
again... so smart, so hot, my god
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2021
"𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙."
Naruto's company is doing wonders for his comrades. Kiba and Shikamaru are tough, but they're growing slowly as compared to the others, but they're now fiercer and more confident than before. As they both are facing the two toughest members of the Sound Ninja Four, they'll need help sooner or later. I loved this spontaneously made quintet team, though!
Naruto's company is doing wonders for his comrades. Kiba and Shikamaru are tough, but they're growing slowly as compared to the others, but they're now fiercer and more confident than before. As they both are facing the two toughest members of the Sound Ninja Four, they'll need help sooner or later. I loved this spontaneously made quintet team, though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2021
"Anyway, a lazy daydreamer like me is a poor excuse for a leader... All I do for my comrades is believe in them."-Shikamaru
I have a biiiig crush on Shikamaru in this book.
October 5, 2022
Kiba will always suck.
Kimimaro is amazing. Such a brief period of time he occupies, and yet he is one of the best characters Kishimoto has made.
Shikamaru is great.
Those are my thoughts.
Kimimaro is amazing. Such a brief period of time he occupies, and yet he is one of the best characters Kishimoto has made.
Shikamaru is great.
Those are my thoughts.
August 28, 2023
Not big into all this. The sound nin are only kind of relevant to the current goal but whatever. We're so close to the end of part one so there's that to look forward to.
September 17, 2023
Akamaru 🥺💚
May 13, 2024
*3,5/5
June 17, 2024
3.5⭐ rounded up because this is where it (the mission) starts to get fun
September 7, 2024
Shikamaru le GOAT
February 18, 2025
Wow I absolutely loved to see the action from three different battles pov.
Amazing volume!
Amazing volume!
May 2, 2025
4.5 💫
Loving all the different jutsu!
Loving all the different jutsu!
October 22, 2018
If I hadn't already known who's gonna survive after these battles, I would've assumed that almost all of them are dead by now. Maybe not Shikamaru, he's awesome. A pretty intense volume!
October 9, 2021
Según mi hijo de casi 9 años, es un manga IMPRESIONANTE. Le doy 5 * por él.
July 23, 2025
Llàstima que el manga no es diu Shikamaru
October 27, 2024
I couldn’t put it down! Fantastic storyline.
September 15, 2020
This is a review of the entire series.
Once upon a time, the spirit of an evil Nine Tailed Fox wreaked havoc on Konohagakure; the Village Hidden in the Leaves, killing hundreds of honorable ninja in the skirmish and leaving many children without homes or parents. The Fourth Hokage (leader of the village) unleashes a forbidden jutsu (magic spell/ninja ability) to seal the spirit of the evil fox into the body of a newborn baby named Naruto at the cost of his own life. He did this in the hopes that the boy could one day learn to master the power of the demonic spirit and use it to protect the village and become a great hero of the people.
Unknown to the citizens of the Leaf, the Nine Tailed Fox was being controlled by an even more powerful adversary, a legendary rogue ninja that plans to wage war against the entire world from the shadows. The identity of the mysterious ninja that attacked the Leaf Village using the Nine Tails died with the Fourth Hokage, and he used what remained of his life to gift Naruto with the power of one day being able to stop this evil ninja and a clan of outlawed S-rank criminals called the Akatsuki from committing mass genocide against the many hidden villages and clans of the world.
Because of the evil spirit sealed inside him, Naruto grew up hated by the other children of the village because they believe him and the Nine Tails to be one and the same. They believe he’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, waiting for the perfect moment to kill them all just like the Nine Tails killed their parents and families. Shunned, dehumanized and treated like dirt, Naruto vows to become the greatest hokage the world has ever seen so that he can receive the love and acknowledgement he never got as a child.
On top of the Nine Tails power and the will to never quit, Naruto also possesses the uncanny ability to turn everyone he meets into a potential comrade. He brings out the best in his peers and tries his hardest to make his enemies see the errors of their ways. He disobeys the rules and ignores cultural traditions to try and make changes to the world and break the eternal cycle of war and hatred through his own methods. His determination is infectious to friend and foe alike. He earns himself the respect he deserves by overcoming one impossible obstacle at a time.
Naruto encounters many fascinating and terrifying ninja over the course of his journey to become hokage. Among them are Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto’s best friend and rival who is driven by the vengeful lust to murder his elder brother after he wiped out their own clan in cold blood. Sasuke warms up to Naruto, but his hatred and trauma are dangerous forces that threaten to break his moral code as a ninja and destroy his reputation among his peers.
Kakashi Hatake is a notorious copycat ninja that survived one of the most brutal and devastating wars in history as well as the Nine Tails attack on the Leaf Village. He becomes Naruto and Sasuke’s mentor and teaches them a great number of valuable lessons about surviving in the dangerous world of rogue ninja, bloodthirsty assassins and clans ruled by corruption.
Jiraiya is a perverted yet wise sage who taught the Fourth Hokage everything he knew and he’s regarded as a god among shinobi that’s famous for his heroic actions in the second great ninja war. He takes an interest in Naruto and raises him as a father figure to carry on the legacy of the Fourth Hokage to prepare him for the many dangerous people that want to use his power for their own nefarious purposes.
The Akatsuki is one such group of wicked ninja. Among them are Sasuke’s brother Itachi who murdered his clan and possesses many dangerous techniques involving illusions, psychological torture and elemental manipulation. Sasori who controls poisonous puppets with magical threads, Orochimaru who mastered the forbidden arts of reanimation and quasi-immortality, Deidara who fights from afar using detonating clay and many other deadly foes.
The entire series chronicles Naruto and his fellow ninja comrades growing through countless trials and tragedies. There are hundreds of unique jutsus, clans, and techniques which lead to some very intense, creative and strategic battles between skilled ninja with diverse abilities that don’t always match up evenly. There are clan based abilities such as the Aburame clan’s ability to control insects, the Yamanaka clan’s ability to jump into other people’s minds and control their bodies and the Inuzuka clan’s ability to bond with wolves that learn to mimic their master’s battle skills. Then there’s ocular genetic abilities such as the sharingan which allows the user to create psychological illusions, copy their enemy’s abilities and manipulate elemental energy. The byakugan allows the user to read their enemies vital points and detect their spiritual energy from faraway. The rinnegan grants control over space and gravity and so on.
On top of having countless unique abilities, nearly every character has a tragic backstory that makes them sympathetic and relatable, even the nastiest of the villains have well-explored reasons for following the paths they do and becoming the way they are. One of my favorite aspects of the series is how well it explores the physical, emotional and psychological effects war can have on society and culture as well as the survivors and future generations that are forced to live in them. How it breeds racism and cultural disputes, how it inspires hatred in orphaned children and war veterans robbed of their homes toward foreign nations, as well as how this eventually leads to further death, war, poverty and destruction. Learning to forgive the ones you hate to prevent further conflict and damaging the world for future generations even further is a major theme throughout the story.
Being a massive 700 chapter series, it’s not too surprising that there’s some plot holes and consistency issues. A rule might be stated regarding the requirements and usage of a certain jutsu or ability only for that rule to be repeatedly broken 400 chapters later. Sometimes the characters and rules contradict themselves, sometimes the chronology of certain events and historical facts don’t match up perfectly, the lore and general backstory go through several retcons that change the philosophy and power scaling of the characters and the scope of world-building; the final arc especially drags on and breaks a lot of the logic and rules that the story spent the whole series setting up, etc...
Naruto’s far from perfect, but I remember it very fondly for being one of the first series that introduced me to things like manga and Japanese entertainment in general. It was one of those childhood classics like Dragon Ball, Inuyasha, Yu Yu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin. The series grew up with me and I can’t help but feel grateful to it for introducing me to hundreds of other franchises that I’m still a huge fan of to this day and I continue to find many new ones on the regular. Naruto's journey from a clownish, disrespected outcast into a talented, well-loved and admired hero is a memorable one.
Once upon a time, the spirit of an evil Nine Tailed Fox wreaked havoc on Konohagakure; the Village Hidden in the Leaves, killing hundreds of honorable ninja in the skirmish and leaving many children without homes or parents. The Fourth Hokage (leader of the village) unleashes a forbidden jutsu (magic spell/ninja ability) to seal the spirit of the evil fox into the body of a newborn baby named Naruto at the cost of his own life. He did this in the hopes that the boy could one day learn to master the power of the demonic spirit and use it to protect the village and become a great hero of the people.
Unknown to the citizens of the Leaf, the Nine Tailed Fox was being controlled by an even more powerful adversary, a legendary rogue ninja that plans to wage war against the entire world from the shadows. The identity of the mysterious ninja that attacked the Leaf Village using the Nine Tails died with the Fourth Hokage, and he used what remained of his life to gift Naruto with the power of one day being able to stop this evil ninja and a clan of outlawed S-rank criminals called the Akatsuki from committing mass genocide against the many hidden villages and clans of the world.
Because of the evil spirit sealed inside him, Naruto grew up hated by the other children of the village because they believe him and the Nine Tails to be one and the same. They believe he’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, waiting for the perfect moment to kill them all just like the Nine Tails killed their parents and families. Shunned, dehumanized and treated like dirt, Naruto vows to become the greatest hokage the world has ever seen so that he can receive the love and acknowledgement he never got as a child.
On top of the Nine Tails power and the will to never quit, Naruto also possesses the uncanny ability to turn everyone he meets into a potential comrade. He brings out the best in his peers and tries his hardest to make his enemies see the errors of their ways. He disobeys the rules and ignores cultural traditions to try and make changes to the world and break the eternal cycle of war and hatred through his own methods. His determination is infectious to friend and foe alike. He earns himself the respect he deserves by overcoming one impossible obstacle at a time.
Naruto encounters many fascinating and terrifying ninja over the course of his journey to become hokage. Among them are Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto’s best friend and rival who is driven by the vengeful lust to murder his elder brother after he wiped out their own clan in cold blood. Sasuke warms up to Naruto, but his hatred and trauma are dangerous forces that threaten to break his moral code as a ninja and destroy his reputation among his peers.
Kakashi Hatake is a notorious copycat ninja that survived one of the most brutal and devastating wars in history as well as the Nine Tails attack on the Leaf Village. He becomes Naruto and Sasuke’s mentor and teaches them a great number of valuable lessons about surviving in the dangerous world of rogue ninja, bloodthirsty assassins and clans ruled by corruption.
Jiraiya is a perverted yet wise sage who taught the Fourth Hokage everything he knew and he’s regarded as a god among shinobi that’s famous for his heroic actions in the second great ninja war. He takes an interest in Naruto and raises him as a father figure to carry on the legacy of the Fourth Hokage to prepare him for the many dangerous people that want to use his power for their own nefarious purposes.
The Akatsuki is one such group of wicked ninja. Among them are Sasuke’s brother Itachi who murdered his clan and possesses many dangerous techniques involving illusions, psychological torture and elemental manipulation. Sasori who controls poisonous puppets with magical threads, Orochimaru who mastered the forbidden arts of reanimation and quasi-immortality, Deidara who fights from afar using detonating clay and many other deadly foes.
The entire series chronicles Naruto and his fellow ninja comrades growing through countless trials and tragedies. There are hundreds of unique jutsus, clans, and techniques which lead to some very intense, creative and strategic battles between skilled ninja with diverse abilities that don’t always match up evenly. There are clan based abilities such as the Aburame clan’s ability to control insects, the Yamanaka clan’s ability to jump into other people’s minds and control their bodies and the Inuzuka clan’s ability to bond with wolves that learn to mimic their master’s battle skills. Then there’s ocular genetic abilities such as the sharingan which allows the user to create psychological illusions, copy their enemy’s abilities and manipulate elemental energy. The byakugan allows the user to read their enemies vital points and detect their spiritual energy from faraway. The rinnegan grants control over space and gravity and so on.
On top of having countless unique abilities, nearly every character has a tragic backstory that makes them sympathetic and relatable, even the nastiest of the villains have well-explored reasons for following the paths they do and becoming the way they are. One of my favorite aspects of the series is how well it explores the physical, emotional and psychological effects war can have on society and culture as well as the survivors and future generations that are forced to live in them. How it breeds racism and cultural disputes, how it inspires hatred in orphaned children and war veterans robbed of their homes toward foreign nations, as well as how this eventually leads to further death, war, poverty and destruction. Learning to forgive the ones you hate to prevent further conflict and damaging the world for future generations even further is a major theme throughout the story.
Being a massive 700 chapter series, it’s not too surprising that there’s some plot holes and consistency issues. A rule might be stated regarding the requirements and usage of a certain jutsu or ability only for that rule to be repeatedly broken 400 chapters later. Sometimes the characters and rules contradict themselves, sometimes the chronology of certain events and historical facts don’t match up perfectly, the lore and general backstory go through several retcons that change the philosophy and power scaling of the characters and the scope of world-building; the final arc especially drags on and breaks a lot of the logic and rules that the story spent the whole series setting up, etc...
Naruto’s far from perfect, but I remember it very fondly for being one of the first series that introduced me to things like manga and Japanese entertainment in general. It was one of those childhood classics like Dragon Ball, Inuyasha, Yu Yu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin. The series grew up with me and I can’t help but feel grateful to it for introducing me to hundreds of other franchises that I’m still a huge fan of to this day and I continue to find many new ones on the regular. Naruto's journey from a clownish, disrespected outcast into a talented, well-loved and admired hero is a memorable one.
October 8, 2025
Naruto Volume 23 – “The Akatsuki Makes Its Move”
Rating: Very Good
Chapters: #203–#212
Review:
Volume 23 begins to escalate the threat level significantly with the emergence of the Akatsuki. The villains are presented not merely as obstacles but as complex, menacing presences with their own goals and philosophies. Their appearances inject a new layer of tension, making it clear that the stakes of the ninja world extend far beyond Konoha.
The narrative highlights Naruto’s resilience and his unwavering moral compass. Despite facing enemies far stronger and more experienced, he remains committed to the mission and to the people he cares about. Kishimoto intertwines suspense with emotional depth, allowing readers to experience the fear, anticipation, and adrenaline alongside the characters. The balance of strategy, foreshadowing, and emerging threat makes this volume highly compelling and sets the tone for the high-octane arc that follows.
Rating: Very Good
Chapters: #203–#212
Review:
Volume 23 begins to escalate the threat level significantly with the emergence of the Akatsuki. The villains are presented not merely as obstacles but as complex, menacing presences with their own goals and philosophies. Their appearances inject a new layer of tension, making it clear that the stakes of the ninja world extend far beyond Konoha.
The narrative highlights Naruto’s resilience and his unwavering moral compass. Despite facing enemies far stronger and more experienced, he remains committed to the mission and to the people he cares about. Kishimoto intertwines suspense with emotional depth, allowing readers to experience the fear, anticipation, and adrenaline alongside the characters. The balance of strategy, foreshadowing, and emerging threat makes this volume highly compelling and sets the tone for the high-octane arc that follows.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews