Friday, May 23, 2014

Vol. no. 5 THE CHALLENGERS

In this volume,the story continues as Naruto became intimidated with Lee's behavior upon challenging Sasuke for a fight. Naruto was easily defeated when he attacked Lee. Sasuke was impressed and agreed to fight the challenger. Lee was very good in taijutsu or martial arts that Sasuke can't keep up to his swift body movement. At first, Sasuke thought of it as a ninjutsu or a genjutsu. Lee is about to use his trump card but was halted by a talking tortoise? The next scene was hilarious. 

At first, you'll assume that the tortoise was Lee's master. But, one thing that seems confusing is when someone appeared on the tortoise'sback. That man was Gai, Lee's true mentor. The audience will get the tortoise was the one who actually summoned Gai, which supposedly, it must be the opposite. I think it wasn't explained thoroughly in succeeding chapters. But, I believe that nobody bothers about this as we are entertained with the comical act of Gai and Lee. Who could ever forget the scene when Gai punched Lee for attempting to use of what seemed to be a forbidden jutsu, and immediately, hugged him while crying, feeling sorry for what he did? In addition to that, the faces of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura watching the two of them from the back, were very funny.

The time came when all the challengers gathered in the exam site. They met their other classmates who graduated same with them from the academy.

Overall, there are three challenges each team needs to face. The fifth volume entails the first part of Chunin Exams. It's a written exam and Ibiki's the examiner.

the exam has ten questions, where teh tenth question will be revealed at the near end of the exam. Anyone caught for cheating will be disqualified together with his or her teammates. Also, if any one member fails to pass the test, the entire team will also be disqualified.

When the exam began, Naruto panicked as expected, and both Sasuke and Sakura knew about this, praying that Naruto won't cheat. This scene I had watched in animation, made my stomach hurts for laughing out loud, because as I watched Naruto's expression I recalled myself and my classmates who crammed when the date for departmental test is near to come.

The true objective of answering the nine questions is to test their ability to gather information without getting caught as the exam is not easy to answer. At this time again, Naruto is in delimma. To cheat? Or, not to cheat?


Hinata was concern that Naruto will fail in the exam and offered her answers to him. But, Naruto turned it down because he realized that she will also be disqualified, whenever he'll be caught cheating.


Finally, the tenth question is about to be revealed. However, Ibiki explained first that to answer the tenth question, one must decide of whether to proceed to the tenth question or not. He said tha anyone who answers the question wrong will not only be disqualified but will not able to join the Chunin Exams forever. There were many examinees who backed out as expected. Naruto, on the other hand, yelled inside the exam room that he won't back own even if he fails. Ibiki realized that Naruto somehow lifted up the others and so decided to go on with the tenth question. 

It was revealed that there's no tenth question. Ibiki further explained to them that while the first nine questions were designed to apply their information gathering skill, the last question is to test their willingness to face the unknown. Team 7 passed the first phase of exams along with other teams who decided to take the tenth question. 

The last chapter of the fifth volume tells about the second part of the Chuin Exams. The proctor was Anko, and she brought the 26 teams to the next exam site, Forest of Death. She explained that each team will have one scroll, either a heaven scroll or an earth scroll. Within five days, the team must have both scrolls bringing it to the building in the center. Before entering the exam site, they need to sign consent because death is inevitable inside with their chase of the other scroll. 



Vol no. 4: HERO'S BRIDGE

credit: wikimedia common
Naruto's anger unconsciously awakened the Nine Tail's Chakra, giving him enormous power battling against Haku. The latter wasbeaten seriously and the mask started to crack, and when Naruto is about to throw his finishing blow, Haku's mask broke and his face was revealed.

Naruto did not continue to finish Haku as he remembered him to be the boy in the forest he believed to be a girl, from whom he can relate to his principle, and that is to protect someone who is important to you.

Nevertheless, at this time, Haku admitted his defeat and was ashamed seeing himself to be no longer useful for Zabuza. For him, he only exist as a tool of Zabuza as the latter saved him from a tormented land where he came from.

I believe that one of the most interesting thing that happened here is when Kakashi summoned pack of dogs to track down Zabuza, who's hiding in the mist. Those dogs were amazing. The author was pretty clever to put these dogs in Naruto. I'm totally amazed.

The battle was an epic one, but this is not the highlight of the fourth volume. I think that the story of how Haku and Zabuza met was the most lovable part of the story. Perhaps, yo may wonder if Hau is gay. Well, I think that, again, the author was clever in attempting to stir the mind of the readers who might start to think about the real behind-the-scenes happening between these two. Will Kishimoto write a separate story about them, well it's up to him. But, seriously, the two of them in the story seem to have a romantic relationship that was never revealed. And, will never be revealed, simply because, both of them were dead.

Another amazing part of the story is when the people of Wave country named their bridge, Naruto bridge. Wow! For Naruto's age to be acknowledged like that was pretty awesome. How I wish there will be a street named after me.

The story about Haku and Zabuza ended at the middle part of the fourth volume due to the introduction of the major event tht will soon to happen i Konoha (Leaf Village), the Chunin Exams.

In this volume, we also seen the first appearance of three genins from the hidden village Sand; Gaara, Kankuro and Temari, as ninjas from different villages gathered in Konoha to take the Chunin Exams.

The last chapter of this volume features Sakura's depression in regards to her low self-esteem. She felt weak and useless as most of the time, Naruto and Sasuke save her in times of trouble.

I love the personality of Lee, upon his introduction to the story, and I think that he's one of the reasons why there are lots of people who love the manga series.

The volume ended when Lee challenged Sasuke for a fight.


VOLUME 3      VOLUME 4

NARUTO PART 1 (LIST OF ALL VOLUMES)

INTRODUCTION TO NARUGGER

HOME

Vol no. 3: FOR THE SAKE OF DREAMS

Photo credit: ljskater @ deviantart.com
In this volume, Zabuza recovered from his fight against Kakashi. Gato, his employer, was angry to him because he failed. Zabuza promised to finish his job.


The three genins of Team 7 had another training and that is how to learn controlling their chakra. To do this, they have toconcentrate chakra onto their feet in climbing tree. Sakura was the first one to control it. She left the two struggling to master the technique of controlling chakra.


Sakura and Naruto still having this argument during dinner in Tazuna's house. Inari, grandson of Tazuna was very upset about their efforts. Tazuna explained why he's acting like that.


The volume features Kaiza, the mean treated by Inari as his real father who was executed years back. There are lots of good quotes from Kaiza, although his story is just a flashback. I think he's an imoportant character in the manga series, as I believe that the title of this volume is actually based on his story. The people in this land had been hopeless when they lost Kaiza. Their only hope that  would lead them against Gato's monopoly.


The highlight of this volume was the continuation of the interrupted battle between Kakashi and Zabuza. Actually, there are two fights that occurred simultaneously. The other one is between Haku, the masked boy who save Zabuza, against Naruto and Sasuke.


The volume did not conclude the result of two separate battles. One interesting thing that also happened here is when Sasuke awakened his Sharingan.


VOLUME 2             VOLUME 4

NARUTO PART 1 (LIST OF VOLUMES)

NARUGGER INTRODUCTION

HOME

Vol no. 2: The Worst Client

Hatake Kakashi told the trio that they failed because they lacked teamwork. However, he gave them another chance after lunch but in one condition: they must not give Naruto any food. Kakahi seemed to punish Naruto who tries to steal food earlier during the time they had first attempted to get the bells from Kakashi. But, Sasuke and Sakura defied Kakashi’s order as the two of them agreed that the next attempt will be futile if one of them is hungry. Kakashi heard this, and happily informed them that they passed. The three of them couldn’t believe it,but Kakashi emphasized that team’s cohesion is more important than just following orders. 


Naruto was bored by the D-rank mission assigned by the Hokage and demanded for a more adventurous one. Personally, I think that searching a cat can be done by any local villager which makes it impractical to hire ninja to do that. I never thought that it has been part of the ninja's task for D-rank mission to catch a pussycat. It’s very funny. The Hokage agreed and gave them a C-rank mission and that is to escort Tazuna, a bridge builder, to his home in Wave Country. When they leave from Konoha, two ninjas from Hidden Mist Village, the Demon Brothers, ambushed Kakashi. 


Kakashi was still alive and was able to defeat the Demon Brothers. Knowing that someone wants to kill Tazuna, Kakashi decided to return home as his companions are only genins and they’re no longer dealing a C-rank mission. Naruto stubbornly refused with the idea and wants to continue the mission. 


Tazuna confessed to them why did he lie about the mission. He said that he cannot afford to pay for a B-rank mission. I believe the reason why Team 7 helped him is because of his good intention for connecting his place to the mainland through the bridge he’s making. He also revealed that Gato, a syndicate, oppressed their land for a long time. In this volume, it also features a preliminary battle between Kakashi and Zabuza, a missing nin from Hidden Mist Village. The former used sharingan to defeat his foe. It was a tough battle, but when the time comes that Kakashi is about to kill Zabuza, the latter was saved by the masked boy that soon to be named Haku.


Kakashi overused his sharingan, so the Team 7 went to Tazuna’s house to rest. Meanwhile, Zabuza is also recuperating under Haku’s care. Haku only pretended to kill Zabuza by darting needles accurately to some parts of his neck. But, this leads to an undesirable effect that will need him to rest for a considerable amount of time to gain his original strength. 


The time came when Kakashi realized that Zabuza is alive as the masked boy did not intend to kill the latter but saving him instead.


Photo credit: Cool guyz @ flickr.com

Vol no. 1: Uzumaki Naruto

The story begins with the boy named Naruto who never knew his parents since he was born. He always do unpleasant deeds such as vandalism to get some attention from the villagers in Konoha (Leaf Village), who never acknowledge him as many of them knew that the demon fox was sealed inside him.


In ninja academy, he's always seen as a loser by his classmates because he always fails to his subjects. One specific jutsu (ninja technique)that he could not perfect in order to graduate was the Henge no Jutsu or Transformation Ninja Technique. Could you still remember the time he transformed to a very ugly third Hokage in his attempt to pass the test? It was very hilarious. 


He does some naughty jokes just to please Iruka, his teacher and the one who took care of him since little when he became an orphan. One of these, is performing a very weird ninjutsu called Sexy no Jutsu. 


One incident that had somehow helped him to graduate is when he was tricked by Mizuki, a ninja from Konoha. He was told that in order for him to be acknowledged by the third Hokage, he must steal the scroll of seals. By good fate, the incident had gave him the opportunity to learn the forbidden technique known as Kage Bunshin No Jutsu or Shaodw Clone Technique that advanced him to ninja training. 


In this volume, Naruto met Konohamaru, grandson of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the third Hokage. Somehow, Naruto could relate to Konohamaru of what it's like not to be recognized by the people in the village. Naruto taught him this funny technique Sexy No Jutsu. 


Naruto met Sakura as well as Sasuke and was paired with them because of his overall class performance to balance the 3 man squad, as Sasuke was the top of the class and he is the exact opposite. Naruto had crush on Sakura, but could not get her attention because the latter had crush on Sasuke. Feeling defeated, he ambushed Sasuke, tied him up and transformed like him to meet Sakura in order to learn what does she think about him. Sakura who believed that it was really Sasuke, but actually it's Naruto, attempted to kiss the impostor. But, the funny thing that happened was Naruto suffered Loose Bowel Movement (LBM)before Sakura's lips landed onto his. It's really funny. 


The three of them are not yet officially genins (the lowest rank for ninja), so they need to pass the survival test according to Kakashi, their instructor and a jounin(second to the highest rank for nina). Actually, including Kakashi and the three of them, formed the Team 7. However, it's part of Kakashi's role to test them if they are worthy to become ninja as part of the training. To pass the test, they must get one bell from him. The game was quite tricky because they were three and there's only 2 bells for them to get. It was revealed that the third who won't get any bell will be sent back to the academy on an empty stomach. 


It seems so hopeless for them to get just a single bell. 


The volume ends very badly as they failed to get even just a single bell, and Kakashi advised them to stop pursuing their ambition to become ninja. 


Photo credit: sugarcoatedlollipops @ deviantart.com

Introduction to Narugger

Because of my fascination for this wonderful Japanese manga, I decided to create this blog in the hope that I could guide every Naruto enthusiasts to be refreshed with some of the unforgettable, incredible and amazing events in Naruto world.

Welcome to my invented world, Narugger.I came up for this word accidentally, after combining Naruto and Blogger.

However, this blog only focuses to the Part I of Naruto manga series, beginning from Chapter 1 up to 238, as we could say that Naruto manga series has three parts as of now, including the unfinished chapters at the present time that leads to the paossibility of an additional part to the series. Each volume has 7-10 chapters or even more.

So far, Naruto manga series can be divided into three parts: Naruto Part I, which is the scope of this blog; Part II, volume 28-48, which skips to Chapter 245-454 and; Part II, volumes 49- currrent, which starts from Chapter 455 up to the present.

The scope is only limited to some of the things about Naruto that I wanted to focus on, especially those things that caught my interest and decided to share it with you.

So, welcome once again and enjoy this while reading.

Here are the lists of all posts included to Narugger.



Vol no. 3: DREAMS

Vol no. 4: HERO'S BRIDGE

Vol no. 5: THE CHALLENGERS

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