Naruto, Volume 37 by Masashi Kishimoto

Naruto is training to master a different kind of attack, the Rasengan Wind attack, but the team led by Shikamaru is looking to avenge their mentor's murder by taking on the two Akatsuki Shinobi who murdered him. But with their mentor gone, they are only a group of three, not four like they should be. Tsunade wants them to stay in the village until Naruto and his team are able to join them, but they are going to leave anyway, with or without Tsunade's permission.

So instead, she sends Kakashi with them as a fourth team member. Shikamaru is an expert in tactics, and he quickly incorporates Kakashi's abilities into his attack plan against Hidan and Kakuzu.

Shikamaru and his team manage to freeze the two with Shikamaru's shadow jutsu, but even as he draws Hidan away from the others to kill and neutralize him, Kakuzu reveals himself to be a Shinobi of many strengths, and many hearts. By gathering the blood and hearts of the Shinobi he defeats, he is able to manifest some kind of shadow creatures from his body that can die on his behalf for him, or kill Shinobi who face off against him.

Kakashi manages to kill one, and Shikamaru and the others of his team one more, when Naruto and the others arrive. Kakashi tells the others that the only way Kakuzu can be killed permanently is to kill him three more times. But Kakuzu thinks Naruto is weak with his Shadow Dopplegangers. Is there any way Naruto has a chance of fighting against Kakuzu and freeing Sasuke? Will his wind power be forced to fight against Sasuke's fire power, or will he be able to fight with him and increase his friend's power?

It was a mistake to read volume 37 without having read any of the ones before it, because I was completely at sea to how the story had advanced since the earlier volume I'd read. Still, once I started reading the story was easy to get into and follow. Once I had the starting point, the story unfolded rather naturally from there.

Naruto may not be the most powerful ninja out there, but he often wins, survives and thrives because he refuses to stop and acknowledge that he's beaten. His incredible force of will makes him keep going until the situation turns out like Naruto wants it to. And although Naruto isn't the main character in this volume, there is no chance that he'll fail to beat Kakuzu, simply because Naruto is determined it be so.

Another fascinating volume in the series, Naruto is in his teens now, and his character design reflects that. Perhaps not so cheerful as when he was young, but this older Naruto is definitely a character to be reckoned with. I'll definitely continue reading more of the series. Despite all the battling, the story is more than about battles.