Naruto Volume 3, Let The Battle On The Bridge Commence (Naruto Vol. 3 - Masashi Kishimoto)

Member Name: shellbypops

Product:	Naruto Vol. 3 - Masashi Kishimoto
Date:	23/08/09 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: exciting, good characters

Disadvantages: a bit slow in places

Naruto Volume 3 is the continuation of Naruto the manga series. The story and art are by Masashi Kishimoto and the series is published in English by Viz Media. The series is part of the Shonen Jump collection. The front cover features a picture of Kakashi and Naruto.

The volume begins where the last left off, with Kakashi about to explain the training exercise to Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. He explains that to complete the training exercise they must climb trees, however there is a catch they aren't allowed to use their hands. Kakashi explains that to succeed they have to focus all their chakra into the soles of their feet and then use that power to cling to the trunk. He also explains the goal of the exercise, to gain greater control over your chakra. He also says that if you can master the control needed for this exercise that no jutsu should ever be beyond you. Surprisingly Sakura is the first to master this new skill when she succeeds in climbing the tree on her first try.

Elsewhere Gato is angry about Zabuza's failed attempt to assassinate Tazuna, the bridge builder, and so he goes to Zabuza to kill him. Haku prevents this and when he easily subdues both of Gato's bodyguards, Gato leaves saying how this is Zabuza's last chance.

Back in training Naruto and Sasuke are still trying to climb the trees with neither having much success. To everyone's surprise Naruto asks Sakura for advice and it is clear that he is growing up.

The next day Sakura is sent to guard Tazuna whilst Naruto and Sasuke cntinue their training. When the day of work is over Tazuna and Sakura walk back through the village and it is revealed how run down it has become since Gato moved in, with little food in the shops and much thievery as noone has enough money to buy things.

Sasuke and Naruto keep competing to be the first to succeed in training and continue to compete when they return to the house with both trying to eat more than the other and both vomiting as a result. In an attempt to change the subject Sakura asks why someone's face has been removed from a picture. The tragic story of Kaiza who was like a father to Inari, Tazuna's grandson. Inari first met Kaiza when he saved him from drowning and immediately began to look up to him. Kaiza was a great man who risked his own life to save the village and he was an inspiration to the people, the hero of teh village. However when Gato came to the village he had Kaiza put to death in front of everyone and since then Inari hasn't believed in hero's. After hearing the story Naruto sets out to train some more, determined to prove to Inari that there are still heroes in the world.

The next morning Naruto wakes up outside having fallen asleep there from exhaustion after training. He meets Haku who he believes to be a girl and Haku asks him if there is anyone special in his life and says that when a person is protecting something truly precious to them they truly become a strong as they can be. As Haku is laving he shocks Naruto by telling him that he's a boy.

That evening Sasuke and Naruto return to the house exhausted after finally completing the training and Inari yells at them. When Naruto gets angry and yells back Inari leaves crying. Later Kakashi goes to find Inari and tells him how Naruto grew up without a family or friends and how noone accepted himand that everything he does is to achieve his dream, to make it so people notice and acknowledge him. He explains how Naruto knows how he feels better than anyone else.

The next morning Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura and Tazuna travel to the bridge to discover the workers have been attacked. Haku and Zabuza arrive and a battle commences.

Back at the house Gato's men have come to kidnap Tazuna's daughter. Inari yells at them to leave and Naruto arrives and saves him from being killed. Naruto then heads out to the bridge.

At the bridge Haku and Sasuke fight evenly until Haku uses his ice crystal mirror jutsu which gives him an advantage. Naruto then arrives and instead of staying outside the mirrors goes inside them. Sasuke attempts to destroy them with his fireball jutsu but ti barely makes a scratch and Naruto also fails to destroy them with shadow doppel-gangers. It is revealed that Haku's jutsu is a Kekkei Genkai, a bloodline trait, and as such Kakashi cannot copy it with his Sharingan.

Haku tells Naruto and Sasuke that he would prefer not to have to kill them but that he will kill them to protect his dreams. Outside the mirror Kakashi decides to use his Sharingan and the battle between him and Zabuza escalates and Zabuza uses the art of hiding in the mist which makes it almost impossible for Kakashi to determine his location.

Inside the mirrors Haku launches an attack at Naruto but Sasuke jumps in the way. He then collapses and dies in Naruto's arms. The volume ends shortly after when Naruto yells that he will kill Haku.

Naruto is probably the best ninja manga series and i would recommend it to everyone.

Summary: Naruto, the action packed ninja manga continues