Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Naruto Introduction
Naruto Animated
Gifsèclick-HERE-
Naruto Charactersèclick-HERE-
Naruto (NARUTO - ナ
ルト) is a Japanese
manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto with an anime
adaptation. The main character, Naruto Uzumaki, is a loud, hyperactive,
unpredictable adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and
aspires to become a Hokage, the ninja in the village acknowledged as the leader
and the strongest of all.
Kishimoto first authored a one-shot of Naruto in
the August 1997 issue of Akamaru Jump. The plot differed substantially in
that Naruto was the son of the demon fox instead of being the container, and
the story was placed in a more modern setting. This early version of Naruto
already had the ability to transform into a sexy young woman - but when he did
so, a fox tail sprouted. Kishimoto then rewrote the story to its current form,
which was first published by Shueisha in 1999 in the 43rd issue of Japan's Shonen
Jump magazine. As of volume 36, the manga has sold over 71 million copies
in Japan. Viz Media publishes a translated version in the American Shonen
Jump magazine. Naruto has become Viz's best-selling manga
series. To date, the first 27 volumes are available. In order to catch up to
the translated anime, Viz plans to release volumes 16 to 27 three at a time
over the months of September to December 2007.
The first of two anime series, produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex, premiered across Japan on the terrestrial TV Tokyo network and the anime satellite television network Animax on October 3, 2002, and is still being aired. Viz also licensed the anime for North American production. Naruto debuted in the United States on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block on September 10, 2005, and in Canada on YTV's Bionix on September 16, 2005. Naruto began showing in the UK on Jetix on July 22, 2006. It began showing on Toasted TV on January 12, 2007 in Australia, which features the German dub opening, although it could be watched on Cartoon Network in 2006. The first series lasted nine seasons, while Naruto: Shippuuden began its first on February 15, 2007.
The first of two anime series, produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex, premiered across Japan on the terrestrial TV Tokyo network and the anime satellite television network Animax on October 3, 2002, and is still being aired. Viz also licensed the anime for North American production. Naruto debuted in the United States on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block on September 10, 2005, and in Canada on YTV's Bionix on September 16, 2005. Naruto began showing in the UK on Jetix on July 22, 2006. It began showing on Toasted TV on January 12, 2007 in Australia, which features the German dub opening, although it could be watched on Cartoon Network in 2006. The first series lasted nine seasons, while Naruto: Shippuuden began its first on February 15, 2007.
Setting
Naruto has a large number of characters, most of
whom are ninjas. They initially study at the Ninja Academy, where the story
begins, are split up into squads of three after their graduation and become
Genin, rookie ninja. Each squad is assigned an experienced sensei. These
core squads form a basis for the characters' interactions later in the series,
where characters are chosen for missions for their team's strength and
complementary skills; Naruto's squad 7 becomes the social frame where Naruto is
acquainted with Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and their sensei Kakashi
Hatake, forming the core of his world-in-the-making. The other three-man teams
of his former classmates form another such layer, as Naruto connects with them
to various degrees, learning of their motives, vulnerabilities, and
aspirations. The groups of three are not limited to the comrades Naruto's
age – groups in the story in general come in threes and multiples of
three.
In the Naruto world, countries operate as
separate political entities ruled by landlords. Within these countries are
hidden villages(éš ã‚Œé‡Œ kakurezato), settlements housing ninja,
warriors capable of using supernatural abilities in combat. A hidden village
maintains the economy of the parent country by training ninja from a young age
and using them to perform missions for other countries. The ninja of a hidden
village also serve as the military force of their parent country. The leaders
of the hidden villages hold equal status with the leaders of their respective
countries. Five countries in the Naruto world—the Land of Earth, the
Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning, the Land of Water, and the Land of
Wind—are known as the "Five Great Shinobi Nations". These countries
are the most powerful in the Naruto world. They are ruled by a feudal
lord, and the leaders of the hidden villages in these countries hold the title
of Kage. Other apparently smaller nations have been named in passing, in either
the manga or anime, but are yet to be explored.
Plot
Naruto Uzumaki is a young boy who has the Nine-Tailed
Demon Fox sealed within him. Twelve years before the start of the series, the
Nine-Tailed Demon Fox attacked the ninja village Konohagakure, slaughtering
many people. In response, the leader of Konohagakure – the Fourth
Hokage – sacrificed his life to seal the demon inside Naruto when he was a
newborn. Konohagakure, however, regarded Naruto as if he were the demon fox
itself and mistreated him throughout most of his childhood. A decree made by
the Third Hokage forbade anyone mention the attack of the demon fox to anyone.
Years later, Naruto was tricked by the renegade ninja Mizuki into stealing a
forbidden scroll, but was stopped by his teacher, Iruka Umino. That encounter
made Naruto realize he was the container of the demon fox.
The main story follows Naruto and his friends' personal
growth. Naruto befriends two comrades, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, who are
assigned with him to form a three-person team under an experienced sensei named
Kakashi Hatake. Naruto also befriends other characters that he meets throughout
the series. They learn new abilities, get to know each other and other
villagers better, and experience a coming-of-age journey as Naruto dreams of
becoming the Hokage of Konohagakure. At first, emphasis is placed on Naruto,
Sasuke, and Sakura, who are the members of Team 7. Later, Orochimaru, a
criminal at the top of Konohagakure's most wanted list, attacks Konoha killing
the Third Hokage as an act of revenge. This causes one of the three legendary
ninja, Jiraiya to search for his partner Tsunade, to become the Fifth Hokage.
During that search, it is revealed that Orochimaru also desires to acquire
Sasuke Uchiha due to his powerful genetic heritage. Believing Orochimaru will
be able to give him the strength needed to kill his brother Itachi, who
destroyed all his clan, Sasuke goes to him. Naruto does not give up on Sasuke,
leaving Konoha for two-and-a-half years of training to prepare himself for the
next time he meets Sasuke.
After the training period, a mysterious organization
called Akatsuki attempts to capture the nine powerful tailed beasts including
the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed inside of Naruto. Several ninjas from
Konohagakure, including Team 7, fight against the Akatsuki members and search
for their teammate Sasuke. Sasuke, in the meantime betrays Orochimaru and faces
Itachi to take revenge. Although Itachi dies, Sasuke is told by the Akatsuki
founder Madara Uchiha that Itachi was ordered by Konohagakure's leadership to
destroy his clan. Saddened with the revelation, Sasuke joins forces with
Akatsuki to destroy Konohagakure. Meanwhile, as several Akatsuki members are
defeated by the Konohagakure ninja, the leader, Pain, invades the village to
capture Naruto.
