(Jump Comics 2015)

Story & Art by Masashi Kishimoto

Chapters: 6-Ongoing

Summary: It’s been many years since the finale of Naruto, our hero is the current Hokage and people live in a time of peace. All of the original characters are adults now with kids – kids who are about to become full-fledged ninja of their own. But, before that can happen, Sarada – the daughter of Sasuke – embarks on an adventure to discover the truth about her own heritage… what revelations await?!

[MAJOR Spoilers from this point on…]

Review: I’m sorry, but I’m having so much trouble keeping interest in this sequel. I’m going to finish it, but just like the original series it has good chapters and then there’s these chapters, where little things happen that just don’t care enough for.

Chouchou is a little b-word that can’t even feel bad for Sarada when her father gets hurt and her mother gets kidnapped, and at this point I wouldn’t even blink if Chouchou got killed but we all know that won’t happen. And though this chapter we got to see a bit of awesome from Sakura, she’s now put in a position where the bad guy’s life is in her hands, and I just don’t know why she’d even help him. Even if her life is forfeit (given this villain has several minions holding her hostage), the position she’s in when this chapter ends she could literally kill him right now and maybe be fast enough to defend herself and escape.

Anyways, this chapter wasn’t all that bad. It had a fun mini-fight between Sasuke and Uchiha Shin, but that’s really about all that happened plus the Sakura stuff I mentioned. Naruto did get stabbed by a sword though, which was a big surprise, but it was also debunked this chapter that such a trivial thing would kill him. So there’s that.

I am interested though to see how Uchiha Shin has the same name as his son, who is also Uchiha Shin, and whether or not the other minions under Shin’s control are also Uchiha Shin. I was happy to see Sakura get a cool moment this chapter as well. After that dropped ball Kishimoto had last series with that mini arc towards the end where Sakura thought she was on par with Naruto and Sasuke, with the time skip and how mature all of them seem, she actually has the opportunity to prove it now, and I really hope he gives her the chance.

This chapter not a lot happened; it was mostly a mini-fight and set up. At the pace it’s going, I could see this mini-sequel going for 12 chapters, but it really shouldn’t go anymore than that. I don’t think I could handle a full-blown ongoing sequel.

Final Score: 2 Uchiha Shin’s out of 5

Derrick is a born and raised otaku with a love for comics, anime, manga and movies. The full list is pretty long, but that’s just the basics. Stories set in space are his bread and butter.

You can find more of his writing at IndieComix.net

@KazekunForever