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Naruto Vol. 24: Sannin Showdown!
Score: 92%
Rating: Teen
Publisher: Viz Media
Region: 1
Media: DVD/1
Running Time: 88 Mins.
Genre: Anime/Action/TV Series
Audio: English Stereo
Subtitles: English

Features:
  • Episodes:
    1. Breakdown! The Deal is Off!
    2. Attack! Fury of the Rasengan!
    3. The Fifth Hokage! A Life on the Line!
    4. Deadlock! Sannin Showdown!

Naruto Vol. 24: Sannin Showdown! contains one of the biggest battles the series has seen in the 96 episodes that have been brought to DVD so far. The only possible exception would be Naruto's fight against Gaara/Shikaku at the end of the Chunin Exams. As the name of this volume hints, by the time this DVD is over, we will see a three-way battle between Jiraiya, Orochimaru and Tsunade, but the question is, which side will Tsunade be on?

Actually, that is pretty much cleared up immediately as Tsunade denounces Orochimaru, but Tsunade's plans of taking him out quietly are stopped when Kabuto (another medical ninja and Orochimaru's henchman) realizes that Tsunade isn't healing him, but attempting to kill him. This kicks off the fight between Orochimaru (still unable to move his arms) and Tsunade. Actually, because of Orochimaru's injuries, he sends Kabuto into the fray. At first, Tsunade takes the advantage, but when Kabuto feels he is losing, he stabs himself and sprays blood all over Tsunade and sends her into shock because of her Hemophilia (fear of blood), something that developed when her brother and lover died years ago.

When Naruto, Jiraiya and Shizune arrive on the field, Naruto is surprised to see Kabuto in the fight, especially since he last saw him participating in the Chunin exam. But he quickly realizes what side Kabuto is on, and starts the offensive against the traitor. Unfortunately Naruto and Shizune are pretty much alone in the fight, since the drugs that Tsunade slipped into Jiraiya's drinks the night before are still in his system.

But that doesn't stop Orochimaru as he charges the Toad Sage. So now Kabuto and Naruto are facing off, while Shizune is looking after Tsunade and the armless Orochimaru is taking on the impaired Jiraiya. Needless to say, this is a fast-paced, action-packed few episodes.

When Orochimaru summons a giant snake, Jiraiya's attempts to call on Gamabunta are hindered by the drugs. As Naruto's gets pummeled by Kabuto's various attacks, Tsunade starts to snap out of her daze. When Naruto creates a clone, and uses the second Naruto to focus a ball of energy in one of his hands, the Rasengan finally appears in full glory and Naruto slams it into Kabuto's chest, sending him flying across the battlefield. Unfortunately for Naruto, Kabuto was able to perform one last move before passing out, and that was severing the chakra lines that went to Naruto's heart. But this was just enough motivation to bring Tsunade back into the fight.

When Orochimaru breaks off his attacks against Jiraiya (who was eventually able to summon the Chief Toad) to finish off Naruto, Tsunade steps in and takes on the mantle of The Fifth Hokage and proclaims that she will protect both Naruto and The Hidden Leaf Village. She summons her creature, a giant female slug, and the three go at it.

Like I said, this disc has a lot of action, and the events in these four episodes seem to make up for the massive amount of character development found in Volume 23, so if you want to see some cool jutsus and watch Naruto finally pull off a Rasengan (granted, in a manner that is unusual, and very Naruto), then this is a good purchase for any fan of the series.



-J.R. Nip, GameVortex Communications
AKA Chris Meyer

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