After the groundbreaking release of Naruto's volumes 16, 17, and 18 last month, the manga series follows up the hype with today's release of its highly anticipated volumes 19, 20, and 21.

Written and illustrated by artist Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto follows the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki, a hyperactive adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and strives to become the strongest ninja in the village.  It also features his interactions with other characters like Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake.

Volume 19, which includes 10 parts consisting of chapters 162 to 171, focuses on the shinobi war as Naruto, Tsunade, Jiraiya and Shizune take on Orochimaru and Kabuto in battle with the final fate of Tsunade hanging on the outcome.

Following this installment, Sakura gets caught in the middle of war between Naruto and Sasuke in volume 20.  With the Sound Four looming close and Lee in the hospital, all three friends hurl toward an uncertain future and find that growing up sometimes means growing apart.

As for volume 21, Tsunade sends a team to hunt down the conflicted Sasuke, who's made a terrible choice of new teammates.  Fans will finally find out if Naruto, Neji and the others are capable of beating the Sound Four.

Meanwhile, here's a list of what's in store for each installment.

Volume 19
Chapter 162: The Heart That Can't Resist
Chapter 163: What Refuses to Decay!
Chapter 164: Medical Ninja!
Chapter 165: Naruto...Attacks!
Chapter 166: A Ninja's Talents
Chapter 167: The Arrangement
Chapter 168: Just One More Time
Chapter 169: To Bet One's Life
Chapter 170: The Battle of the Legendary Three!
Chapter 171: Inherit the Dreams

Volume 20
Chapter 172: Returning Home
Chapter 173: Affliction
Chapter 174: Each and Their Path
Chapter 175: Naruto vs. Sasuke
Chapter 176: Bitter Rivalry...
Chapter 177: The Four Sounds
Chapter 178: The Temptation of the Sound
Chapter 179: Don't Forget...!

Volume 21
Chapter 180: It's a Promise!
Chapter 181: The Fight Begins...!
Chapter 182: The Gathering!
Chapter 183: Promise of a Lifetime
Chapter 184: Sound vs. Leaf!
Chapter 185: In Pursuit of the Sounds!
Chapter 186: Mission...Failed!?
Chapter 187: Praying for Mercy..!
Chapter 188: Hidden Leaf's Shinobi!
Chapter 189: The Power to Believe!


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Viz Media
(Image courtesy of Viz Media)