Shikamaru's team is out for revenge against their mentor's murderers. Tsunade tries to stop them, but Kakashi wants to help! As the divide among the ninja grows, the mysterious Akatsuki organization continues their brutal attack on the tailed spirits, the Biju, and the young ninja who host them, including Naruto! He's older and stronger, but has Naruto trained enough?!

In the village of Konohagakure, school is literally a battlefield where classmates are ninjas in training competing to become the greatest ninja in the land.

"Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura have passed the final test to become junior ninja - but now the challenge begins. Tired of menial tasks, the young ninja ask for a tougher assignment, and find themselves - together with their teacher, Kakashi - bodyguarding a cranky old man from the Land of Waves. But Tazuna the bridgebuilder is in more danger than anyone realizes : he's the target of elite ninja assassins, including Zabuza, 'the demon', and our heroes...

"In another world, ninja are the ultimate power--and in the village of Konohagakure live the stealthiest ninja in the world. But twelve years ago Konohagakure was attached by a fearsome threat--a nine-tailed fox demon which claimed the life of the Hokage, the village champion. Today, peace has returned, and a troublemaking orphan named Uzumaki Naruto is struggling to graduate from the ninja Academy. His goal: to become the next Hokage. But unknown...

Morphing out of control, a stronger-than-ever Naruto turns on his own teammates. Orochinaru triggers a frightening change in Naruto and revelas a sinister plot that has been the death of far more people than anyone knew.

In order to face off against Madara and his newly acquired Six Paths power, Guy pulls out his most dangerous move. Guy has to put his very life on the line, but is it enough against Madara? Meanwhile, as Naruto fights on the edge of death, he meets a special figure who may change the entire direction of the battle!" -- page 4 of cover.