Naruto Vol. 12
- ISBN
- 9781421502427
- Publisher
- Viz Media
- English release
- Pages
- 192
- Chapters
- 100–108
- Anime
- Season 2 (2nd Stage) ep. 36–83
The finals begin, and the first match is the one promised three books earlier. Chapters 100 to 108 open with Naruto against Neji Hyuga, the fight Naruto swore over Hinata in Vol. 9, and chapter 102 is named for a caged bird, which is what the match turns out to be about: what the Hyuga do to their own. After it comes Shikamaru Nara against Temari of the Sand, and then the book turns to what is being organized outside the arena. The tournament does not finish here, and the invasion set up in Vol. 11 has not landed when the last chapter ends. This is a middle book of a long sequence and reads like one on its own. Viz lists 192 pages at $11.99, and 3-in-1 book 4 closes here with Vols. 10 and 11.
Spoilers — why this volume matters. Tap to reveal.
Naruto wins, and the manner of it is what the whole match is for. Neji is better at every measurable thing, Naruto has to reach the fox's chakra to stay in the fight at all, and the exchange that should have settled it leaves Neji upright and Naruto apparently finished. What ends the match is a sneak attack landed after the result looks decided: the hero of this series beats a prodigy by being underhanded inside the rules, which is the same answer the written exam gave in Vol. 5. Then the volume undercuts itself on purpose. Shikamaru builds a trap across a whole match, catches Temari in his shadow, and forfeits, because catching her had used everything he had. Chapter 106 is printed as 'Sasuke Forfeits...?!', which is the book holding its largest match in reserve. The plot in the closing chapter is the invasion getting closer, not the tournament.
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