Shinobi Undercover 1

しのびごと [Shinobigoto] #1

by Ippon Takegushi, Santa Mitarashi (Illustrator)

Ein Ninja undercover – zwischen Schatten und Schulbank

Eigentlich denkt man, Ninjas gehören schon lange der Vergangenheit an! Weit gefehlt, denn auch im modernen Japan sind Ninjas noch im Verborgenen aktiv. Der junge Ninja Yodaka erhält einen ungewöhnlichen Er soll die schüchterne Schülerin Aoi beschützen – um jeden Preis. Doch wie soll er in der chaotischen Welt einer Highschool unerkannt bleiben und gleichzeitig seine Mission erfüllen? Zwischen sozialen Ängsten, Schulalltag und Ninja-Pflichten entspinnt sich eine spannende und humorvolle Geschichte.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Young Adult

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I love this shy, little ninja.

Like, this is WAY better than I was expecting???? The genre is pretty over-saturated with mid stories of powerful kids going undercover as high school students.

But, this is so pleasantly surprising???

Yodaka is an antisocial, pocket-size king. He does NOT want to make friends. He’s so awkward and can’t hold a conversation. He’s a total shy boy.

So, a mission to go undercover as a high school student and act as a secret bodyguard for a classmate is a nightmare. He’s having a bad time—and it’s so funny.

But, WAIT—there’s more.

The girl he’s supposed to guard, Aoi Mukai, is a total klutz. She attracts attention wherever she goes. Further, she’s got a strong sense of justice that compels her to intervene whenever she sees something bad happening. She’s a nightmare client to have to protect—especially for a shy ninja.

It’s incredible.

The situational humor paired with the dynamic, captivating art style makes for such an entertaining reading experience.

I can’t recommend this enough~

[Maxime Facon Lisiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the contrast between the normal daily life and the protection that has to stay low-key. It strongly reminded me—and for good reason—of Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards.
I also like the detail of their eyes and expressions changing when they get serious about fighting. The first time things got real, it was actually quite unexpected.
As soon as Miyake entered the story, I knew right away he was an enemy ninja.
The pacing was solid, the art was good. I really enjoyed it.
🇫🇷
J'aime bien la différence entre un mode de vie normal et protection qui doit rester discrète. Ça m'as fait fortement penser et c'est normal à Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards.

J'aime bien également le détail de changer leurs yeux et leur expression quand ils deviennent sérieux pour combattre. Et la première fois c'est devenu sérieux. On s'y attendait pas trop

Dès que miyake est intervenu dans l'histoire, j'ai su tout de suite que c'était un ninja ennemi.

C'était bien rythmé. Bien dessiné. J'ai bien aimé.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yodaka is a young top ninja. He’s great at his job, but has no social skills. He can’t really talk to anyone for being so shy. So his new assignment is the worst for him. He has to infiltrate a high school to protect a first year school girl.

Aoi Mukai is a bit of an oddball, clumsy and doing her own thing. She’s been protected by ninjas all her life in secret, but we don’t learn why. But there are enemies everywhere in school and out. And Yodaka isn’t the only ninja protecting her either. There are two who have been assigned to become her best friend and boyfriend to be. But she instantly likes Yodaka, and becomes his friend instead, much to everyone’s surprise.

This was a good start to a series. Lot of action and fun bits. Yodaka starts out as a total shut-in, but realises to his surprise that he’s starting to like school. I’d read more. Art was good.

I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[T.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun new series! What's deadlier - ninja assassins or social anxiety? A cute and corny kid is about to find out when he's assigned to protect a klutzy heiress. He'll have to overcome rogue Shinobi and invitations to karaoke if he wants to keep her safe. We all just want to fit in - even when we're working undercover. I like how the faceless operator guiding him through the mission is like that voice in your head saying, "What are you so worried about? Just do it." Sticking around for the next one!

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yodaka is happy in his role as a ninja with the Public Safely force. He works undercover and never has to interact with anyone. For someone as shy and awkward as he is, it is the perfect job. But his new role will be quite a stretch. He has been assigned as bodyguard to a girl in High School. He will have to attend school with her and interact with actual people! Things get even more tricky when his charge ignores the ninjas planted to be her "boyfriend" and "best friend" and gloms onto him instead. Can he manage the toughest assignment of all? To be her friend. Super cute.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yodaka is a public safety ninja who is really good at ninja-ing, but suffers from extreme social anxiety. Unfortunately for him, the high school girl he's assigned to protect adopts him as her friend and he must...gulp...talk to people. And go to karaoke. And stop assassins but honestly that part doesn't bother him.

Super cute and it was nice to see Yodoka learning to make friends with his fellow ninjas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viz Media for the review copy.

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this. Main character Yodaka's social anxiety is over the top. I guess it's supposed to be funny that the greatest (teenage) ninja shakes and stutters when anyone speaks to him, but it's not a particularly clever joke. I also could have done with a scrap of explanation for why this plot is even happening. Why are the greatest (teenage) ninjas protecting one particular teenage girl, and why must she be kept entirely oblivious to their protection? This is probably going to be some kind of long, drawn out mystery, but I can't imagine any payoff that will be worth waiting even a few pages, much less for chapters and chapters on end.

[Emma]

Hyper classique mais très fun je lirais la suite

[Kerowyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pas mal mais un peu concon quand même parfois

[SamiLyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely more of a teen book which is perfect considering I read it as a potential library purchase

[⋆˚₊dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start to a new series. I'll definitely continue getting this for the library.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.

Socially anxious ninja gets an assignment that is his worst nightmare: guarding a high school girl. His anxiety is so relatable and Mukai, his assignment, is accident prone but adorable. There’s just enough action to keep the pacing interesting, and Yodaka is, of course, an impressive fighter. The constant banter with their handler, “Operator”, is fantastic, and something I think many folks would wish they had all the time — a guiding voice in their ear telling them what to do and how to react. This would be a great read for teen libraries.

Full review for Booklist Magazine

Sara’s Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

[liz gopsill · Rating 4 out of 5]

review incoming. 3.5

[Sophia Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

WAIT this is really cute. i love the concept and already love the MC and the love interest i mean the girl! this should be a fun ride and i cant wait to see how yokada is going to handle all of this! HIBARI IS COOL AS WELL. GOATED ASS NINJAS