Naruto: Shikamaru's Story--Mourning Clouds

NARUTO -ナルト- ナルト新伝 [Naruto Shinden] #4

by Masashi Kishimoto, Jocelyne Allen (Translator), Masashi Kishimoto (Creator)

The ninja adventures continue in these stories featuring the characters of Naruto and Boruto !

A new series of prose novels, straight from the worldwide Naruto franchise. Naruto’s allies and enemies take center stage in these fast-paced adventures, with each volume focusing on a particular clanmate, ally, team…or villain.

A rupture in the alliance at the Summit of the Five Kages could be the trigger for the Fifth Great Ninja War! Meanwhile, something is causing Shikamaru and his family to drift further and further apart. But Shikamaru has a very powerful card up his sleeve to bring peace to both the world and his family!

Genres: Manga, Light Novel, Fiction, Fantasy, Novels

156 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2021

About the author

Masashi Kishimoto (岸本斉史 Kishimoto Masashi) is a Japanese manga artist, well known for creating the manga series Naruto. His younger twin brother, Seishi Kishimoto, is also a manga artist and creator of the manga series O-Parts Hunter (666 Satan) and Blazer Drive. Two of his former assistants, Osamu Kajisa (Tattoo Hearts) and Yuuichi Itakura (Hand's), have also gone on to moderate success following their work on Naruto.

Kishimoto's first work as a manga artist was Karakuri (カラクリ?), which he submitted to Shueisha in 1995. This earned him the Weekly Shōnen Jump's monthly "Hop Step Award" in 1996, granted to promising new manga artists. This was followed in 1997 by a pilot version of Naruto (NARUTO－ナルト－), published in Akamaru Jump Summer. In 1998, Kishimoto premiered as a Weekly Shōnen Jump artist with a serialized version of Karakuri in Weekly Shōnen Jump, but it proved unpopular and was canceled soon after. In 1999, a serialized version of Naruto began publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump and quickly became a hit.

Reviews

[Sushi (寿司) · Rating 5 out of 5]

È sempre più interessante questa nuova società di Naruto che è moderna come i nostri tempi ma è ancora a base di Ninja. Un misto tra le due cose. È come se si fosse fatto un salto nel futuro ma rimanendo nel passato. Non so come spiegarvela.
Un giorno davvero ricomprerò Naruto e poi leggerò Boruto. Ma ora si va a Novel. Quindi la prossima sarà Konoha Hidden che mi è arrivata giusto oggi.

[Honeypie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shikamaru will always be my favorite shinobi, after Kakashi. This light novel really played up to his traits and accomplishments. I think the story focused more on the probabilities of a fifth great ninja war, and not so much about Shikamaru's personal life. There were bits, and I just wanted a bit more of it. Especially with him and Temari, cause I'm such a sucker for this couple.

Naruto is awesome, as usual. No matter what people say.

Wish there were more cameos though.

This book touched on the topic of war. And it really gets you thinking. (The current book/chapter I'm reading on War And Peace actually has pretty interesting thoughts on the causes of war). There's really going to be selfish and greedy people around. A lot of the younger generation take "peace" lightly and call it boring. But if they only knew what it took to reach that peace.. Hayy.

Because really, what's wrong with a quiet and peaceful life!?
The hustle life is overrated.

---

"You have to be ready to put your life on the line for whatever it is before you can call that thing a drag. You can't use the word as an excuse to run away. Once you admit that it's a serious drag, you have to do whatever it takes to overcome it. Otherwise, this little verbal tic of ours is just a convenient means of escape."
(Shikamaru to Shikadai)


"It is precisely because the ninja are on the very frontlines of war that they desire peace more strongly than any of us!"
(Naruto during the Continental Summit)

:(

[Ilaria Massariol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questi romanzi mi stanno piacendo sempre di più, adoro l'idea di scoprire di più personaggi che nel manga non si sono approfonditi abbastanza e leggerne i pensieri e le emozioni. Leggere di Shikamaru, uno dei personaggi che più apprezzo in assoluto, e di Temari come di Naruto e degli altri Kage per me è stato bellissimo, ho amato ogni cosa soprattutto leggere della struttura politica complessa che si è creata dopo la quarta grande guerra. Shikamaru e Naruto sono una grande squadra, e brillano come non mai. Li adoro ❤️

[Marinela · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Shikamaru is one of the best characters in Naruto, not just mine but a fan favorite. In this story, there is a jump to the future where Shikamaru is a chief advisor to the Hokage and must prevent a new war from breaking out. Of course, he is just as intelligent and witty as before, while being absent-minded and easily bored. Shikamaru is an excellent advisor, thinking several steps ahead, but is also a family man who unfortunately sacrifices time with his family in order to help Konoha.
I enjoyed this novel as a whole, but there is just something about the writing that makes it a bit dry for me. If you grew up with Naruto, I'm sure this will be a nice addition to your collection, but I wouldn't call it a must read.

[Shaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story and coming to understand Shikamaru's position. I did not like the usual misogyny and childish idiolects that female characters are given.

[Céline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am utterly, devastatingly biased. Naruto being the core of my childhood, made this such a pleasant read. It's like I'm back in my teens, devouring fanfics. I'm loving the thrill of the world again- except this time, it's real. I'll never stop being thankful for the perspective it gave me, even if it's not always easy.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

“All that annoying stuff I tried to run from changed me. I always wanted to turn my eyes away from every hassle that popped up before me, but I couldn’t. And every time I overcame one, this feeling grew stronger inside of me, like I couldn’t just keep drifting along the way I was. I started to feel like I had to stand and face whatever came at me without adverting my eyes, no matter what a drag it was. I felt like if I did that, I’d be able to find my true self.”

I always loved the growth of Shikamaru as a young boy who didn’t care about much to his teen self post timeskip, determined to be the leader he was born to be and make up for the near destruction of his team in the retrieval arc. He’s got huge growth by the time of the war arc, and this is a great furthering of that.

Appreciate this intimate glimpse into Shikamaru and his relationships. From his introduction, his friendship with Naruto was something special. Loved the short brief moment where he’s able to connect with Sasuke for the first time in his life.

[Babi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiquei muito feliz ao descobrir mais um livro sobre a história do Shikamaru! É uma edição muito interessante por não se tratar de guerras ou missões onde é necessário usar jutsus ou batalhas corporais, é uma trama onde estratégias vão determinar o futuro de uma nova guerra. E ninguém melhor do que Shikamaru para orquestra-las.

Gostei por se tratar de uma versão mais velha do personagem, e alguns trechos que mostram a sua relação com a família. Mas gostaria de ver um lado mais profundo da Temari, fiquei com a impressão dela ser uma dona de casa (o que não combina com a personalidade e habilidades ninja dela) e clichês de seu forte temperamento, como se não houvesse evolução desde que introduziram a personagem ainda na época do primeiro exame chunin.

[Angie Karsama · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I didn’t like how they portrayed Shikamaru’s character as an adult in this book. You’d think they would make him more likable or more noble as a protagonist, but the author made it seem like he was only living as Naruto’s shadow and as a terrible family man. Not a fan of the author’s skewed bias against this character, who is actually one of my favorites from the Naruto manga series.

[Liz Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitivamente tiene mi corazón, admiración y respeto a Shikamaru, no todo es color de rosas después de la 4 guerra ninja, lo más difícil después de la guerra es tratar de mantener la paz. Algunas veces sentí a Danzo ay Diositoooo salvanos

[asi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non posso smettere di pensare a Shikamaru e a tutto quello che pensa, fa e prova. È letteralmente me e lo amo. La storia sta in piedi, ma è la famiglia Nara per me.

[Felix P · Rating 5 out of 5]

temari loml

[Trianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

the author just doesn’t get naruto and shikamaru like i do… plot was interesting at least

[AP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally I think this is one of the better Naruto light novels. It's a bit more political and maybe not entirely the usual Naruto jam, but it was pretty good overall and a pleasant surprise.

[Inside a Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished chapter 1...IT IS AMAZING <3 O.O <3
*plz keep to the same standard throughout* XO

[Bethany Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read and I really enjoyed it.

This follows Shikamaru as he sees that the alliance seems to be falling a part. As he digs deeper into this he finds a plot between 2 countries that could spark another great ninja war. Shikamaru needs to find a way to stop this from happening.

It was a fun read. It was interesting to see that Shikamaru trying to stop a war. It was interesting to see all that he was willing to do to get it to stop before it erupts into war.

It was a great read.

[Peyton :D · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love shikamaru so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my guy!!!!!