The end of 2020 is near and I am squeezing in the last manga volumes - will I be able to finish the whole series or at least half of it by then?! Stay tuned!
We follow several narratives: Orochimaru vs. Sarutobi, the pursuit for Sasuke who is in turn pursuing Gaara, Shikamaru vs. the 9 shinobi, Kankuro vs. Shino.
Volume 14 begins, or should I say continues, where the previous volume left off - Orochimaru has used the reanimation justu to summon the 1st & 2nd Hokage, brothers and founding fathers of Konoha! This forbidden jutsu is very nostalgic but also relevant towards the story, so don't forget it!
Pakkun, Sakura, Naruto and Shikamaru are pursuing Sasuke, but are in turn pursued by 9 of Orochimaru's shinobi. Master strategist Shikamaru decides their only viable option is for him to remain behind and work on a diversion-detainment since his shadow-paralysis technique fits the role best. He ends up being overwhelmed, but Asuma shows up in the nick of time and we get to see briefly what his skills are like.
Honestly when you think about it, the battle between Sarutobi and the two summons is more profound than its first impression - it's a deliberate double sensei versus student. I'm ashamed to admit that because I watched the anime 10 years ago I honestly did not remember how this battle developed. No wonder the ending was depressing - three versus one is not an honorable fight, but neither is revenge an honorable pursuit to begin with.
Despite being the antagonist, Orochimaru remains an extremely fascinating character with a pretty classic pursuit: eternal life at any cost. However, this pursuit is only the external, supportive one. The actual core pursuit is ultimate knowledge. At heart, he is a scientist, albeit a twisted one.
The art of immortality is a transference technique, ultimately at the mercy of acquiring vessels for replacement. Sarutobi realizes almost immediately what Sasuke is being pursued for. He then decides to use the Death Reaper Seal jutsu on the 3 opponents in exchange for his life, a jutsu invented by the 4th to seal the Nine Tails.
I think this was one of the most complex and revealing volumes yet, but I'm sure there will be more like it, as Naruto is a story that is sitting on a very wide and solid foundation.