▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		MASATOSHI KUSAKABE /  NOIZI ITO
		▪	FORMAT:		ENGLISH / B&W / COLOR
		▪	PAGES:		184
		▪	RATING:		NR
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		10/16/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/15/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are charged with helping the young and fearful leader of the village, Shibuki, back to his rightful lands. Little do they know that this simple bodyguard mission is anything but easy!  Rogue ninjas attack and an ordinary assignment becomes a fight for life and death in the Hidden Waterfall Village. Suien, once a most trusted member of the small hidden home, now seeks the village’s greatest treasure in order to make him invincible. Squad Seven will have their hands full trying to teach courage to this reluctant leader and stop the evil Suien represents.  Fast paced, filled with action and comedy, this retelling of the OVA special offers depth and added intrigue to the adventures of Naruto.

This novel is based on the recently released OVA anime special and follows the plot and cannon of the show faithfully. Being a book, it offers inside looks into the thoughts and feelings of the characters otherwise not explored in the anime. The difference between novels and anime in this regard is that added detail novels can offer whereas time constrained anime can not. Like the OVA it can be enjoyed as a stand alone adventure. The secret of the village’s hidden treasure, the coming of age for Shibuki and the immense battles of Naruto and friends with the rogue ninjas are the stuff of high ninja action and escapades.

The novel also holds other added treats and treasures. It includes a full color fold out page, lightly peppered black and white images taken from the anime can be found here and there throughout the book, and as a special bonus, in the lower right hand corner is a series of black and white animated images. In other words, if you flip through the pages just so, you see the characters of Sasuke and Naruto in black and white animated action! It’s an entertaining and nifty addition to an already fun book.

IN SUMMARY:
The tale of the Hidden Waterfall Village finds new depth and enjoyment in the novel rendition of the Naruto OVA anime.