▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	ASPECT RATIO:		4:3 FULL SCREEN
		▪	AUDIO:		ENGLISH AND JAPANESE DD 2.0
		▪	RUNNING TIME:		325 MIN
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		02/02/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		02/08/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

SYNOPSIS:
Sasuke returns at last to face Gaara in the final round of the Chunin Exam with his powerful new jutsu, Chidori. But the match is interrupted when Orochimaru’s scheme to bring down the Hidden Leaf Village is put into motion. While the Third Hokage faces his former protégé Orochimaru and his dreadful forbidden jutsu, Sasuke takes off after Gaara and the Sand Ninja, and Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru take off after Sasuke! Will the Ninja of the Hidden Leaf survive the evil that has befallen them?

Contains episodes 66-78 on 3 DVDs. Look at the EXTRAS section for details about the limited edition.

REVIEW:
The final round of the Chunin Exams and the long awaited battle between Gaara and the cursed Sasuke are only the teaser to the upheaval at hand in this box set. Their duel is grueling, but it is cut short when the village is attacked and traitors in their midst come out of hiding. Now the Hidden Leaf Village must defend itself not only without but also from attacks from within as Orochimaru and the Third Hokage enter into a deadly duel that will see only one of them survive.

With members down and everyone needed for what appears to be war, Naruto, Sakura and two others go off in search of Sasuke who is determined to finish his fight with Gaara. It’s become personal. Everything is on the line in this box set. The match was something else when under the supervision of a crowd and authorities, now it’s one on one and both Gaara and Sasuke playing for keeps. With war having hit and battle lines being drawn, sacrifices are made. Tailed by their enemies, outnumbered and tired, Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru have to make a fateful choice, and its Shikamaru who steps up to the plate to play decoy and delay and take out as many of their enemies as he can to buy his friends enough time to get to Sasuke…before it’s too late.

Meanwhile at the village, the battle between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage turns brutal. This match is not only the most exacting out of the entire series so far, but also the most fascinating. The deep seated grudge Orochimaru holds is at last revealed in full here and he uses secret forbidden jutsu in order to win against the great Third Hokage. However, the Third Hokage didn’t attain that high position by chance. His strength and determination are formidable and he has a forbidden jutsu of his own, one that will surely see the death of either his enemy – or himself.

While that is happening, Sasuke ends up in dire straits when Gaara begins to unleash his true form. His past is revealed with gut wrenching effect. With both Sasuke and Sakura in his clutches it’s up to Naruto to try to save his friends and stop the monster Gaara has become. But it seems he has more in common with his foe than anyone else he’s ever met. Both were bound to dangerous spirits contained within them. Now the battle may prove to be sand spirit versus fox spirit. Gaara has seemingly lost himself in the monster he has become, will Naruto suffer the same fate?

The different battles, specifically Gaara versus Naruto and Orochimaru versus the Hokage, parallel each other emotionally. Both Orochimaru and Gaara fight out of hate while the Hokage and Naruto battle to protect those they hold dear. It therefore becomes a question of which is stronger: love or hate? It will have to be the next box set which answers that question as this one ends on an incredible battle between a fully transformed Gaara and Naruto risking a transformation of his own. It’s incredibly suspenseful anime that involves the viewer into the drama and action of the characters and their various plights and deadly challenges.

EXTRAS:
Bonus features include trailers of other Viz titles, a production art gallery, From Sketch to Screen:  Storyboard Comparison of Episode 78, and a sneak peek at the seventh box set. This set also has a collectible Naruto Storyboards Sketchbook for episode 66. This book contains the compete storyboards for the episode for a total of just under 96 pages of black and white raw artwork with the original Japanese notes. This book is exclusive to this box set. The packaging itself is an appealing dusky red with foil bakcground. The inside is a fold-out featuring full color art work of the characters.

The limited edition of the sixth box set comes with a fun detailed figurine of loyal ninja dog Pakkun. The 2nd of 6 collectible figurines exclusive to the limited edition box sets of Naruto.

IN SUMMARY:
Naruto is amazing suspenseful ninja action that never lets up! This time all out war hits the Hidden Leaf Village while Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto face a deadly challenge of their own with the dangerous Gaara in his monstrous true form!  Naruto is ninja adventure at its best!