SYNOPSIS:
The squad mates face their deadliest challenge yet as the Chunin Exam continues. Deep in the Forest of Death, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura must battle their rival genin to collect the scrolls of Heaven and Earth. It's no easy task, but is there an even darker force at work? Something evil is afoot, and it's after Sasuke!

Contains episodes 27-38 on three DVDs.

REVIEW:
The second stage of the Chunin Exams ushers in the second season of the smash hit anime series. The groups of three must enter in the Forest of Death and fight each other for possession of the Heaven and Earth scrolls. This gruelling task will see abilities tested, emotions pushed to the limits, and lives lost.

With each arc, Naruto gets more intense. This box set covers the entire arc of the second exam and encompasses all the Forest of Death battles, adventures and mystery. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura go up against formidable opponents such as those from the Sound Village and the evil and incredibly creepy Ochimaru who is an enemy to even the Hokage! This introduces a darker storyline underlying the Chunin exams as an enemy is revealed but his plot remains unknown. His true purpose overall has yet to be confessed but he seems very interested in Sasuke. Ochimaru is terrifying, but the transformation he causes in Sasuke is just as frightening and the extent of what he’s done to the brave and stoic ninja has yet to be fully unveiled.

He’s not the only formidable foe. The Sand Village opponents are seen in battle and they show abilities far advanced of any of the other young shinobi. With their appearance and that of Ochimaru, bodies have been discovered with their faces missing. An evil threat is rising against the just shinobi and the Hokage, but who all are involved? Spies are revealed to the viewer, but not uncovered by the Leaf Village. This box set ends with the second stage finished and the survivors forced to face off in a preliminary elimination match before entering the third stage of the Chunin exams. The first battle is between Sasuke and one of the Sound Village ninjas. Just what will happen when Ochimaru’s interference comes to light?

There’s a lot of suspense and action in this latest arc. The intrigue is fantastic with this new and ominous enemy working from the shadows. It now has the longer story of the Chunin exams matched with the mystery and suspense of Ochimaru’s plot.

The start of Naruto’s second season also sees the introduction of a new opening and ending theme. The ending theme animation is a riot with both Ino and Sakura swaying and singing the theme song. The second season also begins with a hilarious skit by Naruto and friends at the start of episode 27, with them announcing Naruto’s new air time. Remember, this is Naruto the anime uncut, unedited, and completely original. It shows the brutal violence of the battles in the Forest of Death without any editing, no shying away from the ruthlessness the ninjas face. And it also holds the original eye catches, intros and ending promos of the original Japanese airing.

EXTRAS:
Bonus features include trailers of other Viz titles, a production art gallery, From Sketch to Screen:  Storyboard Comparison of Episode 28, and a sneak peek at the fourth box set. This set also has a collectible Naruto Storyboards Sketchbook for episode 28. This book contains the compete storyboards for the episode for a total of 50 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 eye-catching shiny metallic rose. The inside is a fold out that contains all three discs and features large images of Naruto, his friends, and their enemies from this set of episodes.

IN SUMMARY:
Naruto Box Set 3 uncut holds the entire second stage of the Chunin exams, the revelation of a dangerous new enemy, and a startling transformation in Sasuke. It’s more tense, more suspenseful, and has deadlier action than ever before.

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