Naruto, Vol. 13

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 13. 2002. 192p. ISBN 9781421510873. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

The epic battle that started in Naruto, Vol. 12 concludes in this book as the last pairing of the Chunin Exam is about to take place. Naruto, Sakura and the rest of the ninjas in training have been wondering where Sasuke had gone to, and whether he would even return to fight Gaara. They shouldn't have worried. Under Kakashi's brilliant tutelage, Sasuke has captured the synergies involved in Rock Lee's moves, and he has incorporated them into his own technique. 

When the most ancitipated fight starts, Sasuke immediately dominates the battle, putting Gaara on the defensive. But even his protective sand sphere is unable to survive Sasuke's repeated assaults, and Gaara is in danger of being defeated when Orochimaru, disguised as the secretive leader of the Sand village, triggers a ninja war. Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke go from being in training to full-fledged ninjas, and they must track down an escaping Gaara, while Kakashi figures a way to save the Fourth Hokage from Orochimaru's deadly clutches ...

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 14.