Naruto, Vol. 15

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 15. 2002. 192p. ISBN 9781421510897. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

The battle between Sasuke and Gaara that started in Naturo, Vol 14, continues. Gaara has managed to summon half of the demon that lives within himself, but Sasuke is proving more resilient than expected. Using the jutsu techniques he learned from Kakashi, he repels Gaara's attack and inflicts pain on his enemy. This is the first time that Gaara has felt physical pain, as the sand usually protects him from attack.

Gaara's youth is explored through flashbacks, including his growing up as a lonely and dangerous child shunned by the other children, his birth and the death of his mother, and his killing of his mother's younger sister during an assassination attempt on his life. 

Gaara is too powerful, however, and Sasuke finds himself overwhelmed. He is rescued by Naruto and Sakura. Naruto distracts Gaara while Sakura administers first aid to Sasuke. Gaara, however, pins her against a tree, and taunts Naruto that if he doesn't fight him, Sakura and Sasuke will die. In that moment Naruto realizes that Gaara is a lot like him, isolated and lonely. 

Naruto launches attack after attack, and though all of them do damage, they are not able to stop Gaara as he completes his own transformation into the sand demon. So Naruto summons Kichiyose, the giant frog ...

The story continues in Naturo, Vol. 16.