Naruto Manga: Where to Start Reading
Read Naruto’s original ninja story from the beginning. Understand the 72-volume order and how it relates to Shippuden, Boruto and collected editions.
This guide explains the premise and starting point without revealing the ending.
- Creators
- Masashi Kishimoto
- Status
- Completed
- Original start
- 1999
- First step
- Chapter 1 / volume 1
- Original volumes
- 72
What is Naruto about?
Naruto, by Masashi Kishimoto, follows a young ninja seeking recognition and aspiring to become his village’s Hokage. The opening establishes his goal and the world he must navigate. This guide does not reveal later identities, battles or the ending.
The official Naruto overview dates the original manga to 1999–2014 and gives 700 chapters. The collected original series reaches volume 72; VIZ’s final-volume listing credits Kishimoto for story and art.
Naruto reading order at a glance
| Material | Where it fits | First-reader decision |
|---|---|---|
| Original Naruto manga | The complete main series | Start with chapter 1 or volume 1 and continue to volume 72 |
| Naruto / Naruto Shippuden anime labels | Animated versions of parts of the story | The Shippuden name does not restart the original manga’s numbering |
| Boruto | A separate continuation to explore later | Finish the original story first if you want its context |
| Guides, novels and other extras | Supplementary material | Identify the exact title before adding it to your reading plan |
You do not need to read an arc summary to learn this order. Follow the main sequence before looking up guides that may reveal later events.
Does Naruto Shippuden need a separate manga collection?
The original manga continues as Naruto across its 72-volume sequence. Shippuden is a label readers encounter in the anime adaptation; do not look for a second original manga numbered from volume 1 merely because the animation changes title.
If you switch from watching to reading, identify the last story event you reached and the corresponding manga chapter. Avoid episode-to-chapter shortcuts that ignore adaptation differences or disclose future events.
Choose a format you can keep reading consistently
| Format | Advantage for the reader | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Individual numbered volumes | Clear incremental reading order | The next volume belongs to the same language and edition |
| Multi-volume collections | Fewer physical books | The original volumes included, rather than just the cover number |
| Licensed digital chapters | Device access and chapter numbering | Current catalogue, territory and access conditions |
VIZ’s official chapter page provides an English reading route. For a Spanish edition in Spain, Planeta’s first-volume catalogue entry explicitly identifies volume 1 of 72. These are publisher references; availability and access need checking in your location.
Is Naruto a useful first manga for you?
Choose it if you want a completed adventure with training, rivalry and a larger cast to follow. Its length is a real commitment: completing a first volume is a better initial decision than buying the entire series before trying it.
If you prefer a shorter, concentrated conflict, compare Death Note’s 12-volume main story. If you want an adventure that is still ongoing, compare One Piece. These alternatives answer different preferences rather than a universal ranking.
Try a simple first-volume reading check
After a chapter, describe the protagonist’s immediate goal and one obstacle in your own words. If the panel order is unfamiliar, use the visual reading exercise. To practice planning an original scene, move to the manga story exercise.
Return to the homepage’s series collection to choose by length and the kind of conflict you want.
Frequently asked questions about Naruto
Sources and editorial review
Reviewed
- Original Naruto manga: dates and chapter count — NARUTO Official
- Naruto Volume 72 and credits — VIZ Media
- Official English Naruto chapters — VIZ Media
- Naruto Spanish edition, Volume 1 of 72 — Planeta Cómic
Editorial review: Doni Hernandez. Sourcing and corrections policy. Report an error.
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