Fans of Naruto The absence was felt especially strongly after its conclusion in 2014, and although the Boruto sequel series has been gaining momentum recently, fans are still yearning for Shonen Jump Ninja Magic. An authentic yet modern twist on ninja-themed manga has arrived with Underground Shinobi by Ippon Takegushi and Santa Mitarashi, the duo behind Candy Flurry.
Shinobi Undercover is the second ongoing series in Weekly Shonen Jump and the duo's third joint project. It combines comedy and action, truly a winning combination for a Shueisha staple. The series is shaping up to represent A realistic vision of modern Japan, where lurking in its shadows is an elite class of secret agents. The basic skills have not changed since Taiheiki was written. Despite taking a slightly more realistic approach, Shinobi Undercover can certainly satisfy the ninja manga cravings of long-time Naruto fans.
Shinobi Undercover Fills Shonen Jump's Ninja Gap
Just enough thrilling action scenes to keep fans excited
Shinobi Undercover released its first chapter to readers worldwide in Weekly Shōnen Jump on Sunday, September 15, 2024. This chapter presents a fantastical and extreme vision of shinobi, masters of ninjutsu, who never disappear even in the present, instead work to maintain peace as the “Public Safety Ninja Force”.
The vision of ninjas operating in the shadows, rather than the more epic battles of Naruto, is almost reminiscent of Chainsaw Man's “Public Safety” division; the comparison is especially interesting considering the protagonist of Shinobi Undercover.
The main plot of Shinobi Undercover begins with Yodaka and his team being assigned to protect a wealthy high school girl who appears to be hiding dark secrets.
Yodaka is hopeless at interacting with strangers when they are not the target of his mission, but this social anxiety is tested when he and his shinobi friends Hibari and Umineko are hired as bodyguards for a high school girl, Aoi Mukai. Although Aoi is wealthy and privileged, she is also very perceptive and aware of the possibility that others are secretly making her life easier.
As it turns out, she's also hopelessly awkward, an approachable quality that, coupled with her warmth, gives Yodaka hope to function well despite the social pressures of attending school with secret strangers, and also makes up most of the comical moments in the series.
Ninja action and school life blend in Shinobi Undercover
A blown cover means mortal danger or abandonment.
The allure of high school students hiding incredible skills or powers is a big feature of shonen manga, but that's because It resonates with viewers time and time again.from Jujutsu Kaisen to Dandadan. Shinobi Undercover is no different in this case, with Yodaka yearning for friendship despite his limitations, expected to maintain his cover while his colleagues become Aoi's best friend and boyfriend respectively. Despite the silly premise of bodyguards hiding their roles while keeping their targets safe, Shinobi Undercover takes ninja action to the eleventh level when the moment counts.
The opening of Shinobi Undercover shows Yodaka as a fierce spy, taking out countless targets out of frame, serving as a reminder that, as a ninja, he must operate in the shadows. However, as the series shows, this often means making judgment calls, especially with the humorous and contradictory advice from his handlers, but it eventually manifests itself in the latter half of the first chapter when Yodaka fights back against one of Aoi's attackers.
Suddenly, all social barriers disappeared and Yodaka becomes a nimble fighting machineable to hide before ambushing the opponent who had previously sedated him. Thus, a very different perspective on Naruto, and a more realistic portrait of the ninja emerges, but still similarly exaggerated as in The Elusive Samurai.
Yodaka's exploits as a hopelessly clumsy young ninja are a distinct appeal to action-hungry shounen readers. a small part of life. The intrigue of why Aoi is so heavily guarded, what happened to her parents, and what her wealth means to the world of Shinobi Undercover raises a lot of questions in the next chapter, perhaps the first of which is, isn't there already a modern ninja manga?
Don't confuse Shinobi Undercover with Under Ninja
Confusion is understandable
For readers of Kodansha under NinjaFeaturing a 17-year-old boy lacking social graces, undermining his status as a ninja, and being tasked with infiltrating a high school, it's easy to dismiss Shinobi Undercover as a derivative story. With only one chapter released, this might be a knee-jerk reaction.
Under Ninja is written for seinen readers, a group of readers who are generally more interested in mature themes, introspective characters, and intellectual stories with a keen attention to detail. At the same time, Shōnen like Shinobi Undercover can thrive with comedy, drama, and thriller genres. However, like any other series, Shinobi Undercover deserves more than one chapter to shape its direction and inspiration, and for now, comparing it to Naruto is only accurate because both are Shonen Jump ninja manga.
With Takegushi and Mitarashi's previous collaboration involving candy that grants magical powers, it's not unreasonable to expect even more bizarre and decidedly quirky twists in the near future. Underground Shinobi It may only be one chapter, but considering the rapidly changing future landscape of Weekly Shonen Jump, it could become a huge hit in the future with the right readership.
