"Orochimaru's nefarious plans for Sasuke are revealed, and Naruto vows to save his friend. But first he must battle the mysterious Kimimaro, who has deadly past ties to the Sound Ninja Four!" -- Back cover.
This volume focuses on the intense battles between the Konoha ninja and the Sound Ninja Four, serving as a critical stage in the pursuit of Sasuke Uchiha rather than the final resolution of that specific mission.
This volume is part of the first major section of the series, which spans the first twenty-seven volumes and covers the protagonist's pre-teen years before a significant narrative time skip.
