Naruto Sha no Sho: The Official Character Data Book Explained
What This Book Is and Where It Comes From
This is the fourth and final entry in the official Naruto character data book series, published by Shueisha under their Jump Comics label. Its full Japanese title is NARUTO Hiden: Sha no Sho Character Official Data Book — “Hiden” is the shared prefix across all four volumes, while “Sha no Sho” (roughly, “the book of persons”) is the subtitle unique to this installment. Unlike figures or trading goods, this is a softcover reference book: a guide compiling character profiles, stats, setting notes, and author commentary drawn directly from the manga’s canon.
The book was published around 2012, placing it during the latter stretch of the Shippuden era — the period centered on the Fourth Great Ninja War arc. It is not the final volume of the manga, but it is the last data book Shueisha released before the series concluded. The cover features the main protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki, alongside a large red toad, one of the summoned creatures from the toad clan of Mount Myoboku, where Naruto undergoes his sage training. The specific individual depicted — whether it is Gamabunta or Gamakichi — is not confirmed in the book’s external materials, though the large red coloring points toward one of the senior members of that clan.
The Series Behind the Book
Naruto is a ninja-battle manga created by Masashi Kishimoto, which ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 through 2014, spanning 700 chapters and 72 collected volumes. Its two anime adaptations — the original Naruto series (2002–2007) and the sequel Naruto Shippuden (2007–2017) — aired on TV Tokyo and were broadcast across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, building a large international audience. The manga’s global print run has surpassed 250 million copies, placing it among the top-selling titles in Shonen Jump history.
Shueisha released four character data books over the course of the serialization: Hiden: Hyo no Sho (2002), Hiden: To no Sho (2005), Hiden: Jin no Sho (2008), and this volume, Hiden: Sha no Sho (2012). Each was published to coincide with a different phase of the story, and together they form a complete reference across the full run of the series.
Why Fans Seek Out the Japanese Edition
An official English-language translation of this book — published as Naruto: The Official Character Data Book — does exist for Western readers. However, the Japanese original holds a distinct place among collectors for a specific reason: the character stat system. Each ninja in the series is graded across eight categories including ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, intelligence, speed, stamina, hand seals, and total score. These figures are cited extensively in English-language fan communities as a primary source for character comparisons and debates, and the Japanese text is where those numbers first appear.
Beyond the stats, the Japanese edition preserves Kishimoto’s commentary and interviews in their original form, along with the book’s native layout and typography. For readers who engage closely with Naruto’s world-building and lore — whether in Japan or abroad — this volume serves as a direct reference to the story’s official record as it stood before the series reached its conclusion.
Price: $13.76 | View on eBay
