"Naruto: The Whorl Within the Spiral" is a must-read for any "Naruto" fan, as Masashi Kishimoto's return to manga not only gives fans more of Minato and Kushina's beloved story but will leave you wanting so much more.
The couple is already a fan favorite, but the one-shot pulls back the curtain on their relationship, showing their respective lives in the Hidden Leaf Village and how it led to them falling in love. Minato is already a star shinobi within society, as the story opens with him using his teleportation jutsu to save himself, Jiraiya, and other shinobi from two jinchuriki. Meanwhile, Kushina lives a sheltered life, with security guards following her every move to ensure the Nine-Tails doesn't escape from within her. Each reveals their love for the other through the story, with Minato's love showing as he protects Kushina from the Nine-Tails and Kushina using the name "Rasengan" to show that she's found love with Minato. It's incredibly emotional, as Kishimoto proves he still knows just how to play with "Naruto" fans' hearts.
The downside of "The Whorl Within the Spiral" is that it's unlikely to ever be more than a one-shot, despite its popularity within the "Naruto" fandom. The story has only been out for a few days, but fans have already taken to Reddit to disregard "Boruto" and crown "The Whorl Within the Spiral" as the great "Naruto" successor they've all been waiting for. If this is the end of Kishimoto's time with "Naruto," everyone will cherish it, but it won't stop us from hoping the manga artist returns in a larger capacity.
