In Japan, manga are widely read by people of all ages,and include a broad range of subjects: action-adventure, romance, sports and games, historical drama, comedy, science fiction and fantasy, mystery, horror, sexuality, and business and commerce, among others.Since the 1950s, manga have steadily become a major part of the Japanese publishing industry,representing a 481 billion yen market in Japan in 2006 (approximately $4.4 billion dollars).Manga have also become increasingly popular worldwide.In 2006, the United States manga market was $175�200 million. Manga are typically printed in black-and-white,although some full-color manga exist (e.g. Colorful manga, not the anime series).

Naruto premiered in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine in 1999.The first 238 chapters are known as Part I, and constitute the first part of the Naruto storyline. Manga chapters 239 to 244 comprise a gaiden series focusing on the background of the character Kakashi Hatake. All subsequent chapters belong to Part II, which continues the storyline in Part I after a two and a half year time jump. The English adaptation of the Naruto manga is licensed by Viz and serialized in Viz's version of Shonen Jump. At this time Naruto Manga has 42 volumes with 415 chapters.