S.H. Figuarts Naruto Uzumaki - Naruto Shippuden

 Naruto is the title character, so here's the best for last! I love the character, and even though the latest show is about Boruto, his son, they put so much of him in it anyway cause they know what the fans want! If you don't know about Naruto, he had one of the most powerful chakra creatures in the world sealed inside of him as a baby, was ostracized by his village and yet kept under watch at the same time. Through trials and the irresistible power of his friendship, he managed to overcome and rise to become a hero of the village. 

 This version is the base form of the Shippudden character: the teenage, pre-Kurama and pre-Sage mode versions. Don't let that deter you though, this is my current favourite Naruto figure and the best engineered and proportioned in my collection! This one comes with a lot of great options and does so many things very well. Believe it! 

Sculpt&Paint: 3/3 Really good job on all the details. The sculpt in this line of figures always has some extra pieces that break the sculpt a bit to gain more articulation. For example, the bicep cut is a bit wild to allow both movement and changing of the parts. It is super well done though and painted. The only thing slightly off about this is the same as the others: the head pieces but especially the hands are noticeably translucent. This could be because they didn't paint but merely moulded them out of a softer plastic. 

Articulation: 3/3 (30 points): Like the other figures in this line, some of the best ankle posing I've seen in any Figuarts, maybe even any import figures! The shoulders are less ridiculous than Sasuke's for the look and still achieve a great range of motion. All the double bends are really good here. The diaphragm has a sculpted shirt piece that looks bunched up, so that interferes a bit with down and back motion, but not much. 

Accessories: 1/1 He comes with FIVE face plates: Neutral, Happy (cocky), Shouting, Shocked (embarrassed anime style) and Nine-tails eyes, which I haven't seen before. He comes with several sets of hands: punching, open, kunai grabbing, jutsu hands and a single open hand for the Rasengan. The kunai is well done. The Rasengan is just ok! The peg for it is nice in that it doesn't rotate and isn't loose, but we've had better, more interesting-looking rasengans with brighter blues and effects to them. 

Fun Factor: 3/3 Amazing figure, It is so fun to pose and the way the legs can be posed locked at the knee but still having a natural bend to them helps keeping good balance. This figure was so well thought out and I'm super enjoying it. 

Verdict: 10/10 Unless there were some major disappointments or a break, I probably would've given this a 10 just from seeing the photos ages before I had it in hand. It's such a great figure and easily the best basic Shippuden Naruto out there. Believe it! 

Back view. The small pouch is 
actually on a ball joint so you can move it 
out of the way. Sadly the back of the headband only
moves up and down so you can't put it into
a side swept pose. This is odd given all the other
figures allow more movement for that piece.

The accessories! 

Nice sculpt and paint! Unlike other versions, they've 
added the under eyelid shading as well as the other
anime eye features. 

Really easy to balance! 

This shouting head plate is a little
too squished vertically for my liking

Gotta get that Naruto run in! 

The crossed arm piece
technology has changed a bit
here but still achieves the desired 
look. 

"I swear Sakura, I didn't do it!!" 

This face is hilarious

Time for one of his two moves: Shadow clone
jutsu. 

Time for his second move, Rasengan! 
The entire show he basically only does these two things with some variations
on the size and number. 

This Nine-tails look is so good! 

Battle of the rivals

The original Team 7 string their best to stay chill

Recreating the team picture from when they were kids!
Not all the facial expressions were available but 
maybe this will be possible with the Kid Naruto and Sasuke
I ordered that are on their way! 

NOW they mean business! 

All four Naruto Shippuden figures I own. 
My newest one is better proportioned and has way 
better looking face options here. He probably 
also has the best articulation, but accessory 
wise is beaten by the red coat Sage Mode version (and damn
that Sage version is so much shorter when you see it in person).