This week's new Naruto Shippuden episode is all about passing the torch to a new generation -- as the battle to save the Leaf Village continues, it's time for our young ninja to step to the fore, and even Tsunade gets into the spirit of things with a stirring speech about the power of belief before she takes the ultimate gamble: sending for Naruto, the one ninja who Pain and his allies want to get their hands on at all costs... And it looks like Pain and Kakashi are ready to rumble... Hold onto your seats, this is going to be one wild ride...

Catch this and the rest of the series on the Naruto Shippuden page...

Episode 158: Power to Believe
The Leaf Village is under heavy attack from Pain and Konan. Hearing the Akatsuki attack, Tsunade attempts to contact Fukasaku…

Our hero Hikaru has finally made it to the pros -- where you gotta do things like keep track of every little move and game scoring (oh boy, is Hikaru not happy about that!) -- but more importantly, where you get to play Go legends like Akira and his father Meijin Sensei! Too bad that according to the usual rules, it's going to take years for Hikaru to work his way up to play them... or is it? More importantly, will Sai get to play Meijin Sensei, or is he getting left behind as Hikaru continues his climb to the top of the Go world? C'mon Hikaru, let Sai have his moment of glory! He's waited centuries for this one!

Watch the latest episodes of Hikaru no Go in the Hikaru no Go section. 

Episode 47: Into the World of the Pros
Now that Hikaru’s gone pro, he can’t wait to play all the top pros, including Akira Toya and his father, Toya Meijin…

Episode 48: Sai vs. Meijin
The ever-busy Toya Meijin has finally decided to participate in the Shinshodan Series on one condition: his opponent must be Hikaru Shindo…

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone! And as coincidence would have it, today is also a special day for One Piece, for we celebrate the birthday of our hero, protagonist and intrepid outlaw Monkey D. Luffy! There's many reasons why Luffy rocks our world: his boundless optimism and determination, his crazy-stretchy powers, his ability to overcome any situation thanks to the help of the crack pirate crew he's assembled, and his fierce loyalty to comrades as well as innocents needing assistance. Not to mention his, er, incredible appetite! Kind of hard to imagine that such a noble do-gooder is one of the most hunted and feared pirates on the high seas! But such is the price of fame.

Here's a few birthday wishes for the little big man from some folks here at VIZ Media who are intimately connected with One Piece:

"Happy birthday, Luffy! It's party time! Here's a big cake with lots of candles. And don't worry, we also have enough meat to fill you up. Hopefully this is the year you become king of the pirates!"
-- Alexis Kirch (One Piece editor)

"Your Gum Gum attacks are the best in the biz, and your love of meat is quite charming. Happy birthday to the future King of Pirates!"
-- Lex Scheuble (VIZ Media Online Marketing Manager)  

In honor of this special occasion, we're giving you free access to an exclusive Luffy wallpaper -- just visit this page on onepiece.viz.com and enter the password "gumgumbirthday" to get your wallpaper! We're gonna celebrate by watching a bunch of One Piece episodes -- join us and leave some birthday comments for Luffy on the latest episode page!

We're equal-opportunity celebrators when it comes to Naruto and Naruto Shippuden characters – good guys, bad guys, we don't discriminate. Especially when the bad guys are as, um, unusual as Deidara is. So in honor of the explosive one's May 5 birthday, check out the Deidara wallpaper on naruto.com for your enjoyment, and a tribute written by our editor Joel Enos... Don't forget to pass on your wishes in the naruto.com forum, too.

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Happy Birthday…Um…Deidara?

It’s a little hard to say we should all celebrate the fact that a crazy member of the Akatsuki who tried to kill Gaara, starting in Episode 6 [Mission Cleared] has a birthday coming up.

But it would be kind of interesting to see what kind of art project Deidara would come up with if he let his mouth-hand chew up some birthday cake.
 

I bet it would explode.

When it comes to blowing things up, Deidara’s art is definitely magic. We first get a glimpse of Deidara’s modern-influenced creations when he takes off on that flying thing in Episode 3 [The Results of Training]. But it’s in Episode 30 [Aesthetics of an Instant] when he whips out the big bird (so to speak) and apparently blows himself up while trying to vanquish Kakashi and Naruto. The battle that starts one episode before that is one of best ever when Deidara holds off Kakashi Sensei.

Just one guy knocking down all those ninja – including Naruto? That’s a lot of chakra wrangling even for an Akatsuki. But when you find out that Deidara’s actually the youngest member ever of the mysterious organization, that’s when you realize how powerful he really is. The Akatsuki is not a place where you just happen to become a member. Most members have deep grudges against the Leaf  and the political agenda of the Ninja World. For one so young, Deidara definitely harbors both.

His claims at artistry – considering all of his jutsu works of art rather than simply deft uses of chakra – seem pretentious at first. And his irritating speech patterns (that rhetorical hmmm?) might rub you the wrong way. But when you look at how far he’s come at so young – you have to hand it to him.

…just don’t try to hand it to his hand. You might end up getting bit.

-- Joel Enos (Naruto editor)
 

Wedged between May Day and Cinco de Mayo, we've hit May's installment of Shojo Tuesday. This happy recurring holiday marks the first Tuesday of the month, when VIZ Media releases new Shojo Beat manga. And this month, we're chock full of goodness.

Flower in a Storm

Check out the new series Flower in a Storm, the debut graphic novel by Shigeyoshi Takagi. The story of this imaginative romantic comedy stars Riko Kunimi, who is trying to lead a normal high school life when Ran Tachibana bursts into her classroom carrying a gun and tells her that her life is now his. Ran, the richest, most powerful 17-year-old in Japan wants her as his wife, and he's not taking no for an answer!

If Ran can't capture her by five o'clock the next day, he'll give up on her, but he has all that money can buy at his disposal. However, Riko has one trick up her sleeve--she has superpowers!

 More Shojo Beat Volumes

Plus, we're bringing you the latest volumes of your favorite series.

B.O.D.Y., Vol. 9

Dear Valentine,

You saw me at that club last night
And then you got into a fight.
I tried to make it up to you
But suddenly things aren't all right.

I didn't even want to go
And now I hurt more than you know.
You really want to say we're through?
Please tell me that the answer's no!

Be mine!

Black Bird, Vol. 4

Despite the constant danger Misao finds herself in, she's determined to stay by Kyo's side no matter what happens. But a chance meeting with one of Kyo's best friends shows her just how hard a human-demon relationship can be.

Tadanobu, heir to the Kitsune clan, gave up everything to be with his human girlfriend. But now he is being forced to take on the clan leadership and abandon his love--and it's all Kyo's fault!

Crown of Love, Vol. 2

With Hisayoshi as her tutor, Rima attempts to enroll in prestigious Hakuô High. Although Hisayoshi's feelings for her are distracting, Rima needs his help if she's ever going to pass the entrance exam. And when he lands his first job in a commercial, she realizes that he's got the potential to be a star...one bigger than herself!

Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time, Vol. 8

Princess Fuji informs Akane that the Eight Guardians must find the Four Sacred Talismans if they ever hope to control the Four Gods. That's going to be difficult since the location of these sacred objects is secret. Akane's got to be quick, however--Shirin and Sefle are looking for them too.

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 4

Kurumi's got it all--looks, popularity and friends. But underneath Kurumi's friendly exterior is a manipulative girl who'll do anything to get what she wants! And she wants Kazehaya! Will Kurumi's plotting drive Kazehaya and Sawako apart, or will it instead draw them even closer together?

Otomen, Vol. 6

Asuka's protégé Yamato has fallen in love with a girl and needs help winning her over. He pleads with Asuka to go on a practice date with him--and play the role of the girl! Practice makes perfect, but will that be the case for Yamato?

Sand Chronicles , Vol. 8

Revisiting scenes and people from earlier days drives Ann to an impulsive act of desperation. Who will stand by her now? And will she ever make peace with her past...and herself?

We Were There, Vol. 10

Don't regret.
Do everything you can while you still have the chance.
That's what I think it means...
...to have a "happy heart."