Viz sent out a press release this afternoon trumpeting Naruto’s placement at #25 on the USA Today Best Seller list. Our memory may be a little shaky, but that strikes us as the highest placement ever. EDIT: Actually Naruto had hit #21 before, so this is merely another very strong showing. NARUTO is however the only manga ever to chart this high.

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that the recently released volume 13 of the popular NARUTO™ manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens), which is published under the company’s SHONEN JUMP™ imprint and also serialized in the monthly SHONEN JUMP magazine (also rated ‘T’ for teens), placed at Number 25 on the USA Today Top 150 Best Seller List through the week of March 11.

The list (available on USA Today’s website at www.usatoday.com) is based on an objective computer analysis of retail sales from 4,700 independent, chain, discount and online booksellers nationwide. In 2004 NARUTO was the first manga title to be featured on the USA Today Top 150 and has placed repeatedly on the list since, most recently in September 2006. The NARUTO brand has become one of VIZ Media’s most viable in terms of sales. The series, by Masashi Kishimoto, depicts the adventures of a young boy who trains to become a ninja, and the series has sold more than 66 million copies in Japan since its 1999 debut. In North America, a massive amount of fan interest continues to drive the success of both the manga and the anime series, seen on Cartoon Network, the Toonami Jetstream web site, and on DVD distributed by VIZ Media.

“The NARUTO brand has proven to be a consistent best seller and demonstrates the continued viability of the manga medium and of this property in particular,” says Liza Coppola, Senior Vice President, Marketing, VIZ Media. “The well developed character and story arcs have captivated a truly wide range of readers and we are pleased to see the action-packed positive storylines find broad appeal. As popularity continues, VIZ Media looks forward to further expanding the NARUTO property with the DVD release of the NARUTO – THE LOST STORY ‘Mission: Protect The Waterfall Village!’ and the next installment of the manga series, Volume 14, both in May!”