Shinobi Undercover Manga Review

​​Title: Shinobi Undercover
Author: Ippon Takegushi and Santa Mitarashi
Demographic: Shonen
Genre: Action, Comedy
Published: 2024 – Present 
English-translated Chapters: 46 and Ongoing
MyAnimeList Rating: 7.04
Rating: 7/10

Yodaka is a skilled and deadly ninja known for being one of the best. You can trust him to handle any enemy thrown his way. But he has one small issue… he’s socially awkward and he will do just about anything to avoid social interactions. As a ninja, this usually is not a problem. Until he receives the worst mission he could possibly imagine… to protect a high school girl by going undercover as a high schooler himself. And he’s going to have his hands full with this absolute klutz of an assignment. Luckily, Yodaka isn’t alone and has a couple of ninja backing him up. Thinking he should be able to leave all of the social requirements to them, Yodaka is prepared to observe and protect from a distance. That is… until the assignment latches onto him determined to make him her friend. And so begins our adventure. 

Pros:
Adorable and Genuine Main Character
This story features an absolutely adorable and genuine MC. Yodaka might be a powerful and revered ninja but he is painfully awkward when he’s forced to chat instead of fight. And as a high schooler, he is thrust into panic inducing situations for an antisocial loner. But he slowly starts to make friends and grows to appreciate the value of having a support system. His character arc affectionately shows his personal growth as he starts to learn what it feels like to be a normal guy, or as close as our ninja boy can get to being a normal guy. 

Growing Mysteries
As for Aoi, the clumsy assignment, she has intriguing mysteries surrounding her backstory and if she’s aware of the ninja involvement and protection in her life. Why is she so important? Why are fugitive ninja after her? The author slowly reveals clues and partial answers about these curious circumstances. 

Support Characters
Alongside our main characters, we’ve got a motley crew of quirky misfit ninja, mysterious operators, and oddball antagonists. Every ninja has a communication device where they are in constant contact with their operator who helps to direct and manage the ninja during a mission. And we get some hilarious interactions between Yodaka and his long-suffering and resigned operator who is stuck helping Yodaka with his social anxiety. 

Then there’s Yodaka’s mentor… Mimizuku. Their relationship is so wholesome and heartwarming because Mimizuku is the exact person that Yodaka needs to become the best version of himself. 

We’ve also got Umineko, a secret Yodaka fanboy, and Hibari, who may appear bubbly but has a crazy scary side. And these two are quickly charmed by our earnest and sincere MC and will defend him against any jerk who thinks otherwise.

Overall…
This is an enjoyable, action-packed manga that has charming characters, intriguing mysteries, and intense battles. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out Shinobi Undercover.