Plot/Story
The Karakuri unit was assembled to combat against the implanted 'human weapons'. The implants in these 'human weapons' were initially tests in order to cure the virus spread amongst Japan, but the military had much more evil intentions.

Possibly years, or even decades has passed since the start of Japan's pandemic, obliterating many, or little of the population. Not much is revealed to us, and yet all the specifics are instructed to us in an attempt to provoke more from this simple story. Was Kishimoto hoping for more from this One-shot, or was he trying to rush through his debut?

A somewhat confusing premise is presented to us in the first few pages, but an incredible feat at what Kishimoto can dish out with thought-provoking incentives.

Whatever the case was with this One-shot, it's obvious to us readers that Kishimoto was made to write much larger stories, stories that involve the entire world, and in writing such a story like Karakuri, we learn that the entire world cannot be summed up in 32 pages.

Characters
Kiru and his talking rat Ken are Karakuri elite members. They seem to travel separately from the rest of their unit, or are simply traveling alone because they are visiting some old friends.

Kishimoto really has no time to develop his characters in this story, although he's able to give us the welcoming brief on Kiru's character, the rest are there for accompanying purposes or 'damsel in distress' triggering situations, the least of which Kishimoto can provide for Kiru's basic character traits. The reader is left with a lazy protagonist who knows how to be serious is desperate times.

Nothing too over elaborate about the characters, it's not what you'd expect from Kishimoto in his more recent series, taking note of characters like Naruto and Sasuke.

Drawing Style
If you enjoyed the art in the beginning works of Naruto, all the rough drama and abrupt transitions, than this should be something of nostalgia to you. The main character Kiru, doesn't have that protagonist-look, with the different color hair or lack in fashion sense, or anything unique enough to distinguish him from the rest of the characters, but perhaps it's what Kishimoto was going for. He's telling us that there really isn't a main character to this virus-infected world.

I'm sure if he had the chance with a second installment to this series, we'd be seeing another Karakuri member's perspective, but we shouldn't dwell on what could've been.

Enjoyment
Putting this as delicately as possible, is it possible to laugh and enjoy this world knowing a death-ridden pandemic has spread across your country? You can find the humor here due to an idle-minded protagonist paired with an over-the-top but trustworthy deuteragonist, but you'll never see them speak of the real world in a manner worth listening to.

Overall
A decent addition to Kishimoto's collection. Not one of his bests, but something you can read to escape the world of Naruto now and again. Would I go out of my way to read this simply because it's a Kishimoto production? I think not. But then again, people who bow before Kishimoto may think otherwise.

If I had to guess, this One-shot might've been the spawning of Kishimoto's brother and his series 666 Satan, as I can see the resemblance in mature premise and storyline. The art of course, is of something related to Naruto.