Naruto Returns With NARUTOxNINKU Crossover Anime and New Manga
Naruto is getting a new TV anime and a new manga, announced together at New York Comic Con on 10 October.
The anime is titled "NARUTOxNINKU". It is a crossover, meaning characters from two separate series appear in one story, between Naruto and NINKU, the ninja manga by Koji Kiriyama, according to Variety.
The project will be supervised by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto and Kiriyama. Joint supervision means both creators oversee the story and how their characters are used.
The starting premise centres on Team 7. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are given a mission by their teacher Kakashi. No further plot details or episode count were disclosed.
Ahead of the event, the project was described as a limited TV anime series, meaning it is planned as a self-contained run rather than an open-ended weekly show, according to Animation Magazine. The reveal had been teased since 29 September, when organisers said a completely new Naruto anime would be unveiled at the convention.
The announcement was made during a Naruto panel on 10 October. A simultaneous worldwide live stream had been confirmed in advance so audiences outside New York could watch at the same time, according to Naruto Official.
The second reveal came at the end of that panel. A teaser video unveiled "Shadow Rising", a new Naruto manga from Kishimoto.
More details about Shadow Rising will be shared during Jump Festa 2027 in December. Jump Festa is the annual December event in Japan where publishers present new manga, anime and game announcements.
The wider franchise was also part of the conversation. Destin Daniel Cretton is the director attached to the live-action Naruto movie.
For fans, this means two returns at once. One brings Naruto animation back through a crossover. The other brings a new comic from its original creator. Broadcast dates, publishers and release schedules have not yet been confirmed.
