Naruto author Masashi Kishimoto has announced a new manga titled Shadow Rising, alongside a crossover anime series uniting the franchise with the ’90s property Ninku. Both projects were unveiled during the Naruto panel at New York Comic Con 2026.
Details on the manga remain sparse, with only Kishimoto’s involvement and its title confirmed for now. The anime crossover, however, came with more specifics under the aptly chosen name Naruto x Ninku, serving as a full-blown collision between two legendary shinobi series.
Both projects received teaser trailers during the panel.
A teaser for new NARUTO manga by Masashi Kishimoto is here! Stay tuned for more updates at the NARUTO Super Stage at Jump Festa 2027!
Naruto (official post)
Two legendary shinobi series collide. Fully supervised by Koji Kiriyama and Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO x NINKŪ is in production! Director: Noriyuki Abe; Character Designer / Chief Animation Director: Tetsuya Nishio.
Naruto (official post)
An official description for Naruto x Ninku outlined the premise, per a linked source:
“Team 7 members Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are given a mission by Kakashi. Since Kakashi cannot participate himself, Naruto is appointed acting leader. As a result of this decision, Naruto is fully motivated to make the mission a success. However, on the way, Team 7 finds themselves lost in another world. What appears before the bewildered trio is a boy with a face resembling a frog’s, named Fūsuke. What awaits them in this strange new world?”
Official Naruto x Ninku description
Meanwhile, as reported by Variety, the panel also delivered a surprise update on the live-action movie. Director Destin Daniel Cretton shared a message addressing rumors of early plot details and casting decisions.
“What an honor it is to bring Kishimoto-sensei’s incredible world and characters to life,” he wrote. “The further we get into making this film, the more excited I am about what we’re creating.”
Destin Daniel Cretton
Cretton continued by reflecting on Naruto’s character: “What I’ve always loved about Naruto is that he’s the character who might normally get sidelined as a sidekick. He’s excitable, he tries too hard, and people underestimate him. But he has an incredible heart. No matter how many times he fails or gets knocked down, he never stops believing in himself or fighting for the people he loves.”
“These characters mean so much to so many people, myself included, and we’re approaching the world, relationships, and journeys Kishimoto-sensei created with a lot of care… We’re hard at work and will have more to share soon. Until then, thank you for your passion, your patience, and for being along for the ride.”
Destin Daniel Cretton
A description in the YouTube upload for Shadow Rising promised that more details would be shared at the Naruto Super Stage at Jump Festa 2027. The Naruto x Ninku upload confirmed the show is in production under supervision from Kishimoto and Ninku author Koji Kiriyama, with the Naruto X/Twitter account naming Noriyuki Abe as director and Tetsuya Nishio as character designer and chief animation director.
Release date details remain unannounced for both projects.
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