Naruto fans have a major reason to celebrate. A brand-new manga titled Naruto: Shadow Rising is officially in the works, and original creator Masashi Kishimoto is returning to both write and draw the story himself. The announcement was made at New York Comic Con 2026 during the “NARUTO: What’s Next?” panel on October 10, 2026, and it marks Kishimoto’s first full return to the Naruto manga since the original series ended in 2014.
The new manga will be set in the roughly 10-year gap between the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War and the beginning of the Boruto era. This is a period that fans have long wanted to see explored in detail, and Kishimoto is the one bringing it to life.
What The Teaser Showed Fans
A short teaser video played at the panel, and it gave fans plenty to talk about. The footage showed concept sketches and storyboards featuring several key moments.
Adult Naruto appears holding his Hokage cloak and hat. Kakashi is shown smiling beneath his mask. Sasuke stands resolutely in one frame. Another image shows Sakura looking at her infant daughter, Sarada Uchiha. Since Sarada is 11 years old at the start of Boruto, this places Shadow Rising roughly a decade earlier.
The teaser also featured construction work on the Hokage Rock in Konoha, with the seventh face being carved. A clash between Naruto and Sasuke was shown as well, hinting at the tensions that existed before the two became allies again in Boruto.
Fan reaction online was immediate. Many shared excitement about seeing Kishimoto’s art style return to the franchise.
“I’m glad they are backtracking and Kishimoto himself being in charge makes me feel confident it’s going to be decent.” — fan comment on AllKpop forums
“Dude that one shot honestly to me shows how much Kishimoto has grown as a writer.” — fan comment on WorstGen forums
Some fans also expressed hope that the new story would give more screen time to characters who were sidelined in Boruto. One fan asked whether a deluxe edition would be released for collectors, while others simply said they were happy to see the blank period finally getting a full manga adaptation.
Where Shadow Rising Fits In The Timeline
The story takes place after the Fourth Great Ninja War and before the events of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. This era covers Naruto’s early days as Hokage, the rebuilding of Konoha, and the personal lives of Team 7 as they transition into adulthood.
The teaser’s shot of Sakura with baby Sarada confirms that the story is set well before Boruto begins. Sasuke’s presence also suggests the manga will address his travels and his relationship with Sakura during this period.
Plot details are still under wraps. The panel did not reveal how long the manga will run, how often chapters will be released, or whether it will be a limited series or an ongoing title.
More Details Are Coming At Jump Festa 2027
Shueisha confirmed that more information about Naruto: Shadow Rising will be shared at Jump Festa 2027. The event is scheduled for December 19 and 20, 2026, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. The updates will come during the Naruto Super Stage presentation.
The manga itself is slated to launch in 2027. Fans in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions can expect the series to be released through Viz Media and Shueisha’s international platforms, though specific release dates for different regions have not yet been announced.
A Four-Episode Anime Crossover Is Also Coming
Shadow Rising is not the only Naruto project on the way. A four-episode anime crossover titled Naruto x Ninkū is also in production. The series will bring together characters from Naruto and Ninkū, a 1990s manga by Koji Kiriyama that heavily influenced Kishimoto’s work.
The story follows Team 7 — Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura — as they receive a mission from Kakashi. Since Kakashi cannot join them, Naruto is appointed acting leader. The team gets transported to another world, where they meet Fūsuke, a boy with a frog-like face, and join forces with the Ninku Corps.
Noriyuki Abe, who directed the original 1995 Ninkū anime as well as Bleach and Yu Yu Hakusho, is directing the crossover. Tetsuya Nishio is handling character designs. The opening theme, “GO!!!” by FLOW, is returning, a song that Naruto fans know well.
The Japanese voice cast includes Junko Takeuchi as Naruto, Noriaki Sugiyama as Sasuke, Chie Nakamura as Sakura, and Rika Matsumoto as Fūsuke. A release date for the crossover has not been announced yet.
Kishimoto shared a personal message about the Ninkū collaboration during the panel.
“Without NINKU, NARUTO would not exist. I wanted to see a continuation of NINKU, so I drew NARUTO. My dream has come true.” — Masashi Kishimoto
Project Rasengan: A Three-Year Plan For Naruto
Both Shadow Rising and the Ninkū crossover are part of a larger initiative called Project Rasengan. This is a three-year roadmap running from 2027 through 2029 that will expand the Naruto franchise across manga, anime, games, and cards.
Four of the eight planned projects were revealed at NYCC. Along with the new manga and crossover anime, the panel announced:
- Naruto Card Game, a collectible card game launching worldwide in June 2027 with three starter decks.
- Naruto Mobile, a game originally launched in China in 2016, is getting a worldwide release.
More Project Rasengan updates are expected at Jump Festa 2027 in December.
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Live-Action Naruto Film Still In Development
The panel also included a message from Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of the upcoming live-action Naruto film. Cretton confirmed that a worldwide search for the Team 7 cast took place over the summer and that production preparations are continuing.
“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.” — Destin Daniel Cretton
Cretton said more updates on the film would be shared soon but did not give a release window.
Also Read: Naruto Anime Return Will Confirm Next Steps in Two Weeks at NYCC 2026
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on Naruto: Shadow Rising and everything happening in the world of anime and manga.
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