Kishimoto Announces Naruto: Shadow Rising and an Anime Crossover with Ninku

Masashi Kishimoto is back at the helm of a Naruto manga. During the franchise's official panel at New York Comic Con 2026, the mangaka confirmed the development of Naruto: Shadow Rising, a new publishing project currently known only by its working title. There's no date, no synopsis, and no word on which magazine it will run in. Just one certainty: Kishimoto is directly involved.

The announcement came with another surprise no one saw coming. The same panel revealed Naruto x Ninku, an anime crossover that will bring Team 7 together with Fūsuke, the protagonist of Ninku, the manga by Koji Kiriyama that ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1993 to 1995. Two generations of ninjas from the same magazine, face to face.

Shadow Rising: A Title and Little Else

There are more questions than answers about Shadow Rising. Kishimoto's involvement is confirmed, but it wasn't clarified whether he will draw, write, or supervise the work. It's also unknown whether it will continue Boruto's story or explore another era of the ninja universe.

What was announced is that the next updates will come during the Naruto Super Stage at Jump Festa 2027. That's where it should become clear what this is all about. For now, the title suggests something darker than what we saw in the original series, but with Kishimoto, it's wise not to bet too early.

The anticipation makes sense. Naruto ended in 2014, and since then the franchise has lived between sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations. Kishimoto returning to a new manga is a move that could reignite readers who jumped ship with Boruto.

Naruto x Ninku: A Clash with History

The crossover with Ninku has more substance than it seems. Ninku was one of Kiriyama's first hits in Jump, a martial arts manga with a comedic tone and a frog-faced protagonist who hid immense power. For those who grew up with the magazine in the 90s, Fūsuke is a name that carries weight.

The official synopsis of the anime puts Team 7 on a mission assigned by Kakashi. Since the sensei can't participate, Naruto becomes the interim leader, which motivates him to the point of absurdity. Along the way, the team gets lost in another world and stumbles upon Fūsuke. That's where the information ends.

"The members of Team 7 receive a mission assigned by Kakashi. Since Kakashi can't participate, Naruto is named interim leader, motivating him to the max. However, along the way, Team 7 gets lost in another world and runs into Fūsuke, a boy with a frog face."

Kishimoto and Kiriyama are jointly supervising the project, ensuring that both sides of the crossover are respected. Character design and chief animation direction fall to Tetsuya Nishio, a name Naruto fans know well: he was a character designer on the original series and Shippuden. His involvement is a sign that the project is being taken seriously.

There's no release date for either announcement. It also wasn't confirmed whether the crossover will be a movie, an OVA, or a short series. All that exists for now are the first video previews shown at the convention.

The Live-Action Is Still on the Way

The NYCC panel also included a message from Destin Daniel Cretton, director of the live-action Naruto adaptation. Cretton gave no dates or concrete updates, but insisted that the production is working with respect for the characters and Kishimoto's world.

"What I've always loved about Naruto is that he's the character who would normally be relegated to a supporting role... No matter how many times he fails or falls, he never stops believing in himself."

Those are nice words, but the movie has been in development for years, and each message like this sounds more like damage control than a real announcement. Until there's a trailer or a date, the live-action remains a promise.

The Naruto franchise has entered a phase of aggressive expansion. A new manga with Kishimoto at the helm and a crossover with a Jump classic are moves aimed at two different audiences: those who have been reading for two decades and those just discovering the ninjas of Konoha. If both projects succeed, 2027 could be a big year for the franchise.

What do you think of the announcements? Are you excited about the Ninku crossover, or would you rather wait to see more of Shadow Rising? Let us know in the comments.