Kishimoto Draws Naruto Again: This Is Project Rasengan

Masashi Kishimoto is picking up the pen again. During New York Comic Con, Project Rasengan was announced, a global initiative for the next era of Naruto, and the biggest surprise landed all at once: a new manga drawn directly by the original creator.

The title is Naruto: Shadow Rising and it was revealed with a teaser video. In it, the Hokage Monument is shown with the six carved faces and a seventh under construction. Then the members of the original Team 7 appear: Naruto lifting his Hokage hat, Kakashi smiling, Sasuke standing proudly, and Sakura looking at a baby. The preview closes with Naruto and Sasuke clashing in combat.

Teaser for Masashi Kishimoto's new manga.invenglobal.com

No details were given about the plot or the serialization schedule. What was confirmed is that more information will come at Jump Festa 2027, held at Makuhari Messe, Japan, on December 19 and 20.

A Crossover Decades in the Making

The other major announcement from the panel was Naruto x Ninku, a four-episode crossover anime between Naruto and Ninku, the 90s ninja manga by Koji Kiriyama. Both creators will supervise each episode.

The story sends Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura on a mission under Naruto's interim command, because Kakashi can't accompany them. Mid-mission, the three fall into another world and run into Fusuke, a boy with a frog-like face.

Kishimoto didn't hide what this crossover means to him: "I drew Naruto because I wanted to see what happened next in Ninku, and it influenced me greatly. Without Ninku, Naruto wouldn't exist." He also said he finally got to fulfill the crossover he had dreamed of for a long time.

Junko Takeuchi returns as the voice of Naruto, and Rika Matsumoto will do the same for Fusuke. There's still no release date for the anime.

Games and Cards for 2027

Project Rasengan doesn't stop at manga and anime. The three-year roadmap, running from 2027 to 2029, includes the global launch of the mobile fighting game Naruto Mobile, which had been available only in mainland China since 2016. The teaser is already out, but the exact date is still up in the air. That said, they warn: availability and languages may vary by region, and in some areas it might not arrive at all.

For card game fans, the Naruto Card Game is targeting a simultaneous worldwide release in June 2027. It will launch with three starter decks centered on Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara, plus a first booster set called "Uzumaki Naruto Is Coming!" Before the official launch, in early 2027, there will be test events to try the game in person.

Project Rasengan announcement at New York Comic Con.invenglobal.com

The Live-Action Is Still on the Way

The live-action Naruto movie also had its moment. Director Destin Daniel Cretton, at the helm of the Lionsgate project, spoke about the heart of the character: "He's loud, he tries too hard, and people underestimate him. But he has an incredible heart. No matter how many times he fails or falls, he never stops believing in himself and fighting for the people he loves."

Cretton confirmed that production is underway and that more details will be shared soon. Remember, a global casting call was already announced to find the actors for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.

Everything left to learn — dates, serialization, more unannounced projects — will be revealed at the Naruto Jump Super Stage during Jump Festa 2027, in December. Official Project Rasengan information will be available on the Naruto website.