Naruto Shadow Rising: Kishimoto returns with a manga set between the war and the Seventh Hokage

Masashi Kishimoto returns to Naruto. New York Comic Con 2026 confirmed it with an announcement many had been waiting years for: the author will work on a new manga tentatively titled Naruto Shadow Rising.

The "Naruto: What's Next?" panel helped clear up doubts about the franchise's future. Kishimoto, who created the universe in 1999, is taking the reins again with a story set just before Naruto is crowned as the Seventh Hokage. It's a period the original manga only mentioned in passing, so there's plenty of ground to explore.

What's interesting is that Boruto: Naruto Next Generations remains the official sequel in the timeline. This new project works as an interquel, allowing Kishimoto to tell what was left unfinished without stepping on what we already know.

When will we learn more about Naruto Shadow Rising?

During NYCC, a first promotional video was shown, but concrete information was minimal. There's no release date or details about which publisher will handle it outside Japan. What we do know is that the next stop will be Jump Festa 2027, scheduled for December 19 and 20.

More news about the manga will be shared there. It's the ideal event for this type of announcement, considering it brings together Shueisha's biggest franchises.

Naruto returns to anime with a special crossover

The panel also brought news about the anime. The franchise's new project, announced in 2023 and then postponed indefinitely, will be a four-episode special crossover with Ninku, the classic Shonen Jump series created by Koji Kiriyama.

The preview showed the iconic Team 7 being transported to an unknown universe. It's a premise reminiscent of those specials that bring together different generations of readers, and Ninku hadn't had an animation project in three decades.

Naruto and other characters show surprised expressions in an urban setting.gamerfocus.co

This special doesn't have a release date yet. As with Naruto Shadow Rising, more details are expected during Jump Festa 2027.

Plans through 2029

The franchise isn't slowing down. During the panel, it was revealed that there are plans mapped out through 2029, including a live-action film. No further details were given about that project, but it's clear that Naruto aims to stay active on multiple fronts.

For Latin America, there's still no confirmation about licenses or distribution for these new projects. We'll have to wait for official announcements from the publishers and platforms that handle the franchise in the region.