Naruto and Burger King are teaming up for a wild new collaboration internationally, so here’s what you need to know about the big shake ups to the menu. Not long ago, Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto kicked off the 20th anniversary celebration of its original anime release with all sorts of fun projects to help celebrate how far the franchise has come in the two decades. Those celebrations are continuing further this year too as Burger King France has announced a new collaboration with Naruto that sees the burger chain amping itself up with a new menu and merchandise exclusive to the region.

Burger King France first teased fans earlier this week about a new collaboration coming with Naruto, and they celebrated with some brand new art teasing what could be coming in the new team up. Now they have officially revealed what to expect from their new menu changes on their website that includes new burgers, new chicken sandwiches, new merchandise, a special Naruto meal for kids, and special Naruto inspired sauce. But unfortunately, it’s yet to be announced if this collaboration will be seen outside of Burger King France.

What’s New for Naruto’s Burger King Menu?

As detailed by Burger King France’s website, the new Naruto collaboration sees their restaurant change its name to “BKonoha.” Separated into two different menus inspired by both Naruto and Sasuke, the Naruto offering is a burger with a white bun with sesame seeds, beef, emulsified soy sauce, onions and cheese. For the Sasuke offering, it’s the same kind of burger but with chicken instead of a beef hamburger patty. Fans can also nab a special hat or Sasuke t-shirt that will be launched alongside this new menu. There’s even a special new offering for kids.

This new kid’s offering features exclusive Naruto cards, a hat, and some special Naruto sauce. But unfortunately for fans outside of France, it has yet to be announced if Burger King will be offering this collaboration in other territories. As Naruto gets ready for this new menu, it’s the perfect kind of anime for this team up in the United States. Naruto is still one of the most popular anime franchises with a certain generation, so this kind of team up in the West would go a long way with fans (especially as they start testing the waters with anime).

RELATED: New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto Preview Further Explores Kakashi/Splinter Connection

What’s Next for Naruto?

This team up between Naruto and Burger King might be exclusive to France, but thankfully Naruto still has more in the works for a release potentially later this year. As part of the celebration for that 20th anniversary was a special new four episode anime featuring the original incarnation of Naruto. This brings back the original Team 7 as seen in the pre-Shippuden release, and fans have been waiting quite a while to see the new episodes as the new anime has unfortunately been in the midst of an indefinite delay for the past year.

It was originally scheduled to make its debut in the Fall of 2023 to coincide with Naruto’s 20th anniversary, but unfortunately Naruto has yet to announce when these new episodes will be making their debut. There’s a good chance we’ll see some forward momentum as there are only four episodes to this new special release. At the same time, fans are waiting to see more of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations as the sequel series has also been in the midst of its own indefinite hiatus for the last couple of years too.

The post What You Need to Know for Naruto & Burger King’s Big Team Up appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the most surprising crossovers in recent years has seen Team 7 teaming up with the Heroes in a Half Shell for a new comic book series. Creating an entirely new universe to help facilitate Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi coming face-to-face with Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo, IDW is hinting at some big changes to the lore for each team. Set to release four issues in total, The Big Apple and the Hidden Leaf Village denizens are hinting at some major surprises for the future of this crossover that might just take the cake when it comes to fictional ninjas meeting for the first time.

Warning. Be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory for the first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto, so if you haven’t read it, you might want to turn back now. As mentioned previously, this new series creates an entirely new universe with a new backstory for all the players involved. Rather than seeing the TMNT dropped into Konoha or Team 7 hitting the Big Apple, “Big Apple Village” is a new village that exists in the anime ninja world and harbors the green-skinned teenagers. In a new mission to protect April O’Neil, Naruto and his allies run into the “Heroes in a Half-Shell” and have a case of mistaken identity in doing so.

[RELATED: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto Reveals a Shocking Connection Between Kakashi And Splinter]

Master Splinter x Kakashi

One of the biggest twists of the first issue of this crossover was that Master Splinter and Kakashi the Copycat Ninja appear to share a common history. While that origin wasn’t unveiled in the premiere offering of the crossover series, a new preview for issue two hints that the next story will get right into it. Even though the crossover series only has four issues in total, the changes that have already been made prove that the meeting of the Ninja Turtles and Konoha’s finest will be one for the record books.

Teenage Mutant Ninjas Crossovers

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have come into contact with a lot of pop culture icons in their history. While the Heroes in a Half Shell haven’t ventured much into the anime realm for crossovers, they have met the likes of Batman, the kids from Stranger Things, the Ghostbusters, the Transformers, Savage Dragon, The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, and even Mulder and Scully from the X-Files. Ironically enough, while there was never an official meeting between the TMNT and Naruto’s top ninjas, the four turtle brothers did get their own anime series.

Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend was an original video animation released in 1996 that gave TMNT fans a very different take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What made this series so memorable is the fact that the turtle siblings were given the ability to transform into more powerful forms that made them look much more like human beings. As it stands, this is the only anime output that the TMNT has received in their history but fingers crossed that this Naruto crossover might receive its own special animated adaptation.

Want to stay on top of all the anime crossovers? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for all the latest anime updates and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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Naruto is in the midst of a huge comeback, and now the classic anime and manga franchise is teaming up with Burger King for a tasty new collaboration. Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto manga might have come to an end years ago, and the anime adaptation might have ended soon after, but the franchise has honestly been stronger than ever before. With the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex sequel continuing the manga with new chapters each month, and the anime readying to make its comeback with its long in the works 20th anniversary special, Naruto is preparing for what could be an even bigger 2025.

Burger King France has taken fans by surprise with some special new Naruto art for the series in anticipation of a new collaboration with the burger restaurant (which has been increasing its anime collaborations in many countries throughout the past year especially) beginning on January 14th. It’s yet to be revealed what kind of menu changes or potential merchandise fans might be able to check out with this new Naruto team up, but fans can check out the first look at what this new shake up will bring with some special art revealed on Burger King France’s official social media. Check them out below:

Naruto Teams Up With Burger King?

While Burger King France is currently playing coy about what fans can expect from this new team up with Naruto, international fans have yet to get a collaboration of this kind. If it’s successful there might be a chance of getting this team up in other territories outside of France or Brazil, so it’s definitely something to keep an eye on heading into the rest of the year. Burger King seems to also be planning to expand its reach into the world of animation in the future too.

This follows fun collaborations with McDonald’s in the past couple of years (with the company recently teaming up with Neon Genesis Evangelion) that have seen anime make it their way to huge team ups like this. As anime continues to grow in popularity with younger generations, fans can hope to see more promotional materials like this. It’s pretty common in Japan as the huge franchises often team up with restaurants and convenience stores pretty regularly, but it’s not the same in the West as anime has only started to really break through into the mainstream in this way in the last five years.

RELATED: Anime’s Going to Be Huge in 2025 (But Fans Are Nervous for One Reason)

What’s Next for Naruto?

Naruto could have a huge 2025 if we’re lucky. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ anime has been on hiatus since 2023, and it has yet to be revealed when fans can hope to see the next wave of episodes. When the series does return, there’s still plenty of material it can adapt before the series kicks off its adaptation of the manga’s time skip sequel, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. This new manga has been releasing new chapters each month, and introduces a whole new kind of world for the Naruto franchise.

For fans who still miss the classic Naruto from the 2000s, however, the anime has been readying for a celebration of the 20th anniversary. Announced to be in the works some time ago, this is a special four episode miniseries bringing back the original Team 7 line up for Naruto before the events of Naruto Shippuden. While it was planned to release some time in Fall 2023, these episodes have been put on an indefinite delay ever since. But we could get some news on that this year if we’re lucky.

The post Naruto & Burger King Are Teaming Up for Tasty New Collab appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Naruto is one of the most iconic anime and manga series of all time. The series is globally recognized for its amazing story, emotional depth, and interesting characters. The story follows Naruto, an orphan who was shunned by the village his entire childhood. He grew up believing he would receive their acknowledgment if he became Hokage, a leader of the village. On the other hand, Black Clover is praised as one of the best Shonen of the new generation. It centers around Asta, a young orphan boy born without magic in a world where it’s crucial to practically everything in life.

People’s rank and social status are determined by the power they possess. As an orphan, Asta dreams of becoming the Wizard King, the strongest mage in the kingdom. While Black Clover hasn’t yet matched the legacy and popularity of Naruto, there’s one thing it does better than the latter. The rivalry trope is often loved in anime, and many of them adopt it. However, Black Clover follows the trend perfectly with the unparalleled dynamic between Asta and Yuno.

[RELATED: Black Clover’s Final Arc Needs an Anime ASAP]

Black Clover’s Asta and Yuno Have a Healthy Rivalry

Asta and Yuno grew up in the same orphanage since the day they were born. This is why they are as close as family. They share the same room, the same dining table, and the same dreams. Both grew up admiring each other’s strengths. Yuno, who was naturally gifted and demonstrated exceptional talent from a young age, looked up to Asta’s determination to never give up. Meanwhile, Asta, who was born magicless, both envied and commended Yuno’s talents.

He knew he lacked even the basic skills, so he trained physically in hopes of catching up to Yuno. One of the best parts about their rivalry is that they both realize their weakness and strive to surpass each other. They both want to prove themselves worthy by becoming the Wizard King. The duo travel together to the capital and join different Magic Knights. As expected, Yuno is recruited by the best Magic Knight squad in the kingdom, while Asta joins the Black Bulls, the notorious lowest-rung squad. The story continues as the two of them strive towards their goal, while they never clash, only ever exchanging hands in the form of fist bumps. Yuno never looks down upon Asta, even defending him against his critics, while Sasuke refuses to acknowledge Naruto’s growth, especially when it seems Naruto is surpassing him.

Their mutual respect is admirable, and they both often team up against powerful adversaries. Throughout the series, Yuno has been a great friend and ally to Asta. They both support each other regardless of the danger ahead of them. Yuno never lost faith in Asta and lent him a hand whenever he could. They both accomplished some impressive feats as young mages. Both Asta and Yuno appear in the story, and their growth is given equal weight. This is different from Naruto, where Sasuke often takes a backseat during certain arcs.

Naruto and Sasuke Have a More Complex Relationship Than Simple Rivalry

Unlike Asta and Yuno, Naruto and Sasuke met after becoming genin. The two didn’t get along in the beginning at all. After witnessing his brother kill his entire clan, Sasuke swore to take revenge. He always had this aura of darkness around him and wouldn’t let anyone near him. On the other hand, Naruto grew up as an orphan and was eager to connect with more people. Sadly, the village always treated him with animosity. Naruto’s goal since the beginning was to become a Hokage. Hence, the two can’t be considered rivals in true essence if they both have different goals.

The two barely tolerated each other in the beginning, but as part of Team 7, they learned to get along. As a member of the legendary Uchiha Clan, Sasuke was incredibly talented from a young age. But Naruto had to work extremely hard to catch up with Sasuke. Unlike Asta and Yuno’s healthy rivalry, the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke is heavily laden with betrayal, resentment, and psychological trauma. Even in moments such as the first time they exchanged blows using their signature jutsu, Sasuke opts to be petty upon seeing what initially looked like a weaker impact from Naruto’s Rasengan. Sasuke leaves the Hidden Leaf Village not long into his time alongside Team 7 in the Sasuke Recovery Mission Arc.

Sasuke becomes a rogue ninja and follows Orochimaru in order to acquire more power. This deeply upsets Naruto, who does everything he can to bring him back. We see Naruto desperately trying to change Sasuke’s mind through the entirety of Shippuden. The two even clashed against each other as enemies. Therefore, it’s difficult to view them as rivals or best friends when their relationship is more complicated. Naruto even considers Sasuke as a brother he never had. Even so, while Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship is iconic and deeply emotional, it often focuses more on conflict and betrayal, creating more of a wayward surrogate brotherhood rather than a healthy rivalry like in Black Clover.

The post Sorry Naruto & Sasuke, Black Clover’s Asta and Yuno Are Shonen Jump’s Best Rivals appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is now exploring the real nature of the Divine Trees, and the newest chapter of the Naruto series might have revealed the key to defeating them when one develops some romantic feelings for Konohamaru Sarutobi. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been continuing to further evolve the world now that Konoha has made it a few years after Boruto had been forced to leave with Eida’s Omniscience powers. As the Divine Tree warriors now pose the greatest threat, Boruto and Konoha find themselves working together in order to take down these mysterious new foes by any means necessary.

As Jura and the Divine Trees seem to grow stronger with how much knowledge they acquire, Shikamaru figures that the time to defeat them might be before they grow older as their states right after they are born are basically “innocent cublings” rather than the “wild beasts” Konoha thinks they are. And the opportunity to carve out a different path with them is through Matsuri, who is revealed to actually have some romantic feelings for Konohamaru even if she doesn’t know what these feelings are yet.

Naruto Sparks a New Romance in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 17 kicks off the new mission to save Gaara and his son Shinki after the two of them were attacked by the Divine Trees, and Shinki was used as the base for the newest member of this monster group, Ryu. Konohamaru and Team 7 join up with Shinki’s team for this new mission in the Hidden Sand, and they approach Matsuri and Ryu. Matsuri’s thrown off a bit by this as her face gets flushed, and she’s unsure of how to answer Konohamaru in the moment. It’s then revealed that Shikamaru had actually planned to go this route to use Matsuri’s confusion to their advantage.

Knowing that each of the Divine Trees has an antagonistic relationship with a particular person, but that relationship varies between them. In Matsuri’s case, Shikamaru asserts that Konohamaru is her target because she has feelings for him. Assuming she doesn’t know what these feelings are, Shikamaru wants to take advantage of the fact that these Divine Trees are essentially young and naive to then trick them and make defeating them all the easier. It’s a ruthless strategy that he’s willing to use in order to keep the Hidden Leaf Village safe.

RELATED: Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Teases Kawaki’s Ultimate Transformation

What Does This Romance Mean for Konohamaru?

Matsuri’s personality and connection to Konohamaru is certainly a unique one amongst the Divine Trees. It’s been hard to gauge exactly what all of them are after outside of wiping out Boruto, but for whatever reason they have a direct connection to the host that they originally spawned from. It’s certainly interesting in Matsuri’s case as it likely means that Moegi has these same romantic feelings for Konohamaru as well, but to this point has yet to pursue them in any real concrete way in the series.

So it’s going to be an awkward road for Konohamaru moving forward. Not only does he have to dance around this romantic feeling with Matsuri to avoid her killing him, but he needs to do so in a way that will also save Moegi. Which means that he’s likely going to have to appease Matsuri for a great while before even getting the chance to wiping her own and taking her bulb. Then when all of this is done with, Konohamaru and Moegi somehow need to get through this when Konohamaru realizes that Moegi shares these same feelings. But defeating the Divine Trees comes first.

The post Naruto Sparks Surprising New Boruto Crush (& It Might Be the Key to Defeating the Divine Trees) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex hasn’t been shy about turning the world upside down for the son of the Seventh Hokage. Boruto Uzumaki now lives in a world where his former allies have become enemies and former enemies are now friends. Luckily, the shonen protagonist still has some comrades to count on, one of which who has plenty of sway in the Hidden Leaf Village. With Naruto and Hinata trapped in a limbo-like state thanks to Kawaki’s machinations, Shikamaru has taken on the role of Hokage and is proving that he’s willing to go to any extreme to make sure that his people are safe.

Warning. If you have yet to read the latest chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Chapter 17, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory. Konoha has long had a history of powerful Hokages who were more than willing to perform vicious acts to make sure the Hidden Leaf Village’s safety was assured. The Seventh Hokage has mostly bucked this trend as Naruto has attempted to rule over his people with a more peaceful outlook on the world. Unfortunately, with the Seventh no longer in the picture, leadership duties fall on Shikamaru and the genius tactician is far more willing to rely on deceipt and savagery to accomplish his goals.

[RELATED: Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Teases Kawaki’s Ultimate Transformation]

Shikamaru’s Emotional Ruthlessness

The newest villains of the Two Blue Vortex are the Divine Trees, antagonists who take their form from captured ninjas that they place within the fauna. Of the trees that we’ve seen so far, a major example is Matsuri, the only female member of this villainous collective. Originally Moegi of Konoha, Shikamaru already foresees that Konohamaru and the remnants of Team 7 will be encountering her in the future and has come up with a plan worthy of infiltrating the Trees.

Moegi has long been a part of the Naruto franchise, first appearing alongside Konohamaru when the two were toddlers. Thanks to the Divine Trees seemingly holding no “true evil intent,” the current Hokage comes up with the idea of Konohamaru befriending them to backstab them later on. As Shikamaru explains, “Win them over. Tame ’em, while they wilde beasts are still innocent cublings and then betray them. Naruto probably wouldn’t take this route, but I’m not him. I propose this tactic to get rid of these superhuman monsters for the survival of humankind.”

Romeo & Juliet of the Ninja World

Shikamaru then explains further why Konohamaru is the perfect choice for this mission, stating that Matsuri has feelings for the ninja even though she doesn’t know why, “Do you know why you’re Matsuri’s target? It’s cuz she bears romantic feelings towards you. Although it seems Matsuri herself is not aware of this or rather she has no idea what the emotion she’s feeling is. So this plan may put her in a state of turmoil. If it does, that will likely give us a favorable edge. Be heartless. Divine Trees are our enemy.”

Shikamaru has always been a brilliant mind in Konoha’s roster but his cruelty here might just be what the Hidden Leaf needs. Unfortunately for the village, it seems as though far more problems are coming their way than hurting Matsuri’s feelings.

Want to see what the future holds for Konoha? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Hidden Leaf and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Boruto Confirms Who Is Truly Konoha’s Most Ruthless Hokage Ever appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Naruto’s anime might still be missing in action thanks to Studio Pierrot taking their time on their vast anime library but the manga by creator Masashi Kishimoto rages on. In the latest chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the meaty installment focuses on a lot of dialogue as a brand new plan formulated by Shikamaru is underway. While Boruto Uzumaki might be changing the hearts and minds of former friends turned into enemies thanks to the power of Eida, there is still one figure that has an ax to grind with the son of Naruto. Kawaki still wants to eliminate all of the Otsutsuki and he’s going to some wild lengths to make his dreams into a reality.

Warning. If you have yet to read the latest chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Chapter 17, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into spoiler territory. Before diving into the major changes that are coming Kawaki’s way, the latest installment is one that focuses heavily on Shikamaru and Konohamaru thinking up a plan to take down two of the newest villains in the shonen franchise, the Divine Trees. The antagonists might be powerful but their mindset and emotional level is closer to that of children, especially when focusing on the two newest members, Ryu and Matsuri.

[RELATED: Naruto Team Shares How Its Sequel, Boruto, Came to Light]

A New Hidden Leaf Plan in The Works

Konohamaru isn’t alone in this task, as he is joined by Sarada, Mitsuki, and Hidden Leaf ninjas Yodo and Araya. Thanks to Mitsuri seemingly having a crush on Team 7’s sensei, it seems that the plan forged by the leaders of Konoha is moving smoothly enough. While finding the perfect moment to betray the Divine Trees isn’t the most brilliant tactic in the world, it seems that hanging the “carrot” of Boruto is more than enough to put the villains at ease and join up with Konoha’s finest.

When it comes to Kawaki, the adopted son of the Uzumaki family doesn’t want to waste any time in making sure he has the power necessary to take down all of the Otsutsuki. Unfortunately for Boruto, his adopted brother might just have the perfect mechanism to “leveling up.” Even with figures like Shikamaru, Kashin Koji, Sarada, and others pulling for Naruto’s son, having the major obstacle of Kawaki standing in his path might be a difficult one to overcome.

Kawaki’s Ultimate Transformation Preview

Since Amado was offered sanctuary in Konoha, spilling some serious goods on the Kara Organization, the scientist has been able to dodge quite a bit of danger. Surprisingly, the first danger he faces is from inside of the Hidden Leaf Village as Kawaki wants the scientist to effectively “unlock his hidden potential.” Holding up Amado using one of his grotesque, Karma-fueled appendage, Kawaki lays down the law and makes his request.

“I’ve got tons I wanna say to you, but first, you’re gonna draw out all of my powers to their fullest extent!” Whether Amado goes through with this process is anyone’s guess though he certainly does have the ability to perform an action such as this. Thanks to the massive training that Boruto Uzumaki underwent, the son of the Seventh might have a vast advantage should he face his adopted brother in battle once again. This fact will change if Amado is able to unlock Kawaki’s Karma and gives him a serious power boost in the process.

Want to see if Kawaki is able to upgrade his power level in the future of the Hidden Leaf Village? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for all the latest updates on Konoha and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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For serious figurine collectors, there’s no such thing as having too many collectibles. This is doubly the case for fans of the more popular series constantly rolling out new merchandise that serves as reminders of the series’ best moments and characters. Let Naruto be a prime example, as it’s been revealed that Pop Mart is releasing a new NARUTO Ninkai Taisen Series Figures collection. The collection will be the latest blind box release from Pop Mart, not much unlike their recent collaboration with Jujutsu Kaisen. 

Based on the images of the figurines, these are all set in the Fourth Great Ninja War Arc with appearances from Obito Uchiha, Madara Uchiha, and Hashirama Senju. The primary exception, however, is the inclusion of Itachi Uchiha in his Akatsuki cloak. Given his popularity as a character, one could argue that it’s fine to look the other way here. Whether or not it be for the holiday season, having one of these collectibles, or even the full set, will surely bring a sense of nostalgia to any hard-core Naruto collector. 

[RELATED: Jujutsu Kaisen’s Latest Pop Mart Collab Is Perfect for the Holidays]

POP MART’s Naruto Ninkai Taisen Series Figurine Details

The figures in the Naruto Pop Mart figurines measure 7.7-11.4 cm/3.03-4.49 inches in height and can be purchased individually for $16.99 or $203.88 for the whole set. For anyone considering buying the entire set, it’s guaranteed that Pop Mart will replace a regular edition duplicate you may get to complete the collection. So, while having duplicates of a favorite character may be a good problem to have, it’s an easy one to fix. 

These blind box sets typically come with a figure that’s much harder to come across as added motivation for collectors, and this set is no different. With only a 1/144 chance of acquisition, this set includes a secret edition figure of Kaguya Otsutsuki, one of the last major villains in Naruto: Shippuden. If you’re interested in any other figures, we recently published a list of the newest figures available this month. Examples of what’s coming out include figures from Marvel, Dragon Ball, The Lord of the Rings, and more. 

What Makes These Naruto Figures the Perfect Collectible

Naruto is a manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto back in 1999 about a young ninja who works to become the strongest and most respected ninja in his village, called the Hokage, to overcome the neglect and disrespect he receives from his peers. After becoming one of the most popular properties on the planet, the manga came to a close in 2014, and the anime followed suit in 2017.

Despite being a decade since Naruto printed its last pages, the fandom is still going strong, with a sequel series currently being produced that jumps more than a decade into the future to show the experiences of the next generation of ninjas. The Fourth Great Ninja War Arc was the culmination of more than 10 years of stories coming to a close, and these figurines serve as a great homage and reminder of that story. 

H/T: Pop Mart

The post Naruto’s New Pop Mart Collab Gorgeously Renders Final Arc’s Characters appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Naruto: The Symphonic Experience will officially bring the best music from the original Naruto anime series to North America, with orchestra-level production quality. The concert series will kick off its North American tour on February 28, 2025, in Evansville, IN, and visit more than 50 cities. 

The concert series just wrapped up a successful European tour, with more than 60,000 attendees, according to Broadway World. The two-hour film was created by Julien Vallespi and Quentin Benayou and features clips pulled directly from the series’ first 220 episodes. Attendees will then get to experience their favorite songs in an entirely new light as an orchestra plays everything from classic songs to legendary intros and outros.

Naruto: The Symphonic Experience Comes to North America in February 2025

“We created a two-hour film enhanced with a live, symphonic orchestra because the soundtrack plays such a huge role in the anime’s success and is praised by the legions of fans time and time again,” Vallespi said.

One thing Naruto fans have all been able to connect over is the music of the series. Given the show’s popularity and accessibility by being dubbed in several languages, they have a certain universality that makes things like this symphony orchestra tour possible.

“The original score, composed by Toshio Masuda is a perfect blend between pop and rock arrangements as well as traditional Japanese instruments like the Shakuhachi and Shamisen,” Vallespi continued.

In all genres, hearing music performed live can be a vastly different experience than hearing the same recording repeatedly, as amazing as it may be. This is part of the reasoning as to why live concerts have gotten so expensive.

RELATED: Attack on Titan Orchestra Tour Set For 2025 Debut (And Why It’s A Must See Event)

GEA Live, Un Pour Tous Productions, RoadCo Entertainment and VIZ Media will collaborate on bringing the series to North America. Tickets go on sale Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. EST and can be bought at narutoinconcert.com. 

Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto, tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki on his adventures to becoming the leader of his village and ultimately earn their respect. The property is officially 25 years old after the manga’s first chapter was published in Shonen Jump in September 1999. Since then, the manga has sold more than 250 million copies globally and spawned multiple anime adaptations, including Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, and Boruto, not to mention nearly a dozen films. 

H/T: Broadway World

The post Naruto Symphonic Orchestra Tour Brings Classic Songs to Fans Across North America appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is continuing through the manga’s next major arc as it raises the stakes against the Divine Trees, and the newest chapter is making things even more complicated as Boruto Uzumaki now finds himself in a heated love triangle (that might even be bigger than expected). Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been focusing its latest chapters on getting the Hidden Leaf Village ready for what to do next against the Divine Tree foes, but they won’t have much time to wait as the Hidden Sand Village is now in the Divine Trees’ crosshairs. So they need to act quickly.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is preparing Sarada Uchiha for her next major mission in the Hidden Sand to help save Gaara from the newest Divine Tree foe, but she was taken by surprise with a new meeting with Sumire. Because while the two of them remain the only ones who had not been effected by Eida’s Omniscience power, it turns out the two of them might be sharing another big secret as they both might have feelings for Boruto. At least in Sumire’s case, she’s starting to feel jealous about how Sarada threw herself at Boruto when they finally reunited for the first time in years.

Boruto Puts Sarada and Sumire In a Love Triangle

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 16 sees Sarada and Sumire meeting with Eida to try and get more information about what Boruto is planning to do next. She tells them that he’s trying to keep the two of them out of danger by taking more of it on himself, and Sumire realizes that the more the two of them know about his whereabouts, the more they will be targets of the Hidden Leaf Village (since they’re already outwardly spoken about their support for Boruto, a thought to be traitor). It’s with this that Sumire really starts to talk about her feelings as well.

She claims Sarada doesn’t really think about Boruto’s feelings, nor about hers either. Sumire then asks why, knowing how much she likes Boruto, that Sarada would leap into his arms the second they see each other after the three year time skip. She had been holding back from asking because she wanted to be respectful of how Sarada felt in the moment, but she can’t help but question why Sarada did this knowing Sumire’s stated feelings for Boruto. Sarada doesn’t know what to say, and Sumire walks away hurt at this since it seems like the two don’t see each other as friends in the same way.

RELATED: Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Explains Boruto’s New Jujutsu Kaisen-Like Powers

There Might Be More to This Love Triangle

Fans have gotten teased about Sarada’s potential romantic feelings for Boruto in the past, but now it’s going to be put in the spotlight now that each character is much older. It’s something Sumire is concerned with, and it’s clear that she was hurt that their first spotting of Boruto after all those years was seemingly dominated by Sarada, who she believes is a close friend. Sarada didn’t quite think of it that way, but it’s still hurt Sumire quite a bit.

Even Eida who witnesses it realizes how awkward of a situation it is, yet she can’t help but also help Boruto too. She completely knows what Boruto is up to, but is still helping him by choosing to keep his secrets. While she’s still out to be with Kawaki as her love, she’s at least now starting to see Boruto in this more well rounded way. Which means that eventually, she might actually fall in love with Boruto as well. Turning this love triangle into some kind of love square or other shape.

The post Naruto Sparks Boruto’s Heated New Love Triangle (& Maybe Even More) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It takes a village to make an anime series and/or movie, with dozens, hundreds, and sometimes thousands of people working side-by-side to depict some of the best animated stories in any medium. Voice actors are often some of the most famous contributors to the anime world and unfortunately, another prolific voice actor in Japan has recently passed away. Voice actor Eiji Yanagisawa has been a part of the voice acting industry since his initial role in the Mobile Suit Gundam series in 1981 and it is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Yanagisawa has passed away.

To honor Yanagisawa’s memory, it’s important to examine the anime franchises that he had a role in breathing life into. As mentioned earlier, Eiji was a part of some of Gundam’s biggest projects in his career, including Mobile Suit Gundam I, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, and SD Gundam Force. On top of playing a pivotal role in the mech franchise, Yanagisawa has also taken on roles in Naruto: Shippuden, Kengan Ashura, Baki The Grappler, The Mealoncholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Digimon Frontier, Detective Conan, and many more. Alongside the anime world, Eiji also voiced Western projects in Japan including CSI: New York, CSI: Miami, The World is Not Enough, Stargate Atlantis, Lethal Weapon 3, and more.

Production Baobab’s Official Statement

Yanagisawa’s talent agency, Production Baobab, released a statement confirming the passing of their prolific client, stating that he had passed away on November 12th earlier this month, “Our company’s employee, Eiji Yanagisawa (57 years old). He passed away on November 12, 2024 due to brain stem hemorrhage. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to us during his lifetime and to inform you of his passing. The wake and funeral were held only for close relatives. We apologize for the delay in reporting this news due to the wishes of the bereaved family.”

The Anime Characters of Eiji Yanagisawa

In the Naruto universe, Eiji took on the role of Genzo, who is one of the earliest characters introduced in the shonen franchise. The member of the Hidden Leaf Village wasn’t a ninja that could tangle with Naruto’s Rasengan or Sasuke’s Chidori, but he had the important task of capturing moments for the future. Genzo was one of Konoha’s best photographer’s but wasn’t exactly thrilled with his station in life if everything wasn’t going his way.

In the Gundam universe, Yanagisawa’s first role was that of Slender in Mobile Suit Gundam I. Rather than fighting on the side of Amuro and the Earth Federation, Eiji’s character was a loyal member of the Principality of Zeon and worked alongside the villainous character Char. Unfortunately, Slender would not make it out of the series alive, being killed during a battle with the Gundam and proving that no one was safe in the Gundam franchise. In Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, Yanagisawa took on the role of Dr. Ulen Hibiki and in SD Gundam Force, the voice actor was both Gunbike and Zapper Zaku. Needless to say Eiji’s career was one that perhaps led him to the Gundam world the most.

Yanagisawa was a talented voice actor who will be sorely missed in the anime world. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Eiji Yanagisawa during this difficult time.

The post Naruto, Gundam Voice Actor Eiji Yanagisawa Dies at 57 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Heroes in a Half Shell have recently met Konoha’s Team 7 in a wild new comic book crossover that threw many for a loop. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto sees Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Donatello arriving in a very different world from the one that fans are familiar with. As April O’Neill finds herself being escorted on a dangerous mission with Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi, the final page stinger is one that reveals a shocking connection. While there are plenty of questions still surrounding this big reveal, the issue gives us an idea of how this shocking connection came to be.

Warning. If you have yet to read the first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory. The world of this comic book crossover is far different from either universe that the heroes hail from. While Konoha appears to be the same from the ninja shonen series, the Ninja Turtles’ world is one dubbed “Big Apple Village.” Instead of existing in a modern day New York City, the comic book series blends TMNT’s origins into the anime ninja world, giving both the teenage ninjas and Master Splinter new looks and new abilities to go with their new locale.

RELATED: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto Crossover Reveals Team 7’s Important Mission

How Kakashi Met Splinter

In their initial misunderstanding, which is a trademark for many comic book crossovers, Leonardo fights Sasuke, Raphael fights Sakura, Michelangelo and Donatello fight Naruto and his clones, and Kakashi fights Master Splinter. During the mentors’ confrontation, it appears as though Splinter has been given a serious upgrade in the ninja powers’ department. Much like how Kakashi can implement the Chidori during his fights, Splinter demonstrates that he too can use the power of lightning should the need arise.

On the final page of the first crossover issue, we witness Kakashi proclaiming that he knows that Splinter is Hamato Yoshi. Throughout Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ lore, there has always been some wild connections between Yoshi and Splinter. Normally, Master Splinter is either Hamato Yoshi after being transformed into a rat thanks to Mutagen or Splinter was the disciple of Hamato and was turned into what he is thanks to the chemicals. In this universe, it appears as though Splinter was once Hamato Yoshi and appears to have met Konoha’s copycat ninja in the past.

Konoha In A Half-Shell

The latest comic is just the first in this new four-issue crossover which is sure to reveal plenty of surprises in this brand new world. Along with seeing the Hidden Leaf Village’s premiere ninja team taking on the Turtle boys in hand-to-hand combat, it also introduced us to this world’s Foot Clan, meaning it’s highly likely that the Shredder is waiting in the wings. Should the big bad of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ franchise team up with some of Naruto’s biggest enemies, that is sure to shake the comic book world to its core.

Of course, some might be wondering whether or not this crossover will eventually be brought to the screen. While nothing has been confirmed as of the writing of this article, there is precedent to think that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto crossover might land an anime adaptation in the future. The biggest proof that this crossover might be possible is the creation of 2019’s Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the animated film based on the comic book crossover of the same name.

Want to see what future surprises in this wild new comic book crossover? Follow along with Team Anime for all the latest on the meeting of Team 7 and the TMNT and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto Reveals a Shocking Connection Between Kakashi And Splinter appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While Boruto’s anime remains in limbo as Studio Pierrot works on Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, this hasn’t stopped the Two Blue Vortex from continung to follow the son of the Seventh Hokage. Recently, the sixteenth chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex was released and gave readers a much better understanding of both the titular hero and the world around him. Thanks to Boruto’s new sensei in this world turned upside down, the anime protagonist now can perform a feat that Jujutsu Kaisen fans might be a little familiar with. Thanks to “Space Time Ninjutsu”, things might be more in favor for Boruto Uzumaki than ever before.

Warning. If you have yet to read the latest chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex’s manga, Chapter 16, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory. Two Blue Vortex has been a series that works in tandem with Naruto: Shippuden, wherein the latest series focuses on a world post time skip. Unfortunately, the world that Boruto now faces sees him as a fugitive thanks to the former Kara member Eida using her powers to brainwash the world. Now that Konoha and the Ninja World believes that Boruto is responsible for the death of his parents, the son of Naruto is on the run. Luckily, the anime protagonist has a wild new ally in the shape of Kashin Koji, the clone of Jiraiya.

RELATED: Naruto Explains Why Boruto Hasn’t Revealed Kawaki’s Biggest Secret

Boruto’s Boogie Woogie Power

When the Two Blue Vortex began, it was quite clear that Boruto Uzumaki had been putting his time away from Konoha to good use. Training with Kashin Koji, Boruto has learned some new moves that made him a force to be reckoned with, not only in the face of Code but his former allies as well. As Kashin explains in the latest chapter, Boruto has a move that is dubbed the “Flying Raijin Jutsu” to use when he wishes and it might prove to be one of the ninja world’s greatest techniques.

Kashin Koji, during his one-on-one with Boruto, explains the son of the Seventh’s new ability, “Space-Time Ninjutsu. It instantly teleports you or other people anywhere. As with flying, it’s a basic Ohtsutsuki ability. By marking metal objects with your chakra so that you can sense them, you evolved it into a ninjutsu that enables you to move freely and instantly wherever you want. In truth, there are two different jutsu. You actually don’t know the real Flying Raijin. As you sought to control Space-Time Ninjutsu, you devised, on your own, a copycat Flying Raijin that produces near-identical results.”

The Flying Raijin Explained

Much like how Code can create “slashes” in time that let the villain teleport to new locations, Boruto can now teleport to metal objects that he places his chakra onto. Unfortunately, this technique does have some drawbacks to it. While Boruto Uzumaki can teleport easily enough if he has a metal object in his visual range, teleporting long distances is far more difficult according to Kashin Koji. As Kashin explains, Boruto will need to make a variety of metal weapons to use this ability and will need to expend much more chakra when teleporting long distances.

On top of diving further into Boruto’s new abilities, the latest chapter sets up some major aspects for the future of the shonen series. The current Hokage, Shikimaru, has a secret discussion with one of Koji’s toads, emploring the Konoha leader to send Konohamaru, Sarada, and Mitsuki to the Land of the Wind to fight the Divine Trees. Needless to say, the Two Blue Vortex is planting the seeds for a major confrontation in the near future.

Want to see what the future holds for Boruto Uzumaki? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Hidden Leaf Village and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Explains Boruto’s New Jujutsu Kaisen-Like Powers appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the most popular anime of all time, Naruto: Shippuden is back with an all-new set of Funko Pops. The latest drop includes Hinata, Jiraiya, Neji, and Naruto, with the Naruto Shuriken Funko Pop offering the chance at a special metallic Chase. There are also several exclusives in the wave. Everything you need to know can be found below.

• Naruto: Shippuden Hinata Funko Pop: Hinata whips out her Gentle Fist, a blue power radiating from her palm! / Available here at Amazon / Available here at Entertainment Earth 
• Naruto: Shippuden Jiraiya Funko Pop: Naruto’s godfather and teacher, Jiraiya! / Available here at Amazon / Available here at Entertainment Earth 
• Naruto: Shippuden Naruto Shuriken Funko Pop: Naruto Usumaki stands in his fighting stance for this figure, his shuriken prepared for battle! This Pop also has a metallic chase that makes the Hero of Hidden Leaf look even cooler. / Available here at Amazon / Available here at Entertainment Earth 
• Naruto: Shippuden Neji Funko Pop PLUS: A shinobi of Konohagakure’s Hyūga clan, the talented Neji uses the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven taijutsu. / Available here at Amazon / Available here at Entertainment Earth 
• See exclusives below. You can check out all of this week’s new Funko Pop releases right here.

Naruto Funko Pop Exclusives

• Naruto: Shippuden Karin / Amazon Exclusive
• Naruto: Shippuden Suigetsu Hozuki / Funko Exclusive
• Naruto: Shippuden Itachi Uchiha (Chance at Chase) / Chalice Collectibles Exclusive

We’re definitely excited and grateful for this drop of Naruto Funko Pops. The Metallic Naruto Chase is one I hope to get my hands on, but I’ll need a bit of luck on my side. This drop also includes a Funko Pop Plus, which means that it will be a little more detailed than a standard figure. It’s worth noting too that if you order through Entertainment Earth, you’ll receive free shipping on orders $39 and up with a mint condition guarantee.

While Naruto’s journey to become the Seventh Hokage is over, the universe of Naruto continues in his son’s story: Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. While fans have never quite been as excited about the new story, the new manga Boruto: Two Blue Vortex seems to be changing fans’ minds. The new story takes Naruto’s son, Boruto, and makes him an outsider, hunted by his friends and now facing the ultimate villain: the Divine Trees. It’s nice to see the manga taking Boruto and throwing him into completely new, unknown situations. While there’s no word currently when this story will be getting an anime counterpart, we definitely await that moment. Hearing fans talk about how good this new Boruto story is really helps solidify the Naruto continuation as something to check out in the future. 

Stay up to date with new Naruto news and collectibles by keeping an eye on our Gear page!

The post Head To Hidden Leaf With New Naruto Pops With a Chance At A Metallic Chase appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Heroes in a Half-Shell have crossed over into some wild universes in the past when it comes to the green siblings’ comic book history. Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michaelangelo have met the Dark Knight, the Masters of the Universe, the Power Rangers, the Ghostbusters, and even the kids of Stranger Things. Now however, one of their wildest and most anticipated crossovers of all time is right around the corner in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto, and we had the opportunity to check out the first issue early thanks to IDW Entertainment. If nothing else, the meeting of the four turtle siblings and Konoha’s finest is not what you might expect.

Our first issue of this epic crossover begins with April O’Neil already traveling with the original Team 7, aka Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. In this new universe, April has visited with the current Hokage of the time, Lady Tsunade, to beg for help in returning to a very different New York City. As many comic book crossovers go, things go awry for this escort mission as Team 7 and their guest come into contact with the Foot Clan. This brand of the Foot is defeated soundly thanks to the arrival of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, living up to the superhero trope of fighting their potential allies thanks to a misunderstanding. While things wrap in a similar fashion to many comic crossovers, the final stinger is one that many won’t see coming.

To start, when it comes to comic book crossovers such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto, the question arises of how the beloved characters will meet. Rather than seeing the Heroes in a Half-Shell or Team 7 tripping the multiverse, the IDW mini-series presents the TMNT as being a part of the “Naruto-verse” from the jump. New York City is now “Big Apple Village” and the new designs for the turtles reflect a different landscape they now inhabit. While their origins might now be different, writer Caleb Goellner has an exceptionally good handle on all the characters involved.

One of the most interesting aspects of this crossover, and any comic book crossover that sees two universes smashed together, is how characters respond to these new interactions in some of the quieter moments. Highlights include Naruto and Sasuke reflecting on Baxter Stockman’s plans in relation to their own statuses and the dynamics between all the characters involved. Goellner plays well with the battles that he lays out before readers as we are able to see interesting interactions between the likes of Leonardo and Sasuke, Sakura and Raphael, and Donatello and Michaelangelo tag-teaming Naruto and his clones. It works well in terms of presenting the concept.

What doesn’t work nearly as well is how the premiere issue simply dives head-first into this new universe, which might come as confusing to many. To reiterate, this is a brand new world that sees the TMNT being a part of Naruto’s universe, rather than seeing the two original universes clash. For better or for worse, these are entirely new Turtles though this doesn’t have much of an effect on their overall personalities. The first issue could have benefitted a tad from taking things a little slower to start but these are ultimately minor qualms in a comic that delivers on what is ultimately promised.

There’s certainly fun to be had with the idea of “Big Apple Village” and how these new Heroes in a Half-Shell interact with their established universe. As mentioned earlier, one of the things I loved the most was the final panel stinger, promising that the pasts of all the characters involved might be far different from what many readers might have expected. Naruto has always been a series that works well at following the story of past generations and it’s looking as though this comic book crossover aims to follow this trend.

On the art front, Hendry Prasetya is a gift for this series, capturing a worthy blend of comic book art and the anime essentials that make the future Seventh Hokage and his allies pop. The direction of the panels, lush environments, and perhaps most importantly, the fast and furious battle scenes capture the spirits of all the characters involved. It’s a hard line to walk in terms of capturing the eclectic style of Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto, and while Prasetya doesn’t walk that same line, he pays homage to all the characters involved by capturing an anime aesthetic here.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #1 is a ton of ninja fun, introducing interesting concepts and a brand new universe that many didn’t see coming. While there are a few hiccups in this premiere issue, they aren’t enough to water down the overall experience and there’s something to enjoy here for both fans of the Heroes in a Half-Shell and the Hidden Leaf Village’s Team 7 alike. This is a must-buy for fans of either franchise and I’m looking forward to what surprises the crossover has waiting in the wings.

Rating 4 Out Of 5

Published by IDW Publishing and Viz Media

On Wednesday, November 13th, 2024

Written by Caleb Goellner

Art by Hendry Prasetya

Colors by Raul Angulo

Letters by Ed Dukeshire

Cover by Jorge Jimenez

The post Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #1 Review (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

From Tower of God to Solo Leveling and True Beauty, webtoons are taking over anime. We have seen the industry explode in recent years, and as webtoons become bigger, more fields are eyeing web comics. Anime has been at the forefront, and thanks to a new report, we have learned Studio Pierrot is jumping into the fray. The studio behind Naruto and Bleach is teaming up with a South Korean animator to bring webtoons to the screen.

As you can see below, Studio Pierrot and Red Dog Culture House have come together. The two companies have locked in a partnership, and it will bring their teams together. Moving forward, the companies will do joint productions targeting “global” audiences, and the partnership will focus on Latna Saga.

Studio Pierrot Is Getting Into Webtoons at Last

According to the deal, Latna Saga: The Survival Sword King is the first IP gunning for an adaptation under this deal. The series will move into production later this year, so no release window has been decided. However, the anime adaptation of Latna Saga could arrive as soon as 2025 if industry trends hold up.

As for this specific deal with Studio Pierrot, it is expected to last three years. It will be back by investment and funding from Japanese production companies. Once Latna Saga has been handled, future projects will be up for grabs as Studio Pierrot and Red Dog Culture House have more IPs in their future.

Now if you are not familiar with Latna Saga, the webtoon went live in 2019 under creators YKB and Soon Q. Studio Khit oversees the web comic, and it tells the story of Hanbin Ryu as he is taken to a new world isekai style. Following a career in the military, Hanbin is keen to fight, but things go wrong with his isekai hop. The man took 20 years to travel, and when he reaches his new world, Hanbin is faced with a society that hates travelers. He is forced to rank up his reputation in-world to show the world wrong, and of course, plenty of villains made themselves known to the Sword King.

Anime Is Expanding Its Webtoon Ties in Big Ways

Clearly, Studio Pierrot is ready to turn its attention to webtoons, and this kind of expansion is warranted. When it comes to graphic novels, manga and webtoons are leading the game globally. Series like Solo Leveling have earned billions of views to date, and their anime adaptations are popping. Next January, Solo Leveling season two will make its grand debut, and hype for the show is high.

There is no denying the anime industry’s interest in webtoons, so Studio Pierrot’s new partnership will expand its reach. This year, shows like True Beauty brought their anime to life, and Tower of God season two made its grand debut. From The God of High School to Noblesse, the list of anime webtoons is growing by the day. So while Studio Pierrot keeps focus on Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, well – you should know its staff is also looking at WEBTOON and Tapas for new projects.

What do you make of this latest anime x webtoon deal? What webtoon series would you like to see tackle the small screen? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Naruto Studio Lands Bi Webtoon Anime After Signing South Korean Partnership appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been steadily setting up the next major arc against the Divine Trees, and the newest chapter of the manga finally explains why Boruto Uzumaki has kept Kawaki’s huge role reversal secret all this time. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been picking up three years after the events of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. That first series ended with a massive cliffhanger that saw Kawaki force Eida to use her Omniscience to make it where everyone in the Hidden Leaf Village believe that he’s Naruto’s actual son and Boruto killed the Hokage. This made Boruto a fugitive for years, and continues to put him in dire straits with the rest of the village after all this time.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex’s first major arc has been spending its time revealing much of how the Hidden Leaf Village has changed in the three years since Boruto was forced out of the village, and Kawaki has become one of their most trusted allies. But as Boruto is now heading back into the village to help with the Divine Tree threats, Kawaki had begun to wonder why Boruto has yet to try and tell them the truth. But Boruto believes it wouldn’t make a difference anyway.

Why Boruto Is Still Keeping Kawaki’s Big Secret

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 15 sees Boruto and Kawaki meeting up with one another in the Hidden Leaf Village as they have their first real conversation since the time skip. Kawaki doesn’t immediately attack Boruto, and thus allows the two to actually talk it out for once. Kawaki wants to know why Boruto hasn’t told the others about his using Eida’s power, and Boruto truly believes that nothing good would be coming from telling the truth about what really happened. They just won’t believe him.

It’s been previously established that Eida’s ability works in a lot more complicated of a way than you would think at first. Rather than acting as a sort of hypnosis or jutsu, Omniscience fully rewrites everyone’s memories to make them believe that Kawaki’s been Naruto’s real son this entire time and Boruto is the outside. So Boruto knows that telling everyone wouldn’t amount to much because while some might believe him, others won’t. It’ll cause unnecessary problems when the Divine Trees need the most focus to defeat before things get even worse. So in Boruto’s eyes, as long as the Hidden Leaf Village is functioning normally during this situation, he’ll be fine with being labeled as a rogue ninja.

Telling the Truth Won’t Work Anyway

Omniscience is such a tricky ability that Boruto telling the others the truth won’t work anyway. Because even if he has supporters that believe him, Eida’s power is constantly rewriting their memories anyway. It was previously showcased that Shikamaru was able to piece together that Boruto was likely Naruto’s real son, but even he himself could not trust his own memories. His head became cloudy when it comes to Boruto, and he even started to forget why he feels like Boruto is telling the truth.

So to overcome Eida’s power, those who hear the truth would have to overcome their own thoughts and doubts. For some reason, Sarada Uchiha and Sumire Kakei are the only ones who had been able to completely avoid Eida’s power without having the ties to the Otsutsuki that Boruto and Kawaki have. Everyone else would likely steadily forget any of their support for Boruto, so unfortunately he’s right to make this move. Telling the others would only complicate things further. With threats like the Divine Trees out there at the moment, the Hidden Leaf Village needs as much united power as they can muster.

The post Naruto Explains Why Boruto Hasn’t Revealed Kawaki’s Biggest Secret appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is now in the midst of the fights against the Divine Trees, and the newest chapter of the manga has revealed just how deadly Boruto’s use of Karma has become since the time skip began. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has introduced a new version of Boruto’s world three years after the events of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and Boruto has been training during all of that time to become strong enough to defeat Code and Kawaki. But following the time skip, an even greater foe has started to emerge as the Divine Trees are now what need to be dealt with first.

It’s something that Boruto and Kawaki discuss when they meet for the first real time outside of Konoha and talk about their current situation. While Boruto reveals why he has yet to try and tell the others about Kawaki using Eida’s power to change history, he also explains why he’s trying to avoid using Karma as much as he did as a kid. Because when he uses it now, he’s closer to fully losing control to Momoshiki than ever before. It’s just not worth the temporary boost of power.

Boruto’s New Karma Problem Explained

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex previously teased that the Karma mark power was a lot more dangerous than it was during the first series. Kawaki noticed how Boruto was seemingly unable to control his Karma power when Kawaki started resonating with his own, and he asked about this in Chapter 15 of the series. Kawaki asks why Boruto can’t seem to control his Karma, and Boruto reveals that he actually tried to use that power in a fight that happened outside of the Hidden Leaf Village during the three years skipped over. And he felt himself being fully possessed by Momoshiki at the time.

Boruto explains it as a feeling where he stopped being who he was, and even started dying while still being conscious and aware of his surroundings. Since this fight, Boruto has not used Karma. He’s afraid of totally losing control of his body to Momoshiki, but for some reason the Otsutsuki has been remaining dormant during the past three years. Boruto doesn’t really know why, but he’s still worried that activating Karma would make Momoshiki emerge despite the Otsutsuki being seemingly quiet. Meaning that Boruto will be lacking his truly greatest power in the fights to come against the Divine Trees.

Boruto Makes a New Deal With Kawaki

With Momoshiki presenting a greater threat than ever following the time skip, Boruto once again asks Kawaki for his help. Though Kawaki is dead set on killing Boruto to wipe out the threat, Boruto asserts that the Divine Trees are the most immediate foe. They need to work together in order to stand any chance against the two of them, and Boruto even once again promises that he’ll let Kawaki kill him if he ever loses complete control of his body again. Just like the deal the two of them made before in the main series.

This fear of Karma also reveals why Boruto has been training to the extent he had been during the course of the time skip. He has revealed a greater strength and control over his jutsu that he had been learning this entire time, but now there’s a large shadow looming over it all. Boruto has been scared to lose control over himself, and his training has been his way to try and make up for that inherent weakness. But as Boruto heads into an uncertain future, Momoshiki can truly pop up and interrupt things at any time.

The post Naruto Reveals How Deadly Boruto’s Karma Has Become After Time Skip appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Naruto is one of the biggest series to ever come from Japan. Its heroes rank high with guys like Goku and Luffy, after all. With 20+ years under its belt, Naruto has done a lot in that time, and its reputation is backed by millions of fans. That is why Naruto has locked in a big theme park deal as it will allow fans to visit the Hidden Leaf firsthand in a few years.

The update comes from France as Manga News reported live from the Naruto Shippuden: Symphonic Experience. It was there Masashi Kishimoto’s hit series came before fans in concert, and the event ended with a big announcement. The theme park Parc Spirou Provence is creating its own Naruto section, and the area will open in 2026.

Naruto Is Getting Its Very Own Theme Park

According to the update, Parc Spirou Provence has dedicated nearly four acres to the Naruto area. This new space will be added to the theme park in 2026 and include a variety of attractions. From rides to eateries and shops, Naruto is getting the full treatment by Parc Spirou Provence, and the park’s general director says the land’s layout is being planned with Shueisha.

“It is an immense joy and an honor for us to bring the universe of Naruto to life at Spirou Park. We have been working on this incredible expansion for 4 years now. Conducted hand in hand between the Park, Mediatoon Licensing and our Japanese partners Shueisha, Studio Pierrot, and TV Tokyo, this project will allow us to offer visitors the most immersive experience possible for a theme park,” Herve Lux explained.

Now if you are not familiar with Parc Spirou Provence, the destination is located in Monteux, and it opened its doors in 2018. The park is tied to Dupuis, a popular comic publisher, so it features characters like the Smurfs. With nearly two million visitors to date, Parc Spirou Provence is an up-and-coming destination for tourists, and this Naruto park will mark it all the more enviable. So if you have ever wanted to visit the Hidden Leaf Village, well – a trip to France may be in order in 2026.

The Recent Rise of Anime Theme Parks Is Overdue

This theme park deal has the fandom buzzing, but it is worth noting that Naruto is no stranger to such thrills. A Naruto theme park already exists in Japan if you care to visit Awaji Island. The theme park, which is named Naruto & Boruto Shinobi-zato, has a scale replica of the Hokage Mountain and even recreates park of the Hidden Leaf. From Ichiraku Ramen to the Ninja Academy, the park has it all along with AR attractions and mazes. The park opened some years ago, but this new theme park deal promises to dedicate more land to Naruto. And if we can get an actual shinobi roller coaster, we will call that a win.

Beyond Naruto, anime as a whole has become very enticing to theme park operators. From Pokemon to One Piece, a number of theme park deals have targeted anime in the past decade. Universal Studios Japan has spearheaded many of those crossovers with its Cool Japan initiative. From Neon Genesis Evangelion to Detective Conan and Demon Slayer, Universal Studios has a rotating schedule for anime titles. Jujutsu Kaisen took over the park not too long ago, and Universal Studios Hollywood confirmed it will borrow that anime attraction for stateside fans in 2025.

Of course, none of these deals compare to what Studio Ghibli did for its body of work. The anime studio has opened its very own theme park that highlights nature and the importance of art. With Goro Miyazaki at the helm, Ghibli Park opened a few years back and features a number of lands based on Studio Ghibli’s top films. From Spirited Away to My Neighbor Totoro, all of your fave films are represented at the park. It even houses a replica of Howl’s actual moving castle, so when it comes to anime theme parks, Studio Ghibli is a step ahead.

What do you think about this latest Naruto report? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Naruto Lands Major Theme Park Deal for 2026 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Anime fans, rejoice! You’ll be delighted to hear that a new Naruto box set is up for pre-order! The limited-edition blu-ray box set includes all 10 seasons and 112 episodes of the series, in a quality that hasn’t been seen before. Plus new special features such as a 72-page art booklet, a window cling, poster, storyboards, and more. 

Right now,the set is up for pre-order at GRUV $249.95 but you can get a 20% discount when you use the code SIGNUP20 at checkout. That will bring the price down to $199.96, a fair price to have the entire Naruto series in never-before-seen 1080p. The set is confirmed for release on January 7th, 2025. Take a look below for more details. 

“In another world, ninja are the ultimate power, and in the Village Hidden in the Leaves live the stealthiest ninja in the land. Twelve years earlier, the fearsome Nine-Tailed Fox terrorized the village and claimed many lives before it was subdued and its spirit sealed within the body of a baby boy. That boy, Naruto Uzumaki, has grown up to become a ninja-in-training who’s more interested in pranks than in studying ninjutsu.. but Naruto is determined to become the greatest ninja ever!”

Features

• Rating: 14+
• Language: English, Japanese
• Genres: Action, Fantasy
• Format: Blu-ray
• Release Date: 1/7/25
• Includes Episodes 1-220
• Subtitles: English
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
• Main Feature Runtime: 5060
• Region: A
• Number of Blu-ray Discs: 32
• UPC: 782009248460
• Studio: Viz

Special Features

• 72-page Art Booklet
• Window Cling
• Poster
• Storyboards
• Clean Open and Close Videos
• Making of Cover Art – Gallery
• Art Galleries
• Trailers

The Live-Action Naruto

Lionsgate announced recently that it would be working with Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton to bring the lovely Hidden Leaf Village to life. The live-action rendition of the popular anime doesn’t have many details out yet, but Cretton has received a very special seal of approval. Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, stated that he was excited to see the new take on his world. We can still wait and see if he’ll take on the Executive Producer role much like Eiichiro Oda did with the One Piece live-action series, but for now, it’s exciting that he’s excited.

Although the future of Naruto is a bit up in the air while we wait on new details for the movie, it’s fantastic to see a new box set hit the shelves. The Naruto fandom looks like it’ll continue to grow for the foreseeable future, and we love that new fans keeping tuning in for the journey of seventh Hokage.

The post Naruto Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set Is a Limited Edition appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Some unannounced games in the worlds of One Piece and Naruto have supposedly been either paused or canceled entirely amid some larger shakeups at Bandai Namco, according to new reports. It’s been suggested that work on these unknown games is uncertain at the moment due to a underwhelming demand, and the games in flux apparently extend beyond anime titles, too, with a Nintendo project currently on hold at Bandai Namco as well.

News of the state of these Naruto and One Piece games supposedly in the works over at Bandai Namco comes from Bloomberg which said that the publisher had either halted or canceled some of its projects. Bloomberg speaks of a “lackluster demand,” though it seems the demand here is referring more to games in general as the gaming industry continues to cut costs by canceling projects and laying off workers. There were no references made to a lack of demand for Naruto and One Piece, specifically, which makes sense given that the latter is more popular than ever after Netflix’s live-action Naruto series even if the franchise is currently going on a hiatus. That does made it even stranger that Bandai Namco would be reconsidering a One Piece game, however, given its popularity and the fact that we’ve gotten several One Piece games in the last four years.

Bandai Namco publishes tons of anime-themed games — pretty much any of the more modern ones that you can think of — so there’s no telling what kinds of games these One Piece and Naruto projects were. Many of Bandai Namco’s anime games are arena fighters like the wonderful Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero while others are a bit more open like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, but they all typically circle back around to beating up anime baddies.

But while anime adaptations may be the publisher’s bread and butter, its work extends beyond that scope as well. Bandai Namco published Elden Ring and other Souls games, for example, and also works with Nintendo on some projects. Two Nintendo franchises Bandai Namco works on are the Mario Kart and Smash Bros. games with a broader team established recently to work closer with Nintendo (though those franchises were not specifically mentioned in the announcement). Mobile games are another focus of Bandai Namco which are also supposedly being impacted by these decisions made internally. Another game, Blue Protocol, was recently confirmed for a shutdown early next year despite having only just released recently. The Western version of the game which was to be published by Amazon has also been canned.

As a result of these cancelations and paused games, Bandai Namco is also reducing its workforce with around 200 employees said to be affected. These employee losses also contribute to an already brutal year for gaming studios in terms of layoffs and lost talent.

The post New One Piece, Naruto Games Reportedly Canceled by Bandai Namco appeared first on ComicBook.com.

If you thought the ninjas of Konoha teaming up with the Heroes in a Half-Shell of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fame was strange, you haven’t seen anything yet. In a shocking official release, Naruto is teaming up with the Transformers for a new crossover that is sure to be one of the strangest team-ups in recent memory. Even though the two franchises couldn’t be more different, that isn’t stopping the Cybertronians from fusing with anime’s most popular ninjas. An official preview has been released by Crunchyroll detailing what this crossover will entail and how the Seventh Hokage will meet up with the Autobots and Decepticons.

When it comes to the Naruto franchise, a good “go-to” when it comes to the recognizability of the shonen series is the sequel, Naruto Shippuden. Taking place after the Seventh Hokage’s initial adventures, Shippuden follows Naruto as a teenager as he fights against the enigmatic band of ninjas known as the Akatsuki and perfects his techniques. It makes sense that this upcoming crossover with the Transformers would focus on this iteration specifically, as Shippuden remains a fan-favorite entry. While the Naruto crossover with TMNT will arrive later this year as a comic book series, the Shippuden/Transformers crossover is planning something a little different for next year.

Ninjas That Are More Than Meets The Eye

Instead of a new anime and/or comic book series smashing the two universes together, two new figures are being created that will take two of Naruto’s most recognizable beasts and turn them into Cybertronians. Both Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, and Gamakichi, the giant frog who was an ally to both Naruto and Jiraiya, will be made into Transformers and are set to arrive in Spring 2025. In an exclusive from Crunchyroll, the streaming service shared a first look at the figures that will retail for around $54.99 on release. Pre-orders are available here at Entertainment Earth now ($7.95 flat rate shipping, free on orders $99+) and here on Amazon.

The Future of Cybertron And Konoha

When it comes to the future of both franchises, things are looking bright. For the Transformers, the series recently released a prequel animated film in Transformers ONE. While the film received critical and audience acclaim, Paramount has yet to confirm if a sequel is in the works. Luckily, the Transformers are returning to the big screen thanks to the upcoming live-action crossover, Transformers And G.I. Joe. Long have these two properties had a shared history in the comics and it will be interesting to see how they interact in the upcoming live-action film.

On the Naruto front, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is the current manga series that is focusing on the son of the Seventh Hokage. Featuring Boruto Uzumaki as a teenager, the world has turned against the shonen ninja as he attempts to make things right in the face of enemies and allies alike. Unfortunately, no word has been revealed by Studio Pierrot regarding the return of the anime adaptation though the production house had previously confirmed that they were working on four original episodes of the initial Naruto series.

The Naruto x TMNT Crossover

While no toys have been announced for the upcoming Naruto crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a comic book series will arrive on November 13th. The crossover will see the Turtles teaming up with Konoha’s finest, from the initial Naruto series, as they fight against Shredder, the Foot Clan, and perhaps some other surprise villains along the way. Considering both TMNT and Transformers fall under the Paramount banner, it will be interesting to see if Naruto and his fellow ninjas cross over with any other Paramount franchise.

Want to stay up to date on what worlds the Hidden Leaf Village will cross over with? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for all the latest on the shonen ninjas and the animated Cybertronians.

Via Crunchyroll

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For some time, many anime fans didn’t see the point of continuing Naruto’s story once he became the Seventh Hokage, Madara Uchiha was defeated, and peace was restored to Konoha. Regardless, the Hidden Leaf Village’s story continued thanks to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. As the anime adaptation created quite a few original stories of its own, many shonen enthusiasts felt that the son of the Seventh Hokage couldn’t follow in his father’s footsteps when it came to sheer quality. We thought now would be the perfect time to fill you in as to why Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has “broken the curse” and become a solid sequel to Masashi Kishimoto’s masterpiece.

To start, let’s break down the story of the Two Blue Vortex and what makes it so different from its predecessor. Unlike Shippuden, Boruto Uzumaki doesn’t find himself entering his teenage years as a member of the Hidden Leaf but instead is being hunted by his former friends. Thanks to the power of the former Kara member Eida, the world believes that Boruto was responsible for the deaths of his parents Naruto and Hinata. As the son of the seventh fights friends and enemies alike, new villains have emerged in the forms of the Divine Trees, antagonists that hit a bit too close to home for our anime heroes.

The Two Blue Vortex: Different Is Better

One of the biggest problems of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations was that many aspects of the storytelling felt like lesser reflections of what came before in both the original Naruto series and its sequel, Naruto: Shippuden. The Kara Organization might have had its own motives but they barely held a candle to the Akatsuki, the villainous ninja collective that remains one of anime’s most recognizable band of villains. 

When Naruto Next Generations began, series creator Masashi Kishimoto handed the keys to the kingdom to his assistant Mikio Ikemoto. While Mikio had some interesting ideas, many of the characters fell into a dynamic wherein they were mostly combinations of their parents and had far fewer challenges to deal with. Boruto might have had his own “inner demon” but Momoshiki wasn’t as charismatic or as striking as the Nine-Tailed Fox. Luckily, Kishimoto took back the reins of the series and started making some wild swings in terms of adding changes to Konoha.

Hitting the ground floor running, Masashi wiped the board clean by killing both Kara’s leader Jigen along with Kurama as well. With both the good and evil sides of the ninja world losing their biggest guns, the future was wide open and things began to change at a rapid pace. Code, Jigen’s right-hand young man, has picked up where his master left off, creating an army all his own but the Divine Trees comes as a threat to both him and the heroes.

What Makes Boruto Good Now?

There’s an amazing sense of unpredictability that has been introduced in Two Blue Vortex as Boruto’s current rogue status puts him at odds with friends and enemies alike. While the Seventh’s son’s current situation does rhyme with Naruto’s Shippuden status, in that Boruto was in training with Kashin Koji, the clone of Jiraiya, the current storyline is seeing Boruto truly strike out on his own. In losing so many of his allies, Boruto has come into his own both in terms of his character and his overall strength. 

Flipping the script on Boruto and making his former friends become enemies is a brilliant switcheroo. This series of events not only adds to the tension, it gives readers some match-ups that might have otherwise never happened if not for Eida’s spell. On top of this, thanks to Kawaki’s character putting him at serious odds with his “brother” Boruto, the young Uzumaki appears to have far more challenges in his way than his father ever did. The new environment is one that wasn’t seen in the original series and it makes for a great locale for storytelling.

Two Blue Vortex: Creating Its Own Legacy

As mentioned previously, Boruto as a sequel series that many shonen fans felt was unnecessary. In following Naruto and his quest to become the Seventh Hokage, the ninja world seemed to have told its story in a way that would resonate for some time to come. The Two Blue Vortex has managed to step out of the shadow of the series that gave birth to it and in doing so, has the necessary foundation for a solid future. 

On top of the unpredictable nature of the series, many of the battles and story elements of the sequel series have been strong thus far. Himawari gaining the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox finally gives Boruto’s sister something to do in the main plot and Boruto’s “power-up” thanks to his years of training has made him a force to be reckoned with, albeit in a different way from his sibling. Offering Boruto different challenges to fight against and leading him on a different path from his father was always the right way to go and that’s one of the biggest strengths of the Two Blue Vortex thus far.

Unfortunately, no word has been shared from Studio Pierrot as to when we can expect the shonen franchise’s anime adaptation to make a comeback, let alone when we can expect Two Blue Vortex’s anime to arrive. There are still several chapters of Boruto: Naruto Next Generation to cover following the deaths of Jigen and Kurama, on top of the original four Naruto episodes that PIerrot had hinted at releasing. It might be some time before we see this latest series animated but it will be well worth the wait.

Want to see what the future holds for Boruto Uzumaki? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Hidden Leaf Village and feel free to hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime. 

The post Naruto Fans, Face It. Boruto Is Really Good Now. appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Believe it, boys and girls. Naruto is on the horizon in a way we have never seen before. Earlier this year, fans learned Naruto and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were . IDW Publishing and Viz Media is on the cusp of the crossover, and we just got a brand-new peek at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto. And yes, this one brings the one-and-only Kakashi center stage.

As you can see below, the sneak peek was posted by ANN ahead of the comic’s debut next week. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto is set to begin in mid-November. The special preview brings Team 7 together for a mission, and Kakashi is leading the charge. Of course, the crew is joined by April O’Niel as the reporter managed to plead a case to the Hidden Leaf Village, and Tsunade asked Naruto’s crew to help the girl out.

The Intersection of Naruto and TMNT

In this preview, fans are given a clear look at how Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto will look and feel. Caleb Goellner is writing the comic after making a name for themselves with Sonic the Hedgehog. Hendry Prasetya is overseeing drawing while Raul Angulo doing coloring. Plus, lettering has been tasked to Ed Dukeshire. IDW Publishing and Viz Media assembled a top-notch team to handle the comic, and this new preview promises big things for fans.

After all, we get to meet Team 7 face-to-face as genin once again. Naruto is back in his iconic orange suit while Sasuke rocks his usual blue-white look. As for Sakura, the girl’s hair is perfectly cut, so we are well past the Chunnin Exam arc. Given the timing, this Team 7 mission has to be set just before Sasuke leaves the Hidden Leaf Village for Orochimaru, so life for Team 7 hasn’t yet hit the fan.

Give Us More Manga x Comic Collaborations

With a crack team in charge, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto is just the latest crossover between manga and western comics. It isn’t often that western comics bring manga into their realm, but it has happened before. Marvel once did an impressive collaboration with Attack on Titan, and of course, manga has a long history with tackling western IPs.

From Wolverine to Deadpool and Spider-Man, a number of Marvel heroes have been given manga titles over the years. Right now, Deadpool Samurai is a big hit for Marvel and Shueisha as its second season just began. As for other publishing houses, DC Comics has delved into manga before. Joker One: Operation Joker debuted a couple years ago to great success as it features the Joker raising a Baby Batman. From Superman Meshi to Batman: Justice Buster, DC Comics is also getting into the manga space, and now IDW Publishing is doing the same with TMNT.

As for what’s next, well – we will have to see. The manga industry is growing by the day, and current sales stateside make it to the top-selling type of graphic novel. The market heavily favors manga thanks to readers, so there is more interest in these comic crossovers than ever before. So if we see Chainsaw Man fight Spawn one day, don’t be surprised.

What do you think about this latest peek at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto? Are you planning to check out the IDW series? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto Promo Proves the Collab’s Potential appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been steadily reintroducing characters to the sequel series following its three year time skip, and the newest chapter brought Gaara’s son Shinki back…but probably not in the way fans had been hoping for. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been getting more intense with each of the new chapter as Boruto and the rest of the Hidden Leaf Village had been fighting against the Ten Tails invaders. But with the end of these fights, Boruto himself is still very much a fugitive from the village and is enemy number one. That might not be the case for much longer, however. 

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is still working through the immediate fallout of everything that happened in the fights against the Ten Tails beings, and each one of them had been proven to have the kinds of abilities that each of the shinobi still struggled against. Each of these beings takes their power from someone that has been trapped within their Ten Tails trees, and it’s revealed in the newest chapter that the latest victim of this is actually Gaara’s son, Shinki, who hasn’t been seen in action in quite a long time. 

What Happens in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 14?

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 14 picks up after the Ten Tails complete their attacks on the village, and Boruto is held in containment as an enemy to the village. It’s through him that they want to get as much detail on these new villains as possible, and he confirms for them that the Divine Tree people are indeed bred from the powers of those they have copied. And each of them seems to have a target that they personally want to devour. Amado suspects it’s due to the fact that they have gained knowledge, and thus want to seek out more. 

He also explains that their leader, Jura, is not like the others as he seemed to have come from the Ten Tails specifically. He knows beating Jura is the only way to end things, and the rest of the village isn’t so keen on believing him and would rather take him out. But before all this comes to pass, Boruto is able to escape and things get worse from there. Shikamaru’s soon contacted by Kankuro, and he unfortunately confirms that the Hidden Sand Village has also been attacked by the Divine Tree fighters. 

What Happened to Shinki? 

Kankuro tells Shikamaru that both Gaara and Shinki had been taken down. While the two of them are still alive after the attack, Shinki has been captured within a tree. Hoping to explain more later, he’s reaching out to the Hidden Leaf to get some help as soon as they can get it. It’s then revealed that the fighters have sprouted yet another Divine Tree fighter, and it’s a new person named Ryu. Since each of them look similarly to the person they are copying, it’s clear that this new foe is sapping away at Shinki’s power. 

Ryu was the Divine Tree fighter that had been alluded to with one of the potential possible futures that Kashin Koji had seen when he was explaining his power with Boruto, and now it’s clear that this future has come to pass. But as there’s a new Divine Tree fighter with the intent in taking down the Hidden Sand, it’s even clearer that the entire shinobi world is in danger from this group that’s getting stronger with each passing chapter that hits. 

The post Naruto Cliffhanger Hits Gaara’s Son With a Deadly Transformation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be having a major crossover with Naruto later this Fall, and the artist behind the series has dropped a new sneak peek at the highly anticipated team up with some special new art. Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto is now officially celebrating the 25th anniversary of the manga’s original debut in Shuieisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and that means we’re likely to see all kinds of fun new projects celebrating how far Naruto has come in that time. This has led to the announcement of not only a new live-action movie in the works, but a fun new crossover event too. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto is a fun team up between IDW Publishing, Shueisha and Viz Media launching later this November that will see the Hidden Leaf Village colliding with New York, and it’s going to spark a whole new conflict between all of these famous ninjas. The artist behind the second issue of the new crossover, Jorge Jimenez, took to social media to share a new sneak peek at the crossover that highlights both Donatello and Naruto’s Kyubi form to great results. Check it out below: 

What Is TMNT x Naruto About? 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto teases that it will kick off when April O’ Neil has a meeting with the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade. This secret meeting not only catches the attention of the Hidden Leaf Village (which seems to already exist within the Turtles’ version of New York), but of the Turtles’ own ninja foes, the Foot Clan. So naturally it’s not long before the two have to join forces to take on an even bigger threat. Speaking with ComicBook earlier this Summer about the highly anticipated crossover, series writer Caleb Goellner opened up about bringing the two franchises together.

In incorporating Naruto into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘ world, Goellner revealed that the Hidden Leaf Village was fully brought into the universe, “Team 7 will actually be headed to a new version of the TMNT’s turf! We metaphorically (and I guess literally) added a TMNT section to the world of Naruto for this story so we could make it feel as lived-in and authentic as possible. Series artist Hendry Prasetya has done a ton of truly stunning design work to make this possible, of course. He’s got powerful design jutsu.”

When Does TMNT x Naruto Come Out? 

In bringing these universes together, Goellner also explained why they felt this crossover is already seemingly perfect, “The magic of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto is pretty self-evident, but the main reason it works in my opinion is that the TMNT as a concept already has so much innate shonen energy. I mean, I’ve always loved the two Japanese TMNT anime OVAs and the resulting toys. I could easily imagine a TMNT series created specifically for Shonen Jump.” And by the looks of this newest cover art, the two are already a perfect team before the first issue hits just as the writer says. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto is currently scheduled to hit comic shop shelves beginning on November 20th, and will be running for four issues to tell its story written by Caleb Goellner with illustrations provided by both Jorge Jimenez and Hendry Prasetya. Each of the issues will also likely have multiple variants, so fans of both franchises will want to keep an eye out for all of the cool crossover art that will be coming our way with this new limited series launching later this Fall,. 

The post TMNT x Naruto Shares New Sneak Peek Ahead of Launch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto manga first made its debut 25 years ago, and the manga is commemorating the occasion with a special video showing off the series’ biggest moments. Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto manga hit the pages of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on September 21, 1999, and it’s been 25 years since the manga went on to become one of the biggest and most influential franchises of all time. Naruto has been such a success for Shueisha since it made its debut that it’s since continued with a full sequel series, which is now even in the midst of its own sequel. 

The anime adaptation for Naruto recently celebrated its own 20th anniversary not long ago, but now the manga has hit another major milestone. While it’s been 25 years since the series first made its debut, it feels just as fresh today as fans are still taking the time to highlight some of the biggest moments that happened over its initial run. Shueisha is using this time to look back as well with a special new video to show off Naruto‘s best moments as the perfect way to kick off this 25th anniversary party. Check it out below: 

What Is Naruto? 

First making its official debut in 1999, Masashi Kishimoto‘s Naruto introduces fans to Naruto Uzumaki, an orphan who has been ostracized from the rest of his home village of ninjas, the Hidden Leaf Village. It turns out that years before, the village had been attacked by a monster known as the Nine-Tailed Beast. His father had sacrificed himself to help take down the monster, and it was then sealed within a baby Naruto to keep it under wraps. Due to having this monster within his body, Naruto’s been forced to live on his own while everyone hates him. 

Despite all of this, Naruto’s dream is to become the leader of the whole village, the Hokage, in order to gain the people’s respect. He doesn’t seem to have any ability to use traditional ninja abilities, and he doesn’t really have the physical skills to do well in school, but Naruto tries anyway. It’s this spirit that pushes him throughout the series as he takes on increasingly deadlier enemies and grows to such a level of power that he eventually becomes the Hokage by the end of it all. 

What’s Next for Naruto? 

Funny enough, that was far from the end of the Naruto series by any means. The timeline has continued with an official sequel series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. This manga, written and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto with Kishimoto overseeing the story, introduced fans to Naruto’s son, Boruto Uzumaki. Boruto deals with his own troubles, and they grow to such an extent that it’s now in the midst of its own sequel series keeping the story going, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. You can now find it all with either Viz Media’s digital Shonen Jump library or Sheuisha’s MangaPlus service. 

As for Naruto itself, it’s currently still working on its celebration for the anime’s 20th anniversary. With the planned return of the original Naruto anime for four special episodes, this celebration will take Team 7 on a new mission never seen in the franchise before. The manga has yet to announce whether or not it will have any grand plans for this milestone just yet, but given how big this franchise is, this special video is likely far from the only 25th anniversary celebration that Naruto will have for the monumental occasion. 

The post Naruto Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Blast From the Past Video: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Naruto fans have gotten plenty of video game adaptations over the years, but a lot is owed to Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, the PS3 game released back in 2018. It kicked off the Ultimate Ninja Storm series overall which led to three more Ultimate Ninja Storm games, but Naruto fans haven’t gotten another of those since 2016 when Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 was released. Fast-forward to the present day, however, and we’re now about to see the original Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm make a comeback that’ll make it playable in a new way nearly 16 years later.

That’s because the classic Naruto game is getting a rerelease this month, Bandai Namco announced this week. The game was brought forward to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC platforms in 2017 with a Nintendo Switch version following those in 2018, and on September 25th, it’ll be ported once more to mobile devices this time.

“A Naruto game full of 3D competitive action! Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm finally makes its way to smartphones!” an overview of the game from its new iOS page said. “Experience the stories and battles of Naruto’s childhood through beautiful graphics!”

This single-player Naruto game consists of a story-based mode where you can play through different missions and battles related to moments Naruto fans should be pretty familiar with already. It’ll also have a “Free Battle Mode” that includes 25 different characters to choose from.

Given that it’s been over 15 years since the original Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm first released, it makes sense that the Naruto game is also getting some modern optimizations to bring it in line with other current games. It’s got an autosave feature now and also has new control settings so that players can pick between casual or manual controls. Given that it’s a smartphone game now, you’ll now see a suite of touch controls. An image shared through the game’s site which can be seen below shows an example of what the controls will look like. It’s also worth pointing out that since this is a single-player game, you can pause it, so even if the mobile controls take some getting used to, you can at least take your time with it.

Bandai Namco said the game is “now available,” but it’s actually scheduled to be released on iOS and Android devices on September 24th. Another caveat to consider is that this Naruto game won’t be free on mobile platforms. It’ll be sold for $9.99 through both the Google Play and App Store marketplaces, but that’s still cheaper than it being sold for the $19.99 you’ll see on other modern platforms.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm will be available on mobile devices on September 24th.

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Time flies in the ninja world when you’re having fun. It has been almost twenty-five years since Masashi Kishimoto introduced the young boy who would become Konoha’s Seventh Hokage and the Naruto franchise is still riding high to this day. While Naruto Uzumaki might no longer be leading the charge in the manga and its anime adaptation, handing the baton to his son, Boruto, that isn’t stopping the Hidden Leaf from finding exciting new ways to hit the mainstream. Thanks to the success of Netflix’s One Piece, now might be the time for the streaming service to take a good, hard look at creating a live-action take on the world of Naruto.

One of the big reasons why Naruto was able to become as popular as it was wasn’t just thanks to the fast-paced ninja battles that fuel its story, but the wide array of characters, good and evil, that populate the ninja world. Naruto Uzumaki might have been the title’s hero but his origin story saw most of the world seeing him as a villain. Harboring the nefarious Nine-Tailed Fox inside of himself, Naruto was a pariah in Konoha, though this fact didn’t stop him from earning friends, gaining trust, and creating a legacy that has made waves in the anime world and won’t soon be forgotten. Naruto might have seen some stumbles in the past but Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been throwing some wild curveballs at readers and receiving wide acclaim in doing so. 

The Live-Action Naruto

If you’ve been following recent anime developments, you might be aware that Lionsgate is working with director Destin Daniel Cretton to create a live-action movie of Naruto. While few details have been revealed regarding the plot or casting of the upcoming live-action anime adaptation, Cretton has expressed his passion for taking on the challenge of bringing Konoha to life. On top of the announcement, the Shang-Chi director even received the approval of Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto to create this new take on the ninja world, alleviating many anime fans’ thoughts on the project. While Kishimoto might not take on an Executive Producer role as Eiichiro Oda has with One Piece, it goes a long way to show that Naruto’s “father” is on board. 

Bearing this mind, you may be wondering why a Netflix television series should be made in the face of a live-action movie. To start, Naruto is such a giant franchise that it almost seems like a disservice to keep it restrained to one feature-length film, minus the idea that sequels would be in development. The ninja world from Masashi Kishimoto introduced shonen fans to hundreds of characters over its decades-long history and there would be more than enough material to share between two live-action projects. In the case of One Piece, the Straw Hats’ story is spread out across multiple mediums and Naruto could once again follow suit in terms of its predecessor’s path.

A Naruto Television Show Vs. A Naruto Movie

While both live-action adaptations could approach the story of the Seventh Hokage and his offspring in two different ways, there is more than enough material for a potential live-action television show to add ancillary material to the upcoming Lionsgate film. Examining the first stories that began Naruto’s journey, there are only so many battles and character stories that could fit into a feature-length film. Background for characters such as Itachi Uchiha, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Rock Lee, Kakashi, and countless others could be relegated to a Netflix series while the film focused squarely on Naruto. 

One Piece’s live-action series has opened the door for live-action anime adaptations like the upcoming Naruto film. While there was never direct confirmation that the Naruto live-action movie was given the green light thanks to the Straw Hat Pirates’ success, the two appear to go hand-in-hand in terms of One Piece’s first season release being followed shortly by the Naruto announcement. These two major shonen franchises have decades of stories worth telling, whether they be via anime, manga, live-action, or otherwise. However Naruto did plan for a live-action future, the shonen series is certainly in good company at the moment. 

A Naruto Anime Remake

Much like One Piece, Naruto currently harbors hundreds of anime episodes to its name across three series, aka Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Keeping this fact in mind, it might be difficult for some anime fans to dive into the Hidden Leaf Village considering the vast amount of storytelling that makes up the Seventh Hokage’s life. One Piece, Netflix, and Wit Studio deliberated this predicament and decided to update the shonen franchise with an upcoming anime reboot. Not only will The One Piece modernize the anime for a new generation, but it will also “trim the fat” when it comes to the filler material that was a part of One Piece, sticking more closely to its source material.

If there is one thing that Naruto became notorious for in the past, it’s the amount of filler that the Studio Pierrot production used in the past. Creating a remake that is more “lean and mean” than its predecessor won’t just give new fans the perfect jumping-on point but it could work in tandem with a live-action series to boot. Perhaps Pierrot could hand off the animating duties to Wit Studio as well, giving a new studio the opportunity to bring Masashi Kishimoto’s artwork to life.

Whether it be via a live-action series, a live-action movie, an anime adaptation, or the original manga, the ninja world has become a legend in the anime world and is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Here’s to twenty-five years Naruto and hopefully, anime fans are in for twenty-five more. 

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Naruto might have started with the Seventh Hokage searching for acceptance in the Hidden Leaf Village but it has since seen the anime protagonist handing off the baton to his son, Boruto Uzumaki. Following the end of the initial series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations would see creator Masashi Kishimoto handing off the baton himself to his assistant Mikio Ikemoto. Taking up the pen, Ikemoto forged the story of Konoha’s future before Kishimoto would make a comeback to throw a major monkey wrench into the lives of the Uzumaki family. While no longer drawing the series, Kishimoto is still more than willing to share new art of Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto’s manga has continued for decades and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. Most recently, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has been the latest sequel series that throws some major challenges at Konoha’s residents and the ninja world at large. Thanks to the powers of the villainous Eida, the world has been flipped upside down. Boruto’s former friends now believe that he is responsible for the death of his parents, though luckily for him, Naruto and Hinata are simply trapped in a limbo-like state. As Kawaki looks to eliminate the Otsusuki and the Divine Trees make their presence known, Boruto has his hands full in relation to the future.

Masashi Kishimoto Shares New Naruto Art

In a unique one-two punch, Masashi Kishimoto once again teamed up with artist Mikio Ikemoto to share new takes on Naruto and his progeny. While Boruto Uzumaki has his own fair share of challenges, Naruto had a far rougher start when it came to his own adventures. If you want the chance to see the young Naruto meeting the young Boruto, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ anime adaptation features a time-traveling storyline that saw the two meet thanks to wild circumstances.

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What’s Happening in Boruto?

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the son of the Seventh Hokage has been fighting friends and foes alike, though he has been quite successful in many of his battles thanks to the training he underwent in the background. Now utilizing new techniques of the Rasengan, Boruto was able to beat the likes of Code and Mitsuki, though the Divine Trees appear to be on a different level. Perhaps more shockingly, Boruto wasn’t the only member of the Uzumaki Clan to receive a power-up. Himawari, Boruto’s sister, revealed herself to be the new vessel for the Nine-Tailed Fox, meaning that she is sure to have similar power levels as her father, setting the stage for the daughter of the Seventh to play a large role in the future.

Naruto’s Anime Future

As of the writing of this article, Studio Pierrot has yet to confirm when we might expect to see Konoha return to the small screen. Previously, the production house touted four new episodes that would take fans back to the beginnings of Konoha, revisiting the original Naruto anime series. While those four installments are still being worked on, shonen fans are left wondering if we’ll ever see Boruto himself return to the screen. As Pierrot continues to follow a more seasonal approach to its projects, it could mean that anime fans will still have to wait for some time to see the ninja world make a comeback in the face of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’s upcoming third part.

Want to see when Naruto and Boruto will return to the anime world? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Hidden Leaf Village and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime. 

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The anime world lost a major talent when it was announced earlier this month that voice actor Emi Shinohara had tragically passed. On top of taking on significant roles from franchises including, but not limited to, Ninja Scholl, Cardcaptor Sakura, Magic Knight Rayearth, and Sailor Moon, Shinohara lent her talents to the world of Naruto as well. Taking on one of the most significant roles in relation to the Seventh Hokage, Emi played the role of Kushina, mother of Naruto Uzumaki. In a tear-jerking tribute to the deceased voice actor, Naruto’s Toshiyuki Morikawa, aka the voice of Minato, shared his thoughts.

To give our readers background on the career of Emi Shinohara, the actor was born in 1963 in Fukushima, knowing from an early age that she wanted to get into the acting game. While she would become most well known for her roles in the anime world, she also assisted in giving big Hollywood productions Japanese dubs. Emi dubbed the likes of Home Alone, The Wizard of Oz, Clueless, and Nikita. Passing away while “undergoing medical treatment”, Emi’s talent agency, 81 Produce, shared the following official statement earlier this week, “Shinohara Emi (real name Watanabe Emiko), an actor affiliated with our company, passed away on September 8, 2024, at the age of 61, while undergoing medical treatment. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to us during her lifetime.”

Minato And Kushina Forever

In a new statement from the voice of Minato, Toshiyuki Morikawa, the actor stated the following message when it came to both Shinohara’s passing and what he considered their best scene together, “Being able to play the role of a husband and wife in ‘Naruto,’ and that memorable scene, remains my fondest memory to this day. Thank you so much for your hard work. I firmly believe that we will meet again.”

On top of the role of Minato, Toshiyuki has also taken on anime roles including JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Yoshikage Kira, Bleach’s Isshin Kurosaki, Demon Slayer’s Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and One Piece’s Eneru. Not just relegated to anime, Morikawa has taken on several roles in the video game world including Resident Evil’s Leon Kennedy, Final Fantasy’s Sephiroth, and Devil May Cry’s Dante to name a few. 

The Anime World Mourns

Rest assured, Tohiyuki’s message wasn’t the only one mourning the loss of Shinohara. Her husband, Hiroshi Watari, shared the following message as a tribute to his deceased partner on social media, “I don’t usually post many photos of us together, but this time I made an exception.My wife, Emi Shinohara, passed away on September 8th.There have been a lot of swallowtail butterflies flying around me lately. I feel like it’s some kind of a messenger.Looking back, it was a fun 26 years.Thank you. Rest in peace.Thank you to everyone who supported us.”

Another major talent of Sailor Moon, Rika Fukami, expressed her loss for her friend as the two played the roles of Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus respectively, “My very dear, dear friend has passed away. He was full of energy and hope until the very end.We were born on the same day.I love you forever.”

Shinohara’s last anime credit was a part of the film, A Whisker Away. While she hadn’t take on a new anime role since 2020, her legacy in the medium will last for untold years thanks to the characters she has portrayed and the talent she shared with the industry. 

Our thoughts are with Shinohara’s loved ones during this difficult time.   

Via X

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Naruto is now celebrating the 20th anniversary of its original TV anime adaptation, and the creator behind the franchise revealed how Sakura Haruno’s role in it all became his biggest regret in looking back in the series. Naruto might still be continuing through this day with an official sequel series (that has since released its own sequel), but it’s also been a great time for fans of the original incarnation of the series as creator Masashi Kishimoto has been opening up about what has gone into the story in the past. And looking back, the creator also revealed what he wishes he could have done differently. 

Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations writer and artist Mikio Ikemoto have been appearing in France with special appearances together with fans, and have been sharing all kinds of insights behind it all coming together. In looking back on how the series had gone, Kishimoto previously revealed that Sakura was actually one of his biggest regrets for how she played into the story. In a new event attended by La Nouvelle Republique, Kishimoto explained more of his regrets about Sakura. 

Naruto Creator’s Big Regret for Sakura

Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto previously revealed that Sakura was his one big regret because he never got to reveal more about her parents or home life as explored by the other members of Team 7 (and many of the other characters in the franchise). But with this new event, Kishimoto elaborated on this to reveal that his regret is also around how he wrote Sakura as a character entirely. Looking back on her run in the story, Kishimoto stated, “She’s a character that I didn’t know how to develop as she would have deserved…But it was difficult for me to understand the heart of a young woman, so I didn’t dwell on it.”

In putting this side by side with Ikemoto’s current work with Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Kishimoto complemented how these sequels have fleshed out Sarada as a main member of the cast by comparison, “Something that Mikio Ikemoto achieved with Sarada, the main female character in Boruto. She’s the character that I also find the most successful graphically.” So Kishimoto is happy to see that while Sakura wasn’t as fleshed out as he wanted in the original, at least her daughter is going all out in the sequel. 

Naruto Creator On Its International Success

But in writing the characters or the increase of popularity through the manga and anime’s run, Kishimoto revealed that he didn’t really change how he approached the manga despite how big of a deal it became outside of Japan, “We do not change our way of doing things according to international success,” Kishimoto began. “Personally, I had heard a little about the success of Naruto outside the borders of Japan but I never measured its extent.” So it’s not like the creator was altering things on the fly just because it was successful. 

As Naruto celebrates its major milestones, the creator has been fairly open about the franchise and it’s clear that he’s still very much involved. Not only with the newest chapters of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, but also still has an interest in continuing further with the original incarnation with perhaps more one-shot stories and more for those characters who still have avenues to explore. Perhaps this will also open up more room for more time to shine for Sakura in the future as well.

HT – La Nouvelle Republique

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Anime fans might be experiencing the wild story that is Boruto: Two Blue Vortex but the ninja world started decades ago by focusing on the young Naruto Uzumaki and his quest to be accepted by his peers. Releasing its first manga chapter in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, creator Masashi Kishimoto introduced a universe that has been a prominent part of the anime world ever since. While various characters have aged, changed, and/or died as a result of the shonen story’s events, it all started thanks to Team 7. Now, four cosplayers have taken anime fans back to the past by perfectly revisiting the likes of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi.

Things at the start of the shonen series weren’t all that great for Naruto Uzumaki. While the anime star would eventually go on to become the Seventh Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, his childhood saw him treated as a pariah as he struggled with loneliness and a general quest to find acceptance. Thanks to housing the Nine-Tailed Fox known as Kurama. the vast majority of Konoha was anything but friendly to the anime protagonist. Luckily, Naruto found friends in Team 7 and his teacher Kakashi, aiding him in accomplishing his lofty goals.

Naruto & Team 7 Return

Despite Team 7’s initial creation being one that was filled with levity, they found themselves taking on some dire challenges to start. Even before the Chunin Exam threw Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura into a meat grinder as they took on friends and enemies alike, the trio fought against Zabuza and Haku to kick off their hard-hitting journey. When the first Naruto series ended, so too did Team 7 dissolve and Sasuke’s quest for revenge against his brother Itachi took complete control over the Uchiha’s life.

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The New Team 7

Once Naruto became the Seventh Hokage and his allies all grew up to be adults, the ninja world forged a new Team 7. Naruto’s son Boruto, Sasuke and Sakura’s daughter Sarada, and the offspring of Orochimaru, Mitsuki, joined forces to become the new leading trio of Konoha. Rather than having Kakashi as their teacher like the Team 7 that preceded them, the three ninjas were taught by Konohamaru, the grandson of the Third Hokage and long-time Naruto supporting character.

Ironically enough, Kakashi hasn’t taken the spotlight in the latest series nearly as much as the mask-wearing ninja once had. The copycat ninja hasn’t taken an active role in fighting against the Kara Organization, with one of the biggest stories on Kakashi revolved around his traveling the ninja world in a bid to heal his best friend, Might Guy. While Kakashi was ultimately unsuccessful in healing Guy’s crippling injuries suffered as a result of his fight against Madara Uchiha, that hasn’t stopped Might from continuing to live life to the fullest.

Where is Naruto Now?

Things are quite dire for the ninja world in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex as the Divine Trees and the Kara Organization are on the loose. Thanks to a spell placed on the world by the villainous Eida, nearly everyone believes that Boruto is responsible for the death of his parents. As readers know, Naruto and Hinata aren’t dead but they are in a rather tricky scenario. Locked inside an alternate dimension by none other than Kawaki, the adoptive brother to Boruto and Himawari. 

On the anime side of the aisle, Studio Pierrot initially stated that they would bring back the shonen franchise to the small screen by revisiting the first series. Planning to create four original episodes of the first Naruto series, the installments were indefinitely postponed thanks to the production house citing animation issues. Originally, the episodes were aiming to release last fall and no word has been revealed regarding a release date.

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A live-action Naruto movie is currently in the works, but does director Destin Daniel Cretton signing on for Spider-Man 4 mean that there will be a delay to the Naruto movie as a result? Naruto recently commemorated the 20th anniversary of the TV anime adaptation’s first premiere, and Masashi Kishimoto’s original manga franchise has since returned to the spotlight with all sorts of new projects announced to be in the works. One of these cede projects is a new live-action movie for Lionsgate, with the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director signed on to both write and direct the new film. 

Although the live-action Naruto film was first announced to be officially in the works earlier this year, it’s one of the projects that Hollywood has been trying to get off the ground for quite a while. With Cretton officially signing onto the project, it seemed like major headway was finally being made with Cretton already working to oversee the next draft of the film to fit his vision for the new movie. But this new development with the also in the works Spider-Man 4 might change a few priorities. 

Naruto Movie Director Signs Onto Spider-Man 4

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel and Sony are moving forward with Spider-Man 4 with Destin Daniel Cretton signed on to direct. Tom Holland is also reportedly expected to return for the lead role, and production will also reportedly begin early next year. Marvel’s Kevin Feige and Sony’s Amy Pascal are returning to serve as the producers for the new Spider-Man film, with writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers writing the script. With Cretton already directing a successful film with Marvel in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, it’s no surprise to find out that they would want to work with the director once more on a new project. 

But as for the timing, it might have an impact on his work with the Naruto live-action film. If production on Spider-Man 4 is indeed supposed to begin next year, then it’s likely far further along in its development process than Naruto is. And to be completely transparent, if it’s already pretty much ready to go then it’s likely going to be a higher priority for Cretton. It’s the next release in a highly successful Marvel franchise, and it’s a key character that’s going to draw in a ton of box office regardless of what the story of the film actually is. 

How Far Along Is the Naruto Live-Action Movie? 

Now it’s going to be a question of figuring out whether or not the live-action Naruto film will fit into Cretton’s increasingly busy schedule. The first way to do that is to guess how far along the new Naruto film actually is with its production. Publicly, it’s been reported that the film is still in its drafting stages. The first draft of the Naruto live-action film script was written by Tasha Huo, who was most recently attached to the new Netflix anime series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Huo said the following about working on the film in an interview with Variety, “Adapting iconic characters or IP makes the writing of it easier, because the passion for writing it is already there. I’m so inspired by these characters already that it’s exciting to just take a part of their journey and try to tell that fun story in a way that would appeal to me as a fan.”

Huo later revealed that their draft was finished, and it was being looked at by Cretton after he signed on, “I think that’s such a cool choice because he’s going to be able to capture how nuanced and special Naruto is without getting distracted by the big world that it is, which I think could easily be done by someone who’s not a fan or someone who’s coming in for a cash payday,” Huo stated. “This is definitely a movie that comes at it from a love of who Naruto is and that character and his relationships.”

But while the script is still being worked on, it’s still far from having an actual production start date or window. This means it’s earlier into its planning stages than fans may like, and will likely be further off than that if Lionsgate still wants to work with Cretton following his time with Spider-Man 4. As of now that seems to be the case if the approach is to take as much time as necessary to get this right out of the gate. 

Can Naruto Work In Live-Action? 

The success of other anime to live-action projects such as One Piece is likely going to put a ton of pressure on a Naruto film to succeed. The best approach to the situation is to take as much time to adapt things just right for a worldwide audience, and that’s a tough tightrope to walk for any director without even factoring potential rush or crunch time to make it happen. But in case fans were worried about how it would all turn out, Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto has already given his approval for the idea with Cretton’s involvement being a major factor. 

“When I heard of Destin’s attachment, it happened to be right after watching a blockbuster action film of his, and I thought he would be the perfect director for Naruto. After enjoying his other films and understanding that his forte is in creating solid dramas about people, I became convinced that there is no other director for Naturo. In actually meeting Destin, I also found him to be an open-minded director who was willing to embrace my input, and felt strongly that we would be able to cooperate together in the production process.” 

And with Kishimoto’s approval, Cretton’s likely going to stick around with the project, no matter how long it takes the film to keep going as long as he’s personally interested in still making it. Whenever that may be. 

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Naruto series creator Masashi Kishimoto revealed his favorite arc of the series. The Naruto franchise recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its original TV anime adaptation, and has continued to commemorate the milestone with new projects now in the works. As Kishimoto and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex writer and artist Mikio Ikemoto have been heading up special fan events in France, the creator duo has shared all sorts of insights into the creation of both manga releases. It’s here that Kishimoto has opened up about some of the biggest or most challenging aspects of its serialization over the course of its run with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. 

Naruto’s creator has been sharing some insights into aspects of the series not revealed in previous interviews, and the latest with La Nouvelle Republique in France sees Kishimoto open up a little more about some of his favorites moments. As explained by the creator, Kishimoto’s favorite arc of the series is the epilogue in which Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha have their final fight with one another and Sasuke finally admits that Naruto might have been right about things all along. 

Naruto: Masashi Kishimoto’s Favorite Arc

“I believe it has to be the epilogue or the conclusion of the final fight between Naruto and Sasuke where he finally admits he lost,” Kishimoto explained. This falls in line with the creator’s mentality when crafting villains in the series too as he explained that he more seeks to expand on the complicated sides of humanity driving a foe rather than outright creating a “super villain,” “I wanted to keep a humanity throughout my story,” Kishimoto began. “I could have made ‘super villains’ but that had already been done by others. And there is a golden rule in manga, you have to do what does not exist. This reinforced me in this path.” 

This is the perfect way to look at the dynamic between Naruto and Sasuke. The two might be in constant battle with one another through the series’ duration thanks to their role as rivals, but it starts to shift when Sasuke fully leaves the Hidden Leaf Village and starts to strike out on his own. But even when he decides to go off the beaten path and does some terrible things, Naruto refuses to give up on him and remains one of Sasuke’s closest confidants despite how much Sasuke tried to push him away. 

Why Do Naruto and Sasuke Fight in the End? 

It’s almost as if the two were destined to duel as seen in Naruto’s grand finale. The final fight between the two of them caps off their journey in the original series, and reveals how much the two of them have grown after everything they had been through together. While Naruto has grown in strength, and strength of heart, Sasuke finally started to open up and realize some of the mistakes he’s made. Because at this final juncture, it’s more about Sasuke’s final bit of growth than Naruto’s. 

Naruto, by this end point of the series, has fully developed as a person thanks to all of the fights he has been through and all of the support he’s gotten from the rest of the Hidden Leaf Village as a result of those victories. But it’s Sasuke who still held back, and Sasuke who was Naruto’s real mission throughout it all. He just wanted his greatest rival to recognize him, and through this fight in which the two ultimately end in a draw, Sasuke finally relents. No wonder it’s the creator’s favorite. 

HT – La Nouvelle Republique

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When it comes to manga, there are some series that reign above all others. Dragon Ball and One Piece are some of the top titles in shonen, for instance. The two titles saw another legend join their rank when Naruto premiered in late 1999. Creator Masashi Kishimoto has overseen the series as it has transformed into a global phenomenon. And not long ago, the artist unpacked the inspiration behind Naruto including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The whole confession came from France as Kishimoto made a rare appearance overseas with artist Mikio Ikemoto who oversees Boruto. It was there the two spoke with fans and press including La Nouvelle Republique. While chatting with the publication, Kishimoto was asked whether any ninja stories inspired Naruto, and the artist was quick to point out TMNT.

How Did TMNT Influence Naruto

“Looking at literature, I think of The Kouga Ninja Scrolls by Futaro Yamada. I read it on the advice of my editor, it was very interesting,” Kishimoto shared.

“It’s quite popular but I also like the [Teenage Mutant] Ninja Turtles including theirs films. There are also excellent manga on the topic like Ninku by Koji Kiriyama and characters like Fusuke (from Ninku) and Ninja Hattori.”

As you can see, a number of ninja-centric tales inspired Naruto as he was working to piece Naruto together. The Kouga Ninja Scrolls date back to 1958 and follow two rival ninja factions, the Kouga and the Iga. All of the ninja in these clans have supernatural abilities stemming from years of inbreeding, creating a sort of curse for both bloodlines. Kishimoto also nodded to previous Shonen Jump series like Ninku which combines ninjutsu and kung fu. Plus, Ninja Hattori was given special mention as Motoo Abiko created the action manga in 1964.

A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto Crossover Is Coming

Clearly, Kishimoto looked all over for inspiration when creating Naruto, and the TMNTwas peaking during the manga’s early days. After all, the heroes in a half-shell were created in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Created as comic book heroes, the TMNT franchise has gone on to run the gamut. The team has tackled everything from film to television and video games. To this day, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remains a thriving franchise as its latest reboot went live in 2023 with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

As for Naruto, the series has been on the up and up since 1999. Kishimoto ran the main manga for 15 years before it closed in November 2014. But of course, the finale of Naruto did not mark the end of the series. A sequel was released by Ikemoto and Kishimoto titled Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. The follow-up is now in the midst of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex which takes place following a time skip. From film to TV, Naruto has followed in the steps of TMNT, and the two IPs are teaming up shortly.

Yes, that is right. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto is about to hit shelves. IDW Publishing is teaming with Viz Media on the special comic run. Set for a fall 2025 launch, the official crossover will follow Team 7 as they enter a new nation based on the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So if you are ready to see what kind of jutsu Donatello can use, stay tuned!

What do you think about this latest Naruto tidbit? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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Naruto is now in the midst of celebrating the anime’s 20th anniversary, and one awesome cosplay has brought one of its biggest villains, Pain, back to the spotlight. Masashi Kishimoto first launched Naruto in the pages of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in the pages of 1999, and the anime then launched in Japan in 2002. With the franchise kicking off a new 20th anniversary celebration for the anime a few years ago, it’s been a great time to be a Naruto fan with all sorts of new projects and releases now in the works for the future. 

Over the course of its run, Naruto has introduced fans to all sorts of memorable allies and foes that Naruto himself had come face to face with. The series put Naruto at the center of so many massive fights that it all ended with a massive war that saw even more characters at the center of the fights. But even with all that happened after, there was really no villain that had a bigger impact on the Hidden Leaf Village than Pain. Maybe through aesthetics alone too, and an awesome highlight of the villain’s look comes through cosplay from artist @artistjodysteel on Instagram. Check it out below: 

Naruto: Who Is Pain? 

Naruto: Shippuden really ramped things up in the franchise as following the time skip from the end of the original Naruto run, the Akatsuki were introduced as a deadly group of rogue ninjas who were each out to hit a goal of their own. This came into play in many ways following the time skip as Naruto and the others faced off against these deadly ninjas, but the real biggest challenge came during the Pain arc as Naruto was facing a villain with an ideology that wasn’t entirely wrong. 

Fighting Pain came with a lot of mystery behind it too as the villain initially appeared as one of many, who were all seemingly connected in some mysterious way. Thanks to the power of the Rinnegan, Pain was a deadly foe that threatened the entire Hidden Leaf Village to a new level of destruction that had not been seen to that point. Making matters even more prominent was the fact that it all started with Pain killing off Jiraiya, who was not only Naruto’s mentor but a fan favorite character to that point in the series. 

Naruto’s Creator Reflects on Pain

Funny enough, Naruto series creator Masashi Kishimoto recently reflected on the toughest moments during his serialization with the series and noted the Pain arc as one that was difficult to resolve. Noting that there was an issue that the creator had to resolve and work through, it was revealed during a much earlier interview that Kishimoto was struggling with Naruto and Pain’s conflicting viewpoints. It wasn’t enough for Naruto to just defeat an opponent like Pain because it would only continue that cycle of pain and strife. 

Naruto instead needed to do the much tougher thing and forgive his foe for everything that had happened thus far. It was a much more difficult path for Naruto to walk down, and it showcased a real showing of leadership that helped the rest of the Hidden Leaf Village to see Naruto in a different way than they ever did before. It’s also why this fight is still held in high regard all these years later. 

If you wanted to see more of Naruto, you can find the anime now streaming with Crunchyroll. The newest series, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, is releasing chapters with Viz Media’s digital Shonen Jump library and Shueisha’s MangaPlus service. 

The post Naruto Cosplay Brings Pain Back to Life appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has changed the ninja world in some wild ways. Focusing on an older Boruto Uzumaki who is fighting both enemies and allies alike, one of the biggest changes has come in the form of Kurama’s new look. The Nine-Tailed Fox, following his death in the fight against Jigen, is no longer tied to the Seventh Hokage, instead finding himself in an unexpected locale. Now sharing a body with Naruto’s daughter, Himawari Uzumaki, Boruto’s sister now has a serious power to rely on in the days ahead. In new Boruto art, the shonen franchise has revealed a closer look at both Kurama and his new “partner in crime”.

Kurama found himself dying as a result of giving Naruto the energy that he needed to defeat the leader of the Kara Organization, Jigen. Using this new “Baryon Mode” to defeat Jigen and stop him from jumping into Kawaki’s body, the Seventh Hokage had a final tear-jerking moment with the Nine Tails. Capping off Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, many shonen fans didn’t believe that Kurama would ever return, so they were shocked when he unexpectedly made a comeback. Appearing in Himawari’s body while the Divine Trees attacked the Hidden Leaf Village, Kurama looks far different from his previous iteration.

Chibi Kurama Returns

To this day, the Nine-Tailed Fox still isn’t entirely sure as to why he is residing within Himawari’s body. Most likely, Kurama was reincarnated inside of Naruto’s daughter once he died thanks to Himawari’s and her father’s shared bloodline. So far, we were only able to briefly see the power that Himawari has at her disposal but the partnership is one that makes her one of the ninja world’s strongest warriors.

As of the writing of this article, Studio Pierrot has yet to announce when we can expect Boruto to return to the small screen. The production house previously stated that they were looking at more of a seasonal approach to its projects. While Pierrot previously stated that they would create four new original episodes of the first Naruto series, said installments were indefinitely postponed. 

Want to stay updated on the Hidden Leaf Village? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on Konoha and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and Naruto. 

The post Naruto Shares New Look at Kurama’s New Form appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The creator of Naruto knows what it takes to make a hit. Back in 1999, the artist hit the drawing board and brought the Hidden Leaf to life. In the decades since, Naruto has become a household name with manga readers, and the series has inspired countless of new mangaka. So honestly, it is no surprise that Kishimoto had his own inspiration sources for Naruto.

Recently, Kishimoto opened up about his favorite manga during a trip to France. The artist went abroad with Boruto artist Mikio Ikemoto to talk about Naruto and its legacy. It was there the pair chatted with La Nouvelle Republique, and the two creators shared their top three manga series. So if you want to know what the pair like, you can find their picks below:

• Kishimoto: Dragon Ball, Akira, Blade of the Immortal
  
• Ikemoto: Dragon Ball, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Parasyte
  

As you can see, the two artists have one top title in common, and that is Dragon Ball. Like millions of other fans, Kishimoto was greatly inspired by the story made by Akira Toriyama. Beyond Dragon Ball, Akira’s sci-fi future and the historical drama of Blade of the Immortal struck a chord with the creator. You can see pieces of these manga titles in Naruto, and the same goes for Ikemoto’s influences on Boruto.

How to Catch Up on Naruto

If you have not had the pleasure of reading Naruto, no sweat. You can find the series easily enough as Kishimoto’s manga is on the Shonen Jump app. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is the series’ latest title, and new chapters go live each month. So for those wanting to know more about the original series created by Kishimoto, you can read its official synopsis below:

“Twelve years ago the Village Hidden in the Leaves was attacked by a fearsome threat. A nine-tailed fox spirit claimed the life of the village leader, the Hokage, and many others. Today, the village is at peace and a troublemaking kid named Naruto is struggling to graduate from Ninja Academy. His goal may be to become the next Hokage, but his true destiny will be much more complicated. The adventure begins now!”

What do you think about this latest confession from Kishimoto? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Naruto Creator Reveals Their Favorite Manga Series appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes to Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto put everything he had into making the Hidden Leaf great. From its heroes to its frontlines, Naruto put its ninja through plenty. One of the greatest threats our heroes faced came in the form of towering Tailed Beasts. And now, Kishimoto is unpacking how Godzilla inspired the creatures.

Recently, Kishimoto made a trip to France where he talked all things Naruto with his colleague Mikio Ikemoto, the artist behind Boruto. It was there the pair spoke with La Nouvelle Republique, and as the pair spoke, Kishimoto took time to explain the connection between Godzilla and the Tailed Beasts we’ve come to love.

“I’ve been passionate about Godzilla since I was in elementary,” the creator shared. “My dream was to draw monsters, so I ended up including some in my story. I like Godzilla, I like Mothra, I like Ghidorah, and I also like Rodan. They inspired me to make the Tailed Beasts in Naruto.”

As you can see, Kishimoto is a pretty big fan of monsters. Godzilla tops the list along with his friends and foes. During their heyday, Toho’s kaiju were not just action stars but mascots with very different personalities. It was this presence that inspired Kishimoto to create the Tailed Beasts in all their variety. After all, the Nine-Tailed Fox is very different from the Two-Tailed Cat when it comes to power, form, and personality.

Godzilla’s Impact on Naruto

This nod to Godzilla is not the first one Kishimoto has made. Back in 2014, Kishimoto spoke with Nippon as the manga’s original run came to an end. It was there the Naruto creator highlighted Godzilla as inspiration for the manga, saying, “The entire story of these tailed beasts started out as a simple way for me to get the fox into my manga.”

“I loved Godzilla. I just wanted to draw a monster-something big that I could place in a battle. That’s why I decided to introduce the Summoning Jutsu, the summoning skills that let ninja call forth the weapons they need, or call a creature to their side to aid them in a fight. My intent from the start was to bring forth gigantic beings with these skills.”

If you want to revisit the Tailed Beasts, Naruto is easy to find these days. You can read the original manga as well as its sequel on the Shonen Jump app. So for more info on Naruto, you can read its official synopsis below:

“Twelve years ago the Village Hidden in the Leaves was attacked by a fearsome threat. A nine-tailed fox spirit claimed the life of the village leader, the Hokage, and many others. Today, the village is at peace and a troublemaking kid named Naruto is struggling to graduate from Ninja Academy. His goal may be to become the next Hokage, but his true destiny will be much more complicated. The adventure begins now!”

What do you think about this Naruto teaser? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Naruto Creator Explains How Godzilla Inspired the Tailed Beasts appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It turns out that Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto has more ideas for character specific one-shot manga releases and could have more on the way. Naruto recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its original anime adaptation with a special worldwide popularity poll that saw fans voting for their favorite character. The winner of that popularity poll would then get a full one-shot manga story from Kishimoto himself, and that was eventually revealed to be Naruto Uzumaki’s father, Minato Namikaze. It resulted in a special one-shot revealing more of Minato and Kushina’s shared past before Naruto was born, and was a welcome return to the series from the creator. 

Naruto: The Whorl Within the Spiral was Kishimoto’s first proper return to the Naruto manga in a long time, and thus fans have been secretly hoping ever since that another return could potentially be possible someday. Speaking during a fan event (as spotted by @howlxithree on X), Kishimoto revealed that he would like to do more one-shots but is just taking the time to think about the kinds of stories he’d want to write. Even going as far as teasing that an Itachi Uchiha story could be on the table. 

More Naruto One-Shot Stories? 

“Yes, I would like to do others, but I am taking the time to think about it,” Kishimoto stated. “In fact, I based myself on a ranking of characters made among readers. Minato was the first. The second is Itachi…I say it half jokingly, but you never know” With how Minato’s one-shot helped to expand what fans know about the character (along with revealing how the Rasengan jutsu got its name), a new one-shot from Kishimoto would do quite well as there are still many characters from the original franchise fans would hope to see more of in such an expanded way. 

For now, Kishimoto is working together with writer and artist Mikio Ikemoto on the current franchise manga release, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. Taking place three years after the events of the first sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, this series has kicked off a new phase of the franchise with a new form of the Divine Tree, more potential timelines to explore, god like abilities, and much more only briefly teased during the initial run of the Naruto series. You can find the latest chapters with Viz Media’s digital Shonen Jump library or Shueisha’s MangaPlus service. 

The post Naruto Creator Masashi Kishimoto Isn’t Ruling Out More Character One-Shots appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations reintroduced the Otsutsuki Clan as the major villains for the Naruto sequel series, and the writer and artist behind it all revealed why they had to bring them back for the new entry. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations first introduced fans to a future version of the Hidden Leaf Village where Naruto Uzumaki went on to become the Hokage and had a family of his own. The series then follows his son, Boruto, as he takes on his own foes. But soon enough, it was revealed that the Otsutsuki Clan would be playing a massive role in the sequel. 

Originally introduced late into the run of Masashi Kishimoto’s original Naruto manga series, Boruto franchise series writer and artist Mikio Ikemoto opened up about the Otsutsuki Clan playing a big role during a special fan event (as noted by @howlxithree on X) and explained that they were brought into the sequel because they didn’t get a lot of time to explore them in the original series. And frankly, when Ikemoto tried different villains, it didn’t have the same impact as the Otsutsuki Clan. 

Why Boruto Brings Back the Otsutsuki

“In Naruto, the origins of Otsutsuki were not explained,” Ikemoto began. “But for me they were aliens from the beginning. After the Great Shinobi Wars, we pushed the limits of the universe to find new antagonists. We did tests with other human characters, but the result was not convincing.” So as Ikemoto breaks it down, he and original creator Masashi Kishimoto likely tried out different ideas for villains but it was the Otsutsuki Clan that ultimately seemed to provide the most “convincing” villainous element. 

The Otsutsuki have proved fruitful for Boruto, however, as not only has the clan provided many big opponents over the course of the sequel, their reintroduction has also served to expand their lore and the lore of the franchise as well. Boruto himself has been given a major ticking clock as the Otsutsuki power continues to take over his own body, and it’s something we’ll see develop over the course of its own time skip sequel, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex too. 

The latest arc of the series has taken this even further by expanding on the Divine Tree with even more foes, so clearly bringing the Otsutsuki Clan back as many villains has been paying off for the franchise so far. 

The post Boruto Crew Explains Why the Otsutsuki Had to Return appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Naruto knows a thing or two about teamwork, and this fall, those skills will be tested by none other than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In October, IDW Publishing and Viz Media are coming together to bring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto to life. The epic crossover will take fans to a world where Splinter and Kurama exist alongside one another, and we have been given a new look at the event thanks to a variant cover.

Posted by ANN, the variant cover below showcases the TMNT crossover beautifully. Naruto can be seen at the very front as he wields his famous Rasengan in hand. As for the turtles, the squad is dressed up for battle with their headbands facing forward. It won’t be long before Team 7 partners with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and this new cover promises plenty of action when the crossover goes live.

Of course, fans are eager to see why surprises are in store for this manga-comic collaboration. Caleb Goellner is writing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto while Hendry Prasetya oversees its illustrations. Starting in October, the miniseries will go live both digitally and in stores so fans can cop their fave variant covers. As for the story, the crossover will follow Team 7 in their own universe as they travel to the turtles’ turf. Speaking with Goellner recently, ComicBook learned more about the story firsthand, and it was there the writer teased Prasetya’s incredible vision.

“Team 7 will actually be headed to a new version of the TMNT’s turf! We metaphorically (and I guess literally) added a TMNT section to the world of Naruto for this story so we could make it feel as lived-in and authentic as possible. Series artist Hendry Prasetya has done a ton of truly stunning design work to make this possible, of course. He’s got powerful design jutsu,” Goellner shared.

The Many Crossovers of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Of course, the TMNT franchise is no stranger to crossovers. From Batman to Garfield and Transformers, the heroes in a half-shell have done it all, but Naruto has been a bit more stingy. When it comes to Western IPs, Naruto has not done many collabs like this one, so manga readers will want to pay close attention. And of course, new Naruto fans can brush up on the Hidden Leaf’s history easily enough these days. Masashi Kishimoto’s manga is available on the Shonen Jump app. So for more info on Naruto, you can read its official synopsis below:

“Twelve years ago the Village Hidden in the Leaves was attacked by a fearsome threat. A nine-tailed fox spirit claimed the life of the village leader, the Hokage, and many others. Today, the village is at peace and a troublemaking kid named Naruto is struggling to graduate from Ninja Academy. His goal may be to become the next Hokage, but his true destiny will be much more complicated. The adventure begins now!”

What do you think about this wild Naruto crossover? Do you think the TMNT crew can hang with Team 7? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The post Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto Drops New Variant Cover Art appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When Naruto defeated Madara Uchiha, Obito, and Kaguya Otsutsuki, many anime fans believed that this was the end for the young ninja who wanted nothing more than to become the Hokage. Despite Naruto’s dream coming true, the shonen series marched on past Shippuden to follow the son of the Seventh, Boruto Uzumaki. Since the new star’s introduction, Boruto: Naruto Next Generation gave way to Boruto: Two Blue Vortex and the ninja world has become a rather different place. In a new interview, a creator of Boruto Uzumaki’s battles and character moments has shared the origins of the sequel series and what was the fire that lit the fuse.

At present, Boruto’s anime adaptation remains in hiatus as Studio Pierrot has stated that they are focusing on a more seasonal approach to its anime projects. Previously, the production house had stated that they would re-enter the Hidden Leaf Village via four original episodes that took viewers back to the first series. In these installments, a young Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura would be front and center, though the episodes were indefinitely delayed. Whne the franchise does return to Boruto in the starring role, expect some major events to take the anime world by storm.

Boruto’s Origin Sprang From Kawaki

In a recent interview, Boruto’s manga artist, Mikio Ikemoto, discussed how Kawaki was the spark that lit the fuse on Naruto Next Generations. Ikemoto stated the following when it came to the former vessel and how he influenced the beginning and the present events of the series, “We first had the idea of Kawaki, Boruto’s adopted brotherToday, their bonds have changed and their situation has reversed. Boruto is an easier character to move the story forward. Kawaki has really become his driving force, that’s the goal that Boruto has set in mind.” 

In the latest manga chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the world is against the son of the Seventh Hokage. Thanks to the power of Eida, Boruto Uzumaki’s former friends have become enemies as Konoha now believes the anime star was responsible for his parents’ disappearance. While Boruto himself has never been stronger, the odds are stacked against him as both his allies and the new villainous group known as the Divine Trees are gunning for him.

Want to stay up to date on all the wild development of the Hidden Leaf Village? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for the latest updates on the ninja world. 

Via X

The post Naruto Team Shares How Its Sequel, Boruto, Came to Light appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is getting more intense with each new chapter, and the creators behind the Naruto sequel reveal that Kawaki’s character will be evolving more soon. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is a sequel to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations that picks up three years after the events of the first series. Kawaki quite literally flipped everything on its head as he forced Eida to use her power to get everyone in the Hidden Leaf Village to believe that he was actually Naruto Uzumaki’s son, and that Boruto was now a fugitive suspected of killing the Hokage (despite that obviously not happening). 

It’s made for a much different kind of rivalry between Boruto and Kawaki than seen between Naruto and Sasuke in the original Naruto manga, and series creator Masashi Kishimoto and series artist and writer Mikio Ikemoto recently spoke at a fan event in France held by Kana (as shared by @UzuRepo on X) about the difference between the two rivalries. It’s here that the duo revealed that Kawaki will be the one who will be evolving as a character as they see Boruto as a more fully fleshed out and realized character as of the start of the series. 

Will Kawaki Improve as a Character in Boruto?

“In fact, Naruto and Sasuke are very similar. They aren’t that intelligent, both have a go-getter side and they’ve both lost something important. So even if they’re in opposition these characters are alike in their essence,” Kishimoto began in explaining the difference between the two rivalries. “As for Boruto and Kawaki, however, their very existence is completely opposite. Boruto’s a character who doesn’t realize how lucky he is, despite having a lot from the start. Kawaki’s a character who has lost everything and doesn’t realize his own value. Naruto and Sasuke, and Boruto and Kawaki are rivals in the story. But I think their relationships are pretty different in Naruto and Boruto.” 

Ikemoto then further dove into the differences between the two and revealed that it’s Kawaki who will be the one really evolving through this rivalry. “In the Naruto-Sasuke and Boruto-Kawaki relationships, each one is a rival to the other to assert their worth. However, their opposition is very different. In Naruto, the protagonist is constantly in opposition in which he expresses and conveys what he feels to Sasuke. By doing this, he evolves as a protagonist. On the other hand, in Boruto, it’s Kawaki who’s in the position of someone who shows a strong attachment to the main character Boruto.”

Ikemoto then explains that due to this difference in their stances as characters, Kawaki’s the one that will be getting development soon, “Boruto, having become a young man, is a character who’s fully evolved at once from the beginning. He is insightful and with great open-mindedness. Compared to Kawaki, the importance of what he carries on his shoulders is different. It will be more like Kawaki showing evolution as a character.”

The post Naruto Creators Promise Kawaki’s Character Development Is Coming appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes to collecting, some fans will do whatever it takes to get their white whale. From action figures to vinyl records and trading cards, the sky is the limit for collectors. As for manga lovers, they’ll go the distance to acquire whatever is missing from their shelves, and one such fan just set a record as a first printing of Naruto just sold for $20,000 USD.

And yes, you did read that right. That is $20,000 USD for a manga. Taking to social media, Beckett Collectibles announced a first printing of Naruto volume one just sold privately for the historic amount. So officially, Naruto houses the highest-selling manga of all time.

As you can imagine, that kind of money is hard to wrap your head around. This volume of Naruto could have gotten someone a new car or put a down payment on a house. It seems the anonymous buyer was determined to bring home this volume, but of course, the sale itself is facing scrutiny. The practice of grading manga is relatively new though Western comics are used to the process. It was not long ago that Beckett Grading began delving into manga, and in light of this sale, netizens aren’t sure why grading is even needed.

The Debate Over Manga Grading

Right now, you can find auctions in Japan and the United States for first printing, first editions of Naruto. These volumes date back to 2000, and looking at their sale history, the editions can run upwards of $500. In some cases, a copy in excellent condition may cost $1,000, but that is not the norm. Even series as big as Naruto aren’t pulling in the big bucks, but as grading enters the market, those manga prices might change.

Collecting is definitely an expensive hobby, and in some fandoms, grading practices have inflated prices in a big way. Manga has avoided this pitfall for decades, but as the industry grows globally, things are getting more expensive. This latest Naruto sale proves as much as it is hard to imagine any of its volumes costing $20,000. But alas, that day has come.

If you want to check out Naruto without breaking the bank, don’t worry! You can find the hit manga on the Shonen Jump app. So for more info on Masashi Kishimoto’s hit manga, you can read its official synopsis below:

“Twelve years ago the Village Hidden in the Leaves was attacked by a fearsome threat. A nine-tailed fox spirit claimed the life of the village leader, the Hokage, and many others. Today, the village is at peace and a troublemaking kid named Naruto is struggling to graduate from Ninja Academy. His goal may be to become the next Hokage, but his true destiny will be much more complicated. The adventure begins now!”

What do you make of this wild Naruto deal? Give me a shout at @meganwpeters with your take! You can also let us know what you think over on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Naruto Makes History as Manga Auction Unloads First Printing for $20,000 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is now working its way through the early days of its sequel series, and the manga has revealed the cover art for Volume 3 ahead of its launch on shelves overseas. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex picks up three years after the events of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations as the sequel series introduces a much harsher world for Boruto Uzumaki and the Hidden Leaf Village. Thanks to Kawaki literally flipping the script, Boruto’s now being treated as a dangerous criminal who killed the Hokage. And things have only gotten more intense from that point on with each new chapter. 

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has sparked a new arc where the Ten-Tails has started to emerge sentient beings through the use of the Divine Tree, and these new fighters are much deadlier than any foes seen before. They focused their target on Himawari Uzumaki for a while during this latest particular wave of chapters, and they are the ones compiled in Volume 3 of the manga hitting shelves in Japan beginning on September 4th. Focusing on Himawari, you can check out the cover art for Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Volume 3 below: 

What Is Boruto: Two Blue Vortex? 

Shueisha teases what to expect in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex as such, “Juri and Hidari of the Divine Tree attack the village of Konoha. While Ino-Shika-Cho’s Team 10 resists Jura, who is trying to eat Himawari, the Nine Tails inside Himawari awakens… Meanwhile, Hidari also encounters Sarada, and a battle breaks out. What will Boruto and Kawaki do with Konoha in such a difficult situation?” This volume has yet to announce a potential release date outside of Japan as of the time of this publication. 

If you wanted to find the most recent chapters of the sequel series as they hit each month (completely for free with a back catalog available with paid subscription), you can now find Boruto: Two Blue Vortex with either Viz Media’s digital Shonen Jump library or Shueisha’s MangaPlus service. They tease the series as such, “With everyone’s memories having been altered, Boruto finds himself being hunted by his own village. After escaping with Sasuke, what future awaits Boruto…?”

As for the Boruto anime, it’s now in the midst of a hiatus (with no current signs of returning just yet) and all available episodes are streaming with Crunchyroll and Hulu if you wanted to check it out. 

The post Naruto: Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Volume 3 Cover Art Revealed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Boruto Uzumaki has always lived in his father’s shadow as the legend of Naruto is one that will be a permanent part of Konoha’s legacy. Over the course of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, the orange-clad ninja struggled with a village that hated and feared him, a Nine-Tailed Fox residing in his body, and a host of villains aiming to tear down the Ninja World. Boruto has had to struggle with a villain inside of himself as well in the form of Momoshiki and in Two Blue Vortex, his former friends have been made enemies. All is not lost however as Boruto’s artist believes the future is bright for the son of the Seventh Hokage.

Since the arrival of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, anime fans have compared Boruto to his father perhaps more than the villagers of Konoha. Naruto’s story is one that is considered one of the greatest in shonen history and giving readers a new character to “replace” him took some convincing. Luckily, Boruto eventually managed to get his footing as both Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, with the latter seeing creator Masashi Kishimoto returning to writing duties. The sequel series has upped the stakes and is sure to make a significant impact on the anime world whenever it hits the small screen.

Boruto Vs. Naruto

When Boruto: Naruto Next Generations first began, Kishimoto’s former assistant Mikio Ikemoto took the reins of the franchise. Toward the tail-end of the sequel series, Masashi would return to writing duties and throw a monkey wrench into the ninja world. In a recent interview, Ikemoto wondered if the son might one day overtake his father, “Maybe one day, Boruto will surpass Naruto’s level as a hero (in terms of fans recognition).”

Without revealing too much about the Two Blue Vortex for those awaiting the anime’s arrival, Naruto has been taken off the board in an unexpected way. On top of Boruto Uzumaki having fare more challenges now than he ever had before, his mother and father also aren’t there to offer him aid. Luckily, this element has helped in weaving a strong story for the anime ninjas and Boruto’s fate is hanging in the balance as a result.

Want to follow along with the Hidden Leaf Village and its future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for the latest updates on Boruto, Naruto, and the other members of the Uzumaki family. 

Via X

The post Naruto Execs Totally Believe Boruto Uzumaki Can Defeat His Dad appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Naruto Saga has been getting renewed buzz this week, thanks to an interview with series creator Masashi Kishimoto. Part of the discussion with Kishimoto involved getting clarification on just who has been truly in charge of the Naruto sequel series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and its second volume, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. 

Boruto has faced its fair share of criticism since its launch in 2016. Most of that criticism was aimed at the Boruto anime series, which took a much more plucky and convoluted road through the story the manga told. Even so, the Boruto manga caught some crossfire from fans who didn’t believe that the sequel series should even exist; many fans have questioned whether it was the right call to put Kishimoto’s chief assistant, artist Mikio Ikemoto, and writer Ukyō Kodachi, at the helm of Boruto. The critical argument isn’t new for the manga genre (or any popular fandom IP, really): a series that continues without the original creator at the helm is viewed as an inferior product. 

In his new interview, Masashi Kishimoto makes it crystal clear that making Boruto is the truest collaboration between himself and Ikemoto. It’s (via translation) that the original process involved Kishimoto doing story drafts for Boruto, which were then sent to Ikemoto, who was allowed to make suggestions and changes to that layout. Kishimoto and Ikemoto would then meet and discuss any proposed changes that were on the table, and once they agreed, Ikemoto would take things from there, and begin drawing storyboards and dialogue. 

In some more direct quotes (via @kayn3_) it’s also made clear that this process has changed over time – but only because Kishimoto has gained that much more confidence in Ikemoto’s work: 

“In the case of Boruto, I initially wrote the broad outlines of the story, but very succinctly,” Kishimoto explained. “We then organized a meeting to discuss it. Ikemoto-sensei is really the one who is fully in charge of Boruto… I just enjoy reading it!” 

Mikio Ikemoto added more context to the topic, by describing how the creative process behind Boruto has changed over time: 

“At the beginning, Master Kishimoto indeed shared his story with me. But the more we advance, the more different the plot becomes from what was initially planned. Today, I discuss the next part of the storyline with my editor, every month. So I think Kishimoto-sensei doesn’t yet know what’s going to happen next in Boruto.” 

It’s hard to argue against the idea that the second volume of Boruto, Two Blue Vortex, has been a major improvement. Two Blue Vortex has literally and figuratively moved out of Naruto’s shadow, establishing Boruto as one of (if not THE) most powerful shinobi of is day – as well as maturing the once petulant boy into a battle-hardened warrior. If those strides forward were made by Ikemoto confidently coming into his own, then he deserves to be acknowledged (not criticized) for it. 

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex can be read at Shonen Jump. 

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Masashi Kishimoto returned to his shonen universe at the tail-end of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, changing the game for the son of the Seventh Hokage and the other ninjas of Konoha. While Kishimoto had handed over art duties to his former assistant turned series artist, Mikio Ikemoto, the mangaka still recollects the “good old days” when Naruto first hit Weekly Shonen Jump. Following the ninja world for decades, the Naruto franchise recently turned its world upside down in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex and Kishimoto and Ikemoto are more than happy to discuss the making of the manga and its schedule.

Studio Pierrot has stated in the past that while the anime adaptation is on hiatus, the series will return eventually by taking viewers back to the events of the original series. Promising four new episodes that explore the early days of Naruto’s childhood, Pierrot placed the installments on an indefinite hold. Stating that more behind-the-scenes work was needed on the upcoming episodes, the production house has since revealed that they are working on a more seasonal schedule rather than a weekly one. Kishimoto wasn’t the only person in the anime industry who was working on a weekly schedule.

Boruto’s Monthly Generation

In a new press conference, Kishimoto stated that he never had the opportunity to ever experience a monthly schedule while bringing Naruto to life, touting his envy to not have to stick to a weekly routine. The original Naruto series dropped new chapters each week, similar to how the likes of One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen do today. While the installments are longer, they clearly give the tag team of Kishimoto and Ikemoto far more time to think about the plot and the art that goes into the Two Blue Vortex. 

Kishimoto wasted little time in throwing Boruto’s world into turmoil when the Naruto creator returned to the manga. Once Masashi took over writing duties, he killed off the likes of Jigen and Kurama the Nine-Tailed Fox to cap off Naruto Next Generations. With Two Blue Vortex housing thirteen chapters, an older Boruto is on the run from his allies and enemies alike thanks to Eida’s wicked, brainwashing abilities. Once this sequel series hits the small screen, it’s sure to take the anime world by storm.

Want to see what the future holds for the son of the Seventh? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for the latest updates on Konoha and the ninja world. 

Via X

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