Franchise creator Masashi Kishimoto announced a new manga titled «Shadow Rising» and an animated crossover television series with 1990s franchise «Ninku» during the Naruto panel at New York Comic Con.
The presentation also provided an official development update on Hollywood’s upcoming live-action film adaptation from director Destin Daniel Cretton.
The crossover anime, titled «Naruto x Ninku», brings together two prominent Weekly Shonen Jump martial arts properties. Kishimoto and «Ninku» creator Koji Kiriyama are supervising the production, with Noriyuki Abe directing and Tetsuya Nishio serving as chief animation director and character designer.
A teaser for new NARUTO manga by Masashi Kishimoto is here! Stay tuned for more updates at the NARUTO Super Stage at Jump Festa 2027! #PROJECT_RASENGAN #NARUTO #JumpFesta https://t.co/EseP4OSffI
— NARUTO OFFICIAL (@NARUTO_info_en) October 10, 2026
According to the official synopsis, Kakashi assigns Team 7 a mission that he cannot attend, appointing Naruto as acting leader. During the assignment, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura become stranded in an alternate world, where they encounter Fusuke, the frog-faced protagonist of the «Ninku» universe.
Producers released a teaser trailer for the project but have not confirmed a broadcast window or episode count.
Jump festa reveal and live-action development
Details regarding «Shadow Rising» remain limited. While Kishimoto confirmed his direct involvement alongside a teaser trailer, publishers withheld narrative details. Comprehensive updates for the manga are scheduled for the Naruto Super Stage at Jump Festa 2027.
The panel also addressed the live-action feature film, with Cretton releasing a statement responding to online speculation regarding casting and story details.
The director emphasised the core resilience of the title character, describing him as an underestimated figure whose persistence drives the narrative.
«No matter how many times he fails or gets knocked down, he never stops believing in himself or fighting for the people he loves,» Cretton said. «That spirit is at the heart of the story we’re telling.»
Cretton added that the creative team is working through pre-production to ensure an authentic adaptation of Kishimoto’s original work, with formal announcements regarding casting and production milestones scheduled to follow.
