Naruto fans received two major surprises at New York Comic Con as a new crossover anime and a fresh manga project from creator Masashi Kishimoto were announced.
The headline reveal is NARUTOxNINKŪ, a limited anime project bringing together Kishimoto’s ninja franchise with Koji Kiriyama’s cult manga NINKŪ. The crossover is expected to run for four episodes and is being supervised by both creators.
Team 7 heads into a crossover adventure
According to details revealed at the convention, the story will follow Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura on a mission in unfamiliar territory. Kakashi is unable to participate directly, leaving Naruto to take on the role of acting leader.
The unusual pairing links two ninja-themed manga worlds from different eras and gives longtime anime fans a crossover that few would have expected. The limited format also suggests the project will be a focused special event rather than a long-running new series.
Kishimoto also teased a new manga titled Shadow Rising, giving fans another reason to pay attention to what comes next from the creator.
A busy new chapter for Naruto
The Naruto franchise has remained globally popular long after the original manga ended, supported by anime, games, merchandise and its sequel universe. A new crossover supervised by Kishimoto himself is therefore likely to generate significant interest among longtime viewers.
Radio Times reported the announcements on October 11, 2026, following the New York Comic Con panel. Further release details are still expected, but the combination of a crossover anime and a new manga project makes this one of the weekend’s biggest anime announcements.