The Naruto franchise revealed a new crossover anime with Ninku. It also announced a separate manga project by creator Masashi Kishimoto during New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026. These announcements formed part of a broader slate of projects unveiled under the “Project Rasengan” banner. This banner leads up to the franchise’s upcoming 25th anniversary in 2027.
NARUTO×NINKŪ Crossover Anime Details
The newly unveiled crossover anime is titled NARUTO×NINKŪ. It is structured as a four-episode television special. The project brings together characters from both iconic ninja series. This fulfills a long-awaited concept originally tied to the franchise’s anniversary celebrations.
Official plot details state that the story follows Team 7 members Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. They are assigned a mission without Kakashi Hatake, who cannot accompany the group. With Naruto appointed as acting captain, the motivated young ninja leads his teammates until they accidentally become lost in a strange new world. There, they encounter Fūsuke. Fūsuke is a young boy with frog-like features and a former member of the Ninku Corps.
Masashi Kishimoto and Ninku creator Koji Kiriyama are supervising the original story. The project was originally slated to air on TV Tokyo in September 2023 before being postponed to improve production quality.
Shadow Rising Manga and Project Rasengan Roadmap
In addition to the television special, Kishimoto is writing and illustrating a brand-new manga titled NARUTO SHADOW RISING. The project returns to the original storyline of the franchise. Further details regarding the manga will be revealed at the Naruto Jump Super Stage during Jump Festa 2027. This event is scheduled for December 19 and 20, 2026.
The announcements were made during the “NARUTO: What’s Next?” panel on Naruto Uzumaki’s birthday. The panel featured special guest voice actors Junko Takeuchi (Naruto Uzumaki) and Noriaki Sugiyama (Sasuke Uchiha). The comprehensive “Project Rasengan” roadmap also includes a simultaneous worldwide release for a new Naruto Card Game in June 2027. It includes a global mobile game and ongoing updates regarding the live-action movie adaptation directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
Historical Connection Between Naruto and Ninku
The crossover highlights a deep creative influence behind the Naruto universe. Created by Koji Kiriyama, Ninku began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in 1993, predating Naruto by several years. The series follows Fusuke, who uses a unique martial art combining ninjutsu and karate called “Ninku” while searching for his kidnapped mother in a post-war world.
Studio Pierrot previously adapted Ninku into a 55-episode television anime that ran from January 1995 to February 1996. Kishimoto has frequently acknowledged that Ninku served as a major inspiration for his own work. He noted that without Kiriyama’s pioneering ninja series, Naruto might never have been created.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the NARUTO×NINKŪ crossover anime announced?
The four-episode crossover anime was officially announced on October 10, 2026, during the “NARUTO: What’s Next?” panel at New York Comic Con.
What is the plot of the NARUTO×NINKŪ special?
The story follows Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura as they embark on a mission without Kakashi. Naruto acts as team captain, but the group gets lost in an alternate world and meets Fūsuke, a frog-like boy from the Ninku Corps.
Who is supervising the crossover anime?
The original story and production are jointly supervised by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto and Ninku creator Koji Kiriyama.
What is Masashi Kishimoto’s new manga called?
Masashi Kishimoto is working on a new manga titled NARUTO SHADOW RISING. Further details are expected at Jump Festa 2027 in December 2026.
What else was announced under Project Rasengan?
Project Rasengan encompasses the crossover anime, the Shadow Rising manga, a global mobile game, and a new Naruto Card Game launching worldwide in June 2027.
