New Naruto x Ninkū Anime, Projoect Rasengan Roadmap and More Revealed at New York Comic Con 2026

Four-Episode Crossover Anime Announced; NARUTO CARD GAME Launches Worldwide in June 2027; Fan-Favorite NARUTO Mobile Game Confirmed for Worldwide Release;
New Manga by Masashi Kishimoto Teased

(NEW YORK, NY) - Oct. 10, 2026 — Fans at New York Comic Con 2026 received a first look at the next chapter of the NARUTO franchise during the sold-out “NARUTO: What's Next?” special stage, held on Naruto Uzumaki's birthday before an audience of approximately 3,000 people. The event featured Junko Takeuchi and Noriaki Sugiyama, who voice Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, and Yoshihiro Tominaga, executive producer of PIERROT FILMS, the studio behind the NARUTO anime series.

The special stage delivered a series of worldwide announcements, including a four-episode NARUTO x NINKŪ crossover anime; the launch of PROJECT RASENGAN, a multiyear global collaboration bringing new NARUTO content to fans worldwide; a June 2027 worldwide release for the NARUTO CARD GAME; plans to bring NARUTO mobile game to global audiences; and a surprise teaser revealing that NARUTO creator Masashi Kishimoto is working on a new Naruto manga. During the panel, special illustrations by Koji Kiriyama and Masashi Kishimoto were revealed, and their special comments (*full text below) were read aloud to the crowd. Their messages shared a deep respect and longtime love for the series, drawing a massive round of applause from the audience.

©Masashi Kishimoto,Scott/SHUEISHA
©Koji Kiriyama/SHUEISHA
©Masashi Kishimoto Scott,Koji Kiriyama/SHUEISHA TV TOKYO PIERROT

NARUTO and NINKŪ Unite in a New Four-Episode Crossover Anime
The special stage's first major reveal was NARUTO x NINKŪ, a completely new four-episode anime bringing together two celebrated shinobi series. A collaboration visual and teaser trailer debuted for the first time during the special stage. Masashi Kishimoto has long cited NINKŪ as a major creative influence, saying that NARUTO would not exist without it. The new story is being supervised in its entirety by Masashi Kishimoto and NINKŪ creator Koji Kiriyama.

The production team also includes Noriyuki Abe, director of the TV anime series NINKŪ and BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, and Tetsuya Nishio, character designer and chief animation director for the TV anime series NINKŪ and the NARUTO series. During the special stage, Yoshihiro Tominaga shared work-in-progress animation drawings by Tetsuya Nishio, giving fans an early look at the project's detailed character movement and animation.

Story Introduction:
"I'm heading out on a mission for the ages, ya hear me?!"

Team 7 members Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are given a mission by Kakashi.
Since Kakashi cannot participate himself, Naruto is appointed acting leader.
As a result of this decision, Naruto is fully motivated to make the mission a success.
However, on the way, Team 7 finds themselves lost in another world.
What appears before the bewildered trio is a boy with a face resembling a frog's, named Fūsuke.
What awaits them in this strange new world?

A brand new story supervised by Koji Kiriyama and Masashi Kishimoto that combines two legendary series, NARUTO x NINKŪ, begins!

NARUTO x NINKŪ teaser Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=hCZi_R0MnvE

PROJECT RASENGAN Charts the Future of NARUTO and BORUTO

The special stage also introduced PROJECT RASENGAN, a large-scale global project designed to bring NARUTO and BORUTO into a new phase and present a long-term vision for the franchise. A new key visual and promo video debuted on the special stage's main screen, featuring Naruto wielding the Rasengan against a backdrop of memorable moments from across the series. Organizers also revealed a wide-ranging roadmap connecting future manga, anime, games, events and other franchise initiatives, with several projects still to be announced.

NARUTO CARD GAME to Launch Worldwide in June 2027

BANDAI CARD GAMES revealed that the NARUTO CARD GAME will launch simultaneously worldwide in June 2027. A new special trailer animated by Studio Pierrot, the legendary animation studio behind NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, as well as new card illustrations, were shown publicly for the first time during the stage.

In the new trading card game, players choose a leader and build a team of shinobi to fight alongside that character. The gameplay was designed to evoke the mind games, ninjutsu-driven tactics, and strategic depth of battles from the NARUTO series. The initial product lineup is set to include three starter decks featuring Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara as leaders, along with the first booster set, “Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!”

Demo Tutorial Events are scheduled to begin in early 2027. Additional announcements included an early-release Official Playmat -Naruto vs Sasuke- and Premium Card Collection vol.00 -CHAKRA set, as well as a spring campaign to distribute 1 million demo decks all over the world.
Additional product and event details will be announced through the game's official website and social channels.

The special stage also announced that NARUTO mobile game, a battle action game first launched in the Chinese mainland in 2016 and still hugely popular today, is officially coming worldwide. The announcement was accompanied by the worldwide debut of a new teaser trailer. The game brings anime-inspired ninjutsu, fast-paced battles and dream matchups featuring shinobi from across the series to mobile devices. Additional information about the international release will be announced at a later date.

*The release date is TBA.
*Availability and supported languages vary by country/region. The game may not be available in some countries/regions.

Message from Destin Daniel Cretton, Director of the Upcoming Live-Action NARUTO Film

Near the end of the special stage, a special message was delivered from Destin Daniel Cretton, director of the upcoming live-action NARUTO film.

“When we kicked off our worldwide search for Team 7 this summer, I talked about what an honor it is to bring Kishimoto-sensei's incredible world and characters to life. The further we get into making this film, the more excited I am about what we're creating.

What I've always loved about Naruto is that he's the character who might normally get sidelined as a sidekick. He's excitable, he tries too hard, and people underestimate him. But he has an incredible heart. No matter how many times he fails or gets knocked down, he never stops believing in himself or fighting for the people he loves. That spirit is at the heart of the story we're telling.

These characters mean so much to so many people, myself included, and I carry that with me as we make this film. We're approaching the world, relationships, and journeys Kishimoto-sensei created with a lot of care, and we want to capture what makes NARUTO so special.

We're hard at work and will have more to share soon. Until then, thank you for your passion, your patience, and for being along for the ride. I can't wait for you to see what's ahead!”

— Destin Daniel Cretton

Fans Celebrate Naruto's Birthday — and a New Manga Is Teased
The celebration continued with a birthday tribute for Naruto Uzumaki. Approximately 3,000 fans put on commemorative Naruto visors, creating a venue-wide “Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.” The cast, a surprise Naruto character appearance and the audience then joined together for a “Happy Birthday” cheer and commemorative photo session.

At the end of the special stage, a super teaser PV was revealed as one final surprise. When the words “A New Naruto manga by Masashi Kishimoto” appeared, the excitement in the venue reached its peak, with thunderous cheers and applause erupting from the audience.

Additional updates on PROJECT RASENGAN are scheduled to be revealed at Jump Festa 2027, set for Dec. 19-20, 2026.

New Naruto manga super-teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5QJZFYQ2Qs

Comments From the Creators and Cast
Koji Kiriyama, creator of NINKŪ
“The worlds of Naruto, Fūsuke and their friends are meeting and intertwining and that makes me genuinely thrilled! This miracle has come to pass thanks to Kishimoto Sensei's proposal and generosity.
I'm very honored that he understands and embraces the world of NINKŪ so deeply. The adventures of Naruto, Fūsuke, and their friends are about to begin. Please look forward to it with as much excitement and anticipation as we, the creators, do!”

Masashi Kishimoto, creator of NARUTO
“I created NARUTO because I personally wanted to see the continuation of NINKŪ. I think many of you have already noticed, but NARUTO was immensely influenced by NINKŪ. Without NINKŪ, NARUTO would not exist. Simply put, Fūsuke is Naruto's secret mentor. Eventually, I began dreaming of bringing this master-and-student relationship out of the shadows, and into an actual storyline.
Kiriyama Sensei, who is as much a mentor to me as Fūsuke is to Naruto, graciously agreed to my selfish request. By meeting with me in person and with his extensive cooperation, he helped make my long-standing dream a reality. I was finally able to create a continuation of NINKŪ in the truest sense. It consists of 4 episodes in total, and I hope you enjoy it to the very end!”

Rica Matsumoto, Japanese voice of Fūsuke
“NINKŪ first began airing on television about thirty years ago. After all these years, it's such a joy to see Fūsuke and the others energetically running around again, and reuniting with the original cast from then has been deeply moving, it makes me feel so glad that I kept working hard in this industry all these years! At the same time, I am very grateful to everyone involved who make this wonderful project a reality.
I feel this work is filled with lots of messages that are especially important for the times we live in today. Whether you watched it as a child or are seeing it for the first time, I would be delighted if you thoroughly enjoy the NARUTO x NINKŪ crossover anime!”

Junko Takeuchi, Japanese voice of Naruto Uzumaki
“Young Naruto and friends are making an appearance! To think that I get to take on another mission with Sasuke and Sakura…I couldn't be more moved! Sasuke's on our side here. Just think how precious that time is! Oh, also! Believe it or not, this is a collaboration! We'll be carrying out a mission with Fūsuke and the others from none other than NINKŪ!
That signature attack and that signature facial expression makes an appearance. I guarantee that everyone who loves NINKŪ will enjoy it! Please be sure to watch it!”

“NARUTO: What's Next?” Event Details

    Date: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
    Time: 5-6 p.m. EST (6-7 a.m. JST Sunday, Oct. 11)
    Location: Empire Stage, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City
    Featured guests: Junko Takeuchi, Japanese voice of Naruto Uzumaki; Noriaki Sugiyama, Japanese voice of Sasuke Uchiha; Yoshihiro Tominaga, executive producer, PIERROT FILMS
    PROJECT RASENGAN webpage: https://naruto-official.com/en/special/rasengan

Official Channels
Official Website:
NARUTO Official Website
Official YouTube Channel:
NARUTO / BORUTO Official Channel
Anime NARUTO / BORUTO Official X:
@NARUTOtoBORUTO
@NARUTOBORUTO_EN
NARUTO / BORUTO Official Manga X:
@NARUTO_kousiki
@NARUTO_info_en

ABOUT NARUTO

A shonen manga by Masashi Kishimoto serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump. It gained immense popularity after  its serialization began in 1999, concluding its run in 2014 with the 700th chapter.

The protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki, is a shinobi who overcomes deadly battles with rivals and past grudges with the  goal of becoming the Hokage, the leader of The Hidden Leaf Village. The cumulative sales of the volumes,  distributed in over 60 countries and regions, have surpassed 250 million copies.

The anime aired on the TV Tokyo network starting in 2002, and from 2007 it aired as NARUTO SHIPPUDEN until  March 2017. In October 2022, the series marked the 20th anniversary for its TV debut. Eleven theatrical anime  films have also been released. The anime is currently broadcasted in over 145 countries and regions worldwide,  making it a beloved national work that is cherished globally.

Beyond numerous developments such as with apps, games, and merchandise, its reach extends across diverse  fields including exhibitions, 2.5-dimensional musicals, music festivals, and kabuki.

ABOUT NINKŪ

A shonen manga by Koji Kiriyama serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump. The series began in 1993 and was adapted into a hit TV anime aired from January 1995 to February 1996. Set in an era called “EDO,” where the chaos following a great war has yet to settle, the story follows Fūsuke and his companions, who wield a martial art known as Ninkū.

In the midst of a war between the armed forces of the Republic and the Empire, a small battalion of not even 100 drove the latter to the brink of destruction.

They were known as the Ninkū Corps.
The Empire, having narrowly escaped defeat, feared their power and set out to eliminate them.
Now, few remain who know what Ninkū truly is...

Copyright:
©Masashi Kishimoto,Scott/SHUEISHA
©Koji Kiriyama/SHUEISHA
©Masashi Kishimoto Scott,Koji Kiriyama/SHUEISHA TV TOKYO PIERROT
©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.

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