A new four-episode anime project connected to the NARUTO franchise has been revealed, bringing back a special project that was originally announced for the series’ 20th anniversary. The anime will feature a crossover with NINKU and introduce an original story involving a young Naruto Uzumaki.
The special was initially scheduled to air on TV Tokyo over four consecutive weeks starting September 3, 2023. However, its broadcast was postponed shortly before the planned premiere so the production team could improve the animation’s quality. No major update about the project followed for more than three years.
The new details were revealed during the latest NARUTO announcements at New York Comic Con 2026. Before the event, the franchise’s official website had announced a world-first reveal about new animation during the “NARUTO: What’s Next?” stage.
What Is the Story of the NARUTO and NINKU Crossover?
The upcoming anime will follow Naruto Uzumaki as he becomes lost in the world of NINKU while carrying out a mission. The project will feature an original storyline that brings together characters and elements from both series.
Although NINKU is less widely known internationally than NARUTO, the two titles share a connection through their history in Weekly Shonen Jump.
Created by Koji Kiriyama, NINKU began publication in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in 1993. Its story centres on Fusuke, a young former member of the Ninku Corps who practises Ninku, a martial art combining ninjutsu and karate.
Following a major war, Fusuke travels through a troubled world in search of his kidnapped mother while confronting enemies who target former Ninku fighters.
Studio Pierrot adapted the manga into a 55-episode television anime directed by Noriyuki Abe. The series aired on Fuji TV from January 1995 to February 1996. Hiroshi Hashimoto handled series composition, while Tetsuya Nishio and Mari Kitayama worked as character designers.
Naruto and Sasuke Voice Actors Attend New York Comic Con
The NARUTO franchise featured prominently at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026, where several new announcements were presented.
Junko Takeuchi, who voices Naruto Uzumaki in Japanese, and Noriaki Sugiyama, the Japanese voice actor behind Sasuke Uchiha, attended the event as special guests.
The announcement marks a new development for the franchise, whose anime adaptation previously completed the story of the original manga.
A Look Back at the NARUTO Franchise
Written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in September 1999. The manga concluded in November 2014 after 15 years of publication, with the story collected in 72 volumes.
Studio Pierrot produced the television anime, which premiered in October 2002 and ran for 220 episodes. It was followed by NARUTO Shippuden, which continued the story across 500 episodes.
The franchise later expanded with BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS. The sequel manga was initially written by Ukyo Kodachi before Kishimoto took over the story, with illustrations by Mikio Ikemoto. It began publication in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2016 and moved to V Jump in 2019.
The next manga instalment, BORUTO: TWO BLUE VORTEX, began in August 2023. Meanwhile, the BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS anime debuted in April 2017 and went on hiatus in March 2023.
The four-episode special had originally been scheduled for September 2023 before its postponement for quality improvements.
More NARUTO Projects in Development
The crossover anime is among several projects announced or reported in connection with the franchise. A new NARUTO trading card game is planned for 2027, while a non-verbal live-action stage production is scheduled to run at Kyoto’s Minamiza Theater from February through June 2027.
A live-action film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, known for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, has also begun searching for actors to play Team 7 members Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura.
Further details about the four-episode NARUTO and NINKU crossover are awaited.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the information provided in the source material. Release plans, production details and other announcements may change. Readers should consult official NARUTO channels and announcements for confirmed updates.
Source: Official X account. © Masashi Kishimoto, Scott / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Pierrot.
