The "limited" Naruto TV anime finally has a name. At the "NARUTO: What's Next?" panel at New York Comic Con on October 10, Studio Pierrot revealed NARUTO×NINKŪ, a crossover with Koji Kiriyama's 1990s Jump series Ninku. In the same panel, Masashi Kishimoto announced Naruto Shadow Rising, a brand-new Naruto manga he's drawing himself.
Quick answer
NARUTO×NINKŪ is a limited TV anime from Studio Pierrot, directed by Noriyuki Abe with Tetsuya Nishio on character designs, supervised by Masashi Kishimoto and Koji Kiriyama. Per MyAnimeList's report it runs four episodes, with FLOW performing the opening and ending. No premiere date has been announced. Separately, Naruto Shadow Rising is a new manga drawn by Kishimoto, with full details due at Jump Festa '27 (December 19–20, 2026). According to SenpaiRanks, Naruto scores 7.74 and Naruto: Shippuuden scores 8.27. Both stream on Crunchyroll in most regions.
Watch the panel
The crossover pitch
The setup is simple: Kakashi can't join a mission, so Naruto steps in as acting captain of Team 7, and he, Sasuke and Sakura accidentally wander into the world of Ninku. That's a deliberately Part 1-era Naruto, which fits the anniversary mood. Junko Takeuchi (Naruto) and Noriaki Sugiyama (Sasuke) were both on stage.
The staff is the real story. Noriyuki Abe directed the original Ninku anime in 1995 and served as chief director on Boruto. Tetsuya Nishio designed Naruto's characters for the original series. MyAnimeList also connects the project to the four new anniversary episodes Pierrot delayed in 2023 "to improve quality". That was the open question in our pre-NYCC Naruto anime post, and the four-episode count lines up.
Wait, what's Ninku?
Ninku ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1993 to 1995 and became a 55-episode Pierrot anime plus films. It follows Fusuke, a cheerful kid who turns out to be a master of an elite fighting style. In other words, it's a spiritual ancestor of Naruto. Pierrot is streaming the first five episodes of the original Ninku anime free on YouTube ahead of the crossover. It's a fun bit of '90s Jump history, like Saint Seiya and Yu-Gi-Oh!.
Naruto Shadow Rising
This is the bigger long-term news. Kishimoto hasn't drawn a full Naruto series since the original ended in 2014. He wrote Boruto and has supervised it since 2020, with Mikio Ikemoto handling the art. Title and artist are all that's confirmed so far. The premise, publication and launch date come at Jump Festa '27. The panel also set the Naruto card game for a worldwide June 2027 launch.
Where to watch Naruto now
Naruto and Naruto: Shippuuden stream on Crunchyroll in most regions, with Netflix carrying them in some countries. Our Naruto watch order and where-to-watch guide covers filler skips and the films. For how Naruto stacks up against the rest of Jump, check our best Weekly Shonen Jump anime ranking.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is NARUTO×NINKŪ?
A: A limited Naruto TV anime from Studio Pierrot where Team 7 crosses over into the world of Koji Kiriyama's 1990s series Ninku. It was announced at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026.
Q: How many episodes is the Naruto x Ninku anime?
A: Per MyAnimeList's report, four episodes. Pierrot hasn't announced a premiere date yet.
Q: Is Masashi Kishimoto drawing a new Naruto manga?
A: Yes. Naruto Shadow Rising is a new manga drawn by Kishimoto. More details come at Jump Festa '27 on December 19–20, 2026.
Q: Is the Naruto x Ninku anime the delayed 2023 anniversary episodes?
A: MyAnimeList links the two, and the four-episode count matches. Pierrot hasn't explicitly confirmed it.
Q: Where can I watch Naruto?
A: Naruto and Naruto: Shippuuden stream on Crunchyroll in most regions. SenpaiRanks scores them 7.74 and 8.27.