During the dedicated "NARUTO: What's Next?" panel at New York Comic Con, official representatives revealed details regarding the newly teased anime production: a television crossover titled NARUTO×NINKŪ. The limited series bridges the world of Masashi Kishimoto's iconic franchise with Koji Kiriyama's classic 1993 martial arts manga Ninku.
The announcement carries significant historical weight for the franchise. Kishimoto has long cited Kiriyama's work as the foundational inspiration for his own career, stating directly in the project's preview material that without Ninku, Naruto would never have existed. Both original creators are actively supervising an entirely original story for the special, which follows Naruto acting as temporary captain of Team 7 alongside Sasuke and Sakura before the trio accidentally slips into the world of Ninku.
Veteran Production Team
Industry veteran Noriyuki Abe, who previously directed both the original 1995 Ninku television anime and served as chief director on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, takes the helm for the crossover. Animator Tetsuya Nishio, a key creative figure across both properties over the decades, returns as character designer and chief animation director. Production is handled under Pierrot Films, with franchise voice actors Junko Takeuchi and Noriaki Sugiyama confirming their return.
To prepare audiences for the crossover, Studio Pierrot has begun streaming the initial five episodes of the original 1995 Ninku anime on its official YouTube channel. It remains unconfirmed whether this production is connected to the four anniversary episodes previously delayed in August 2023 for quality enhancements.
