Kishimoto Returns to Draw Naruto: Shadow Rising

Masashi Kishimoto is back behind the pen for Naruto: Shadow Rising, a new manga announced at New York Comic Con on October 10. The original creator will handle the art duties himself — a significant move for a franchise that's already spawned sequels, spin-offs, and a sprawling multimedia empire.

The announcement landed with serious star power in the room. Voice actors Junko Takeuchi and Noriaki Sugiyama, who've voiced Naruto and Sasuke since the series began, were on hand as special guests to mark the occasion.

Shadow Rising is one piece of a larger Naruto push heading into 2027. A new Naruto Card Game TCG is coming that year, and there's also a non-verbal live-action show scheduled to run at Kyoto's Minamiza Theater from February through June 2027. The live-action format is a notable choice — it suggests the franchise is experimenting with how to translate the ninja world beyond animation and manga.

For fans waiting on fresh Kishimoto content in the Naruto universe, this signals something real. He's not lending his name or overseeing — he's drawing it. That level of direct involvement from the original creator carries weight in manga, especially for a property this established.

Source: Anime Corner