The NARUTO franchise is set to collide with the classic ninja series Ninku in a newly announced crossover anime titled NARUTO×NINKŪ. Revealed during the "NARUTO: What's Next?" panel at New York Comic Con, the project explores the deep creative connection between the two works, with Masashi Kishimoto noting that his own series would not exist without Koji Kiriyama's original manga.
The crossover features an original story where Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura find themselves transported into the world of Ninku while acting as Team 7 in Kakashi's absence. The production reunites veteran talent, with Noriyuki Abe—who directed both the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations series and the original 1995 Ninku anime—stepping in to direct. Tetsuya Nishio, a long-time contributor to both franchises, is handling character design and chief animation direction.
While the announcement brings fresh life to the franchise, it remains unclear how this project relates to the four "brand-new" Naruto episodes originally slated for 2023, which were indefinitely delayed to improve quality. Studio Pierrot has begun streaming the first five episodes of the original Ninku anime on its YouTube channel to help audiences familiarize themselves with the source material.
Why it matters: The involvement of both original creators and veteran staff suggests a high-profile tribute, yet the status of the previously announced 20th-anniversary episodes remains an unresolved question for the franchise's production timeline.
