Groundbreaking One-Shot Manga by Naruto Creator Shatters Seven-Year Drought

Mangaka Masashi Kishimoto will be releasing a brand new one-shot manga story, marking the first time in seven years. This special manga will be featured in the 55th Anniversary issue of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Although it is a prequel to Kishimoto's renowned work, Naruto, the story will be completely fresh and original.

Kishimoto's previous one-shot manga, Naruto Gaiden: The Road Illuminated by the Full Moon, was published in April 2016 in Weekly Shonen Jump. This manga was created to promote the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and introduce fans to fresh characters in an exciting new storyline. Since then, Kishimoto had not released any additional one-shot manga (omake), until now.

Naruto, a renowned manga and anime, holds an esteemed position globally. The story was initiated by Kishimoto in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999 and continued until its conclusion in 2014. It served as the inspiration for two anime series, Naruto and its sequel Naruto: Shippuden, which comprised 220 and 500 episodes respectively. Furthermore, Naruto has been adapted into motion pictures and even video games, solidifying its status as one of the most iconic anime characters to date.

The narratives of both Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden revolve around the protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki, and his eventful journey. Additionally, a subsequent series, titled Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, shifts the focus to Naruto's son. However, this upcoming one-shot manga diverges from the conventional storyline and delves into uncharted lore within the Naruto universe. Serving as a prequel to the original Naruto narrative, it will primarily explore the life of Naruto's father, Minato Namikaze.

Minato Namikaze does make an appearance in the original Naruto storyline, both in the anime and manga. However, this time around, Kishimoto will be treating us to a brand new story. The inspiration for choosing this particular character came from the NARUTOP99, the very first worldwide Naruto popularity contest. The contest revealed its results in April, and the winner happened to be our beloved Minato Namikaze. This victory greatly motivated Kishimoto to create a special narrative dedicated to this character, as a way to express gratitude towards the fans who hold him in high regard.

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Kishimoto has not yet revealed any details regarding the storyline or title of the upcoming one-shot manga. However, it is confirmed that the manga will serve as a prequel to the original Naruto series and will focus on Minato Namikaze, the main character. Along with this announcement, a single artwork has been released, showcasing a much younger version of Namikaze that has sparked speculation among fans about the specific timeline of the story. Excitingly, the highly anticipated one-shot manga by Masashi Kishimoto, the renowned creator of Naruto, is scheduled to be released on July 18th, 2023. It will be included in the 55th Anniversary edition of Weekly Shonen Jump, No. 33.

Source: Mantan-Web