Fans won’t have to wait long for the release of a new Naruto manga one-shot based on the Fourth Hokage, Minato, as the official release date has been revealed. In honor of the manga’s 20th anniversary, a worldwide poll was conducted to determine which Naruto character was the most popular among fans. Even Naruto’s creator was amazed by the popularity poll results from each country, but it was clear that the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was the world’s favorite Naruto character, earning him a new one-shot manga from series creator Masashi Kishimoto.
Kishimoto’s new Naruto spin-off manga titled “Naruto Gaiden – Uzu no Naka no Tsumujikaze” will debut on July 18, 2023 in Weekly Shonen Jump issue #33. On the official Naruto website, it was announced that the fifty-five page one-shot manga would be published in the special 55th anniversary issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, which introduced the world to series such as Dragon Ball and One Piece.
The official English title and release date of the translation have not yet been disclosed. However, the title roughly translates to “Whirlwind at the center of the whirlwind”. As with the official English editions of Shonen Jump, it will likely be available in English the following week.
Minato’s Naruto Spinoff Manga Releases July 18
The illustration accompanying the announcement depicts a younger version of Minato than seen in the series. Since the announcement of the one-shot, speculation has multiplied regarding the storyline of the new manga. However, the most recent news included a brief summary that read: “The story of Minato Namikaze (Fourth Hokage), who won the global NARUTOP99 character popularity vote! What type of ninjutsu did Minato create? The image and teaser suggest that the one-shot will likely focus on Minato’s childhood and could even reveal how Naruto’s father designed the series’ most iconic jutsu: the Rasengan.
Naruto Creator Comes Out of Drawing Retirement for Minato One-Shot
The official global Naruto character popularity poll received over 4.5 million votes, with Minato Namikaze receiving almost 17% of the total. Itachi Uchiha won second place, while Sakura Haruno got an unexpected third place.
Before the poll began, it was revealed that the winner would receive a one-shot manga written and illustrated by the creator of Naruto. Those who didn’t enjoy the Boruto series as much as Naruto or Naruto Shippuden were excited to learn that a fan-favorite character would be receiving a new story and lore. The release of the new manga in July is an exciting time for Minato fans.
The fan base of the original Naruto series continues to grow. In September 2023, the Naruto anime will return with four new episodes, to the delight of fans. After concluding the series, Kishimoto retired from the manga and entrusted Mikio Ikemoto with the drawing of Boruto.
The new one-shot manga featuring Minato will be the first manga illustrated by the original Naruto creator since the series concluded in 2014. Fans who helped Naruto become one of the world’s most successful series will be rewarded this July with a new story about the world’s beloved Naruto character, The Fourth Hokage, as the series celebrates its 20th anniversary.