Masashi Kishimoto’s name is almost synonymous with Naruto, the series defined an entire generation of anime and manga fans. But following the conclusion of Naruto: Shippuden, it seems like Kishimoto may finally be ready to extend beyond the franchise that made him a household name. In a recent interview, the legendary mangaka teased the possibility of creating a new manga series.
His statement, however, has raised eyebrows across the fandom for quite a few reasons. The most prominent one is that they are urging Masashi Kishimoto not to create any series related to Naruto. As the Boruto series failed to capture the essence of its predecessor along with Samurai 8‘s apparent failure, the fans are hell-bent on the idea for Kishimoto to embark on a fresh start.
Masashi Kishimoto’s Possible New Journey After Naruto
In an interview conducted on August 24, 2024, Masashi Kishimoto has expressed his goal to start a new manga along with Mikio Ikemoto. While the actual interview moments are still being released in pieces, it is assumed that the creator is currently focusing more on his family life and possibly starting a new series.
After the conclusion of Shippuden, Naruto‘s legacy appeared quite solid. Yet, the introduction of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations divided the fanbase. Thus, the possibility of a brand-new manga series has sparked intense speculation and hilarious reactions among fans. With Boruto still ongoing and its latest installment, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex continuing the saga, many are wishing that Kishimoto’s next work would break free from the weight of Naruto‘s enormous success.
The call from the fanbase for a non-Naruto project has been very vocal. Many believe that the conclusion of Shippuden should have been the final chapter of the series, with Boruto being treated as an alternate timeline that doesn’t diminish the legacy of Naruto. These fans are eager to see Kishimoto return with a fresh story, untethered to the franchise that has defined his career.
However, there are many fans who believe that Kishimoto’s creative journey has been deeply associated with Naruto that straying from this path doesn’t resonate with fans much. This is visible in the failure of Samurai 8, Masashi Kishimoto’s latest work after Shippuden‘s ending.
What went wrong with Boruto and Samurai 8?
Before talking about Kishimoto’s potential new manga, it’s important to revisit his last major project, Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru. Released in 2019, Samurai 8 was hailed as Kishimoto’s return to manga after Naruto. Unfortunately, the series failed to captivate readers and was canceled after only a year.
The series’ downfall was largely attributed to its overly complex narrative, dense world-building, and a lack of relatable characters. While the story had potential, the long-winded info-dumps proved difficult for readers to follow, ultimately leading to its abrupt cancellation.
Similarly, the biggest issue with Boruto: Naruto’s Next Generation is its inability to capture the magic of Naruto. Many fans felt that Boruto lacked the emotional depth and character development that made Naruto so beloved. While Naruto is about an underdog striving to gain recognition, Boruto follows the privileged son of the Hokage, which shifts the tone drastically.
It’s clear from Masashi Kishimoto‘s success with Naruto that he has a talent for creating gripping storylines. He may be able to invoke the same magic for his current project without having to live up to the expectations set by his earlier work. Thus, whatever Kishimoto decides to do next, fans are hoping it will free him up to explore new ideas and unique directions unrestricted by the established lore of the Naruto universe.
Naruto and Boruto are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
