Naruto Manga Marks July 5 With a Surprise Update for Fans

After wrapping up its run on November 10, 2014 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump (Issue #50), Naruto—created by Masashi Kishimoto—was cemented as one of manga’s defining hits. Since then, the franchise has kept moving through spin-offs and, most notably, Boruto, which centers on Naruto Uzumaki’s son. Still, a big chunk of the fandom has been waiting for the original series to return, and many are hoping Kishimoto himself is ready to step back into the spotlight.

Now that patience is about to be tested in a good way. Shueisha formally teased that the Naruto manga will receive a major franchise announcement in the very next issue of Jump. The message was published in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31, released on June 28, 2026, with the follow-up set for July 5, 2026 in Issue #32—directly tied to Masashi Kishimoto and the Naruto brand.

Quick scan: what’s been teased

• Naruto is set to receive a major announcement in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #32.
• The lead-in announcement appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31.
• Issue #31 release date: June 28, 2026.
• Issue #32 release date: July 5, 2026.
• The teaser is said to be connected to Masashi Kishimoto and the Naruto franchise.
• The details of the announcement were not specified in the tease.

Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #32 to Deliver a Major Naruto Update on July 5, 2026

Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31, dated June 28, 2026, landed with the usual wave of new announcements—but one item stood out for Naruto readers. The magazine explicitly stated that the next issue would bring “the latest news” for NARUTO, signaling that Issue #32 (scheduled for July 5, 2026) will include a major update for the franchise.

“Uzu-Repo (Uzumaki Report)… In the next issue of Jump, we’re delivering the latest news on “NARUTO”! Make sure to check it out, ttebayo!” — Official Naruto News Advertisement in WSJ Issue #31

What that update actually is remains unclear. However, the wording and the framing point to something particularly meaningful—something linked to Masashi Kishimoto and likely separate from Boruto. That opens the door to the franchise being re-structured or even re-energized in a new direction.

That kind of timing feels especially plausible when you look at what’s happened more recently across Jump’s ecosystem. Hunter X Hunter returned following Yoshihiro Togashi’s latest comeback, and Tite Kubo’s return brought with it an adaptation of the Hell Arc for Weekly Shonen Jump. With those precedents in mind, it’s easy to imagine Kishimoto making a similar move—and if he does, Naruto fans will be hard to keep calm.

There’s also one more angle floating around: fresh animation tied to an Akatsuki-related storyline, bringing the tragedy back into focus once again.

Could this Naruto announcement be tied to Kishimoto coming back to Weekly Shonen Jump?

Kana hosted an event in Paris called “Konoha Experience” in August 2024, where Masashi Kishimoto appeared. At the event, Kishimoto—who created Naruto—said he may return to manga someday, adding that he hopes his family will provide the motivation to make a comeback in the future. Two years have now passed with no new project officially announced by him, which makes the July 5, 2026 Jump reveal feel like it could be the moment.

“While I was struggling with that block, I thought that maybe there could be some avenues to explore with family lineage or blood ties. I also came to realize that the pressure of living up to expectations can also take a heavy toll on a person. So I took that shift in my own mindset and applied it to Naruto. I’d like to depict my conclusions regarding that idea in a manga someday, so please wait patiently for it.” — Masashi Kishimoto teases plans for a new manga in France, 2024

If the July 5 announcement is indeed Kishimoto-related, it could mark the start of a new phase for the Naruto franchise—possibly even a return to serialization. On the other hand, it might not be a Naruto-specific revival at all.

It’s also possible Kishimoto returns to Jump with a completely new series. In the past, he launched his second major work, Samurai 8, which ultimately ended and was cut short during its run in Weekly Shonen Jump—a tough outcome for a creator with such a deep legacy. Still, enough time has passed that he could have regrouped and prepared for another comeback. Either way, the fandom can’t help but speculate, especially since the advertisement frames the tease as directly connected to Naruto.

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Naruto’s 4 Special Episodes May Get Updated Alongside the New Jump News

Even if a manga return would be the biggest possible headline for Naruto fans on July 5, 2026, there’s another thread the franchise could be pulling on. Reports point to four Naruto special episodes that were promised back in 2023 for the anime’s 20th anniversary. Those episodes have since been put on indefinite hold, which has been disappointing for longtime watchers.

Still, major reports have now confirmed that the episodes are officially complete and are prepared for release sometime in late 2026 or during 2027.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is officially allowing the 5 Kage to level up their skill after their underwhelming performance in the 4th Great Ninja War.

Because those special episodes sit within the broader Naruto anime timeline, it’s reasonable to wonder whether the new Jump announcement in Issue #32 could be tied to their release schedule. A revived anime spotlight—with episodes that have never been seen before—would be a welcome return for the franchise, even if it doesn’t hit quite as hard as a full manga comeback. Fans would still likely embrace the news, whether it’s Kishimoto returning for new Naruto content, a side project, or something more compact like a one-shot.

Either way, the takeaway is that the Naruto franchise is moving again, and next week’s Weekly Shonen Jump issue is poised to be a major moment for the community. For now, the only real option is to wait for Issue #32 to confirm what the project actually is. Expectations are high, especially considering the long gaps since the manga ended (12 years) and since the anime wrapped (nine years), plus the 10th anniversary of the Naruto anime’s conclusion drawing close.

The Naruto series by Masashi Kishimoto is available to read in its entirety via Manga Plus and Viz Media.