Naruto Returns With a Legendary Akatsuki Revival After 16 Years

The Naruto franchise has grown into one of the most recognizable anime properties worldwide, with Naruto Uzumaki standing as a defining Shonen hero and the series itself reshaping how fans think about the ninja genre. Over time, Naruto kept pulling viewers in with standout villains, and few villain factions are as famous as the Akatsuki—arguably the most iconic criminal organization in all of anime.

The Akatsuki’s roster includes a long list of legendary rogue shinobi, spanning names like Itachi and Obito. Still, Kisame Hoshigaki—often called the Monster of the Hidden Mist—remains one of the most memorable. His brutal style and feral instincts made him a longtime fan favorite, and now his history is getting a fresh wave of attention through Naruto Mobile, which highlights his extreme mastery of Water Release.

Naruto Mobile Reanimates Kisame Hoshigaki’s Most Iconic Backstory Moment

The original Naruto manga began serialization on September 21, 1999 in Weekly Shonen Jump, with the series launching under Kishimoto’s authorship in Issue #43. The manga’s momentum was immediate, and it didn’t take long for an anime adaptation to be announced by Studio Pierrot on October 3, 2002. The story’s early run was packed with momentum as the protagonists’ journey took shape—along the way introducing one of the series’ best antagonists: Kisame Hoshigaki. His debut moment arrived in Naruto chapter 139, released in WSJ Issue #43 on October 7, 2002, and later in Naruto Episode 80, first aired on April 21, 2004, when Kisame appears alongside his partner, Itachi Uchiha.

That pairing served as a first real look at the Akatsuki, with both characters displaying overwhelming presence and raw power. But the deeper truth—who they were at their core and what shaped them—would take years to fully uncover. For Kisame specifically, his backstory finally came into focus in chapters 507 and 508 of Naruto. Those chapters were published in Weekly Shonen Jump Issues #39 and #40 on August 30, 2010 and September 6, 2010. The reveal traces his roots back to the Hidden Mist Village and explains how he betrayed people from his own side in order to keep sensitive information from leaking.

That backstory landed hard, but it also became unforgettable. Now, Naruto Mobile brings it back again with new CG animation, giving players a renewed look at a centerpiece moment from Kisame’s past. The reanimated sequence arrived on June 18, 2026, and it revisits the scene where Kisame carries out an order that targets his own division, acting under Fuguki Suikazan’s command. The moment includes Miru, who is given notable emphasis here. Just as importantly, Kisame’s Water Release techniques are front and center—particularly his Water Prison—reaffirming why he’s widely regarded as one of the series’ best Water Release users, alongside Tobirama, and a character with every reason to belong among the Akatsuki.

Madara also returns in a flashy, reanimated confrontation as part of the broader resurgence theme running through these reworked visuals.

Kisame and Itachi’s Akatsuki Duo Could Be Expanded in Naruto Mobile

Kisame was a terrifying presence in Naruto, and while his backstory was compelling, his most defining impact often came when he shared the screen with Itachi Uchiha. Together, Itachi and Kisame became one of the franchise’s strongest duos, blending menace, strategy, and personality into a partnership that stuck with fans. In Konoha, the two crossed paths with multiple heavy hitters, fighting Asuma Sarutobi, Kakashi Hatake, Kurenai Yuhi, and Might Guy.

“I am Hoshigaki Kisame, formerly of the Kirigakure. I am one of the seven ninja swordsmen. Pleased to meet you. And you are Itachi Uchiha, formerly of Konohagakure. I have heard rumors… you killed all your fellow clansmen. I think we are alike, that’s why I wanted to be teamed with you in the Akatsuki. Murdering your own clan is quite a feeling, eh? Itachi?” — Kisame to Itachi in Naruto chapter 508

Their teamwork only looks stronger when they’re fighting side by side, and even when Kisame’s real motivation was to monitor Itachi’s moves, their synergy still feels natural. With Naruto Mobile leaning into reanimated character moments like this, there’s a clear opportunity for more of Itachi and Kisame’s most memorable scenes to get the same treatment—especially since they’ve always been tied to some of Naruto’s most recognizable beats.

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Kisame’s Place in Future Naruto Projects

Kisame is no longer part of the main Naruto story timeline. In Naruto chapter 508, which was released in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #40 on September 6, 2010, Kisame finally meets his end. After being captured by Might Guy, Kisame chooses loyalty to the Akatsuki over his own life. Rather than risk exposing Akatsuki secrets, he commits suicide and dies with the information he holds. It’s one of Naruto’s most shocking deaths, and it underlines how far Kisame was willing to go to protect the values he believed in.

As for Kisame’s future in the Boruto series, he can’t appear in a meaningful way because of his death—and, unfortunately, there isn’t a direct successor who can carry on his legacy. That said, Boruto does include Shizuma Hoshigaki, who comes from the same clan. Even so, Shizuma Hoshigaki doesn’t end up being very prominent, and he’s described as an anime-only creation.

Source: Naruto Mobile on YouTube