The announcement of Naruto: Shadow Rising has sparked debate among fans, with misleading social media posts claiming that Boruto is no longer part of the official Naruto continuity. However, the new manga’s reveal does not confirm that the ongoing sequel has been removed from canon.
Announced at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026, Naruto: Shadow Rising will feature original creator Masashi Kishimoto returning to draw a new manga. The announcement generated excitement among fans eager to see more of Naruto Uzumaki and the original cast. More details are expected at Jump Festa 2027 in December.
Following the reveal, posts on social media began circulating claims that Kishimoto had officially declared Boruto an alternate universe or non-canon. Some posts cited supposedly definitive statements from older interviews, while others used previously recorded footage to support their claims.
However, no official announcement accompanying Naruto: Shadow Rising has stated that Boruto: Naruto Next Generations or its ongoing sequel, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, has lost its canonical status.
The official Naruto website’s NYCC announcement confirms Kishimoto’s involvement in the new manga and points to Jump Festa 2027 for further information. It does not announce that Boruto has been removed from the franchise’s continuity.
WHY FANS ARE QUESTIONING BORUTO’S PLACE IN NARUTO’S TIMELINE
Part of the confusion comes from the new manga’s apparent placement in the timeline. The promotional teaser shows familiar characters and imagery associated with the period between the conclusion of the original Naruto manga and the beginning of Boruto. This has led some readers to speculate that Shadow Rising could revisit events or alter details connected to the sequel.
However, a new story set earlier in a franchise’s timeline does not automatically invalidate a later sequel. Until Kishimoto, Shueisha, or the official Naruto channels clarify how the new project fits into the broader continuity, claims that Boruto has been decanonized remain speculation.
The official VIZ Media announcement also presents Shadow Rising as a new Naruto project without announcing any change to Boruto’s status.
The debate also reflects the divided reception of Boruto among parts of the Naruto fanbase. Some readers welcome the possibility of returning to the original cast, while others hope the new manga will explore a period of the story that received limited attention.
Nevertheless, fan dissatisfaction and speculation about the franchise’s future are not evidence of an official continuity change. Boruto remains an officially published Naruto sequel, and the announcement of Shadow Rising alone does not establish that its story has been discarded.
For now, fans will have to wait for the next official update at Jump Festa 2027. Until then, claims that Kishimoto has declared Boruto non-canon should be treated cautiously, particularly when they rely on viral posts without links to the original interview or an official statement.
