Though many fans might associate Naruto more with fantasy, the series has frequently borrowed from the world of science fiction. Whether it be scientific ninja tools or full-on robot characters, there’s always been just a hint of the future under the franchise’s surface. That hint is finally coming to light, however, in a new anime short that is absolutely epic.
The new anime short, released in collaboration with the Naruto Mobile video game, was released on YouTube to celebrate the game’s 10th anniversary. It depicts Naruto and Sasuke as Cyberpunk heroes, facing off against a cybernetic Ten Tails in a futuristic cityscape.
The clip is short at only a little longer than a minute, but is such a tantalizing tease at what the franchise could look like if its science fiction undertones became overtones. The result is undeniably cool, with fans in the comments wondering what this would look like if it were the basis for a whole series.
Naruto and Sasuke’s Cyberpunk Redesigns Prove Where The Series Should Head Next
As jarring as the redesigns are, they work quite well, as does the concept of a Cyberpunk ninja world.
Naruto and Boruto have both played with science fiction elements before, so it’s not impossible for the franchise to take this direction going forward. Boruto has wielded a lightsaber and even has his own ninja version of a Nintendo Switch, so this sort of evolution would make sense.
More than just making sense, the Naruto Mobile trailer shows how cool it could be. Most of Naruto’s battles take place in natural environments like forests, lakes, or plains. Even battles that do take place in cities don’t make as much use of the environment.
In the Naruto Mobile trailer, however, Naruto and Sasuke zip around the city and use its elements to their advantage. Naruto swings off a traffic light, while he and Sasuke crawl up a building with their combined Kurama and Susanoo.
These show how much potential an urban environment has to enhance the series’ already stellar action.
We Need To See More Of Naruto’s Cyberpunk World
The trailer is so remarkable that it has fans begging for more. Naruto and Sasuke fighting the cyber Ten Tails together is cool, and their new designs are undeniably great, but it would have also been cool to get a look at what beloved characters like Sakura and Kakashi look like in this future ninja world.
Fans are responding to the trailer positively, with the video catching 17,000 likes on X. Given this, fans can only hope that the incredible response to such a cool trailer prompts the team working on Naruto Mobile and the franchise in general, to do more with this Cyberpunk alternate universe.
- Release Date
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2002 – 2007-00-00
- Showrunner
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Directors
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Hayato Date
