Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto: May Announce Next Project This Year

In an interview that is appearing in this year's second issue of Shueisha's Jump GIGA (formerly Shōnen Jump NEXT!!) magazine on Saturday, manga creator Masashi Kishimoto confirmed that he is already planning his next project, and that he has already done research for it. He said in the interview that he thinks he can announce the project this year, but there is no definite date. He did not specify the project's format.

Kishimoto ended his main Naruto manga after 15 years of serialization in November 2014. He then wrote the Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring one-volume sequel manga, and also worked on the script and character designs and served as the chief production supervisor on the Boruto -Naruto the Movie- film sequel. A series of novels continued the story after the manga's end.

At a preview screening for Boruto -Naruto the Movie- in July 2015, Boruto voice actress Yuko Sanpei said that she "wanted to see the films continue," and Kishimoto responded with a wry smile, "I can't. Please let me rest now." After finishing Naruto, Kishimoto said, "During this time, I finally went on my honeymoon. Even though my son has grown as big as [protagonist Naruto's son] Boruto." Kishimoto had gotten married over a decade ago.

Kishimoto attended last year's New York Comic Con event in October. He confirmed there that he is working on plans for his next manga, a science-fiction story.

Mikie Ikemoto launched a sequel manga to Naruto titled Boruto in Weekly Shonen Jump on May 9. Kishimoto is supervising the series.​