Naruto Gaiden: Nanadaime Hokage to Akairo no Hanatsuzuki
Gaiden means side story, and the Naruto Gaiden series comes in the form of a new manga and new movies, which will be listed here. Naruto Gaiden is part of the Naruto Project, a collection of manga, anime, and anime movies to commemorate the ending of Naruto Shipuuden. The word gaiden (外伝) is Japanese for "spin-off" or "side story"!
Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie
Stylized as "Road t9 Ninja", this is the 9th Naruto movie ever (6th if you only count Shipuuden entries). While the movie covers a battle to save the village of Konoha, the real focal point is the resulting funny alternate universe in which several of the characters change personality. It's only because of the change in their friend's personalities that Naruto and Sakura stop taking what they have for granted. While this movie is not part of the Naruto Project, it is nothing if a perfect gaiden, because it doesn't directly connect with major plot points in the main storyline, and is an entertaining moment that shows you more about the characters and their relationships. Bonus: angry Hinata is hilarious.
Naruto Gaiden: Nanadaime Hokage to Akairo no Hanatsuzuki
Naruto Gaiden: Nanadaime Hokage to Akairo no Hanatsuzuki, which is translated as Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring, is the short 10-chapter manga that Masashi Kishimoto created after the official Naruto manga series ended. This is a side story that's set 15 years later and features the next generation of shinobi, which include the children of our favorite Naruto characters. You'll also see that the Naruto world has changed a lot and advanced in regards to technology! This Naruto Gaiden manga is also prelude for the movie, Boruto: Naruto the Movie.
The manga features Sarada, Sasuke and Sakura's daughter, as the main character.
The Last: Naruto the Movie
Ever thing that some of the characters in Naruto Shipuuden make strange couples? After all, they barely seemed to talk previously, then somehow end up married. This Naruto Gaiden movie answers those questions! The Last: Naruto the Movie is a canon story that focuses more on the development of love rather than the typical action we see in the Naruto anime series. This movie is considered to be Chapter 699.5 in the Naruto manga series, and the events that happen in the movie are all set during the timeskip before the last chapter of the manga. It's sort of a pre-sequel that explains the pairings in the second time skip.
The Last: Naruto the Movie reveals a new enemy who wants to destroy the Earth using the moon, and Naruto's generation battles against the new enemy in order to save the world. It also shows a glimpse of the next generation, so it's definitely a movie worth watching to see the finalization of the peaceful shinobi world as well as observe and admire the growth of the Naruto characters.
The Last: Naruto the Movie Characters
Boruto: Naruto the Movie
If you want to see the generation of shinobi after Naruto's time, Boruto: Naruto the Movie is where it's at! Part of the Naruto Project, this ninja gaiden movie presents the next generation of shinobi, mostly focusing on Boruto, Naruto's son. Because Naruto is the Seventh Hokage and is always caught up in Hokage duties, Boruto resents his father for being away from home too often and tries to get his dad's attention by causing havoc in the village, much like Naruto did when he was younger. Just like Naruto grew and matured, though, Boruto matures and grows during the course of the movie, adding more depth to his character.
Other Project Naruto Works
Project Naruto also includes:
- A databook titled Jin no Sho, which explains events in chapter 403 to 691.
- The Super Big Yosegaki Project, an exhibit in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
- Live Spectacle Naruto, a stage play that follows the plot of the first couple chapters of the original Naruto manga.
- Naruto Hiden, a series of six novellas.
- The Shuueisha Jump Remix, a reprinting of the manga in larger volumes.
Even though the famous, heart-warming Naruto manga series has ended, Masashi Kishimoto's legacy continues, and Naruto is far from over. If you haven't read the Naruto Gaiden or seen the movies, Boruto: Naruto the Movie and The Last: Naruto the Movie, be sure to check it out when they're available in your country! You'll love seeing the next generation in action in these side stories.
