Naruto Creator on Being Asked for Sequel: ‘Please Let Me Rest Now’

Naruto manga creator Masashi Kishimoto and the cast of Boruto -Naruto the Movie- attended a preview screening for the film on Tuesday. During the event, Kishimoto talked about ending the manga after 15 years and then getting heavily involved in the movie, “I had thought that I could finally rest when I finished the manga series, but I couldn’t rest….”

He added, “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.

When Boruto voice actress Yuko Sanpei said that she “wanted to see the films continue!” he responded with a wry smile, “I can’t. Please let me rest now.” He said that the Boruto film is “perfect. I’m just speaking for myself, but I’m enormously satisfied.”

Appearing at the event were (from left to right in the photograph above):

(top row, underneath or above their characters’ drawings)

• Kensho Ono as Shikadai Nara
• Noriaki Sugiyama as Sasuke Uchiha
• Kokoro Kikuchi as Sarada Uchiha
• Yuko Sanpei as Boruto Uzumaki
• Junko Takeuchi as Naruto Uzumaki
• Daisuke Namikawa as Momoshiki

(bottom row)

• KANA-BOON bassist Yūma Meshida
• KANA-BOON vocalist and guitarist Maguro Taniguchi
• Masashi Kishimoto
• KANA-BOON guitarist Hayato Koga
• KANA-BOON drummer Takahiro Koizumi

The rock band KANA-BOON performed live at the event, after contributing their “Diver” song as the theme song.

Shueisha‘s Weekly Shonen Jump describes the story of the new film as follows (Note: the below summary contains spoilers for those who have not finished reading the manga):

Boruto is the son of the seventh Hokage Naruto who completely rejects his father. Behind this, he has feelings of wanting to surpass Naruto, who is respected as a hero. He ends up meeting his father’s friend Sasuke, and requests to become… his apprentice!? The curtain rises on the story of the new generation written by MasashiKishimoto!

Weekly Shonen Jump also revealed that the film will feature the Chunin Exams with the new generation. Boruto’s three-member squad, the new “InoShikaChō,” and Genin from other villages will all participate.

Masashi Kishimoto is credited with the original story, script, and character designs, as well as the chief production supervisor, for the film. Hiroyuki Yamashita (Naruto Shippūden episode director,Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie animation director) is directing the film, and Ukyō Kodachi (Chaos Dragon, Neppu Kairiku Bushi Road) is collaborating with Kishimoto on the script.

The film will open in Japanese theaters on August 7, and tickets went on sale on June 27. Theatergoers will be able to choose one of two fans designed by Masashi Kishimoto as a special gift. The “Uzumaki Version” will feature Naruto and Boruto and the “Uchiha Version” will feature Sasuke and Sarada. The fans are limited to 100,000 units.

Those who watch Boruto -Naruto the Movie- in theaters throughout Japan in August will receive 2 million copies of an official book — one with a brand-new one-shot manga by original manga creator Masashi Kishimoto. The Naruto Hiden Zai no Sho Official Movie Book’s title indicates that the book is a spinoff of the Naruto: The Official Character Data Book series.

The book will debut the manga short “Naruto ga Hokage ni Natta Hi” (The Day Naruto Became the Hokage) that Kishimoto personally drew. The story episode did not appear in the main Naruto manga’s original run. The book will also include the main manga series’ 700th and final chapter in full color.

Viz Media has licensed the film for a North American release. It will screen the film in over 80 cities starting on October 10.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun’s Mantan Web