Minato’s New Manga: A Tribute to the Fans of Naruto

Introduction

Naruto is one of the most popular and influential manga and anime series of all time. Created by Masashi Kishimoto, the story follows the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. Along the way, he makes friends, enemies, and learns the secrets of his past and his destiny.

The Naruto manga ran from 1999 to 2014, spanning 72 volumes and 700 chapters. The anime adaptation, which started in 2002, has over 700 episodes and several movies and spin-offs. The series has a huge fan base all over the world, and has inspired countless works of fan art, fan fiction, cosplay, and more.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Naruto anime, the first worldwide Naruto character popularity vote, NARUTOP99, was held from December 17, 2022 to January 31, 2023¹. Fans from all over the world could vote for their favorite Naruto character from a list of 488 candidates. The results were announced in April 2023, and the top 99 characters were revealed.

The winner of the poll was none other than Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage and Naruto’s father. He received a whopping 792,257 votes, leaving Itachi Uchiha and Sakura Haruno in second and third place, respectively². Minato’s popularity was so overwhelming that Masashi Kishimoto decided to create a new one-shot manga featuring him, as a tribute to the fans who voted for him.

Minato’s New Manga: The Whorl Within the Spiral

The new one-shot manga, titled Naruto Gaiden: Uzu no Naka no Tsumujikaze (Naruto: The Whorl Within the Spiral), was released on July 18, 2023, in the 33rd issue of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine³. The manga is 55 pages long and features Minato as the main protagonist. The story is set before the events of the main Naruto series, and shows Minato’s life as a young ninja and his relationship with his teammates and his sensei.

The manga also reveals some new information about Minato’s background, his abilities, and his personality. For example, we learn that Minato was an orphan who grew up in an orphanage run by a kind woman named Tsunade. We also see that Minato was a genius who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, a space-time ninjutsu that allows him to teleport to any location marked with his special kunai. We also witness Minato’s kindness, courage, and leadership skills, as he protects his friends and his village from various threats.

The manga is a must-read for any fan of Naruto, especially those who love Minato. It is a rare opportunity to see more of Minato’s character and his adventures, as well as his interactions with other characters from the Naruto universe. The manga also showcases Kishimoto’s amazing art style and storytelling skills, as he creates a captivating and emotional story that honors Minato and his fans.

Conclusion

Minato’s new manga is a wonderful gift from Masashi Kishimoto to the fans of Naruto, who voted for Minato as their favorite character in the NARUTOP99 poll. The manga is a tribute to Minato’s popularity and legacy, as well as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Naruto anime. The manga is a must-read for any Naruto fan, as it offers a glimpse into Minato’s life and personality, as well as his role in the Naruto world. The manga is available to read online on the official websites of VIZ⁴ and Naruto³, as well as on the MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA and SHONEN JUMP apps¹. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy Minato’s new manga, and let us know what you think of it in the comments below!