Novels in the Naruto and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations series are officially published short stories. Though each novel tends to be written by different authors, all novels have covers illustrated by the respective manga's illustrator: Masashi Kishimoto for Naruto novels and Mikio Ikemoto for Boruto novels.
Naruto Hiden[]
Main article: Naruto Hiden Naruto Hiden (NARUTO -ナルト- 秘伝, literally meaning: Naruto Secret Chronicles) is a light novel series which was released from February to July 2015. The series explores the stories of various characters after the conclusion of the original manga. Though each book is illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, they are written by different authors.[1] It's also a part of the Naruto Project. VIZ Media began releasing English translations of the novels in November of 2015.[2]
Naruto Shinden (2015)[]
Main article: Naruto Shinden (2015) Naruto Shinden (NARUTO -ナルト- 真伝, literally meaning: Naruto True Story) is a light novel series which was released from September to November 2015.[3] VIZ Media began releasing English translations of the novels in November of 2016.[4]
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations[]
Parts of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime have been been adapted into a novel series titled Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Novel (BORUTO -ボルト- -NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS- NOVEL, Boruto: Naruto Nekusuto Jenerēshonzu Noberu). The first three novels adapt Academy Entrance Arc: the first novel was released on May 2, 2017[5] and covers episodes 1 to 6, the second novel was released on July 4, 2017[6] and covers episodes 7 to 11 and the third novel was released on September 4, 2017[7] and covers episodes 12 to 15. The fourth novel was released on November 2, 2017[8] and covers the events depicted in episodes 25 to 31, but from Sarada's perspective. The fifth novel was released on January 4, 2018;[9] the first chapter is set before episode 36, the others after episode 37.
Naruto Shinden (2018)[]
Main article: Naruto Shinden (2018) Naruto Shinden (NARUTO -ナルト- ナルト新伝, literally meaning: Naruto: Naruto New Story) is a light novel series which began publication with Konoha Shinden: Steam Ninja Scrolls in 2016, but was not formalised until it was relaunched with three additional novels that were released from May to July 2018, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Shueisha Jump jBooks.[10] Konoha Shinden was originally meant to be part of a series that would help bridge Naruto and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations,[11] but the 2018 relaunch shifted focus the two generations of parents and children.
Naruto Retsuden[]
Main article: Naruto Retsuden Naruto Retsuden (NARUTO -ナルト- 烈伝, literally meaning: Naruto Intense Story) is a light novel series which was released from June to October 2019.[12] Unlike previous series of novels, the three Naruto Retsuden novels are all written by Jun Esaka, causing plot details to carryover between novels far more heavily.
Other Novels[]
Light novels that aren't part of a series:
Chronology[]
The timeline as of publication of the Naruto Retsuden novels.
The timeline as of publication of the Boruto novels.
The timeline as of publication of 2015's Naruto Shinden novels.
According to the official timeline, the novels' chronology (which occasionally differs from the manga's) is:
- Ten years ago
- Naruto Chapter #1 through chapter #699
- Several months later
- Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky
- Sasuke leaves Konohagakure.[13]
- Two years later
- Several months later
- Sakura Hiden: Thoughts of Love, Riding Upon a Spring Breeze
- Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding
- Several months later
- Gaara Hiden: A Sandstorm Mirage
- Gaara is 20 years old.
- Akatsuki Hiden: Evil Flowers in Full Bloom
- Sasuke Shinden: Book of Sunrise
- Over ten years later
- A few years later
- The New Leaves Soaring Through the Blue Sky!
- A Call from the Shadows!
- Those Who Illuminate the Night of Shinobi!
- School Trip Bloodwind Records[14]
- Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring
- Konoha Shinden: Steam Ninja Scrolls[14]
- The Last Day at the Ninja Academy!
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie
- "Present"
- Naruto Shinden: Parent and Child Day
- Sasuke Shinden: The Teacher's Star Pupil
- Shikamaru Shinden: A Cloud Dancing in Forlorn Falling Petals
- Kakashi Retsuden: The Sixth Hokage and the Failure Boy
- Sasuke Retsuden: The Uchiha Descendants and the Heavenly Stardust
- Naruto Retsuden: Naruto Uzumaki and the Spiral Destiny
Notes and References[]
- ↑ 秘伝シリーズ Naruto Hiden book list
- ↑ VIZ Media announced licensing the 3 Naruto Hiden novels
- ↑ Naruto Shinden novels
- ↑ Anime News Network, (2016). Viz Media Licenses Naruto: Itachi's Story, Tokyo Ghoul Novels, Gangsta.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405221630/http://j-books.shueisha.co.jp/news_newrelease/boruto
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20170613162308/http://j-books.shueisha.co.jp/news_newrelease/boruto2
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20170731215549/http://j-books.shueisha.co.jp/news_newrelease/boruto3
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20171014100143/http://j-books.shueisha.co.jp/news_newrelease/boruto4
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20180506055150/http://j-books.shueisha.co.jp/books/boruto_05.html
- ↑ Naruto Shinden novel 1
- ↑ Official Jump J-Books Tweet
- ↑ Naruto: Kakashi Retsuden novel
- ↑ Naruto has yet to receive a prosthetic arm at the time Sasuke leaves Konoha. He receives one sometime between the prologue and chapter 1 of Kakashi Hiden.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220813035547/https://www.narutoapp.jp/chronology/