New Novel Is The Second Release In A New Series Focusing On Key Characters From Masashi Kishimoto’s Smash Hit Ninja Action Series, NARUTO
publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivers
the next release in a continuing series of NARUTO prose novels focusing on key
characters from the internationally acclaimed ninja action series.
NARUTO: SHIKAMARU’S STORY was written by author Takashi Yano and will be
released in print and digitally in early February. The book tells the story of the
current head of Team 10 and the Nara Clan and features original cover art by
Masashi Kishimoto. Allies and enemies from the famed NARUTO series take center
stage in these fast-paced adventures, with each novel focusing on a particular clan
MSRP: $10.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN / $6.99 Digital Available February 2
Two years after the Great Ninja War, Shikamaru spends his days racing around,
hands full as one of Konoha’s key protectors. Then, large numbers of ninja from
every region are reported missing. Even Sai disappears. And the place where the
missing shinobi end up is the mysterious empire, the Land of Silence. As a ninja, as
an adult, to protect all that he is responsible for, Shikamaru must do battle with the
Also don’t miss NARUTO: KAKASHI’S STORY, the first book in the series of NARUTO
novels, available now in print and also digitally.
Manga author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama
Prefecture, Japan. Like many kids, he was first inspired to become a manga artist in
elementary school when he read Dragon Ball. After spending time in art school, he
VIZ Media Announces Release Of NARUTO: SHIKAMARU’S STORY Original Novel Page 2
won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his story, Karakuri. After
considering various genres for his next project, Kishimoto decided on a story
steeped in traditional Japanese culture. His first version of NARUTO, drawn in 1997,
was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Japan
in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in
the world. The series would also spawn multiple anime series, movies, novels, video
games and more. Having concluded the series in late 2014, Masashi Kishimoto has
kept himself busy this year with the side story, Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and
the Scarlet Spring, and writing the story for the latest NARUTO movie, BORUTO:
NARUTO THE MOVIE, both of which focus on the title character’s son, Boruto.
VIZ Media is the North American master licensor for NARUTO and publishes the
bestselling NARUTO manga series in print and digitally and also distributes the
NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series and feature films. Additional
information on NARUTO is available at www.Naruto.com.
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha
Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for
English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa.
With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.
Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.