Series Canon Guide
The term "canon" refers to a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works about a subject matter. Please note there is no “official” canon list. To understand canon, one must first understand that the series, is the work of a multitude of creatives who worked together to develop and expand the series. Even at its core, the Naruto manga was the work of one main artist and writer, many other talented background assistants, and consulting Shounen Jump editors. Nevertheless, even with multiple parties collaborating on the manga, continuity may not be perfect. Previous story elements may be forgotten or altered, or mistakes might be made in the art or text. As a result, the series may feature unexplained contradictions that readers may have to justify with their own “fan” canon to make sense.
Within the scope of the series Naruto, accepted canon can refer to those media creations of Masashi Kishimoto, that are understood to be a basis upon which later work relies upon for continuity and story integrity. In the decades long span of the series, multiple pieces of media and tie-in works have expanded its world and scope. These include:
Naruto - The original manga created by Kishimoto. This includes the manga itself which ran from chapters 1 through 700, select chapter cover pages and tankoubon covers. This also includes the Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring limited sequel manga mini-series.
Omake – Those bonus manga pages and chapters also written and drawn by Kishimoto.
Naruto - The anime adaption of the Naruto series, created by Studio Pierrot.
Naruto: Shippuuden - The follow up anime adaption of the Naruto manga series.
Naruto Original Video Animations – The special release animated videos used to tie-in or promote other pieces of media, including the anime, movies or video games.
Naruto and Naruto: Shippuuden Animated Movies – These anime and manga tie-ins highlight side adventures for the lead characters.
Light Novels – Short prose novels focusing on one or more characters from the series. These novels are written by other authors and are sometimes adapted into episodes of the anime series.
Guide or Databooks – These illustrated encyclopedias feature character, jutsu and plot breakdowns. These compilations cover a specific focus, typically a specific run of the manga, the anime or a movie. These books will offer explanations and data not found in the original manga, such as jutsu and character names.
Boruto - The follow-up sequel manga written by Kodachi Ukyou and illustrated by Ikemoto Mikio, under the supervision of Kishimoto, who outlined the initial concept and provides story consultation. Kodachi previously wrote light novels for the series and collaborated on the Boruto movie, while Ikemoto served as one of Kishimoto’s assistants on the original Naruto manga.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - The anime adaption of the Boruto anime movie, the Boruto manga and the Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring sequel manga series.
Over the decades, numerous pieces of spin-off media were also produced. These can include gag manga such as Rock Lee's Springtime of Youth, promotional images and websites or video games.
What follows is the core canon for the series, focusing on media directly created or overseen by Masashi Kishimoto that maintains internal continuity.
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| The Core Canon |
Naruto
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The top tier of canon. The original manga created by Masashi Kishimoto. This includes the manga itself which ran from chapters 1 through 700, select chapter cover pages and tankoubon covers.
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Naruto Gaiden
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Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring, the sequel series manga written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto.
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| The Core Canon - Supplemental |
Tou no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Tou no Sho Character Official Databook, the first official databook for the manga. It features character biographies, jutsu information and a world guide. It covers volumes 1 through 14. It also features Konoha Gaiden: Ichiraku nite... (At the Ichiraku...), a short omake written and illustrated by Kishimoto that involves Naruto scheming with his teammates to see Kakashi's face while eating at the Ichiraku ramen stand.
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Hyou no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Hyou no Sho Official Fanbook, the first official fan book for the Naruto manga. it features series background information, an interview with Kishimoto, fan games and fan art.
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Tou no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Tou no Sho Character Official Databook, the second official databook for the manga. It features updated character biographies, jutsu information and a world guide. It covers volumes 14 through 27.
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Shou no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Shou no Sho Character Official Databook Mini, a mini-databook for the manga released alongside chapter 254. It features updated character biographies and jutsu information. It covers chapter 245 to 250.
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Sha no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Sha no Sho Character Official Databook, the third official databook for the manga. It features updated character biographies, jutsu information and a world guide. It covers volumes 28 through 43. It also features Kakashi Sugao Gokaichou (Kakashi's True Face Revealed), a short omake written and illustrated by Kishimoto that involves Naruto asking Kakashi's nin-dogs for information on what his face looks like.
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Kai no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Kai no Sho Official Fanbook, the second official fan book for the Naruto manga, which commemorates the 10th anniversary of the series. it features series background information, an interview with Kishimoto and Naruto tribute drawings from other manga artists. It also features Shin Ero Ninjutsu Kansei!! (New Erotic Ninjutsu Completed!!), a short omake written and illustrated by Kishimoto that is set during the time skip between parts I and II, it involves Naruto using his erotic Ninjutsu on Jiraiya.
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Jin no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Jin no Sho Character Official Databook, the fourth official databook for the manga. It features updated character biographies, jutsu information and a world guide. It covers volumes 44 through 71. It also features Road to Naruto the Movie, a non-canon omake written and illustrated by Kishimoto that serves as a tie-in for Road to Ninja: Naruto The Movie.
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The Last - Naruto the Movie
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The Last - Naruto the Movie was written by Kyouzuka Maruo. Masashi Kishimoto provided the story concept and character designs. He also had complete editorial supervision over the story. This film serves as an animated side story set in between chapters 699 and 700.
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Retsu no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Retsu no Sho Official Movie Guidebook serves as a tie-in guide for The Last - Naruto the Movie. It has character bios and After The Last, a short omake written and illustrated by Kishimoto set after the events of the movie that involves Naruto taking Hinata on a date.
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Rai no Sho
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Naruto-ten Premium Fanbook Shinden • Rai no Sho, the first of two booklets given to the Naruto Exhibition vistors. It features character designs and information for the sequel series. It also features Ai o Itareta Kemono!! (The Beast That Was Shot By Love!!), an omake written and illustrated by Kishimoto that deals with Akamaru thinking over Kiba's love life.
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Fuu no Sho
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Naruto-ten Official Guestbook Shinden • Fuu no Sho, the second of two booklets given to the Naruto Exhibition vistors. It features character designs and information for the sequel series. It also features Sugao no Shinjitsu...!! (The Real True Face...!!), an omake written and illustrated by Kishimoto that finally reveals Kakashi's true face.
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Road to B
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Boruto - Road to B, a pair of promotional omake created to promote the release of Boruto - Naruto the Movie. These omake appeared in Weekly Shounen Jump 2015 volume #36. In the first omake, written and illustrated by Kishimoto, Mitsuki gives brief bios for his teammates and their families. In the second, non-canon companion gag omake, written and illustrated by Taira Kenji, Team Konohamaru take the bell test.
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Boruto - Naruto the Movie
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Boruto - Naruto the Movie was written by Masashi Kishimoto and Kodachi Ukyou. Kishimoto would also provide concept and character designs. This film acts as sequel to the main story, set shortly after the events of Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring. Naruto's son Boruto and his teammates take the Chuunin Exam, while more Ootsutsuki Clan members plot to attack.
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Zai no Sho
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Naruto Hiden: Zai no Sho Official Movie Book serves as a tie-in guide for Boruto - Naruto the Movie. It has character bios and Naruto ga Hokage ni natta Hi (The Day Naruto Became Hokage), an omake written and illustrated by Kishimoto set on the day Naruto was sworn in as Hokage before the village.
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