Naruto Manga To End Serialization After 15 Years: Last Issue Will Be Published November 10; Five Episodes Remain [PHOTO]
This Monday, the official website for Shueisha's "Weekly Shonen Jump" announced that Masashi Kishimoto's manga "Naruto" will end in this year's 50th issue of "Shonen Jump" on November 10. It seems that after a very impressive run, the famed manga is finally coming to a close.
The "Naruto" series first debuted in "Weekly Shonen Jump" in 1999, and has become one of Japan's most iconic manga. Its end this November will mark 15 years of serialization as well as the publishing of 70 tankobon volumes so far. According to Crunchyroll, the latest 71st volume will be published in Japan on November 4. Viz Media will publish the 67th volume in North America on Tuesday. Currently, there are only five episodes of the manga left.
Anime News Network reports that Kishimoto had the manga's ending in mind for quite a while. In 2012, he stated that the series was rising toward its climax, and that he already had its ending in mind. However, later that same year he said he had a year and half more to go with the story.
"Naruto" has spawned multiple films, anime, and game adaptations. While November marks the end of Kishimoto's manga series, the "Naruto Shippuden" anime is still ongoing, and the anime film "The Last: Naruto the Movie" will hit Japanese theaters this December.
Spoiler alert - now readers of "Naruto" will have to sit back and wait in order to find out what will happen in the final fight between Naruto vs. Sasuke. Who will become Hokage? Will there be many emotional flashbacks (most likely)? What will happen to the tailed beasts and the rest of the villages? So much tension! Keep your eyes peeled for the coming (and last) installments.