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Contents of Naruto Epilogue Novels Unveiled

This year's eighth issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is unveiling on Monday the full list of Naruto epilogue novels with short previews of the stories each novel will contain.

[Warning: These summaries contain spoilers for the Naruto manga and anime.]

The first novel, Naruto: Kakashi Hiden - Hyōten no Ikazuchi (Naruto - Kakashi Hidden Legend: Lightning of the Frozen Sky), will ship in Japan on February 4. The story revolves around Kakashi Hatake, who is melancholy despite his new position as the Sixth Hogake. In addition, an incident has occurred in the new peaceful, orderly ninja world. The novel is being penned by Akira Higashiyama.

Shikamaru Hiden is hinted to feature a battle between Shikamaru and the "strongest genjutsu-user." Akatsuki Hiden is listed to reveal the "truth of the Akatsuki," and features images of Deidara, Kisame, Kakuzu, and Hidan. Gaara Hiden is hinted to be a story of love, something the Kazekage does not know very well, the preview for Sakura Hiden hints that the result of Sakura's feelings will be revealed, and finally, Konohagakure Hiden will look at the other ninja in Konoha and what happened to them "after the original manga." The preview image shows Shino, Kiba, and Rock Lee.

Beginning in February, one volume of the Hiden novel series will be released per month. The full list of novels and release dates is as follows:

• Kakashi Hiden ('hiden' means 'secret legend') - February 4
• Shikamaru Hiden - March
• Akatsuki Hiden - April
• Gaara Hiden - May
• Sakura Hiden - June
• Konohagakure Hiden - July

Kishimoto had said in an interview last month that he will still have other work left to do in the Naruto franchise until next summer, so he will not begin preparing his next non-Naruto title in earnest until after that. A new film following [Highlight white text to read spoilers] Naruto and Hinata's son Bolt and Sasuke and Sakura's daughter Sarada will open in August.