Despite having been around for many decades, theNarutofranchise continues to enchant millions of fans all over the world. The interest in the series has been maintained in great part by the sequel series,Boruto, which has helped expand the lore of the universe and has yet to adapt theTwo Blue Vortexcontinuation.The upcoming new anime episodescentered around the titular protagonist have also kept fans engaged with the franchise, anticipating its comeback.
Yet, as much as these ideas deserve to be translated into animation, there is another, much more beloved entry that would make for the perfect anime:The Whorl Within the Spiral. This special one-shot manga based on Naruto’s parents has the potential to become one of the most successful projects the franchise has ever released.
Minato’s One-Shot Would Be an Amazing Adaptation
Its Story and Settings Are Perfect for an Anime
On July 20, 2025, a special chapter of theNarutomanga series was released for fans to enjoy. This entry took place during Minato’s time as a regular Shinobi, long before he became one of the best Hokage the Hidden Leaf had ever seen. The story centered on his quest to perfect his signature technique, the Rasegan, as well as his blossoming romance with Kushina. While short, the chapter moved fans due to its incredibly emotive and significant story, quickly becoming one of the franchise’s most beloved side stories.
Ever since its release, fans have been asking for an anime adaptation of this amazing chapter for many years. Minato and Kushina, despite being vital for the story of the series,lacked sufficient screen time, with the latter being by far the least featured member of Naruto’s family.The Whorl Within the Spiralwould be an incredible opportunity to not only adapt a chapter fans have been waiting for but also to give these cherished characters another chance to shine. The story and battles of the one-shot would also aid in the success ofNaruto’s continuation.
Viewers could witness the birth of the Rasenga, which is by far one of the most important andpowerful Jutsu in the series. They would also be able to enjoy one of Kurama’s first fights in the timeline, allowing them to commemorate the legacy of the Nine-Tails Fox. Viewers have already indicated how much they desire to see an adaptation of the one-shot in the past by creating fan-made projects attempting to bring it to life. The anime version of Minato’s chapter is almost guaranteed to be a massive success.
Boruto Is Not Yet Ready To Return
The Manga Still Has Much To Develop
Although its popularity has slowly increased over the last few years, in great part thanks to theTwo Blue Vortexmanga, theBorutoseries was not warmly received by fans when it first released. The anime adaptation ofNaruto’s sequel suffered from many issues, one of the biggest beingits over-reliance on filler episodesand arcs. Seeing as the manga and anime were being released simultaneously for many years, the show had little choice but to create original stories to maintain its production.
The animated adaptation of theTwo Blue Vortexmanga has also caused much hype among fans, but it hasn’t even been hinted at releasing anytime soon. The story ofBoruto’s second part is still too early in development to try andturn it into a weekly anime. The show would be forced to once again include several unnecessary side stories and adventures to give the main plot a chance to advance. Releasing an animated version ofThe Whorl Within the Spiralwould be an amazing and entertaining way to bring a new and exciting adventure to fans without compromising the story.
Could an Adaptation Truly Occur?
The Franchise Has Occasionally Released Similar Entries
Even though it does not occur often, theNarutofranchise has been known to adapt several of its side materials into short anime that end up enchanting fans. The most recent example of this trend is the beloved Sasuke Retsuden Arc of theBorutoanime, based on thestunning sequel novel and manga of the same name. This story is considered by many as one of the best, and its anime adaptation brought back many fans to the sequel after its previous arcs had pushed them away.The Whorl Within the Spiralcould becomeNaruto’s next major project.
