Overview
NARUTO: THE CROSS ROADS is a one-episode special released in 2009, timed to the tenth anniversary of the Naruto manga's launch. Rather than extending the main television storyline, it presents a compact, fully CG-animated side adventure with a younger Team Kakashi. That combination makes it a notable curiosity: a short anniversary project that tests a different visual style while staying within the familiar ninja world.
The experience is brisk and self-contained, running about twenty-seven minutes. It blends action, adventure, and comedy with mild content, so it works as a quick sample of the franchise's lighter side. The CGI presentation gives familiar characters and techniques a distinctly different texture from the hand-drawn television episodes, which is likely the main draw for longtime viewers.
Because it is short and standalone, it may appeal to newcomers who want a low-commitment look at the setting, though knowing the core cast will make the character moments land more clearly. Fans interested in anniversary specials, alternate animation styles, or overlooked pieces of Naruto's animated history will find the most value here.
Trailer
Should You Watch It?
Watch it if you enjoy
- Watch if you want a brisk 27-minute Naruto anniversary special that revisits the youth-era Team Kakashi in a self-contained side story.
- Watch if you are curious how a fully CG-animated Naruto adventure looks compared with the hand-drawn TV episodes.
- Watch if you already know the core cast and want a low-commitment sample of the franchise's lighter action-comedy side.
It may not suit you if
- May not suit viewers seeking a required continuation of the main Naruto or Shippuden storyline, since this is an original standalone special.
- May not suit those who strongly prefer the hand-drawn television look; the Full CGI presentation gives familiar characters a different texture.
- May not suit newcomers expecting detailed context, as the short runtime assumes some familiarity with the youth-era cast.
The primary starting work is a standalone anime special, so watching the complete special is the natural Volluble Test Drive.
Why It Connects With Audiences
Why people love it
- Its 27-minute runtime makes it an easy, self-contained watch for fans curious about Naruto's 10th-anniversary side projects.
- The Full CGI approach offers a rare alternate visual take on familiar ninja techniques and Team Kakashi's youth-era dynamic.
- It blends action, adventure, and comedy in a mild, brisk package that can work as a light franchise sample.
Common criticisms
- Some may find it optional or skippable, since its original story does not continue the main anime's ongoing plot.
- The fully CG animation can feel jarring next to the hand-drawn series, especially for viewers attached to the original style.
- Its short length may leave little room for substantial character or story development beyond the anniversary novelty.
Volluble DNA
A quick profile of the title’s dominant storytelling ingredients.
Characters and Voice Actors8 characters
Sasuke Uchiha
Main character- Japanese: Noriaki Sugiyama
Naruto Uzumaki
Main character- Japanese: Junko Takeuchi
Kakashi Hatake
Main character- Japanese: Kazuhiko Inoue
Sakura Haruno
Main character- Japanese: Chie Nakamura
Kajika
Main character- Japanese: Takehito Koyasu
Kabuto Yakushi
Supporting character- Japanese: Nobutoshi Kanna
Orochimaru
Supporting character- Japanese: Kujira
Tobi
Supporting character- Japanese: Naoya Uchida
Production and Staff2 credits
Where This Fits in NARUTO
A spoiler-light guide to where this exact work fits within the broader NARUTO franchise.
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Step 1
Begin with the original Naruto anime series, which establishes the youth-era Team Kakashi cast that this special revisits.
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Step 2
Come to this single 27-minute special only after you know that cast; it is a 10th-anniversary side story released in 2009, after the first series finished, and it stands apart from the mainline episode run.
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Step 3
Treat it as optional and alternate rather than required viewing, since its Full CGI presentation and original story do not continue the series' ongoing plot.
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Step 4
Move on to Naruto: Shippuden, the direct sequel set during Naruto's teens, for the next stage of the franchise.
Franchise Path
- Begin with the original Naruto anime to meet the youth-era Team Kakashi cast.
- Treat NARUTO: THE CROSS ROADS as an optional 10th-anniversary side story, separate from the main TV episode run.
- Continue the franchise proper with Naruto: Shippuden after the original Naruto series.
After You Finish
Continue with
- No continuation follows from this special; it is a self-contained 27-minute anniversary side story.
Community Verdict
Quick reader and viewer signals from the Volluble community.
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