Nearly 10 years have passed since the Naruto manga officially ended, yet the image of the future Hokage remains deeply etched in fans’ hearts. Recently, Masashi Kishimoto did something truly special: he created an illustration of young Naruto set in the world of How to Train Your Dragon, producing a piece that is both unusual and striking.
This is not just an ordinary fanart but a work celebrating an upcoming live-action film in Japan, the How to Train Your Dragon movie. No one expected such a crossover event, but Kishimoto made it happen, crafting one of the most impressive Naruto illustrations in recent years.
Naruto and Hiccup Soar Together Across the Sky
Kishimoto’s illustration shows young Naruto riding his familiar summon, the toad Gamabunta, alongside Hiccup and Toothless from the How to Train Your Dragon series. Kishimoto poured his heart into this piece, from the smallest details to the choice of perspective.
The way the artist frames the scene, with most of the sky above and Hiccup and Toothless upside down, gives the impression that the team is embarking on a grand and adventurous journey.
When Gamabunta Meets Toothless: Highlights of the Artwork
While Kishimoto has plenty of experience drawing Gamabunta, dragons are not creatures typically linked to the ninja world. Still, he skillfully designed Toothless to be both playful and quirky. Kishimoto even paid close attention to size, making sure Toothless’s wings didn’t look too odd or unnatural.
Hiccup stands out as the most different character due to Kishimoto’s distinct art style, but he still captured the character’s outfit and exaggerated expressions well. Choosing pre-timeskip Naruto was a smart move, as this younger version is much more cheerful and expressive than his adult counterpart.
According to Gamerant