Table of Contents
ToggleWhen Epic Games announced the Naruto collaboration back in 2021, the gaming world collectively lost it. Shinobi meets battle royale? Yes, please. Fast forward to 2026, and the Naruto crossover remains one of the most beloved collaborations in Fortnite’s history, right up there with Marvel and Star Wars.
Whether you missed the original drop or you’re hunting for intel on potential rereleases, this guide covers everything: every skin variant, the kunai mechanics that changed close-range combat, and whether we’ll see more Hidden Leaf Village content this year. Let’s immerse.
Key Takeaways
- The Fortnite Naruto collaboration, which launched in November 2021, remains one of the most beloved crossovers in the game’s history and continues to return to the Item Shop every few months with strong community demand.
- Naruto cosmetics include multiple character skins with reactive features—such as Sasuke’s glowing Sharingan eyes and Itachi’s signature crow effect—plus themed weapons like the kunai, which serves as both a cosmetic tool and effective gameplay item for mid-range combat.
- Kunai in Fortnite offer unique mechanics with a flat trajectory ideal for peek-and-throw tactics, structure pressure, and finishing blows, making them versatile alternatives to traditional SMG or sniper rifles in Zero Build modes.
- All Naruto skins and bundles are exclusively purchasable through the Item Shop at 1,500 V-Bucks per skin or discounted bundle rates, with the Team 7 Bundle offering the most value at approximately 4,200 V-Bucks.
- The Hidden Leaf Village Creative Hub and community-made Naruto maps provide free, combat-free social experiences and competitive training grounds, with hundreds of user-generated shinobi-themed arenas available in the Discover tab.
- Epic is likely to expand the Naruto collaboration in 2026 with potential new characters like Boruto-era skins and possibly even a dedicated Naruto Battle Pass season, based on datamine leaks and the franchise’s consistent Item Shop performance.
The History of Naruto in Fortnite
When Did Naruto First Arrive in Fortnite?
Naruto Uzumaki made his Fortnite debut on November 16, 2021, during Chapter 2 Season 8. The timing was perfect, Fortnite was riding high on crossover momentum, and Naruto was celebrating its 20th anniversary. Epic didn’t just slap a skin in the Item Shop and call it a day. They went all-in.
The initial drop included four character outfits, themed gliders, pickaxes, and even a Creative Hub modeled after the Hidden Leaf Village. Players could visit Kakashi for quests and earn exclusive rewards. The Paper Bomb Kunai also entered the loot pool as a throwable weapon, giving everyone a taste of shinobi combat without needing to grind a battle pass.
The collaboration wasn’t just cosmetic fluff. Epic created an entire mini-event around it, complete with in-game challenges that rewarded players with Loading Screens and sprays featuring iconic Naruto moments. For a week, it felt like Fortnite had become an anime.
Evolution of the Naruto Collaboration
After the initial wave in 2021, the Naruto content cycled in and out of the Item Shop over the following years. Epic brought back the skins during major anime anniversaries and seasonal events, though never with quite the same fanfare as the original launch.
By 2024, dataminers started spotting references to additional Naruto characters in the game files, Itachi Uchiha being the most requested. Epic finally delivered in mid-2024 with an expanded roster that included Itachi, Hinata, and Gaara. Each new character came with unique Back Bling and emotes tied to their signature jutsu.
In 2025, Fortnite introduced the Akatsuki Bundle, featuring villains from the series. The black cloak with red clouds became an instant favorite in lobbies. Epic also experimented with reactive cosmetics: Sasuke’s Sharingan would glow red after eliminations, and Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra aura would intensify as players racked up kills.
Heading into 2026, the collaboration feels less like a one-time event and more like a permanent fixture. Naruto cosmetics return to the shop every few months, and Creative Mode has an entire genre dedicated to anime-inspired maps. It’s safe to say the crossover aged like fine ramen.
All Naruto Skins and Character Outfits Available
Naruto Uzumaki Outfit and Variants
The Naruto Uzumaki Outfit is the flagship skin of the entire collaboration. It comes in two styles: the classic orange jumpsuit from the original series and the black-and-orange outfit from Shippuden. Both variants capture Naruto’s look perfectly, down to the headband and whisker marks.
The Shippuden style is generally preferred in competitive circles because the darker color palette blends better in shadowy areas, though let’s be honest, if you’re running Naruto, stealth probably isn’t your top priority. The skin also includes the Scroll Back Bling, which looks great but doesn’t offer any reactive features.
Naruto’s Pickaxe is modeled after a kunai, and while it’s not as flashy as some other crossover tools, it nails the aesthetic. You can also grab the Kakashi’s Glider, which features the Hidden Leaf symbol and a satisfying whoosh sound effect when deployed.
Sasuke Uchiha and Sharingan Style
Sasuke Uchiha dropped alongside Naruto in the original 2021 release, and he quickly became a fan favorite. His outfit includes two styles: the blue high-collar look from early Naruto and the darker, more brooding Shippuden version with the Uchiha clan symbol on the back.
What sets Sasuke apart is the Sharingan Reactive Feature added in the 2024 rerelease. After you score an elimination, Sasuke’s eyes glow red for a few seconds, a small touch, but one that makes the skin feel premium. The effect doesn’t provide any gameplay advantage, but it’s intimidating as hell in close-quarters fights.
Sasuke’s Kusanagi Sword Pickaxe is one of the cleanest melee tools in the game. The blade has a slight glow and makes a sharp metallic sound on impact. Pair it with the Black Ops Glider for maximum edgelord energy.
Sakura Haruno and Kakashi Hatake Skins
Sakura Haruno and Kakashi Hatake rounded out the original quartet. Sakura’s outfit features her pink hair and red qipao dress from Shippuden, along with her medical ninja pouch as Back Bling. It’s a solid skin, though it never reached the popularity of Naruto or Sasuke, probably because Sakura’s character arc is… divisive, to put it mildly.
Kakashi, on the other hand, is a sleeper hit. His Copy Ninja Outfit includes the iconic mask, silver hair, and Jonin vest. The headband covers his left eye, staying true to the character design. Kakashi’s Back Bling is a small ninja scroll, and his pickaxe is a tanto blade.
What makes Kakashi special is his Lightning Blade Emote, which summons crackling blue energy around his hand. It’s one of the few emotes that actually feels powerful rather than goofy. Players who want a more grounded, tactical shinobi vibe tend to gravitate toward Kakashi over the flashier options.
Itachi Uchiha and Other Fan-Favorite Characters
Itachi Uchiha finally arrived in June 2024, and the community went wild. His outfit is pulled straight from his Akatsuki days: black cloak with red clouds, headband with the scratched-out Hidden Leaf symbol, and that cold, calculating stare.
Itachi’s Crow Reactive Feature is next-level. When you open a chest or get an elimination, a murder of crows briefly swirls around the character model before dissipating. It’s purely cosmetic, but it’s one of the most visually striking effects in Fortnite. His pickaxe is a standard ANBU sword, and his glider features the Uchiha clan crest.
Other characters added in later waves include Hinata Hyuga (with Byakugan eye details), Gaara (complete with his gourd Back Bling), and Orochimaru (whose skin is creepy enough to double as a Halloween outfit). Each comes with thematic accessories, though none have quite matched Itachi’s hype.
Rumors from Japanese gaming sites like Gematsu suggest Epic is exploring characters from Boruto for a potential 2026 expansion, but nothing’s confirmed yet.
Naruto-Themed Weapons, Items, and Mythics
Kunai and Explosive Tags
The Kunai was introduced as a throwable weapon during the original Naruto event and has since become a staple in Fortnite’s arsenal rotation. It functions similarly to grenades but with faster throw speed and a flatter trajectory, making it ideal for mid-range poke damage.
Kunai deal 35 damage on direct hit and have a slight area-of-effect splash if they land near an opponent. They stack up to 6 per slot, and you’ll find them in standard loot chests, supply drops, and floor loot. The throw animation is quick, so you can toss multiple kunai in rapid succession, perfect for pressuring opponents hiding behind cover.
Explosive Tags are kunai with added oomph. These were briefly available during limited-time modes in 2022 and dealt 60 damage with a larger explosion radius. They didn’t stick around long, likely because they were a bit overtuned for competitive play. Epic hasn’t brought them back since, though dataminers occasionally find references in the game files.
Paper Bomb Kunai and Combat Mechanics
The Paper Bomb Kunai is the Mythic version of the standard kunai and the crown jewel of Naruto-themed weapons. It was available during the original event and made a few comebacks in Creative modes and special LTMs.
Paper Bomb Kunai deal 50 damage on direct hit plus an additional 25 splash damage in a small radius. What makes them deadly is the throw rate, you can launch them almost as fast as you can click, turning them into a pseudo-SMG for players with good aim. The downside? They’re loud. Every throw has a distinct hissing sound, so your position gets broadcast to anyone within 50 meters.
In build mode, Paper Bomb Kunai are excellent for destroying structures. Two direct hits will shred a wooden wall, making them a solid counter to turtling opponents. In Zero Build, they shine even more, many competitive players used them to zone enemies out of rotations during late-game circles.
The combat loop with kunai is simple: throw, reposition, throw again. Unlike grenades, you don’t have to arc them as much, so they’re easier to land at medium range. Pair them with an AR for sustained pressure, or combo with an SMG for aggressive pushes.
How to Get Naruto Cosmetics and Items
Item Shop Purchases and Bundles
Most Naruto cosmetics are available through the Fortnite Item Shop during rotation periods. The skins typically cost 1,500 V-Bucks each, which is standard pricing for crossover outfits. If you want the full experience, Epic offers bundles that package multiple skins with their accessories at a slight discount.
The Team 7 Bundle (Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi) usually runs around 4,200 V-Bucks when all four are bundled together, saving you about 1,800 V-Bucks compared to buying them individually. The Akatsuki Bundle (Itachi, Orochimaru, and villain-themed accessories) costs roughly 2,800 V-Bucks.
Bundles also include exclusive Loading Screens and sometimes bonus emotes. For example, the 2024 rerelease of the Team 7 Bundle came with a group photo Loading Screen that wasn’t available through any other means.
As of March 2026, the Naruto skins haven’t appeared in the Item Shop for about four months. Based on past patterns, expect a return around major anime milestones or during Fortnite’s seasonal events. Epic tends to bring back popular crossovers during the summer and winter holiday periods.
Battle Pass and Special Event Rewards
Unlike some collaborations (Marvel, Star Wars), Naruto cosmetics have never been part of a Battle Pass. Every piece of Naruto content has been purchasable through the Item Shop or unlockable via special event challenges.
During the original November 2021 event, players could complete quests given by an NPC version of Kakashi stationed near Lazy Lake. These quests rewarded free cosmetics like sprays, emoticons, and a Hidden Leaf Wrap for weapons. The challenges weren’t particularly difficult, mostly “visit X location” or “deal damage with kunai” tasks.
Epic hasn’t run a similar free event since 2021, which is a shame. The Hidden Leaf Creative Hub is still accessible and occasionally hosts community-made events, but there’s no official Epic-sponsored content tied to it anymore.
If you’re hoping to snag Naruto items without spending V-Bucks, your best bet is to watch for limited-time tournaments or Creative challenges that offer cosmetics as rewards. Epic has done this with other crossovers, so it’s not out of the question, just don’t count on it.
Best Naruto Emotes, Back Bling, and Accessories
Iconic Jutsu Hand Signs Emote
The Jutsu Hand Signs Emote is the single most iconic piece of Naruto content in Fortnite. When activated, your character rapidly cycles through hand signs before slamming their palms together in the classic jutsu pose. A brief chakra aura flares around the character, and the animation ends with a confident stance.
It’s a built-in emote for all Naruto skins, but you can also purchase it separately for 300 V-Bucks if you want to use it on non-Naruto characters. The animation is smooth, the sound design is on point, and it’s become a staple BM (bad manners) emote after clutch eliminations.
Other notable emotes include Lightning Blade (Kakashi’s Chidori), Rasengan (a swirling blue energy sphere), and Shadow Clone Jutsu (which briefly spawns illusory duplicates around your character). Each costs 300-500 V-Bucks depending on complexity.
Ramen-Themed Accessories and Hidden Leaf Back Bling
Naruto’s love for ramen didn’t go unnoticed by Epic. The Ramen Back Bling features a steaming bowl of Ichiraku ramen strapped to your back, complete with animated steam effects. It’s goofy, it’s on-brand, and it pairs surprisingly well with non-Naruto skins.
The Hidden Leaf Back Bling is a more serious option, a wooden board with the Hidden Leaf Village symbol carved into it. It’s clean, versatile, and works with pretty much any skin in the game. If you’re looking for something low-key that still signals your Naruto fandom, this is it.
Other accessories worth mentioning:
- Scroll Back Bling: Comes with Naruto’s skin. Simple, clean, very shinobi.
- Akatsuki Cloud Glider: Black with red clouds. Instantly recognizable and intimidating.
- Kunai Pickaxe: The standard melee tool for the collaboration. Not flashy, but thematically perfect.
- Demon Wind Shuriken: A massive shuriken pickaxe that spins when you swing it. Loud, impractical, awesome.
Most accessories cost 500-800 V-Bucks individually, but they’re often included in bundles for better value.
Gameplay Tips: Using Naruto Items Effectively
Mastering Kunai Throws in Combat
Kunai aren’t just for show, they’re a legitimate part of your combat toolkit if you know how to use them. The key difference between kunai and other throwables is the flat trajectory. Unlike grenades that arc heavily, kunai fly almost straight for the first 20 meters, making them easier to land on moving targets.
Here’s how to maximize kunai effectiveness:
- Peek-and-throw: Use kunai when you’re behind cover and don’t want to expose yourself for a full AR spray. Pop out, throw, duck back.
- Finishing blows: Kunai are excellent for securing eliminations when an opponent is low health and hiding. The quick throw speed lets you spam multiple kunai before they can react.
- Structure pressure: In build modes, kunai chew through wood walls quickly. Throw a few to force your opponent to burn extra mats or reposition.
- Mid-range poke: At 30-40 meters, kunai become harder to land but still deal solid damage if you connect. Use them to pressure opponents rotating through open areas.
Avoid using kunai in close-quarters fights where an SMG or shotgun would be more reliable. The 35 damage per hit sounds decent, but you’ll lose to anyone with decent aim and a proper loadout.
Strategic Loadouts with Naruto Weapons
If you’re running kunai as part of your loadout, structure your inventory around their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a solid setup:
- Slot 1: Assault Rifle (for consistent mid-range damage)
- Slot 2: Shotgun (for close-range burst)
- Slot 3: Kunai (for poke damage and structure pressure)
- Slot 4: Heals (Medkits, Shield Potions)
- Slot 5: Mobility item (Shockwave Grenades, Rift-to-Go)
The kunai slot replaces what would normally be an SMG or sniper rifle. This works best in Zero Build modes where you can’t turtle and need versatile damage options. In build modes, consider swapping the kunai for an SMG unless you’re extremely confident in your throw accuracy.
Paper Bomb Kunai (when available) change the math. Their higher damage output and faster fire rate make them viable as a primary weapon in the right hands. Some players run double explosive setups, Paper Bomb Kunai plus standard grenades, to absolutely shred builds and zone opponents.
One thing to keep in mind: kunai are consumable. Once you burn through your stack, they’re gone unless you find more. Don’t spam them mindlessly. Save them for moments when they provide a clear tactical advantage.
Creative Mode and Naruto Custom Maps
The Hidden Leaf Village Creative Hub launched alongside the original Naruto event in 2021 and remains one of the most detailed crossover maps Epic has ever built. You can explore the village, visit Ichiraku Ramen, and even climb the Hokage Monument. It’s purely social, no combat, no objectives, but it’s a love letter to fans of the series.
Beyond the official hub, the Fortnite Creative community has gone absolutely wild with Naruto-themed maps. A quick search in the Discover tab pulls up hundreds of options:
- Shinobi Training Grounds: Obstacle courses designed to test your parkour and movement skills. Many feature kunai-only combat sections.
- Chunin Exam Arenas: 1v1 and team deathmatch maps modeled after locations from the anime. The Forest of Death and the Final Valley are popular settings.
- Role-Play Maps: Full villages with NPCs, quests, and progression systems. These are essentially Naruto MMOs built inside Fortnite.
Some of the best custom maps come from Japanese creators, and guides on sites like Siliconera often highlight standout Naruto Creative experiences. The quality varies wildly, some are janky passion projects, others are jaw-droppingly polished.
If you’re into Creative Mode, the Naruto collaboration has provided endless content. Epic hasn’t added new official Naruto maps since 2021, but the community has more than filled the gap.
Recent crossover events, like the anime-themed showdowns, show that Epic continues to explore collaborations that resonate with the Creative community.
Will Naruto Return to Fortnite in 2026?
Short answer: almost certainly. The Naruto collaboration has been too successful for Epic to shelve permanently. Skins return to the Item Shop every few months, and there’s clear demand for more content.
Here’s what we know heading into late 2026:
- Datamines: Leakers have found placeholder files referencing “Boruto” and “Next Gen Shinobi” in recent patches. Nothing’s confirmed, but it suggests Epic is exploring an expanded roster.
- Anniversary Timing: October 2026 marks five years since the original Naruto drop. Epic loves anniversary events, so expect something special around that date.
- Competitive Interest: Naruto cosmetics consistently rank among the top sellers whenever they return. From a business perspective, it makes zero sense for Epic to stop cycling them through the shop.
The bigger question is whether we’ll see new content or just rereleases. Fans have been begging for characters like Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Minato. There’s also potential for Boruto-era skins, though the community is split on whether that’s desirable.
One interesting possibility: a Naruto Battle Pass season. Epic has done full Marvel and Star Wars seasons with exclusive skins, map changes, and themed weapons. A Naruto season could feature kunai as floor loot, shinobi-themed POIs, and progressive skins that evolve as you level up. It’s speculative, but not outside the realm of possibility.
For now, keep an eye on the Item Shop rotations and official Fortnite announcements. If you missed out on any skins, they’ll be back eventually. Epic’s crossover strategy relies on FOMO, but they also know better than to make content permanently unobtainable.
Conclusion
The Naruto collaboration proved that anime and battle royale can coexist beautifully. From the detailed character outfits to the surprisingly fun kunai mechanics, Epic nailed the execution. Five years later, the content still holds up, both visually and mechanically.
Whether you’re a die-hard Naruto fan or just someone who appreciates quality crossover content, the shinobi skins and weapons offer something unique in Fortnite’s ever-expanding cosmetic library. Keep your V-Bucks ready, watch the Item Shop rotations, and don’t sleep on those kunai in your next match. They’re more useful than you think.





