The Naruto Franchise is a popular Japanese media series created by Masashi Kishimoto. It began as a manga, serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1999 to 2014, and follows the journey of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja with dreams of becoming the strongest leader, or Hokage, of his village. The story explores themes of friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery. The franchise expanded into an anime series, movies, video games, and spin-offs, including Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, which focuses on Naruto's son. The franchise has gained a massive global fanbase, influencing various aspects of pop culture and inspiring numerous adaptations and merchandise.