2023 has been an exciting year for Naruto fans with the worldwide popularity poll, the announcement of four new episodes, and the upcoming release of Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. The latest entry in the Ultimate Ninja Storm series is due to be released on August 1, and in the months leading to its release more information has been released about the character list, new jutsu combos, and other new exciting gameplay elements. One of the best parts of Naruto, both the source material and the Ultimate Ninja Storm series, is the massive cast of characters and the sheer variety of powers and play styles on offer. The original Naruto story, pre-Boruto, is traditionally separated into two parts, pre-Shippuden and Shippuden.
This article refers to the classic series, which covers the pre-Shippuden era of Naruto. The classic era of Naruto has a wide variety of characters divided into teams and factions that are pitted against one another or, as the story progresses, develop from enemies to friends. These teams often have ultimate team jutsus in Ultimate Ninja Storm that play on the strengths of the team and reward the player for their knowledge of the story and its characters. These characters from the classic Naruto characters are confirmed to as playable in Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections.
The Return of The Konoha 12 in Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections
The Konoha 12 make a comeback in their respective teams, along with their old Academy teacher Iruka who has the same Awakening and Ultimate as his previous iterations. Team 7 returns as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, along with their team leader and jounin Kakashi. The team's Awakening modes are connected to their roles in the story: Naruto's One-Tailed Mode, Sasuke's Sharingan Mode and Curse Mark Stage 2 with various costumes, Sakura's Maiden's Anger Mode, and Kakashi's Sharingan Mode with an ANBU costume.
Classic Teams 8 and 10 also appear, with Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, and Team 10's captain and teacher, Asuma. Every genin team's teacher appears except Team 8's Kurenai. Ino's notoriously mocked Covered Flower's Mode Awakening remains as the developer hasn't taken the opportunity to improve Ino's Ultimate Jutsu, despite her skill set having more potential than throwing flowers at her enemies. Team Gai appears with Neji, Lee, Tenten, and Might Gai, with their Ultimate Jutsus and Awakenings remaining the same as their previous iterations in the series.
The Return of the Hokage and Classic Naruto Villains
All the Hokage who appear in the classic Naruto series make a comeback, including the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Hokage, who have various Team Ultimate Jutsus as Hokage. Tsunade also joins their ranks as Hokage and as a Sannin with Jiraiya and Orochimaru and, like previous games, works well with both teams. The Sand Siblings also make an appearance, with Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro all getting two playable classic versions for the Chuunin Exams and the Sasuke Retrieval Arc.
The Naruto antagonists aren't left out, and fan favorites from the classic Naruto era that have been confirmed for Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections are The Sound Four's Tayuya, Kidomaru, Jirobo, and Sakon and Ukon. Their leader, Kimimaro, returns to the roster, as does Kabuto and, as previously mentioned, Orochimaru. Shinobi who have cut ties with their villages or who are unaffiliated and serve as antagonists in the classic era who return include the Seven Swordsman Zabuza and his apprentice Haku, and Akatsuki members Itachi and Kisame, who have the option of wearing their iconic Akatsuki hat and cloak combo.
Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections releases in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
