Monster Strike Finally Crosses Over With NARUTO

What happened

On June 12, 2026, at noon JST (Japan Standard Time), Monster Strike — a hugely popular Japanese mobile action RPG where players physically flick characters across the screen to attack enemies — launched its first-ever crossover with the anime NARUTO Shippuden. The collab gacha (a randomized in-game character draw) is split into two banners, "Vol.1" and "Vol.2," featuring 10 characters including Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi and Jiraiya.

Why it is trending now

Two hours before the event itself, at 10 a. m. JST, the official campaign account began a giveaway.

To enter, fans had to quote-post with a Japanese campaign hashtag that translates roughly to "a ninja is one who flicks in secret" — a pun blending the game's flicking mechanic with ninja stealth. The flood of entry posts is what pushed the topic straight onto Japan's trending list. Prizes include an acrylic diorama stand set (10 winners) and, notably, a free bowl of "the best ramen" (300 winners).

The first entry window ran from 10 a. m. on June 12 to 9:59 a.

m. on June 13, and the full collab runs through **11:59 a. m.

JST on July 2**.

How fans reacted

The overwhelming response was joy: "Been waiting for this NARUTO collab." Longtime players were especially thrilled by what they call the payoff of the "Ramen Incident" — an earlier post by the game's operators showing a bowl of ramen that fans read as a hidden hint toward a NARUTO tie-up. The ramen prize is widely seen as a wink to that running joke. Gacha excitement is high too, with players vowing to "collect every character" while others joked about pulling the banner and still not landing Naruto.

What to watch next:

The collab continues through July 2, so expect a second campaign wave, more pull reports, and merchandise activity on the official store. Whether the NARUTO tie-up draws lapsed players back — several posters said they were "reviving" their accounts for it — will be the real measure of how big this crossover lands.