Time travel is a messy business in anime. Usually, it feels like a cheap gimmick to get characters together who should never meet, but Naruto Shippūden The Movie The Lost Tower does something different. It’s the fourth film in the Shippūden lineup, released back in 2010, and honestly? It still holds up better than half the filler arcs in the actual show.
You’ve probably seen the posters. Naruto stands back-to-back with a guy who looks suspiciously like him, except with red hair and a much cooler cloak. That’s Minato Namikaze. The Fourth Hokage. Naruto’s dad. For fans who were watching this in the late 2000s, this was a massive deal because, at that point in the manga and anime, we were just starting to peel back the layers of who Minato really was. This movie gave us a taste of that father-son dynamic before the Great Ninja War did it for real.
The plot kicks off when Naruto, Sakura, and Sai are sent on a mission to the ruins of Rōran. It’s an ancient city in the middle of the desert. They’re chasing a missing-nin named Mukade, who wants to tap into the "Ryūmyaku"—an ancient underground energy source. Basically, it’s a giant ley line of infinite chakra. Mukade absorbs the seal, a huge light show happens, and Naruto gets sucked back twenty-odd years into the past.
The Vibe of Rōran and Why it Works
Rōran isn't your typical hidden village. It’s basically "Steampunk: The City." Imagine thousands of stone towers reaching into the clouds, connected by endless bridges and gears. It’s vertical. It’s dizzying. It’s nothing like the Konoha we know. Masahiko Murata, the director, really leaned into the scale here. When Naruto first wakes up in the past, he’s lost in this labyrinth of pipes and shadows.
He meets Princess Sara, the current ruler of Rōran. She’s being manipulated by an advisor named Anrokuzan, who—surprise, surprise—is actually Mukade from the future. Mukade has used his knowledge of the future to build a puppet army powered by the Ryūmyaku. It’s a classic "stranger in a strange land" setup, but it works because the stakes feel personal. Naruto sees a city being hollowed out by a dictator, and he can’t just sit by.
Then, the heavy hitters show up. A team of Konoha shinobi from the past is also there on a top-secret mission. This team includes a young Shibi Aburame (Shino's dad), a young Chōza Akimichi (Chōji's dad), and the man himself: Minato Namikaze.
Minato Namikaze is the Real Star
Let’s be real. We didn't buy the tickets or the DVD to see Princess Sara. We came to see the Yellow Flash.
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Minato in this movie is peak Minato. He’s calm. He’s tactical. He’s scary fast. Seeing him interact with Naruto is a bittersweet experience because Naruto doesn't officially know this is his father yet. There’s this lingering tension throughout the film. You can see Minato looking at Naruto—noticing the whiskered cheeks, the blonde hair, the gutsy attitude—and you can tell he’s putting the pieces together. He’s a genius, after all. He knows how time travel works in this universe. He knows if he talks too much, he’ll break the future.
There’s a specific scene where they’re resting, and Naruto is just staring at him. It’s quiet. No explosions. Just two people who share a bond they can’t talk about. That’s the heart of Naruto Shippūden The Movie The Lost Tower. It fills a void that the main series often skipped over in favor of massive battles. It gives us the "what if" scenario we all craved.
The action choreography is top-tier for a 2010 production. Studio Pierrot clearly put the "A-team" on this one. The puppet soldiers Mukade uses allow for some really fluid, high-speed combat that doesn't rely solely on big energy beams. Minato using the Flying Thunder God technique (Hiraishin) is a masterclass in animation. He doesn't just "teleport"; he moves with a momentum that feels heavy and purposeful.
The Super Rasengan: A Moment for the History Books
The climax of the movie involves a massive, multi-stage boss fight against Mukade, who has basically turned himself into a giant, multi-legged puppet monster. It’s a bit of a CGI mess in some shots—let's be honest, 2010-era 3D hasn't aged perfectly—but the emotional payoff is there.
Naruto runs out of chakra. He’s done. But Minato steps in.
He tells Naruto that their chakras are similar. He tells him to hold out his hand. What follows is the "Supreme Ultimate Rasengan" (Taikyoku Rasengan). It’s a combination of Naruto’s wind-style chakra and Minato’s own energy. The visual of these two generations spinning a single sphere of destruction is one of the most iconic images in the entire franchise. It’s the visual representation of a legacy being passed down.
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When the dust settles, Minato has to seal the Ryūmyaku to prevent more time-travel shenanigans. This means Naruto has to go back to his own time. Before they part, there’s a moment where Naruto almost asks. He almost says, "Are you my dad?" Minato cuts him off with a smile. He tells him that if he ever has a son, he hopes he’s just like Naruto.
It’s a gut-punch. If you didn't get a little misty-eyed there, you might be a robot.
What People Get Wrong About the Canon
A lot of folks dismiss the Naruto movies because they "aren't canon." While it’s true that the events of Naruto Shippūden The Movie The Lost Tower aren't mentioned in the manga, they don't actually contradict anything. The movie ends with Minato wiping everyone’s memories of the event to protect the timeline. It’s a convenient writing trope, sure, but it allows the movie to exist in this "maybe-it-happened" bubble.
Think about it. In the main series, Minato always seemed to have a weirdly high level of faith in Naruto when they met during the Pain arc. Some fans head-canon that this movie is why. Even if his conscious memory was wiped, maybe some subconscious part of him remembered the kid with the orange jumpsuit and the "never give up" attitude.
The movie also gives us a rare look at a young Kakashi Hatake. He’s a kid here, a bit of a brat, and he’s part of Minato’s support team. It’s a small role, but it adds flavor. It shows the lineage of Team 7 in a way that feels organic.
Is it Worth Watching in 2026?
Actually, yes. Especially if you're a fan of the Boruto era. Seeing how time travel was handled here compared to the "Time Slip" arc in Boruto is fascinating. The Lost Tower feels more grounded in the lore of the world. It uses the Ryūmyaku—a concept that fits perfectly within the world of chakra—rather than some random turtle god.
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The music deserves a shoutout too. Yasuharu Takanashi, the goat of anime OSTs, delivers a score that mixes traditional Japanese instruments with these haunting, ethereal vocals that fit the "lost city" vibe. The ending theme, "if" by Kana Nishino, is a certified banger that perfectly captures the melancholy of the ending.
Why you should give it another look:
- The Minato Factor: It's the best look we get at Minato in his prime outside of the war arc.
- Animation Quality: The 2D work is crisp, especially during the Hiraishin sequences.
- The Setting: Rōran is one of the most unique locations ever designed for Naruto.
- Emotional Weight: It handles the father-son dynamic with surprising grace for a "filler" movie.
If you’re doing a rewatch of the series, slot this in right after the "Invasion of Pain" arc. It fits the emotional state Naruto is in during that time—searching for connection and trying to understand the legacy he’s inherited.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to get the most out of your rewatch or first-time viewing, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Short Film First: Most releases of the movie come with a short called Naruto and the Three Wishes. It’s a goofy, low-stakes comedy about a genie, but it’s a great pallet cleanser before the heavier themes of the main movie.
- Compare the Rasengans: Pay attention to the color and swirl of the Taikyoku Rasengan. It’s a unique design that hasn't really been used since, and it’s a cool piece of visual lore.
- Check the Timeline: Try to spot the exact moment Minato realizes who Naruto is. Look at his eyes when Naruto mentions the "Old Man Hokage."
- Look for the Easter Eggs: There are several cameos in the background of the Konoha scenes (both past and present) that hint at the wider world of the series.
Ultimately, Naruto Shippūden The Movie The Lost Tower isn't just an action flick. It’s a love letter to the fans who wanted to see Naruto finally get a moment with the family he lost before he even knew them. It’s flawed, the villain is a bit generic, and the memory-wipe ending is a bit of a cop-out, but the heart of the film is undeniable. It’s a reminder that even across time and space, the "Will of Fire" remains a constant.
Go find a copy, grab some ramen, and enjoy one of the better moments of the Shippūden era. You won't regret it.