Masashi Kishimoto (岸本 斉史, Kishimoto Masashi) is a renowned Japanese manga artist, best known for his creation of the manga series Naruto. This series, which ran from 1999 to 2014, has captivated millions worldwide, selling over 250 million copies across 46 countries as of May 2019. The immense popularity of Naruto led to its adaptation into two anime series, several movies, video games, and a wide range of related media. Kishimoto also took a direct role in supervising the two canonical anime films, The Last: Naruto the Movie and Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and has penned several one-shot stories.

In 2019, Kishimoto embarked on a new project, Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru, which concluded in March 2020. Furthermore, from May 2016 to October 2020, he oversaw the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga, initially penned by Ukyō Kodachi and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto. In November 2020, Kishimoto assumed the role of writer for the series, seamlessly picking up the narrative baton. His journey into manga was propelled by his childhood fascination with the art form, drawing inspiration from iconic mangakas such as Akira Toriyama and Katsuhiro Otomo. Kishimoto's dedication and passion for manga have solidified his status as a pivotal figure in the manga industry.