The original Naruto manga first came out on September 21, 1999, in Weekly Shōnen Jump in Japan. The Naruto anime first aired later, on October 3, 2002, on Japanese TV.

Since you asked “when did Naruto come out,” here are both key dates:

  • Manga debut: September 21, 1999.
  • Anime debut: October 3, 2002.

So if you’re thinking of the original release, most fans treat 1999 as Naruto’s real “birthday,” with 2002 as the start of its anime era.

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