NARUTO: Rai no Sho - Ai wo Itareta Kemono!!

Naruto: Rai no Sho—Ai wo Itareta Kemono!! was released in 2002 as a special promotional guidebook included with the Naruto anime's first theatrical film. Serving as a companion piece to the core Naruto canon, the volume was authored by Masashi Kishimoto to provide fans with supplementary lore and character sketches that were not present in the primary serialized manga. It captures the momentum of the series during its early rise in popularity, functioning as an accessible entry point for readers to deepen their understanding of the ninja world.

The design and content of the volume reflect Kishimoto's signature illustrative style, focusing on character profiles, conceptual drafts, and insights into the creative process behind the series' inception. Intended as a limited-edition collectible for attendees of the theatrical screenings in Japan, the work received positive attention from the fanbase for offering a behind-the-scenes look at the character designs. It remains a significant artifact for collectors, illustrating the period when the franchise began expanding from a print series into a widespread multimedia cultural phenomenon.