Introduction
If you were a Naruto fan growing up in the 2000s, chances are your shelves or drawers had at least one Naruto game tucked inside. For me, it was Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 on the Nintendo DS. I still remember unwrapping it, sliding the tiny cartridge into my DS Lite, and immediately being pulled into the world of Hidden Leaf ninjas. It wasn’t the most advanced title compared to console juggernauts like Ultimate Ninja Storm, but it had something those didn’t: portability and a style that felt like flipping through a manga while playing it at the same time.
Released during the height of the Shippuden anime’s rise, Ninja Council 4 gave handheld gamers a chance to live through Naruto’s journey in a side-scrolling, action-packed adventure. Sure, it was a little rough around the edges (some folks even called it repetitive), but it carved out its own space in the Naruto game universe. And in 2025, fans still look back on it with nostalgia.
So let’s take a deep dive—what made this game unique, where it fits in the bigger Naruto timeline, how it plays, and whether it’s worth revisiting today.
The World of Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4
When you talk about Ninja Council 4, you have to start with the Nintendo DS itself. The DS was more than a console—it was a cultural phenomenon. For anime fans, it became a home for dozens of adaptations, from Dragon Ball Z to Bleach. Naruto naturally had to join the lineup, and that’s where the Ninja Council series came in.
Unlike the flashy 3D console fighters, Ninja Council 4 embraced the action-adventure platformer genre. It had side-scrolling gameplay where you’d jump, dash, and fight your way through enemies while collecting scrolls and powering up jutsu. It wasn’t about cinematic cutscenes—it was about fast, arcade-style action.
The game adapted the early Naruto Shippuden storyline, pulling players right back into Konohagakure (the Hidden Leaf Village) after Naruto’s return. Missions often mirrored arcs from the anime, letting you battle members of the Akatsuki and other iconic villains. For fans who had just started watching the Shippuden anime, this was one of the first times they could actually “play” those moments instead of just watching them unfold on screen.
In that sense, Ninja Council 4 wasn’t just a game. It was a portable Shonen Jump manga panel brought to life.
Expanding the Naruto Universe with Ninja Council
The Ninja Council series had already built a fanbase by the time the fourth entry dropped. The first games appeared on the Game Boy Advance, then migrated to the DS, improving little by little. Ninja Council 4 was significant because it was one of the first in the series to fully embrace the Shippuden era, bringing in older versions of Naruto, Sakura, and of course, Sasuke.
The DS was the perfect place for handheld ninja games like this. Its wireless multiplayer allowed for ninja battles with friends, which was a major selling point at the time. I remember playing with my cousin—he always picked Sasuke, I always stuck with Naruto, and our little Wi-Fi duels would last for hours.
What separated Ninja Council from other classic Naruto fighting games was its mix of platforming and combat. Instead of just picking a fighter and clashing in an arena, you’d progress through stages, face off against mobs of enemies, and then square up against a boss. This made it feel more like a journey rather than a one-off fight.
In short, the Ninja Council series gave handheld gamers something unique: a blend of fighting game intensity and platformer adventure.
Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 – Game Requirements
| Category | Minimum Requirements (Nintendo DS / Emulator) | Recommended Requirements (Emulator for Smooth Play) |
| Platform | Nintendo DS | PC / Laptop / Android Emulator |
| Operating System | N/A (DS Cartridge) | Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux, Android 9.0+ |
| Processor (CPU) | N/A | Dual-core 2.0 GHz or higher |
| Memory (RAM) | N/A | 4 GB RAM or higher |
| Graphics (GPU) | N/A | Integrated GPU (Intel HD 4000 or higher) / any basic GPU |
| Storage Space | DS Cartridge (64 MB approx.) | 500 MB free space |
| Controls | DS Buttons + Touchscreen | Keyboard / Gamepad + Mouse (for touchscreen emulation) |
| Multiplayer Support | DS Wireless Play (Local only) | Emulator Netplay (Optional) |
How Fans Search & Talk About It
Even today, people Google questions about Ninja Council 4, which shows how much interest still lingers around the title. Some of the most common queries include:
- “Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 release date” – It originally launched in North America in June 2009.
- “Best characters in the game” – Fans debate this, but Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi often top the list for their jutsu variety.
- “Walkthrough & gameplay tips” – Since missions could get repetitive or tricky, guides were popular back then and still pop up today.
- “Ninja Council 4 vs other Naruto games” – Some players compare it to the Ultimate Ninja or Clash of Ninja series, often noting its handheld limitations but unique charm.
- “Is it worth playing in 2025?” – For collectors and hardcore Naruto fans, the answer is usually yes, but newcomers may find it outdated.
It’s fascinating that even after more than a decade, people still ask these questions. To me, that’s proof of the game’s cultural footprint.
Ninja Vocabulary – The Language of the Game
One of the fun aspects of Ninja Council 4 is the terminology you naturally pick up while playing.
- Shinobi & Jutsu: Every playable ninja has signature techniques—narutosenkiapk.net Rasengan, Sasuke’s Chidori, Sakura’s strength-based attacks. Chakra management is key to using these.
- Kunai & Shuriken: Your bread-and-butter projectiles. They don’t deal massive damage, but they’re perfect for long-range pokes.
- Scrolls: Power-ups scattered across stages that replenish chakra, restore health, or unlock special abilities.
- Boss battles: Each major arc ends with a face-off against a villain like Deidara or Orochimaru. These fights are tougher and force you to master your jutsu timing.
- Unlockables & secrets: While the game wasn’t packed with hidden content, there were still alternate costumes and abilities to uncover.
This vocabulary not only gives the game flavor but also ties it more closely to the anime’s identity.
The Playable Cast & Villains
For me, one of the highlights of Ninja Council 4 was its character roster. While not as massive as the Ultimate Ninja Storm series, it had enough variety to keep things fresh.
- Naruto Uzumaki: Naturally the star, with a balanced set of moves and his signature Rasengan.
- Sasuke Uchiha: A fan favorite, with lightning-fast Chidori attacks and a cooler, edgier design in his Shippuden form.
- Sakura Haruno: Often overlooked, but her strength-based combos packed a punch.
- Kakashi Hatake: The teacher we all wished we had—his jutsu versatility made him a strong pick.
- Gaara of the Sand: Bringing sand-based jutsu into the DS screen was both impressive and fun.
And of course, the villains made the story mode exciting. Facing the Akatsuki or Orochimaru felt epic, even if the DS hardware limited animations.
Broader Genre Connections
If you zoom out, Ninja Council 4 is part of multiple gaming categories. It’s an action-adventure game, a platformer, and an anime adaptation rolled into one.
Compared to big RPGs, it had lighter progression. Compared to pure fighters, it had more exploration. That’s why I’d call it a hybrid game—one that blended genres instead of fully committing to one.
This made it stand out in the anime-based games landscape. While other titles tried to mimic console experiences, Ninja Council embraced its handheld identity.
Belonging to a Bigger World
Of course, Ninja Council 4 isn’t just a standalone curiosity—it belongs to a much larger whole.
It’s part of the Naruto franchise gaming legacy, which spans dozens of titles across nearly every platform. It sits within the Shonen Jump universe, alongside other anime games like Bleach: The Blade of Fate. And it’s a product of the 2000s anime game boom, when publishers like Bandai Namco were churning out adaptation after adaptation.
For fans, playing Ninja Council 4 wasn’t just about beating the game. It was about being part of that larger culture, collecting cartridges, and swapping stories with friends. Today, the game is remembered as part of that nostalgic wave.
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How to Play Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 (Guide)
If you’re looking to actually play this game in 2025—whether on original hardware or emulation—here’s a breakdown:
Starting Out – Controls & Basics
The DS’s D-pad controls movement, while the face buttons handle attacks. The touch screen is used for quick jutsu activations. It takes some practice, but once you get used to it, it feels intuitive.
Leveling Up Ninja Skills
While it’s not a full RPG, you’ll unlock stronger abilities as you progress. Scrolls also act like temporary buffs, so keep an eye out for them.
Team-Based Missions
Some missions let you switch between characters, which adds strategy. Using the right ninja at the right time (like swapping to Sakura for heavy attacks) is key.
Unlocking Characters & Hidden Features
Completing missions unlocks new characters and costumes. It’s not a massive roster, but it rewards replay.
Multiplayer Battles
Using DS wireless, you can battle friends. It’s simple but fun—honestly, half the joy was just proving you could spam Rasengan faster than your buddy could counter it.
Questions & Answers
Is Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 canon to the anime?
Not exactly. It follows story beats, but it’s a condensed version, so some details differ.
How many characters are playable?
The roster isn’t huge—around a dozen characters, but it covers the core Shippuden heroes and villains.
Can you play it today on modern devices?
Yes, with emulators, though collectors may prefer tracking down the DS cartridge.
How does it compare to Ultimate Ninja Storm?
Storm is a cinematic 3D fighter, while Ninja Council 4 is a 2D side-scroller. They’re very different experiences.
Why is it still popular among DS collectors?
Because it represents a piece of Naruto’s gaming history and the DS era of anime games.
Conclusion – The Lasting Impact
Looking back, Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 isn’t the most polished or groundbreaking Naruto game ever made. But it’s one of the most charming. It gave handheld fans a way to experience the Shippuden arc, experiment with ninja battles on the go, and connect with friends through multiplayer.In a way, it captures the essence of Naruto itself—teamwork, perseverance, and a little bit of fun chaos along the way. And while newer generations may flock to flashy titles like Storm 4, those of us who grew up with a DS in hand will always remember the thrill of playing Ninja Council 4 under the covers at night, hoping our parents didn’t notice the glowing screen.
