Ninjas are a sneaky lot. Just when you think you've seen the last of 'em, they pop up where you least expect it. Such is the case with Naruto Uzumaki and the rest of the Hidden Leaf Village. In a press release sent out earlier today, TOMY Corporation and D3Publisher of America, Inc. have announced the upcoming release of Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ (working title) for the Wii. Created exclusively for the North American market and planned for a Fall 2007 release, Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ is a head-to-head fighting game with content based on episodes from VIZ Media’s hit anime series. The game will take advantage of the Wii Remote in fast-paced ninja action for up to four players in nine different gameplay modes, and will include characters that have never been featured in the Clash of Ninja games.

"For some time we have wanted to give Naruto fans in North America something they could not find anywhere else, and in Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ we have a game with original, exclusive content that will amaze them," said Mark Shinohara, executive vice president, TOMY Corporation. "For TOMY, 2007 and the release of Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ will mark a significant milestone in not only our relationship with D3PA, but in TOMY’s expansion in the video game industry."

Developed by Eighting, this next generation in Naruto games will include all new character animations, new special attack animations and for the first time new interactive environments. Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ will take advantage of the Wii system by allowing players to launch attacks with the Wii Remote using Ninja-like movements, and features special mini-games created exclusively for use with the Wii Remote.

"Naruto proved to be a significant brand on the Nintendo GameCube in 2006, staying near the top of the sales charts from the release of the first Clash of Ninja in March 2006 to the release of the second Clash of Ninja game in September 2006 and through the holiday season," said Careen Yapp, vice president of licensing and business development, D3PA. "Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ will take advantage of this exciting new entertainment platform and will reach out to a whole new audience for Naruto."