Published Jan 28, 2026, 6:16 PM EST
Evan Mullicane is the senior editor and founder of Screen Rant's anime section. Having started as a writer for the Comics Team at the beginning of the Pandemic, Evan was swiftly promoted from writer to editor, and then from editor to lead of Screen Rant's newly established anime vertical.
Throughout his time with Screen Rant, Evan has made a handful of appearances at conventions such as Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con, and has interviewed some of the biggest names in Anime and Comics history.
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Even though the Naruto anime has been over for close to a decade now, a new anime short has offered a bit of redemption for one of the series' most iconic villains. Madara Uchiha might be long dead, but he may finally get the chance at redemption thanks to one of Naruto's mobile games.
On January 22nd, the Naruto Mobile game released a trailer depicting Madara as Lü Bu. Lü Bu is, of course, one of the most recognizable characters/historical figures from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms universe of stories made famous by franchises like Dynasty Warriors.
In the trailer, Madara is dressed in an impressively ornate set of armor and wields a spear that shoots a massive beam of light. It's an impressive trailer that seriously portrays Madara's impressive power.
Lu Bu Madara Offers the Uchiha Legend Hope For Redemption
Madara as Lü Bu is honestly a perfect creative choice. Both are warriors known for their ruthless nature, their legendary strength, and their ability to single-handedly take on hordes of enemies with little effort.
Of course, Madara's battle against the ninja alliance remains one of Naruto's best fights, meaning the Uchiha patriarch more than earns his place alongside Lü Bu.
Unfortunately for Madara, despite his intense power, a last-minute betrayal at the hands of Zetsu robbed him of the glory he sought. All signs point to Naruto Mobile giving Madara the redemption he deserves by letting him do what he does best: slaughter endless waves of shinobi.
Madara Remains a Fan Favorite Despite Naruto's Infamous Last-Minute Twist
While Naruto's last villain twist may have gone over poorly with many fans, Madara still ranks among the best Naruto villains. While a big part of this is because of his massive story impact, a bigger part is just how strong the character is.
As seen by the Naruto Mobile trailer, it doesn't matter what world or universe Madara lands in; he will always find a way to gain absolutely monstrous strength.
The shinobi's raw power, combined with his unflappable attitude, marks him as undeniably cool, meaning that despite his not having appeared in Naruto canon since his death in Naruto: Shippuden, he still remains an immensely popular character.
By casting Madara Uchiha as Lü Bu, Naruto Mobile is finally giving the character a chance to redeem his unfortunate betrayal. While Naruto Mobile may only give Lü Bu Madara less than half-a-minute, it's more than enough time to prove the iconic Naruto villain's enduring impact.
First Episode Air Date October 3, 2002
Cast Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei
English (US) ·