Naruto Uzumaki embarks on a quest to apprehend Mukade, a rogue ninja who is hiding in the ancient ruins of "Ouran". The objective of Mukade's mission is to harness the power of a dormant leyline that lies within the ruins. He succeeds in activating the leyline and transports Naruto back in time, 20 years before the series began. Upon his awakening, Naruto encounters the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 4 - The Lost Tower is set approximately in between episodes 152-156 of the Naruto: Shippuuden anime series at the beginning of the "Pain's Assault" arc.Along with the film, an exclusive animated short feature named Naruto Soyokazeden Movie: Naruto to Mashin to Mitsu no Onegai Dattebayo!! was shown as well. To celebrate the movie's release on July 31, 2010, a one-hour episode titled "Naruto Shippuuden Big Adventure! The Quest for the Fourth Hokage's Legacy" was broadcasted on July 29, 2010. The DVD version was issued on April 27, 2011. The film was released in North America on September 17, 2013 by Viz Media.According to a Pia Corporation survey, Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 4 - The Lost Tower had been well received not only by children but also by women in their teens and 20s. The movie has an animanga adaptation as well, released exclusively in Japan on August 4, 2011.