In Naruto Shippuden Legends: Akatsuki Rising, players take on the role of Naruto Uzumaki and his friends as they battle against the Akatsuki organization, a group of rogue ninjas seeking to capture and extract the Nine-Tails beast from Naruto. The game features a mix of fighting, platforming, and exploration elements, with a story that takes place during the early episodes of the Naruto Shippuden anime series.