'Naruto Shippuden' News And Rumors: Next Episode Finally Going Back To Canon, Fillers Finally Done? [VIDEO]
Fans of the popular Naruto franchise are arguably the most patient and faithful group of otakus in the world. After all, with the manga ended, fans of the (very) long-running anime series still remain very dedicated to following the franchise's anime adaptation. However, Studio Pierrot, the firm behind Naruto's anime adaptation, has been notoriously insistent to putting as many fillers in the series as possible.
Indeed, the sheer number of fillers placed in the original Naruto anime, as well as its follow-up, Naruto Shippuden, is almost insane. According to fans who have meticulously evaluated the hundreds of episodes that have been released thus far, practically half of the anime could be considered as filler, with the actual story only being featured from time to time.
Naruto Shippuden is currently in its 468th episode, and unsurprisingly, the anime is still exploring a filler arc. Indeed, in 2015 alone, numerous Naruto fans were aghast when the entire year only featured a dozen or so canon episodes. However, if the preview for Episode 469 is anything to go by, it would seem like the anime is finally leaving the filler arcs.
Finally, after waiting long months and dealing with filler after filler, fans of Naruto can look forward to an episode that actually follows the franchise's canonical plot. In the brief, 28-second clip for A Special Mission's preview, protagonists Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were featured prominently, and in their classic attires too. If any, the episode seems to be something at least similar to those that Naruto fans have fallen in love with over the years.
The Naruto manga has long concluded, with the creator of the franchise already endorsing the future of Naruto to his protégé. Currently, the Boruto manga, which takes place after the events of Naruto, is already ongoing, and it is seeing some considerable support from the franchise's massive fanbase.
While there is still no word if the series will fully embrace the canonical progression of the plot once more, Episode 469 would, at least, hopefully, remind fans why they fell in love with Naruto in the first place.
