With the impending December holidays, "Naruto Shippuden" is set to take a quick break after episode 487. The anime will return in early January to close off Sasuke's arc before starting Shikamaru's story.
Avid fans of "Naruto Shippuden" will only have two episodes to watch in the remaining weeks of December. After airing episodes 486 and 487, the anime will take a short hiatus and will resume broadcast in January, according to Saiyan Island.
"Naruto Shippuden" episode 487 will feature Sasuke's continued journey as he tries to find a way to protect his loved ones and the people around him. Titled "Sasuke's Story: Sunrise, Part 4: Kerryugan," it is scheduled to air on Dec. 22 and will mark the final episode to be released in 2016.
A "Naruto Shippuden" episode will not be aired on the last week of December. However, the final chapter to Sasuke's arc, titled "Sasuke's Story: Sunrise, Part 5: The Last Man," will be released on Jan. 5, 2017.
Meanwhile, "Naruto Shippuden" will shift to another character's story after Sasuke's arc. Episode 489 will unveil the adventures of Shikamaru. Based on the Japanese book "Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness," the said story arc is set two years after the Great Ninja War.
Identified as one of Konoha's protectors, Shikamaru will go on a quest to discover why several ninja warriors have gone missing. His journey will take him to the Land of Silence where he is set to do battle with mysterious villains.
At this time, it is still unclear if Shikamaru's arc will span five "Naruto Shippuden" episodes, similar to Sasuke's story. However, viewers can expect to see the beginning of Shikamaru's story on Jan. 12, 2017.
In other news, "Naruto Shippuden" episode 486 will feature a tense encounter between Sasuke and a Genjutsu user. The battle will put him closer to the discovery of the person behind the Detonating Men.
"Naruto Shippuden" episode 486 will air on Dec. 15, Thursday. Watch the teaser clip for the episode below:
