"Naruto Shippuden" is about to reach its conclusion with the episode 476 bringing fans closer to the inevitable end of the mega-popular long-running anime.
The next episode, titled "The Final Battle," will continue the battle that Naruto and Sasuke started in the previous episode, as the latter declared his desire to eliminate his rival once and for all.
In the manga, the warriors fight to the death, and the battle certainly had fans on tenterhooks. Studio Pierrot is going big on "Naruto Shippuden" episode 476, as this episode will be an hour long.
The trailer for the installment, which showed Sasuke cutting his past starting with Naruto, who vowed not to let him, suggests that it will be in black and white, implying that the studio is spicing things up a bit as the anime nears its end.
However, it is believed that it wants the animation for "Naruto Shippuden" episode 476 to be a surprise. After all, this is a definitive moment in the manga.
It also serves as the closing story for "Naruto Shippuden," so black and white animation had some fans worried about the output while others seem to see it as Studio Pierrot's attempt of an effect that the manga was brought to life.
According to Saiyan Island, episode 476 "Naruto Shippuden" is expected to depict chapters 694 to 698 of the "Naruto" manga. The previous episode covered chapters 692 to 693.
As fans already know, the source material by Masashi Kishimoto ended after 700 chapters. When "Naruto Shippuden" jumps into episode 479, it will already be a depiction of chapter 699.
There's no word on what episode 480 will cover, but Saiyan Island says that the anime will, at some point, show the life of the characters after chapter 699 of the manga, which comes in the form of official "Naruto" novels.
The site says that the anime will particularly focus on the stories centered on Shikamaru, the Hidden Leaf Village, and Sasuke. These tales take place some time after Naruto and Sasuke's fight.
The one on Shikamaru is set two years after the fight while the Hidden Leaf Village book happens months after the event. The Sasuke-themed book follows the warrior as he seeks retribution following the battle.
Fans will have to wait two weeks to watch "Naruto Shippuden" episode 476 as it will be aired on Sept. 29.
