Weekly Shonen Jump teases 'Naruto Shippuden' finale

“Naruto Shippuden” might end soon as previously hinted by the newest episode of Weekly Shonen Jump. It appeared to indicate that the former’s finale could be on March 23. The Japanese anime’s last episode might be its 500th and the 720th episode overall in the Naruto anime franchise.

The latest issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine hinted that the finale for the “Konoha Hiden” (Hidden Leaf Story) arc of the television anime series will take place this month. The magazine did not say however if there will be another “Naruto Shippuden” episode after March 23.

The episode for March 23 will centre on Iruka's message to Naruto. Her message serves as her wedding present for the anime’s lead character.

According to the Anime News Network, “Naruto Shippuden” started its arc by adapting three epilogue novels in the franchise. The first part was based on Shin Towasa's novel, “Naruto: Sasuke's Story - Sunrise” while the next one adapted Takashi Yano's novel, “Naruto: Shikamaru's Story.” The last part adapts Shō Hinata's “Naruto - Konoha Hiden: Shūgen Biyori.”

Weekly Shonen Jump is a weekly manga anthology published by Shueisha, under the Jump Comics brand in Japan. It is one of the longest-running magazines in the country, with the first issue dated August 1, 1968. Majority of the manga series’ readers are from the young demographic.

Meanwhile, “Boruto: Next Generations” is scheduled for its debut on April 5. TV Tokyo will be the home of the anime and it seems unlikely that the channel will air both “Naruto Shippuden” and its sequel at the same time. This has fuelled reports that the former is really coming to an end on its 500^th episode. It is possible that the “Naruto Shippuden” series will wrap up this month in order to give way to the sequel.

“Boruto: Next Generations,” the sequel, will focus on Boruto Uzumaki and his friends as they progressively learn about their parents’ reputation. The series is expected to have a lighter tone compared with “Naruto Shippuden.” Masashi Kishimoto, the TV series creator, said that it will be based on a manga written by Ukyo Kodachi and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto. Kodachi is known for light novel adaptations, such as “Boruto: Naruto the Movie.” “Naruto Shippuden” resumed with episode 498 titled “The Last Mission,” on March 9 on TV Tokyo.