Seems that the fillers will extend until at least Spring according to a speech given by the Studio Pierrot producer first detailed here. This would be in line with the idea that this whole season will consist of filler, with Kakashi Gaiden at the end. This would mean the season would end around March/April 2006 and then Part Two of the anime would start. This would give the anime more than enough time to get ahead. Especially as the manga is just now finishing an arc.

Chapter 281 has been released today. The teams return to Suna to bury their dead, while things begin to stir in Konoha…

Click For Chapter 281 Spoiler Preview Image:

A farwell thanks

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Update: Added Chapter 281 summary to the Volume 31 manga guide.

Play-Asia looks to be the first site to get the first official cover to Gekitou Ninja Taisen 4 and Narultimate Hero 3.

Hit here for the GNT 4 cover art.
Hit here for the NH 3 cover art.

Episode 156 has aired in Japan. The filler arc continues, TenTen has witnessed Raiga’s rebirth, can anyone stand in his way?… Episode 156 is titled Raiga’s Counterattack.

Click For Episode 156 Spoiler Preview Image:

TenTen defeated…

You can view my comments and discuss this latest episode in our forums! Click here to view the discussion! Caution, there are spoilers present! If you are a new user and have yet to register to post on the forum, click here.

1UP reports that we can expect games for Gamecube and GBA to hit next year. The game known as Gekitou Ninja Taisen will see release as “Clash of the Ninja.”

As to which ones we’ll be getting, the GC fighting game will be the first entry in the Naruto fighting series that’s approaching the number four in Japan. The US title for the game will be Naruto: Clash of Ninja and it’ll be landing in US during 2006 –most likely, the early half. But before the GC game is released, the first of the popular GBA side-scrolling action games will appear in the west under the title of Naruto: Ninja Council. Following the release of these two, Tomy is planning on bringing out two more titles by the end of the year: one being for GC and one being for GBA Hmm…I wonder if they could be the sequels…

The fourth in the Ninja Taisen series will see release later this year in Japan. Recent news from GNT 4 also seems to confirm Kisame, Kabuto and Kimimaro will be playable characters this time around.

Anime News Network has a new press release from Viz announcing the release of the first edited DVD of the Naruto anime. Naruto Volume 1, “Enter Naruto,” is due out on March 28, 2006 with a manufacturers suggested retail price of $19.98. The uncut box sets of 13 episodes will begin release several months later.