Watch 'Naruto Shippuden' episode 455 online: Itachi becomes Anbu squad leader; will he get separate anime?

"Naruto Shippuden" will return with episode 455 Thursday, April 7, and the Itachi filler with continue with "Moonlit Night." The upcoming episode will see the Uhicha ninja moving up the Anbu (Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai, literally translates to Special Assassination and Tactical Squad) leadership ladder.

The promo for the upcoming episode shows that "Moonlight Night" will focus on the teenage Itachi who has been made the leader of an Anbu squad. He will no longer be required to report to his previous leaders. However, things will go haywire with the episode, when he is tasked with executing an assassination.

Fans who are exasperated with filler arcs of "Naruto Shippuden" have found solace in the Itachi fillers, because he is one of the most popular characters on the anime. However, this filler also bring with it bad news, which is that Itachi will not get an anime on his own.

Manga fans know that the Itachi storyline is based on the Takashi Yano stories that are published under the name, "Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light." This would make the Itachi filler episodes more of a pseudo canon.

Also Read: Sam and Dean talk to God in "Supernatural" 

Fans have wondered for a long time if Itachi would get his own anime series by Studio Pierrot. These pseudo cannons suggest it wouldn't. In fact, here are some responses fans of "Naruto Shippuden" and specifically Itachi shared on Saiyan Island:

Rahul Menon: "Sadly. I was hoping for it's own separate anime but Studio Perriot loves torturing weekly Naruto viewers.[sic]"

M van Dnkereschrijver: "the Itachi series is pseudo cannon, and seeing as the next gen manga series is starting this spring, I would be surprised if a new anime starts after this one ends [sic]"

Although Itachi anime may be a long stretch, nothing is impossible. Meanwhile, watch Season 20 episode 455 of "Naruto Shippuden" at  7:30 p.m. (JST) Thursday, March 17. It can be live-streamed via Crunchyroll, JPplayer and NarutoSpot. You can watch the promo for "Moonlit Night" shared by Pixel Planet via Youtube.