Naruto: Shippuden season 4

Lore & Background

The fourth season of Naruto: Shippuden, referred to on its Japanese DVDs as 'Immortal Devastators — Hidan and Kakuzu,' centers on two parallel storylines. Shikamaru Nara leads a team to confront the Akatsuki member Hidan, who killed his mentor Asuma Sarutobi, while Naruto Uzumaki undergoes intensive training with Kakashi Hatake and Yamato to develop his Wind Chakra Nature. The season aired on TV Tokyo from August to December 2008, comprising episodes 72 through 88.

Reader's Guide

This season is significant for advancing key character arcs and introducing the immortal Akatsuki duo Hidan and Kakuzu. Shikamaru's tactical revenge mission highlights themes of loss and growth, while Naruto's training lays the foundation for his later combat abilities. The season's opening themes—'Blue Bird' by Ikimono-gakari (episodes 72–77) and 'Closer' by Joe Inoue (episodes 78–88)—and ending themes—'Broken Youth' by NICO Touches the Walls (episodes 72–77) and 'Long Kiss Good Bye' by Halcali (episodes 78–88)—are notable. The broadcast version of episodes 72 and 73 used 'Blue Bird' with scenes from the film Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds in the opening sequence. The season was released on four DVDs in Japan by Aniplex and in two DVD boxes in English by Viz Media and Manga Entertainment in 2011. Its English dub aired on Disney XD from March 16 to July 23, 2011, and later on Adult Swim's Toonami from June 28 to November 8, 2015.

Did You Know?

• The opening theme 'Blue Bird' by Ikimono-gakari was used for episodes 72 to 77.
• The English dub aired on Disney XD between March 16 and July 20, 2011.

Production & Story Premise

The inaugural season of Naruto: Shippuden was helmed by director Hayato Date and brought to life through a collaboration between animation studio Pierrot and broadcaster TV Tokyo. Drawing from Part II of Masashi Kishimoto's manga, the season picks up the narrative two and a half years after the original Naruto anime concluded. The now-teenage Naruto Uzumaki and his teammates find themselves embroiled in a high-stakes mission: extracting Gaara, who has since ascended to the role of Fifth Kazekage, from the clutches of the notorious criminal syndicate Akatsuki. This time-skip structure allowed the series to mature its characters and raise the narrative stakes considerably. The season ran from February through October 2007 on TV Tokyo, establishing the tone and pacing that would define the Shippuden era for fans worldwide.

Japanese Home Media & Special Features

In Japan, the season was packaged under the title Kazekage Dakkan (Kazekage Rescue) and distributed across eight DVD discs spanning from August 1, 2007, to March 5, 2008. This staggered release meant fans could follow the story in installments over roughly seven months, building anticipation between each volume. One notable bonus appeared on the seventh compilation disc: a special feature titled Hurricane! "Konoha Academy" Chronicles, which was based on the series' second ending theme. This lighthearted alternate-universe piece offered a comedic contrast to the season's otherwise intense rescue storyline. The eight-disc format gave Japanese collectors a complete physical archive of the season's episodes, while the naming convention tied the release directly to the central plot of liberating the Kazekage from Akatsuki's grasp.

International Broadcast & Home Video

The season's journey to Western audiences unfolded over several years across multiple platforms. In North America, Disney XD aired the season from October 28, 2009, through April 21, 2010, while a separate run on Adult Swim's Toonami block stretched from January 5 to August 10, 2014. Home video options varied by region and retailer. North American viewers received eight individual DVD volumes between September 29, 2009, and April 6, 2010, with the final volume also bundling episodes from the second season. Viz Media offered an alternative three-box set from January 26 to August 3, 2010, with its third volume similarly sharing content with season two. In the United Kingdom, Manga Entertainment handled distribution in three volumes released between June 14 and October 4, 2010, followed by a comprehensive 52-episode box set on March 7, 2011.

Musical Identity & Film Crossover

The season established a rotating soundtrack of five distinct musical themes—two openings and three endings—that marked its narrative progression. Nobodyknows+'s "Hero's Come Back!!" carried episodes 1 through 29, before Long Shot Party's "Distance" took over for the remainder. The ending rotation cycled through Home Made Kazoku's "Nagareboshi (Shooting Star)" for episodes 1–17, Alüto's "Michi (To You All)" for episodes 18–29, and Little by Little's "Kimi Monogatari" for the final stretch. Adding to the season's multimedia footprint, the first Naruto Shippuden feature film hit Japanese theaters on August 4, 2007. Episodes 24 through 27 incorporated promotional scenes from that movie into both their opening and ending sequences, though the original musical tracks were preserved rather than replaced.