Naruto: Shippuden season 7
Season seven follows Naruto and Utakata against the Forbidden Jutsu.
The seventh season of *Naruto: Shippuden* was directed by Hayato Date and produced by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo. It aired on TV Tokyo in Japan from January 21 to March 11, 2010. The story arc focuses on Naruto Uzumaki and Utakata as they work to destroy the Forbidden Jutsu and rescue Hotaru. On DVD, this season is titled *The Six-Tailed Demon Slug* (六尾発動, Rokubi Hatsudō). Aniplex released two DVD volumes on August 4 and September 1, 2010. The English dub premiered on Neon Alley from February 4 to 16, 2013, and later made its English television debut on Adult Swim's Toonami block, airing from February 5 to March 26, 2017. Two musical themes are featured: the opening theme "Sign" by Flow and the ending theme "For You" by Azu.
Quick Facts
- Num Episodes
- 8
- Network
- TV Tokyo
- First Aired
- 2010-01-21
- Last Aired
- 2010-03-11
- Episode List
- List of Naruto: Shippuden episodes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The seventh season of Naruto: Shippuden is directed by Hayato Date and produced by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo. It aired in Japan from January 21 to March 11, 2010, on TV Tokyo. The season is referred to by its DVDs as the chapter of The Six-Tailed Demon Slug (六尾発動, Rokubi Hatsudō). Two DVD volumes were released by Aniplex on August 4 and September 1, 2010.
Reader's Guide
The seventh season of Naruto: Shippuden is significant as it adapts a story arc focusing on the Six-Tailed Demon Slug and the character Utakata. The season's English dubbed version first aired on Neon Alley from February 4 to 16, 2013, and later made its English television debut on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block from February 5 to March 26, 2017. Its musical themes include the opening 'Sign' by Flow and the ending 'For You' by Azu. The season's DVD release under the title 'The Six-Tailed Demon Slug' highlights its central narrative. This season contributes to the broader Naruto series by expanding on the lore of the tailed beasts and their jinchuriki, though its specific legacy is tied to the Utakata arc and the production team of Hayato Date, Studio Pierrot, and TV Tokyo.
Narrative Premise & Creative Direction
The first season of Naruto: Shippuden picks up the story a full two and a half years after the original Naruto anime concluded its run. By this point, Naruto Uzumaki and his teammates have grown into teenagers, and the central plot revolves around their mission to rescue Gaara—who now holds the title of Fifth Kazekage—from the criminal organization known as Akatsuki. The season adapts Part II of Masashi Kishimoto's manga series and was brought to the screen under the direction of Hayato Date, with production handled by the animation studio Pierrot in partnership with TV Tokyo. The season premiered on TV Tokyo in February 2007 and continued airing through October of that same year, establishing the tone and stakes for the entire Shippuden arc.
International Broadcast Journey
The season's journey to Western audiences spanned several years and multiple networks. In North America, the first season found its initial home on Disney XD, where it premiered on October 28, 2009, and ran through April 21, 2010. Years later, the series found a second life on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block, airing from January 5 to August 10, 2014—a notably later window that introduced the show to a different generation of viewers. In the United Kingdom, the broadcast and release schedule followed its own pace, with Manga Entertainment handling the DVD distribution. The staggered timing between Japan's 2007 debut and the Western broadcasts highlights how anime distribution logistics shaped when and where fans could first experience the Shippuden story.
Home Media & Regional Packaging
The DVD releases for this season reveal a complex web of regional packaging strategies. In Japan, the eight-disc set rolled out between August 1, 2007, and March 5, 2008, marketed under the title Kazekage Rescue (Kazekage Dakkan). The seventh compilation disc included a special feature based on the series' second ending, titled Hurricane! "Konoha Academy" Chronicles. In North America, the eight-volume DVD run stretched from September 29, 2009, to April 6, 2010, with the final volume also containing episodes from the second season. Viz Media later collected the material into three DVD boxes released between January 26 and August 3, 2010, again sharing the third volume with season two. In the UK, Manga Entertainment issued three volumes from June 14 to October 4, 2010, followed by a comprehensive 52-episode box set on March 7, 2011.
Musical Identity & Film Crossover
The season's sonic identity was built around five distinct musical themes—two openings and three endings—that shifted as the story progressed. The first opening, "Hero's Come Back!!" by Nobodyknows+, carried episodes one through twenty-nine before giving way to "Distance" by Long Shot Party for the remainder. On the ending side, "Nagareboshi (Shooting Star)" by Home Made Kazoku served the first seventeen episodes, followed by "Michi (To You All)" by Alüto for episodes eighteen through twenty-nine, and finally "Kimi Monogatari" by Little by Little for the closing stretch. Adding to the musical landscape, the first Naruto Shippuden film hit theaters on August 4, 2007, and broadcast versions of episodes twenty-four through twenty-seven wove scenes from that film into both the opening and ending sequences while retaining the original theme music.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Naruto: Shippuden season 7?
It is the seventh season of the Naruto: Shippuden anime, directed by Hayato Date and produced by Studio Pierrot for TV Tokyo. On home video it is released under the title *The Six-Tailed Demon Slug* and covers the arc in which Naruto and Utakata confront the Forbidden Jutsu.
What is the main plot of Naruto: Shippuden season 7?
The storyline follows Naruto Uzumaki and Utakata as they join forces to destroy the Forbidden Jutsu and rescue Hotaru. It is a short, tightly focused arc that highlights Naruto's resolve to shield the innocent from a powerful enemy threat.
When did Naruto: Shippuden season 7 air and when was it released on DVD?
The season aired on TV Tokyo in Japan from January 21 to March 11, 2010, and Aniplex put out two DVD volumes on August 4 and September 1, 2010. The English dub premiered on Neon Alley in February 2013 and later received a television debut on Adult Swim's Toonami block in early 2017.
What is the opening theme for Naruto: Shippuden season 7?
The season's opening track is "Sign," performed by the Japanese rock band Flow.
Why is Naruto: Shippuden season 7 important to the broader Shippuden story?
It introduces the Forbidden Jutsu and the Six-Tailed Demon Slug, elements that resurface as major threats in later arcs. The season also cements the bond between Naruto and Utakata and reinforces Naruto's core motivation of protecting those who cannot defend themselves.
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