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TV Tokyo delayed the release of Naruto Shippuuden episode 18 to 22nd July 2007. After more than a month since the previous episode was released early in June, the much awaited continuation to the popular Naruto anime series was finally released. A week later, we have the fan subbed edition by Dattebayo.

If you haven’t been following the Naruto Shippuuden series, it chronicles the adventures of the Konoha ninjas after the time warp. It’s three years after Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto’s grand battle when Sasuke turned on Konoha to join Orochimaru. For the last three years, Naruto has been receiving training from Jiraiya-Sama (aka Ero-Sennin), one of the legendary Sannin. Similarly, Haruno Sakura apprenticed under Tsunade-Sama, another legendary Sannin and the 5th Hokage of Konoha.

A new threat has emerged in the form of the Akatsuki Organisation. The organisation appeared earlier trying to capture Naruto in order to extract the Kyubi (9 tail demon fox) sealed within him. The Akatsuki’s aims to capture all 9 demon beasts, also known as Bijuus (each Bijuu is identified by the number of tails they have, numbering from 1 to 9). Their goal is to harness the demon’s incredible powers and chakra for their own gains.

In earlier episodes of Shippuuden, we witness the attack on the Hidden Village of the sand where Gaara, the new Kazekage of the Sand, is attacked and captured. Gaara is the Jinchuuriki (or host) for the Shukaku (1 tailed raccoon-dog). Taken to a secret location, they proceed to extract the Shukaku while the Konoha desperately chase after them in a bid to save the Kazekage. The title of Episode 17 summarises everything up to the current episode… Gaara Dies! Episode 18 picks up where the last episode ends.

You can download Naruto Shippuuden Episode 18 - Break in! Button Hook Entry in Real Media format via Direct Download from Naruto Central.

Hopefully, the episodes will be released more frequently from this point onwards. After enduring nearly 80 episodes of fillers in the original Naruto series, it would be a pain if we go into another string of fillers and/or delays. You could say that I’ve almost lost interest in the anime. Much the same way that I’ve lost interest in the Bleach series.

Maybe it’s a good idea not trying to keep up-to-date with the series. Might be better to let the series run for a while and watch a few episodes at a stretch instead of playing the chasing game. What do you think? Are you fan crazy about Naruto and religiously following the releases?