During the Naruto stage program held at the Jump Festa event on Saturday in Tokyo, it was revealed that the Itachi Shinden (The True Legend of Itachi) spinoff novels will get a TV anime adaptation slated for spring 2016. The series will be titled Naruto: Shippuuden – Itachi Shinden-hen ~Hikari to Yami~ (Naruto: Shippuuden – The True Legend of Itachi ~Light and Darkness~) and will center around the past life of Itachi, the older brother of Sasuke Uchiha.
TV Tokyo also revealed a main visual for the anime featuring the text “In Spring 2016, the Truth arc starts.”
Naruto Shinden is a light novel series which was released from September to November 2015.
The series consists of two instalments. Itachi Shinden deals with Itachi’s childhood as a shinobi of the Uchiha clan, his relationship to Shisui Uchiha and finally the downfall of his clan and how Itachi joined Akatsuki. Sasuke Shinden takes place after Akatsuki Hiden: Evil Flowers in Full Bloom and is about Sasuke’s travels to find out more about Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Itachi Shinden consists of two novels: The first being the Book of Bright Light, which was released on September 4, 2015. The second novel, the Book of Dark Night, which was released on October 2, 2015.
Sasuke Shinden consists of only one novel, the Book of Sunrise which was released on November 4, 2015.
Amazon described the first novel as follows:
Itachi Uchiha, age four. After seeing what occurs on the battlefield up close, he makes a certain decision. He decided that he would change the world. The dream that Itachi aimed for. His dream: A Hokage from the Uchiha clan, and a future where those he loved could live in peace. His time in the ninja academy, his meeting with Shisui, becoming a Genin, Chunin, and finally a member of the Anbu… Itachi ran straight down a path of glory, not knowing that a cruel darkness was spreading…
This is the story of the glory, frustration, and determination of the ninja called a genius.
and the second novel:
Along with his sworn friend Shisui, Itachi undertakes an assassination mission to take out spies in order to join the Anbu. In addition, the rivalry between the Uchiha clan and the village becomes even more furious, and it finally causes the death of a friend. Having lost all hope in his clan and village, along with gaining a new eye and making a certain decision, Itachi walks into the night of tragedy. The kind yet cruel truth of the dream and hope he left to his brother… is revealed here.
Naruto Shinden Series synopsis from MAL:
The story will focus on the brothers who have eyes that see through to the truth and who live on the threshold of hope and despair. Itachi’s past and Sasuke’s future will be made clear.
