'Naruto Shippuden' episode 490 spoilers: Shikamaru travels to the Land of Silence to take out Gengo and find Sai

It's safe to say that Shikamaru has always been one of the most interesting characters in "Naruto" and "Naruto Shippuden." He might not be the main character of the series, but he still finds ways to shine. Remember the Hidan and Kakuzu arc? That really highlighted Shikamaru's skills and strategic expertise. Now, it's about time for another Shikamaru story arc.

As seen in the previous episode, the current story arc will put the spotlight on the shinobi from the Nara clan. Episode 489 was more like an introduction to the arc, but things are about to get interesting in "Naruto Shippuden" episode 490.

Titled "Shikamaru Hiden: Dark Clouds," the upcoming episode will show Shikamaru, Ro and Soku infiltrating the Land of Silence to find Sai and his team. While they are there, they will also have to careful of the threat posed by Gengo, the country's leader.

Shikamaru's supposed to go there to assassinate Gengo, and he has an inkling that the leader is a dangerous man thanks to Sai's hastily written message. However, he still does not know what the man is capable of, so he and his team will have to tread lightly if they want to get out of there alive.

The current story arc is actually based on a light novel titled "Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness." Takashi Yano wrote the novel and "Naruto" creator Masashi Kishimoto illustrated it. Fans want to know more about the upcoming episodes can check it out.

"Naruto Shippuden" episode 490 is set to air on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. JST on TV Tokyo.

Meanwhile, a new story arc will start on episode 494, and it will allegedly focus on Naruto and Hinata's wedding. Well, looks like fans will finally see the two exchange their vows. For now, the episode is tentatively titled "Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding."