'Naruto Shippuden' episodes 490, 491 spoilers: Shikamaru and crew to meet new obstacles at Gengo's castle

Now that Shikamaru's crew has successfully made it past the heavily guarded gates to Tobari, the capital city of the Land of Silence, what other challenges await the Hidden Leaf shinobi and his Anbu companions in the next episode of "Naruto Shippuden?"

A very telling scene at the beginning of the previous episode gave viewers of the long-running Japanese anime a glimpse of what could've happened to Sai, who seems to have fallen victim to the persuasions of the man named Gengo. Has Shikamaru's friend completely sided with the ideals of the man he has come to the Land of Silence to kill? Will Gengo's exceptional powers of persuasion affect Shikamaru and his companions, in the same manner, it did the missing shinobis since the war?

In the novel from which the current act is based, these missing shinobis now call themselves the Enlightened Ones, or those who have pledged both loyalty and service to Gengo's vision of revolutionizing the shinobi world. As to how he plans to do so will eventually be revealed down the line as Shikamaru, Soku, and Ro go closer to his heavily fortified castle.

In the trailer for the next episode, titled "Shikamaru's Story, A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness, Part 3: Recklessness," Shikamaru's crew seems to be seeing some pretty slow progress in their mission, since Gengo turns out to be just as cautious as Shikamaru is, and he is hardly ever out of his castle. There is also no information on Sai's well-being or his current whereabouts, but a brief scene shows him seemingly tied up and unconscious somewhere in Gengo's castle. Does this mean Gengo has not succeeded in turning him against his own village after all? But what about the letter he supposedly sent to Kakashi that seemed to suggest he did?

Infiltrating the castle poses a new challenge for Shikamaru, Soku, and Ro, who have just successfully gained each other's trust, and can, therefore, better work together in exposing Gengo for the man that he truly is.

Shikamaru's arc is expected to run for three more episodes before it gives way to the following arc that will reportedly feature Naruto and Hinata's wedding day.

"Naruto Shippuden" episode 491 airs on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m. JST on TV Tokyo.