Closer, performed by Joe Inoue, was the fourth opening for Naruto: Shippūden. It ran from episode 78 up until episode 102. It was then replaced by Hotaru no Hikari.
Lyrics
Rōmaji
Michika ni aru mono
Tsune ni ki wo tsuketeinai to
Amari ni chikasugite
Miushinatte shimaisou
Anata ga saikin taiken shita
Shiawase wa ittai nandesu ka?
Megumaresugite ite
Omoidasenai kamo!
Ima koko ni iru koto
Iki wo shite iru koto
Tada soredake no koto ga
Kiseki dato kidzuku
Michika ni aru mono
Tsune ni ki wo tsuketeinai to
Amari ni chikasugite
Miushinatte shimaisou
You know the closer you get to something
The tougher it is to see it
And I'll never take it for granted
Let's go
Tatoe kari ni sore ga
Gizen de atta to shitemo
Dareka wo sukueta nara
Sorya mushiro nani yori mo riaru
Oitsudzuketekita yume
Akiramezu ni susume yo nante
Kirei koto wo ieru hodo
Nani mo dekichainai kedo
Hitonigiri no yuuki wo mune ni
Ashita wo ikinuku tame ni
And I'll never take it for granted
Let's go
Michika ni aru mono
Tsune ni ki wo tsuketeinai to
Amari ni chikasugite
Miushinatte shimaisou
You know the closer you get to something
The tougher it is to see it
And I'll never take it for granted
Oitsudzuketekita yume
Akiramezu ni susume yo nante
Kirei koto wo ieru hodo
Nani mo dekichainai kedo
Hitonigiri no yuuki wo mune ni
Ashita wo ikinuku tame ni
And I'll never take it for granted
Let's go
English
The things closest to you
You need to always pay the most attention to
If you get too close to something
You'll lose sight of it*
What in the world is the happiness
That you gained from your newest experience?
Maybe you're just too blessed
To remember!
That you're here
That you're breathing
Realize that's
just a miracle in itself
The things closest to you
You need to always pay the most attention to
If you get too close to something
You'll lose sight of it*
You know the closer you get to something
The tougher it is to see it
And I'll never take it for granted
Let's go
Though there are people that say
Helping someone is hypocritical
Each person
Can be trusted, or can be doubted, so...
Let's say that
Even if you are hypocritical
If you saved someone because of it
That would be real, more than anything
"Continue chasing after your dreams"
And "Go on without giving up"
The more you say pretty things like that
The less that actually gets done
I'll keep a handful of courage in my heart
To use to live through tomorrow
And I'll never take it for granted
Let's go
The things closest to you
You need to always pay the most attention to
If you get too close to something
You'll lose sight of it*
You know the closer you get to something
The tougher it is to see it
And I'll never take it for granted
"Continue chasing after your dreams"
And "Go on without giving up"
The more you say pretty things like that
The less that actually gets done
I'll keep a handful of courage in my heart
To use to live through tomorrow
And I'll never take it for granted
Let's go
Characters
The characters in order of appearance:
- Naruto Uzumaki
- Ino Yamanaka
- Sakura Haruno
- Chōji Akimichi
- Sai
- Kakashi Hatake
- Yamato
- Shikamaru Nara
- Neji Hyūga
- Rock Lee
- Tenten
- Hinata Hyūga
- Kiba Inuzuka
- Akamaru
- Shino Aburame
- Hidan (First Version)
- Kakuzu (First Version)
- Kotetsu Hagane (First Version)
- Izumo Kamizuki (First Version)
- Asuma Sarutobi
- Gozu (Second Version)
- Kigiri (Second Version)
- Nurari (Second Version)
- Rinji (Second Version)
- Guren (Second Version)
- Deidara
- Tobi
- Demonic Statue of the Outer Path
- Pain
- Kabuto Yakushi
- Orochimaru
- Sasuke Uchiha
Trivia
- From episode 83 onwards, Asuma's spirit can be seen along side Team 10 during this opening.
- On Disney XD, when Hidan cut Asuma's cheek the blood was edited out.