EPISODE CONTEXT

Episode 167 concludes the multi-episode Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission filler arc, directly following 'When Time Stands Still,' which unveiled the true identities and motivations driving the Land of Birds conflict. As a filler arc finale deep into Naruto's back half (episode 167 of 220), it sits squarely in the extended filler stretch between major canon events. The next episode, 'Mix It, Stretch It, Boil It Up! Burn, Copper Pot, Burn!,' shifts to a standalone story, so this marks a clean break point for viewers deciding whether to continue through the remaining filler content.