Blue Bird

by Ikimono-Gakari, was the third opening sequence for Naruto: Shippūden. It ran from episode 54 up until episode 77.

Lyrics
Habataitara modorenai to itte Mezashita no wa aoi aoi ano sora

Kanashimi wa mada oboerarezu Setsunasa wa ima tsukami hajimeta Anata e to idaku kono kanjou mo Ima kotoba ni kawatteku

Michi naru sekai no yume kara mezamete Kono hane wo hiroge tobi datsu

Habataitara modorenai to itte Mezashita no wa aoi aoi ano sora Tsuki nuketara mitsukaru to shitte Furikiru hodo Aoi aoi ano sora Aoi aoi ano sora Aoi aoi ano sora

English Translation
You said that if you could fly,

You would never come down

You only have eyes

For the blue, blue sky

You've yet to learn what sadness is

And are now just grasping what pain is like

Even the feelings I have for you

Must be expressed in words

As you awake from a dream into an unknown world

Spread your wings and take flight!

You say if you could fly, you’d never come back down

You only have eyes for that blue, blue sky

You know if you can just make it through, you’ll find what you seek

So keep trying to break free

To that blue, blue sky

To that blue, blue sky

To that blue, blue sky

Characters
The characters in the third opening theme animation, in order of appearance, are:
 * Sasuke Uchiha
 * Naruto Uzumaki
 * Sakura Haruno
 * Shikamaru Nara
 * Chōji Akimichi
 * Ino Yamanaka
 * Yamato
 * Sai
 * Kurenai Yūhi
 * Asuma Sarutobi
 * Kakashi Hatake
 * Jiraiya
 * Tsunade
 * Iruka Umino
 * Fūka (First Version)
 * Fudō (First Version)
 * Fuen (First Version)
 * Sora (First Version)
 * Minato Namikaze (First Version)
 * Kazuma (First Version)
 * Izumo Kamizuki (Second Version)
 * Kotetsu Hagane (Second Version)
 * Pain
 * Konan
 * Hidan
 * Kakuzu
 * Tobi
 * Deidara
 * Itachi Uchiha
 * Kisame Hoshigaki
 * Zetsu
 * Orochimaru
 * Kabuto Yakushi

Trivia

 * In order to promote Naruto Shippūden 2: Bonds The broadcast versions of episodes 70-73 include scenes from the movie in the opening themes, while still retaining the original music.
 * This is the first opening to be transmitted in High Definition.