Naruto is an anime that is known for having a lot of filler episodes. Both Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden had a very high percentage of filler episodes – 41% each. As most people don’t actually like watching filler episodes, they usually find a list and just skip the filler episodes altogether. This is why we have decided to make an article about which Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden filler episodes are worth watching.
1. Gotta See! Gotta Know! Kakashi-Sensei’s True Face! (EP 101)
Air Date: September 15, 2004
Synopsis: Naruto and his teammates, Sakura and Sasuke, embark on a mission to unveil what lies beneath Kakashi’s mask. Despite their persistent efforts, Kakashi skillfully evades their curiosity. During a low-rank mission to tend a farm, they unwittingly attract the attention of the Moya Triad, seeking revenge on Kakashi. Unmasked and captured, Kakashi leaves them tied up as before. Upon returning to Konoha, Naruto boldly questions Kakashi about his hidden face. Kakashi agrees to reveal it, prompting vivid imaginations from the trio. To their dismay, Kakashi removes his mask, exposing yet another mask underneath, leaving Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in shock and Kakashi amused.
2. Land of Rice Fields Investigation Mission arc (EP 136-141)
Air Date: May 25, 2005 – June 29, 2005 (6 episodes)
Synopsis: After recuperating from his clash with Sasuke, Naruto teams up with Sakura in a renewed effort to rescue Sasuke from Orochimaru. Before leaving Konoha, Jiraiya intervenes, preventing them from being labeled missing-nin by including them in a mission to gather information on Sasuke and Orochimaru. The trio heads to the Land of Rice Fields and the Otogakure. Amid Jiraiya’s comedic mishaps, Naruto and Sakura encounter Sasame, a young kunoichi from the Fūma clan. She seeks her missing cousin, Arashi, and the group decides to assist her while continuing their quest for crucial information.
3. Kurosuki Family Removal Mission arc (EP 152-157)
Air Date: September 21, 2005 – October 26, 2005 (6 episodes)
Synopsis: During Jiraiya’s absence, Naruto, eager to stay occupied, takes on a mission with Team Guy. He encounters three injured men from Katabami Gold Mine seeking help against a dangerous gang. After their recovery and a briefing with Tsunade, Naruto is assigned to the mission. Informed by Lee that the gang’s leader is Raiga Kurosaki, a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Naruto sees this as an opportunity to gain information about Kisame and Itachi, potentially leading him closer to Sasuke.
4. A Legend from the Hidden Leaf: The Onbaa! (EP 185)
Air Date: May 17, 2006
Synopsis: An Onbaa, a legendary creature, attaches itself to Naruto’s back, causing chaos wherever he goes. Tsunade recalls Jiraiya’s expedition to find the Onbaa in their childhood, and Orochimaru unexpectedly expresses confidence in Jiraiya’s abilities. Despite the Onbaa’s growth and its eventual assistance to Naruto during a mission, its mother appears, leading to Naruto’s amusing encounter with the villagers who now have Onbaa on their backs.
5. Laughing Shino (EP 186)
Air Date: May 24, 2006
Synopsis: Naruto and Shino undertake a mission to help Fūta Kagetsu inherit his wealth by preventing him from laughing during his father’s funeral. Shino, fearing poison, eats first, but he ends up laughing, forcing Naruto to take his place. Despite various attempts to make Naruto laugh, the mission takes an unexpected turn when they discover the deceased father faked his death and will to bring joy back to the family. Shino, having made a rare joke, warns Naruto to keep it a secret.
6. Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise! (EP 192)
Air Date: July 5, 2006
Synopsis: Princess f*cku, feeling insecure about her appearance, hires Ino Yamanaka to impersonate her and win the heart of her fiancé Chikara. However, Ino struggles with Chikara’s flamboyant displays of affection. Naruto, impatient with the mission, transforms into the princess, inadvertently revealing f*cku’s identity. Surprisingly, Chikara reveals he prefers chubby women, leaving Ino confused about his preference.
7. Sunagakure Support Mission arc (EP 216-220)
Air Date: January 11, 2007 – February 8, 2007 (5 episodes)
Synopsis: Kakashi investigates the Takumi Village, discovering it deserted and their founder’s body missing. Meanwhile, Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru discuss a report from Temari about her involvement in their village’s shinobi training program. Gaara’s team seeks help against the Four Celestial Symbols Men from the Takumi Village, prompting Naruto and the Konoha 11 to join forces under Shikamaru’s command.
8. Three-Tails’ Appearance arc (EP 89-112)
Air Date: December 18, 2008 – June 4, 2009 (24 episodes)
Synopsis: Orochimaru instructs Kabuto and Team Guren to take Yūkimaru to a lake, releasing the Three-Tails. Guren and Kabuto attempt to capture it but fail, leading to a battle with Team 8. Tsunade sends Team Kakashi, along with Yamato, Sai, and Sakura, to help. Shizune, Ino, Tenten, and Lee join the mission, splitting into groups to seal the Three-Tails in its own dimension and rescue Yūkimaru.
9. Tales of a Gutsy Ninja mini-arc (EP 127-128)
Air Date: September 24, 2009 (2 episodes)
Synopsis: Under the Second Hokage’s reign, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru undergo a bell test conducted by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Tsunade and Orochimaru succeed, but Jiraiya fails and is tied to a stump. Motivated by Hiruzen’s Summoning Technique demonstration, Jiraiya decides to take training seriously to impress Tsunade. During an attempt to use the Summoning Technique without a blood contract, he unexpectedly finds himself at Mount Myōboku, the toads’ home.
10. Six-Tails Unleashed arc (EP 144-152)
Air Date: January 21, 2010 – March 25, 2010 (9 episodes)
Synopsis: Hotaru and her guardian, Tonbee, are attacked at their mountaintop fort by the Magaki Group. Hotaru and Utakata escape with a secret kinjutsu, leaving Tonbee to face the attackers. Team Yamato is assigned to protect Hotaru on her way to the Tsuchigumo village. Upon finding Tonbee brutally attacked, Sakura stays to heal him while Naruto, Sai, and Yamato pursue Utakata and Hotaru. Naruto convinces Utakata they are not enemies, and Utakata entrusts Hotaru’s protection to them.
11. Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha arc (EP 180, 183, 186)
Air Date: October 7, 2010 (180); October 28, 2010 (183); November 18, 2010 (186)
Synopsis: The arc involves multiple flashbacks from various characters, including Iruka and Kakashi, recalling significant moments with Naruto. The flashbacks span from before Part I to before the time-skip, highlighting Naruto’s transformation through the eyes of different characters. The arc is situated between Pain’s Assault and the Five Kage Summit.
12. “Naruto’s Favourite Pupil” (EP 234)
Air Date: October 27, 2011
Synopsis: Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi train for the Fourth Shinobi World War, with Konohamaru mastering a new technique. Eager to contribute more, they seek advice from Sakura, who assigns them the task of carrying and stocking boxes. Unhappy with this, Konohamaru consults Shikamaru, who poses a philosophical question about protecting the “King.” Determined to join the front lines, Konohamaru seeks permission from Tsunade, but she adamantly refuses.
13. Road to Sakura (EP 271)
Air Date: July 26, 2012
Synopsis: Ino discovers Sakura falling from the sky in a state of amnesia. Concerned, Ino brings her to Tsunade for examination. Sakura’s amnesia leads to comical misunderstandings, including an argument about breast sizes. Attempting to jog Sakura’s memory, the Konoha 11 portray themselves differently, but their efforts fail. Later, Sakura’s search for a lost pendant triggers some memories. Reuniting with her parents, Sakura reveals she may not be the same person Ino knew, leaving Ino confused about Sakura’s identity.
14. Power arc (EP 290-295)
Air Date: November 22, 2012 – January 10, 2013 (6 episodes)
Synopsis: In this arc, occurring shortly after the Five Kage Summit and during the build-up to the Fourth Shinobi World War, Team Kakashi is dispatched to investigate the massacre of Tonika Village. Kabuto Yakushi and his reincarnated shinobi, in search of a powerful treasure, are behind the destruction. The arc unfolds amidst the larger context of the Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation.
15. Ghosts from the Past mini-arc (EP 303-305)
Air Date: March 7, 2013 – March 21, 2013 (3 episodes)
Synopsis: Amidst the heightened tension caused by impostors within the Allied Shinobi Forces, the situation worsens with the reincarnation of Otogakure’s Sound Four on the battlefield. The disbanded Sasuke Recovery Team from Konoha, however, swiftly defeats these opponents, showcasing significant growth over the years despite the challenges posed by cursed seals. The Alliance’s jubilation is short-lived as a seal activates around the defeated shinobi and some familiar faces, triggering concern. Meanwhile, Naruto senses the malevolence and rushes towards his friends’ location.
16. Kakashi’s Anbu Arc: The Shinobi That Lives in the Darkness arc (EP 349-361)
Air Date: February 6, 2014 – May 8, 2014 (13 episodes)
Synopsis: The arc focuses onKakashi Hatake’sAnbubackground while also exploring the backgrounds of others, such asYamatoandItachi Uchiha.This arc occurs in the middle of theFourth Shinobi World War: Climax.
17. Mecha-Naruto mini-arc (EP 376-377)
Air Date: September 11, 2014 (2 episodes)
Synopsis: Somewhere in an underground lair,Orochimaru’s experiment is brought to life by a struck of lightning. However, Orochimaru’s plan backfires as the experiment attacks him and begins to destroy the building, forcing him andKabutoto evacuate. The experiment is revealed to be a mechanical version of Naruto Uzumaki, whom the protagonist has to fight and defeat because it causes more trouble.
18. Hanabi mini-arc (EP 389-399)
Air Date: December 4, 2014 (2 episodes)
Synopsis: Explores Hinata’s relationship with her sister Hanabi as the latter returns to the Academy, where Hinata is training with her father.
19. In Naruto’s Footsteps: The Friends’ Paths arc (EP 394-413)
Air Date: January 8, 2015 – May 21, 2015 (20 episodes)
Synopsis: Set amidst the Birth of the Ten-Tails’ Jinchūriki, this arc revolves around the second Chūnin Exams following Sasuke Uchiha’s defection to Otogakure and Naruto Uzumaki’s departure for training with Jiraiya.
20. Itachi Shinden Book: Light and Darkness arc (EP 451-458)
Air Date: March 3, 2016 – April 28, 2016 (8 episodes)
Synopsis: The arc focuses onItachi Uchiha’s life leading up to and following theUchiha Clan’s Downfall. The arc serves as an intermission to the very start of theKaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikesarc.
21. Childhood mini-arc (EP 480-483)
Air Date: October 20, 2016 – November 10, 2016 (4 episodes)
Synopsis: Comprising four paired episodes, this arc delves into characters’ pasts with each episode featuring two parts (A & B) from the perspective of different characters. The pairs include Naruto and Hinata, Sasuke and Sakura, Gaara and Shikamaru, and Jiraiya and Kakashi.
22. Sasuke Shinden: Book of Sunrise arc (EP 484-488)
Air Date: December 1, 2016 – January 5, 2017 (5 episodes)
Synopsis: The arc is an anime adaptation of the Sasuke Shinden: Book of Sunrise novel from Naruto Shinden, exploring Sasuke’s life post-Fourth Shinobi World War. Placed after the Childhood arc and succeeded by the Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness arc, it follows Sasuke’s journey.
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