By Christian Philip
Naruto is an exceptionally long show, and anyone looking to get the most out of the story should skip the filler and focus on these installments.
Naruto is one of the most prominent anime series in the last few decades, spanning over 220 episodes in its original run and 500 in the sequel, for a total of over 720 episodes. Safe to say, there's a lot of Naruto to watch. Despite a good deal of it being filler content, there are still hundreds of good Naruto episodes to watch in the series.
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To many, this can seem daunting, and maybe it's best to get to the most important episodes of the first series first. Thankfully, the first part of Naruto is fairly short without too much filer until the end of the mainline story at around episode 142. Besides the dozen or so filler episodes, the rest of it is canon material.
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10 Episode Three:Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?
The introduction of Team 7 is one of the most important and significant moments in all of Naruto, and episode three is a must-watch because of it. In this episode, viewers are introduced to most of the Konoha 11 teams as well as some of the more mainstay characters they'll get to know throughout the series. However, the most important of that bunch are Sakura and Sasuke, Naruto's soon-to-be closest friends. Viewers are also properly introduced to Kakashi and other main supporting cast members as the journey properly begins.
9 Episode 23:Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off!
The Chuunin Exams is one of the best arcs in Naruto. The arc itself is probably one of the most important in the series from a few perspectives, mostly for characters like Gaara, Lee, Sasuke, and Naruto.
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Episode 23 covers a few important details, effectively explaining what the Chuunin exams are and their real purpose. It also introduces the Sound Shinobi and gives viewers some insight on Kabuto. It's a fairly informative episode and important for character interactions between the Konoha 11 as well as giving proper introductions to all of the Leaf's rookies.
8 Episode 30:The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!
As the Chuunin Exams push on, Sasuke is attacked by Shiore, a fellow Leaf Shinobi, but is soon to be revealed as someone else entirely. Shiore is revealed to be none other than the great Sanin known as Orochimaru. This episode is important because it's the introduction and reveal of Orochimaru to the audience, the beginning of Sasuke's curse mark journey, and the proper kick-off of the main conflict in the Chuunin exams. There are not a lot of complicated plot points, but from a contextual standpoint, this episode matters a great deal to the overall story of the first half of Naruto.
7 Episode 69: Village in Distress: A New A-Ranked Mission!
Orochimaru finally bursts into action in episode 69 and attacks the 3rd Hokage, all the while Gaara loses control of his Tailed Beast and goes on a rampage. The climax of the Chuunin Exams arc, a lot of great moments, and interactions finally reach their breaking point here. Sasuke goes off to finally face Gaara, Orochimaru finally attacks, and the Chuunin exams erupt into chaos as the Leaf is attacked. This episode is one that shouldn't be skipped. This arc is essential to more build-up that will occur in the series.
6 Episode 80:The Third Hokage, Forever...
The end of the Chuunin Exam arc concludes with the death of the 3rd Hokage. It's uncertain how great a Hokage the 3rd was, but his impact on the Leaf village was clearly more than what the audience saw. The 3rd Hokage, like others, was a symbol of power and authority that wasn't rivaled.
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This leads to a ripple effect of events that follow the death of the Hokage. The Leaf is crippled, a new Hokage must be found, and the search for the 5th Hokage begins.
5 Episode 82:Eye to Eye: Sharingan vs. Sharingan!
Episode 82 is one of the most pivotal Naruto episodes. In this episode, the audience is vaguely introduced to the Akatsuki (who they'll see throughout the first half of Naruto Shippuden), the Akatsuki's plan, and glimpses into the incident that led to Sasuke's entire past. There's a lot of plot to consume, and while there's more ahead, this episode is the first major step into what Naruto will shape up to be from this point onwards. Some would even call this episode the true beginning of the series, as everything from Orochimaru's attack, Naruto's birth, and Sasuke's motivations all come into one big bundle.
4 Episode 85:Hate Among the Uchihas: The Last of the Clan!
The search for Tsunade is the search for the 5th Hokage. In this episode, the encounter with the Akatsuki ends, but a lot of information is given. If someone did skip to this episode, they'd get a grasp as to how much Sasuke hates Itachi, which is Sasuke's entire motivation all the way back from episode three. But also, there's some information on Lee post-Chuunin Exams and how the goal to save Lee ties into getting the next Hokage candidate into the Leaf. In this episode, the audience is given a proper introduction to Tsunade as tensions rise drastically within the Leaf Village.
3 Episode 109:An Invitation from the Sound (Oto's Invitation)
The final major canon-arc of the anime is the Sasuke Retrieval arc, and episode 106 is the beginning of it all. Sasuke encounters the Sound Ninja of Orochimaru's camp and they approach Sasuke for Orochimaru's sake as Orochimaru wants Sasuke's body. Orochimaru offers Sasuke power, and after recent events with Itachi and Naruto, he accepts.
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Sasuke leaves the village after a brief talk with Sakura, who he knocks out before leaving. The encounter with Sakura does lead to the rest of the village discovering Sasuke's plan and urging Naruto to go get Sasuke. The importance of this episode will carry over into Naruto Shippuden and is one that shouldn't be skipped before moving on to the next series.
2 Episode 131:The Secrets of the Mangekyo Sharingan!
In this episode, Sasuke's backstory is revealed once more to the audience. It's a more detailed account as the fight between Naruto and Sasuke continues. The plot is most developed for Sasuke, but Sasuke's motivations and reasons are important to the overall plot of Naruto and Naruto Shippuden as his struggle is part of Naruto's motive overall. The Uchiha massacre is a massively impactful event that needs to be understood from Sasuke's perspective entirely. After all, the Uchiha massacre is one of the more integral plot lines in the series.
1 Episode 135:The Promise That Could Not Be Kept
This would be the last episode anyone would have to watch of the original Naruto run. Naruto is brought back to the village, the other Genin are brought back to the Leaf village, and the mission to get Sasuke fails entirely. Naruto makes his promise to Sakura to bring Sasuke back, Sasuke ends up at Orochimaru's base, and the Akatsuki begin to execute their plan to get Naruto's Nine-Tails in three years. This episode is the end of a long prologue into Naruto Shippuden and shouldn't be skipped by anyone interested in the Sasuke Retrieval arc and Naruto as a whole until Shippuden.
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FAQs
Which all Naruto episodes can I skip? ›
- From episode 57 to episode 71, filler. ...
- From episode 91 to episode 112, filler. ...
- From episode 144 to episode 151, filler. ...
- Episodes 171 and 172, filler.
- From episode 176 to episode 196, filler. ...
- Episodes 212 and 213, filler.
- 9 Sasuke Becomes A Rogue Ninja. ...
- 8 Asuma's Tragic Death. ...
- 7 Minato Being Naruto's Real Dad. ...
- 6 Jiraiya's Death & The Resulting Chain Of Events. ...
- 5 The Reveal Of Itachi's True Intentions. ...
- 4 Neji's Sacrifice. ...
- 3 Tobi's Real Identity Being That Of Obito. ...
- 2 Kaguya Otsutsuki Coming Back To Life.
Naruto Filler episodes you can skip without worrying
It is worth mentioning that these are filler episodes, and skipping them will not affect the understanding of the plot. However, some of the filler episodes are entertaining to watch. It is advisable to watch some of the fillers based on the viewer's interests.
Episodes 136-141
It marks the end of the Sasuke Retrieval arc, shifting focus from the main plot to filler from there on out. While Episode 141 does wrap up the story of this arc, it also features Sakura making a major decision about her future as a ninja and Naruto being offered the chance to train with Jiraiya.
Throughout the remainder of Naruto, the character remains thirteen years old. Naruto: Shippuden begins after a time skip that also occurs in the manga. At the onset of the series we join Naruto at age fifteen.
Is Naruto the No 1 anime? ›Naruto is arguably the most loved anime of all time. It is a masterpiece that would easily make it into anyone's top 10 list. The series is one of the longest with more than 700 episodes.
What is the highest rated episode of Naruto? ›- The Fourth Hokage, Episode 168 (9.4) ...
- I'm In Hell, Episode 345 (9.4) ...
- The Unison Sign, Episode 478 (9.4) ...
- The Sage Of The Six Paths, Episode 421 (9.5) ...
- The Fourth Hokage's Death Match, Episode 248 (9.5) ...
- Confession, Episode 166 (9.5) ...
- Congratulations, Episode 474 (9.5)
The original series has 220 episodes while Shippuden has 500, for a total of 720.
How long will it take to finish Naruto? ›There are 500 episodes of Naruto Shippuden and 220 episodes of Naruto. If you say each episode is on average 22 minutes, that would be 15,840 minutes. Which is equal to 264 hours. Which is exactly 11 full days (12 days if you include the movies).
What anime has the most filler? ›Which Anime Has the Most Filler? The three series with the highest filler count in terms of the number of episodes alone are Detective Conan with 440 filler episodes, Naruto and Naruto Shippuden with 294 and Pokémon with 231.
When should I stop watching Naruto? ›
Overall there are 220 episodes in Naruto and you only need to watch the first 135. The final 85 are all fillers and you can just Jump straight to Shippuden and save tons of time. SO YES.
Is Naruto appropriate for 10? ›This anime is really cool and great for 10+. My 13 and 16 year old love this show. There is no sexual content or talk except for one scene in 1 episode, when Naruto performs his sexy jutsu but mind you, he only does this once and eventually learns his lesson and becomes mature and never does this again.
What was the hardest fight for Naruto? ›Naruto's hardest fight was during his encounter with Kaguya Otsutsuki. He may have won against Kaguya, but without Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi's help, he wouldn't have defeated Kaguya.
Is episode 376 a filler Naruto? ›Episodes 376 and 377 are "filler" episodes in the loosest sense. Although you could squint and pinpoint them somewhere way back around episodes 55 and 56 (Naruto training with Yamato and Kakashi at the waterfall), they're still not entirely canon.
Is Shippuden 170 a filler? ›These are the filler episodes you can skip without losing any of the storyline: 28, 170-171, 223-242, 257-260, 271, 279-281, 376-377, 416, 422-423, 427-450, and 480-483.
Is Naruto episode 416 filler? ›There's no logical narrative reason for Kakashi and Obito to reminisce about their past yet again, especially on the tail-end of a five-month filler arc. However, if you can forgive the fact that it's completely unnecessary, episode 416 is a mildly entertaining watch as far as recent fillers go.
At what age Kakashi became Hokage? ›9 Kakashi Hatake
By the end of the war, he was 31 years old and he became the Hokage within a year of the war's conclusion. At 31, or 32 Kakashi is one of the youngest to have received the title of a Kage in the series.
1 Kaguya Otsutsuki
Kaguya ruled without any resistance until her sons rebelled against her. The fight between them lasted for a very long time, and eventually, her two sons managed to see her away forever. There is no doubt that Kaguya is the oldest character in the Naruto series.
Hinata Hyuga (Shippuden) In the Shippuden series, Hinata is 16 years old and is now a full leveled Chunnin.
What is #1 anime in the world? ›Which anime broke the Internet? ›
1) Goku becomes the first Super Saiyan in millennia (Dragon Ball Z) Fans were incredibly hyped when Goku successfully transformed into a Super Saiyan for the first time in the Dragon Ball Z anime. Many people rewatched this scene over and over again just to relive the feeling they had when they first watched it.
What is the longest anime? ›The longest-running anime TV series is Fuji TV's Sazae-san (Japan), which was first broadcast on 5 October 1969 and has run for 53 years 58 days, as of 2 December 2022. Produced by the studio Eiken, the animation features Sazae and her family focusing on day-to-day life in the suburbs.
Does Naruto have 18+ content? ›Naruto: Sex & Nudity
Some brief nudity is shown, although it's always brief and never explicit. Naruto has a technique called “Sexy Jutsu” which makes him transform into a seductive, handsome woman. Some other male characters know this technique as well.
The show is categorized as a Shonen and these series are typically meant for people 13 and up. Naruto is a smorgashboard of concepts that maybe mis-understood or viewed shallowly by a younger base. This series literally begins by dunking us in the lives of child soldiers.
What is Naruto rated R? ›Naruto is by no means rated R. The original comic was published in Weekly Shonen Jump, which is a magazine explicitly marketed for elementary and middle school aged boys.
Are there 1000 episodes in Naruto? ›The episodes are based on the first twenty-seven volumes in Part I of the manga, while some episodes feature original, self-contained storylines. The 220 episodes that constitute the series were aired between October 3, 2002, and February 8, 2007, on TV Tokyo in Japan.
Who owns Naruto? ›The manga was first published by Shueisha in 1999 in the 43rd issue of Japan's Shōnen Jump magazine. VIZ Media publishes a translated version in the American Shōnen Jump, and is currently within a few volumes of the Japanese publication. Naruto has become VIZ Media's best-selling manga series.
Has Naruto ended? ›Though Naruto ended nearly 6 years ago, it's still one of the most popular anime series ever created. Unfortunately, fans still have mixed reviews about the series' ending.
Is Naruto ending rushed? ›When Naruto came to an end, there was a palpable disappointment in how rushed the whole thing felt. This is why the ending felt that way.
How many hours is breaking bad? ›Altogether, watching Breaking Bad in its entirety with no breaks would take just over 60 hours, or around two days and 13 hours. In 2015, Netflix premiered a new spin-off of the hit show called Better Call Saul, which itself has six seasons and would take a total of two days and 15 hours to watch.
What to see after Naruto? ›
1) Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Since Boruto is the immediate sequel to Naruto, it is the most obvious anime to watch if you've just finished it. Like Naruto, Boruto is an action fantasy anime that revolves around Shinobi.
Boku No Hero Academia/ My Hero Academia. ERASED. Date a Live. Kill la Kill.
Which anime has the best fights? ›- 'Demon Slayer' ViniiTube.
- 'One Piece' If Naruto isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “anime,” then the name One Piece certainly will. ...
- 'Bleach' aymanhajeer. ...
- 'Naruto' Crunchyroll Collection. ...
- 'Dragon Ball' Top 10 Hunter. ...
- 'One Punch Man' ...
- 'Jujutsu Kaisen' ...
- 'Fate' ...
Do you think that Naruto is inappropriate for kids? Truthfully, it depends on the maturity of the child in question. Reasonably, Naruto as a entire product should be viewed by those 12 and older. The show is categorized as a Shonen and these series are typically meant for people 13 and up.
What's after Shippuden? ›Boruto: Naruto the Movie
This film takes place after the finale of Naruto Shippuden and before Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
Naruto has an abundance of filler episodes. These fillers, however, stand out as some of the best in the anime series. As a part of the Big Three of Shonen Jump, Naruto has been setting the standards for other anime/manga series.
Are seasons 7 9 of Naruto fillers? ›The episodes are directed by Hayato Date and produced by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo. They are based on the Naruto manga series by Masashi Kishimoto, but follow original storylines not found in the source material, serving as filler.
Can I skip last 20 episodes of Naruto? ›If you just watch for fights, and don't connect with and love the characters, then no. The last episodes really wrap things up and is very character driven. No fights. Actually those episodes are completely fillers means that they only contains story and missions which are not necessary to watch .
Can I skip Naruto after 135? ›Yes, You can. After Naruto episode 135 they are all fillers. However fillers are interesting to watch but Shippuden is better than the fillers. After episode 135 you can jump straight to Shippuden without missing any of the main storyline.
How many episodes would Naruto be without filler? ›The pre-time skip Naruto series comprises 220 episodes and focuses on Naruto's childhood and his early ninja days. There are 91 filler episodes (41 percent of fillers in a total of 220 episodes) in the original Naruto series.
Is Naruto episode 144 a filler? ›
What episodes of Naruto are fillers? Yes. According to Read Hoot, the filler episodes of Naruto are: 57-70, 91-111, 144-151, 170-171, 176-196, 223-242, 257-260, 271, 279-281, 284-295, 303-310, 312-320, 347-349, 351-361, 376-377, 389-390, 394-413, 416-417, 422-223, 427-450, 464-469, 480-483.
Is episode 480 of Naruto a filler? ›Since the show's anime-original material has already explored this particular time period at length, there isn't a whole lot of new information to be gleaned from the latest installment. Regardless, episode 480 is an enjoyable watch that represents one of Naruto Shippūden 's better filler efforts.
Can I finish Naruto in 10 days? ›There are 500 episodes of Naruto Shippuden and 220 episodes of Naruto. If you say each episode is on average 22 minutes, that would be 15,840 minutes. Which is equal to 264 hours. Which is exactly 11 full days (12 if you include the movies).
What age limit is Naruto? ›Reasonably, Naruto as a entire product should be viewed by those 12 and older. The show is categorized as a Shonen and these series are typically meant for people 13 and up.
Can anyone in Naruto stop time? ›A Time Ninjutsu that is practically only usable by those who have the Perfect Chakra System kekkei genkai. This Jutsu stops the flow of time of everything within 15m for 5-10 seconds, depending on the user, except for natural light, natural gravity, and the user of the jutsu him/herself.
Is Naruto age restricted? ›Most anime is based on a manga that, while read by most ages in Japan, has a rating of “T” or “T+”. These mean that, for American audiences, these manga are rated “Teen” or “Teen and Up”. Most go even further than that and specify “16 and Up”. Naruto falls into that category.
How many hours is all of Naruto? ›There are 500 episodes of Naruto Shippuden and 220 episodes of Naruto. If you say each episode is on average 22 minutes, that would be 15,840 minutes. Which is equal to 264 hours.
How much filler is Boruto? ›A whopping 165 episodes are filler, meaning that seventy percent of the entire anime consists of just filler content.
How long is original Naruto without filler? ›Each episode is around 20 minutes, and the entire series clocks in at around 250 hours total.