How to Watch Naruto Without Filler: The Complete Skip Guide

How to Watch Naruto Without Filler

Naruto is one of the most influential anime ever made — but it's also one of the most filler-heavy. The original Naruto has roughly 40% filler, and Shippuden adds another 100+ filler episodes to the pile. If you watch every episode, you're committing to over 700 episodes. If you skip filler, you can finish the entire saga in around 440 episodes.

This is the cleanest way to experience the full Naruto story — plus a few filler arcs that are actually worth your time.

Understanding the Filler Problem

Naruto's filler exists because the anime caught up to the manga (a problem most long-running shounen face). Rather than pause production, the studio created original arcs to give the manga time to advance. Most of this filler is harmless but skippable — it doesn't contradict canon, but it also doesn't progress the main story.

There are two shows to navigate:

• Naruto (2002–2007): 220 episodes, ~90 of them filler
• Naruto Shippuden (2007–2017): 500 episodes, ~200 of them filler

Boruto is a separate sequel and we'll cover it briefly at the end.

Naruto: The Canon Episode List

Watch these episodes from the original Naruto for a complete canon experience:

• Episodes 1–25 — Land of Waves arc (all canon)
• Episodes 26–53 — Chunin Exams arc (all canon, foundational)
• Episodes 54–67 — Konoha Crush arc (all canon)
• Episodes 68–80 — Search for Tsunade arc (all canon)
• Episodes 81–100 — Land of Tea + minor filler (skip 102–106)
• Episodes 107–135 — Sasuke Recovery Mission (all canon — essential)
• Skip episodes 136–220 — these are entirely filler

Once you finish episode 135, jump straight to Naruto Shippuden episode 1. You will not miss any story.

Naruto Shippuden: The Canon Episode List

Shippuden has more filler scattered throughout, so the skip list is longer. Here are the canon arcs in order:

• Episodes 1–32 — Kazekage Rescue arc
• Episodes 33–53 — Akatsuki Suppression + Sasuke and Sai
• Episodes 54–71 — Twelve Guardian Ninja (skip 57–71 if you want, mostly filler)
• Episodes 72–88 — Hidan and Kakuzu arc
• Episodes 89–112 — Pain's Assault setup + Three-Tails
• Episodes 113–143 — Itachi Pursuit + Master's Prophecy
• Episodes 144–151 — Six-Tails Unleashed (skip — filler)
• Episodes 152–169 — Pain's Assault (essential — peak Naruto)
• Episodes 170–171 — Past arc
• Skip episodes 172–175 — filler
• Episodes 176–196 — Five Kage Summit
• Skip episodes 197–222 — almost all filler
• Episodes 222–242 — Confining the Jinchuriki
• Episodes 243–256 — Shinobi World War begins (skip 257–260)
• Episodes 261–273 — War continues
• Skip 271, 279–281, 284–295 — flashback filler
• Episodes 296–320 — War continues (skip 305 if Sai-focused filler)
• Skip 311, 316 — filler
• Episodes 321–348 — Madara reveal
• Skip 349–361 — filler arc
• Episodes 362–375 — War climax begins
• Skip 376–377, 388–390, 394–413, 416–417, 422–423, 427–450, 452–458, 460–462, 464–469, 480–483 — extensive filler
• Episodes 484–500 — Final arcs and Kaguya conclusion

It looks brutal, but a clean Shippuden runs around 300 essential episodes.

Filler Episodes That Are Actually Worth Watching

A few filler arcs are beloved by fans for either character development or sheer entertainment. If you have time after a clean watch, consider these:

1. 1Naruto episodes 101–106 (Land of Tea) — Light filler with a fun Sasuke focus
2. 2Shippuden episodes 176–181 (Past arc — Kakashi Gaiden) — Technically canon-adjacent, beautifully animated, essential context for Kakashi's character
3. 3Shippuden episodes 257–260 (Naruto vs. Mecha-Naruto) — Pure fan service, but genuinely fun
4. 4Shippuden episodes 480–483 (Itachi Shinden) — Canon to the manga novels, expands Itachi's backstory

Skip everything else without guilt.

The Movies: Where Do They Fit?

Most Naruto movies are non-canon side stories that can be watched any time. Two exceptions matter:

• The Last: Naruto the Movie — Canon, set between Shippuden episode 493 and the final arc. Watch after episode 493.
• Boruto: Naruto the Movie — Sequel film, watch after Shippuden ends.

The other movies (Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, Legend of the Stone of Gelel, etc.) are skippable but enjoyable on a rewatch.

After Naruto: What About Boruto?

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations continues the story with Naruto's son. The early arcs (episodes 1–66) are mostly anime-original filler — the canon manga story really begins around episode 67. If you want a clean Boruto experience, jump in at the Mujina Bandits arc (episode 148) and skip ahead from there.

Honestly, many longtime fans treat Boruto as optional. The original Naruto saga has a complete, satisfying ending.

Final Watch Order

1. 1Naruto episodes 1–135 (skip 102–106 unless curious)
2. 2Naruto Shippuden following the canon list above
3. 3The Last: Naruto the Movie (after Shippuden 493)
4. 4Boruto if you want more (start at episode 148 for canon)

Continue Exploring

Want to find your next long-running shounen? Browse our shows directory for One Piece, Bleach, and more. Or use our vibe search to find anime that matches the energy of Naruto's best moments.

If you're partway through and forgot which arc a screenshot was from, our screenshot identifier can pinpoint the episode in seconds.