What are the filler episodes and arcs that you can skip in Naruto? When it was airing, the manga was still ongoing. So Naruto is one of the shows that has many filler episodes to air while waiting for the manga to develop. Out of the 220 episodes in total, this anime has 90 filler episodes. Here is a guide on the Naruto filler list and which episodes and arcs you can miss.
Naruto Filler List
The Naruto (2002-2007) anime has manga canon and anime canon episodes, plus a mix of canon and filler episodes, and fully filler episodes.
Here are the canon and mixed anime and manga canon/filler episodes from the Naruto anime that you need to watch.
- Prologue — Land of Waves Arc: Episodes 1-19
- Chunin Exams Arc: Episodes 20-67
- Konoha Crush Arc: Episodes 68-80
- Search for Tsunade Arc: Episodes 81-100
- Sasuke Recovery Mission Arc: Episodes 107-135
- Sunakagure Support Mission Arc: Episode 220
The total number of canon episodes in Naruto that you need to watch is 130 episodes.
Naruto Filler Arcs
- Land of Tea Escort Mission Arc: Episodes 102-106
- Land of Rice Fields Investigation Mission Arc: Episodes 136-140
- Mizuki Tracking Mission Arc: Episodes 143-147
- Bikochu Search Mission Arc: Episodes 148-151
- Kurosuki Family Removal Arc: Episodes 152-157
- Gosunkugi Capture Mission Arc: Episodes 159-160
- Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission Arc: Episodes 162-167
- Kaima Capture Mission Arc: Episodes 169-173
- Buried Gold Excavation Mission Arc: Episodes 175-176
- Star Guard Mission Arc: Episodes 178-183
- Peddlers Escort Mission Arc: Episodes 187-191
- Third Great Beast Arc: Episodes 195-196
- Konoha Plans Recapture Mission Arc: Episodes 197-201
- Yakumo Kurama Rescue Mission Arc: Episodes 203-207
- Gantetsu Escort Mission Arc: Episodes 209-212
- Menma Memory Search Mission Arc: Episodes 213-215
- Sunagakure Support Mission Arc: Episodes 216-219
Naruto filler arcs worth watching
There are a lot of filler arcs in Naruto, but some are worth checking out if you’re not in a rush. Some arcs worth checking out are the Peddlers Escort Mission arc (5 episodes), the Third Great Beast arc (2 episodes), and the Sunagakure Support Mission arc (4 episodes).
If you want to see more of the other ninjas, try watching the Peddlers Escort Mission arc. The Third Great Beast arc is worth watching if you like Guy or Rock Lee since this arc focuses on the two of them. Meanwhile, the Sunagakure Support Mission arc is the last arc in the show. It can be worth checking out since Sunagakure is going to be in Naruto: Shippuden as well. Plus, you can catch almost everyone in this arc before the series continues to Shippuden.
Naruto Filler Episodes
These are the episodes that do not belong to a story arc and are considered filler episodes.
- Episode 97: Kidnapped! Naruto’s Hot Spring Adventure!
- Episode 101: Gotta See! Gotta Know! Kakashi-Sensei’s True Face!
- Episode 158: Follow My Lead! The Great Survival Challenge
- Episode 161: The Appearance of Strange Visitors
- Episode 168: Mix it, Stretch it, Boil it Up! Burn Copper Pot, Burn!
- Episode 174: Impossible! Celebrity Ninja Art: Money Style Jutsu!
- Episode 177: Please, Mr. Postman!
- Episode 184: Kiba’s Long Day
- Episode 185: A Legend from the Hidden Leaf: The Onbaa!
- Episode 186: Laughing Shino
- Episode 192: Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise!
- Episode 193: Viva Dojo Challenge! Youth is All About Passion!
- Episode 194: The Mysterious Curse of the Haunted Castle
- Episode 202: The Top 5 Ninja Battles!
- Episode 208: The Weight of the Prized Artefact!
Naruto filler episodes worth watching
Episode 101 is a filler worth watching. The comical episode shows Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke’s shenanigans as they try to see what Kakashi looks like underneath his mask. Every attempt they make screws up one way or another, adding to the comedy. Episode 161 is another filler worth watching. The silly episode focuses on Naruto following around imposters of Guy and Lee, believing that they’re the real deal. Episode 186 shows Shino out of character, which you can check out if he’s one of your favorites.
Looking for a release schedule of the upcoming anime for fall this year? Check out our guide on the fall 2023 anime release schedule.
