How To Watch ‘Naruto’ Arcs in Order Without Filler Episodes

With well over a thousand episodes, the story of Naruto Uzumaki is one of the longest and most prolific in all anime history. That being said, the three main Naruto shows do fall into the trap of creating filler episodes when the anime catches up to the manga it’s based on. It’s not that these episodes and arcs are bad. It’s just that they don’t progress the core story that fans are eagerly waiting to see get adapted.

With the Naruto franchise currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary (which includes a special event with four new episodes set during the original show), some fans may want to revisit the essential stories from the series. Whether you’re a hardcore fan or a complete newcomer, navigating this long-running saga can be a bit difficult. To find out what episodes are essential for the main storyline, here is every crucial Naruto arc in order (without the filler).

‘Naruto’

The story begins with the series Naruto. The first of three different shows in the franchise, Naruto sets up our main character and shows his journey from a useless ninja to one worthy of the Hokage’s trust.

Humble Beginnings and the Land of Waves (Episodes 1-19)

Naruto Uzumaki’s (Junko Takeuchi) ninja journey begins with the Land of Waves Arc, where we meet the original Team 7 for the very first time. Naruto begins his hero’s journey as a notorious troublemaker at a respectable ninja academy, but he’s also harboring a dark secret. Deep within his core, Naruto is the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox demon, which he needs to learn to control. Much to the chagrin of some of his mentors, Naruto is selected to be a member of the Team 7 ninja squad after becoming a genin (the lowest rank of a ninja).

Naruto, along with fellow pupils Sakura Haruno (Chie Nakamura) and Sasuke Uchiha (Noriaki Sugiyama), as well as their mentor Kakashi Hatake (Kazuhiko Inoue), are tasked with protecting a bridge builder from deadly assassins, Zabuza and Haku.

The Chūnin Exams (Episodes 20-67)

After their first mission during the Land of Waves Arc, Naruto and Team 7 return to their school, so he can continue his training to become an experienced ninja. There, the Chūnin Exams are beginning to take place, which is the next step for many aspiring ninjas to get their next promotion.

Here, we meet more of Naruto’s peers, including Shikamaru, Rock Lee, Gaara, Neji, and Hinata. Naruto and his team must do everything they can to come out on top in this ninja vs. ninja battle.

Konoha Crush Arc (Episodes 68-80)

Konoha, Naruto’s home, is under its biggest threat yet during the Konohoa Crush Arc. Here, The Hidden Leaf Village is being threatened by the legendary Orochimaru (Kujira) – one of the most powerful ninjutsu masters in the entire world. This classic Naruto foe will be a massive challenge not just for Team 7 but also for all Shinobi who call Konoha home.

The Search for Tsunade (Episodes 81-100)

As the title implies, the Search for Tsunade arc sees Naruto and master Jiraiya on the search for the future Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade (Masako Katsuki). Tsunade is considered a perfect candidate for the position, given her unique aptitude for medical ninjutsu, tactical skills, and incredible strength. These abilities come in handy as soon as Naruto’s closest friend, Sasuke, is critically injured.

Naruto finds himself in the middle of an incredible battle between the Legendary Sannin as Tsunade and Jiraiya come face to face with Lord Orochimaru.

Sasuke Recovery (Episodes 107-135)

Arguably, the most important storyline in the original Naruto series is the Sasuke Recovery Arc, which sees one of the franchise’s most beloved characters fall to the dark side. That individual is none other than Sasuke, who is unable to stop himself from being seduced by Orochimaru’s sinister teachings. Sasuke is on a quest to kill his evil brother Itachi and is willing to join Orochimaru’s side if it means he’s able to get stronger. Up until this point, Naruto and Sasuke went from staunch rivals to close allies. In a matter of only a few episodes, they go from best friends to bitter enemies in a heartbreaking conclusion to the Naruto series.

Believe it or not, those are all the essential episodes from the original Naruto series. Despite having about 200 episodes total, about 100 are considered filler and aren’t essential to watch to understand the main Naruto storyline.

‘Naruto: Shippuden’

The next series is the now-iconic Naruto: Shippuden. This series follows a teenage Naruto as he continues his quest to become Hokage while also fighting to save his friend Sasuke from the darkness.

The Kakashi Chronicles (Episodes 119-120)

This short arc takes us back in time to Kakashi’s origin story. We see the young shinobi train under his master, Minato, and his friends Rin and Obito. The four are fighting in the middle of the second ninja war, and this is where Kakashi learns the value of comradery and teamwork.

These two episodes adapt the first storyline post-time skip in the Naruto manga but don’t appear until episode 119 of the anime. If you want to experience the story as the manga intended, you’d start here and then go back to episode one.

The Kazekage Rescue (Episodes 1-32)

Now we begin with the sequel series, Naruto Shippuden, which picks up about two years after the events of the original series. Here we see Naruto is now much older and wiser, returning to his home in Konoha in an attempt to come to terms with Sasuke’s betrayal. Reuniting with his friends and allies, Naruto is given the essential mission of rescuing his old friend, Gaara.

Now, the leader of the Sand Village, Gaara, is being targeted because of the one-tail spirit that resides inside him. Team Kakashi along with Team Guy, must work with the Sand village to rescue Gaara from the clutches of the rogue shinobi group, The Akatsuki.

Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Arc (Episodes 33-53)

A simple recon mission turns into a fateful reunion during the Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Arc. It was inevitable that Naruto and his team would face Sasuke again one day, and the battle at Tenchi Bridge proved that to be the case. Once again Orochimaru and his new apprentice are back to cause trouble. Naruto believes that the friend he once knew is still deep within Sasuke, but the fallen ninja’s actions say otherwise.

This is the very moment Naruto has been training for since the end of the original series. Will he and Sakura once again fail to save their fallen comrade? That’s the harsh truth the two must face.

Akatsuki Suppression Arc (Episodes 72-88)

Konoha is now under direct attack from the Akatsuki yet again, with two deadly members named Hidan (Masaki Terasoma) and Kakuzu (Takaya Hashi) leading the assault. It’s up to Asuma and Shikamaru to take down the unkillable duo before they make their way into the village.

This arc also sees Kakashi training Naruto in a new ninja technique that is sure to serve him well once he fights Sasuke again in the future, but might also come in handy against the Akatsuki as well.

Itachi Pursuit Arc (Episodes 113-118 and 121-126)

Naruto and Sasuke cross paths again to pursue a highly complex individual. That individual is Itachi Uchiha (Hideo Ishikawa) – Sasuke’s own brother. Years ago, Itachi slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan, including his and Sasuke’s own parents, leaving Sasuke as the sole survivor. Both the heroic Naruto and the rogue Sasuke have their own reasons for searching for this long-time fugitive.

Once again, Team 7 attempts to stop Sasuke’s quest for vengeance, but he’s hellbent on seeing his mission through. Itachi must pay for what he did to the Uchiha by losing his life at the hands of their last survivor.

Jiraiya the Gallant Arc (Episodes 127-133)

Naruto: Shippuden takes some time to explore Jiraiya the Gallant (Hōchū Ōtsuka) – a legendary ninja master who is also Naruto’s Godfather. Jiraiya is aiming to discover the true identity of Pain (Ken’yū Horiuchi) – the leader of the Akatsuki clan. Not even someone as experienced as Jiraiya could have predicted the villain’s true persona.

This small arc shows us not only how skilled of a master Jiraiya is but also the power of Pain. The intel that Jiraiya can gather will be instrumental to Konoha as they prepare for war.

Battle Between Brothers Arc (Episodes 134-143)

Sasuke finally catches up to Itachi only to find out that there’s more to his brother’s actions than he initially realized. The two fight it out in a battle that quickly becomes anime legend. Sasuke now must look inward and see if there’s more to his life now that his quest for justice has come to an end.

Pain’s Assault Arc (152-175)

Armed with the knowledge that Naruto is the host of one of the nine-tailed creatures, Pain and the Akatsuki lead a massive invasion of Konoha. Thankfully, Naruto has been training to become a sage, which gives him the power boost he needs to aid his allies. The Hidden Leaf Ninja do their best to repel the assault, resulting in a hopeful victory that also results in a significant toll on Konoha.

The Pain arc is largely considered the best storyline in all of Naruto, and the breakneck speed of this war perfectly encapsulates why the series is so beloved to this day.

Five Kage Summit Arc (197-214)

It has become abundantly clear to the leaders of the world that the Akatsuki have become a threat too large to ignore. This led to the Five Kage Summit, which was only the second time the Five Kage had ever had such a meeting—a historic gathering results in the declaration of a historic war.

Unfortunately, Sasuke and his team (Taka) have different plans for the Kage. The last son of the Uchiha believes that the Kage are the reason for the past wars, the death of his clan, and only aid to the creation of the Akatsuki. The young ninja decides to take matters into his own hands.

Fourth Shinobi World War: Countdown Arc (Episodes 215-222 and 243-256)

War has officially been declared in the world of Naruto. The Five Kage have unanimously agreed that the only way to stop the Akatsuki clan is to eradicate them entirely. Now, the heroes and villains of both sides are left to prepare for the historic and inevitably deadly conflict between the Allied Shinobi Forces and the Akatsuki clan that is the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation and Conclusion (Episodes 261-289, 296-348, and 362-375)

The midpoint of the Fourth Shinobi World War trilogy is present within the Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation Arc. The war has officially begun, with the sides of good and evil clashing in a deadly confrontation. This particular portion of the war sees Naruto and his allies fight hordes upon hordes of resurrected shinobi and warriors.

The Fourth Shinobi World War reached its eventual conclusion, with the toll of the conflict heavily affecting both sides. The Allied Shinobi Forces reign victorious, officially defeating the Akatsuki clan. However, while the nefarious organization is showing signs of crumbling, major threats still remain for Naruto and his companions.

Birth of the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki Arc (378-393 and 414-431)

Madara and Obito now have the power to launch the Infinite Tsukoymi. Using the tremendous power of the nine-tailed beasts they’ve collected, the villains hope to create a new beast to help them conquer the world. So many friends have fallen, meaning Naruto needs to be ready because this will be the biggest fight of his life.

Thankfully, Naruto is not alone. He and Team 7, including their old ally Sasuke, reunite to save the world from eternal darkness. Unfortunately for them, things only continue to get worse as a new threat emerges from the shadows, cementing Naruto and Sasuke’s destinies.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki Strikes Arc (Episodes 459-474)

Naruto and his allies face one last enemy in Kaguya Ōtsutsuki (Mami Koyama) – a celestial being who has set her sights on Naruto’s home. With their allies down, it’s up to Team 7 to complete their final mission. Naruto and Sasuke were born for this moment in time, and with the help of Sakura and Kakashi, they aim to take hold of fate and bring about a new era of peace.

The Final Valley (Episodes 475-479)

With Kaguya defeated, you’d think that the war would be over, but once again, Sasuke has other plans. His entire journey has shown him the corruption that fills this world. That wars will continue, and children’s lives will be lost unless someone steps in to bare that hatred. When faced with a common threat, the world showed that they’re willing to set aside their differences and unite against that common threat. Sasuke will become that threat in an effort to maintain peace.

Naruto and Sasuke’s final fight is much more than two rivals butting heads but rather one of philosophy. Naruto believes that people can be good if given the choices, whereas Sasuke believes he has to manipulate them to fight on the same side. The two fight once more. Will Naruto finally reign victorious?

The Perfect Day for a Wedding (Episodes 494-500)

Set years after the Fourth Great Ninja War, this wonderful epilogue focuses on Naruto’s friends preparing for Naruto and Hinata’s wedding. Ideally, you’re watching this arc after the film Naruto: The Last. This arc is a nice slice-of-life spin on the Naruto franchise now that we’ve finally entered an era of peace.

With that, Naruto’s story concludes with Naruto: Shippuden. However, this is not the end of the franchise as this is just the start of a long lineage for Naruto Uzumaki’s lineage.

‘Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’

Now that we’ve covered the essential Naruto storyline, the legendary ninja hero’s legacy is persevered in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. As the title implies, this new saga follows Boruto Uzumaki (Yûko Sanpei), the son of Naruto Uzumaki. Like his father before him, Boruto trains in the ninja’s ways to combat new and old threats. The sequel series essentially functions as an epilogue to Naruto’s story for those who wish to see the aftermath of his epic tale. Still, here are the most important episodes for the show as they relate to the manga (though, unlike other anime adaptations, the “filler” episodes do offer some notable information).

Versus Momoshiki Arc (Episodes 51-66)

The events of the Versus Momoshiki Arc are also covered in Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and despite being the first arc in the manga, it starts at the 51st episode of the anime. Here, Boruto and the rest of Team 7 are given a fairly standard mission to stop a local gang of bandits, even though Boruto is a bit upset that his father missed his recent birthday celebration. Boruto eventually comes face-to-face with a sinister Ōtsutsuki Clan member known as Momoshiki (Daisuke Namikawa), who will end up haunting Boruto throughout a large chunk of the series’ future.

Mujina Bandits Arc (Episodes 141-151)

Boruto goes full prison break during the Mujina Bandits Arc, as he and his companions are sent to the Hozuki Castle prison for their latest mission. With the reluctant help of Mitsuki (Ryūichi Kijima), a clone of the dreaded Orochimaru, Boruto may find a means of getting out of this massive prison. However, while there, they’re instructed to protect a notorrious member of the even more notorious Mujina Bandits.

Ao Arc (Episodes 178-187)

Nearing the midpoint of the Ao Arc begins with the heroes of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations honoring the losses sustained during the Fourth Great Ninja War. This peaceful time of reverence is interrupted by Ao (Tadahisa Saizen), the second in command to the Fifth Mizukage. Ao was once a historic ally to Naruto and Team 7, but the next generation of heroes will soon learn that not everything is as it seems.

Kawaki Arc (Episodes 188-205)

The Kawaki Arc of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations introduces a new member to the Uzumaki family. The Team 7 clan encounters a young man named Kawaki (Yūma Uchida), who was being raised to become the vessel of the Ōtsutsuki god Isshiki Ōtsutsuki (Kenjirō Tsuda). While he understandably starts out as an enemy of Team 7, Naruto and Boruto eventually decide Kawaki is in need of guidance and take him in as one of their own family members.

Code’s Assault Arc and Omnipotence Arc (Episodes 287-293)

The final chapter of Boruto’s saga comes to a head in the Code’s Assault Arc and the Omnipotence Arc. As the title implies, the Code’s Assault Arc sees the villainous Code (Junta Terashima) leading a full-blown assault on the Hidden Leaf compound. The result is an explosive finale that sees many heroes and villains fall, representing the current end-point for the beloved Naruto saga.