Naruto Shippuden Filler List: Every Episode to Skip & Watch

Anyone who’s clicked on a Naruto Shippuden episode only to land in a random side story instead of the main plot knows the frustration. With 500 episodes and 203 classified as filler, this guide breaks down which episodes and arcs to skip, which are worth watching, and how to build a clean watch order.

Total Naruto Shippuden episodes: 500 ·
Filler episodes: 203 ·
Filler percentage: 41% ·
Canon episodes: 297 ·
Number of filler arcs: 15 ·
Average episodes per filler arc: 13.5

Key stats for Naruto Shippuden.

What fillers to skip in Naruto Shippuden?

List of filler arcs

• Twelve Guardian Ninja (episodes 57–71) – widely considered skippable (GamesRadar (entertainment publication))
• Three-Tails’ Appearance (episodes 91–112) – mixed, some fights worth watching
• Six-Tails Unleashed (episodes 144–151)
• Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha (episodes 176–196) – also called the Power arc; often criticised for pacing (ScreenRant)
• Paradise Life on a Boat (episodes 223–242)
• Kakashi’s Anbu Arc (episodes 347–361)
• Jiraiya Shinobi Handbook (episodes 427–450) – listed as filler by Animerch (anime merchandise blog)

List of filler episodes (sample)

AnimeFillerList tags episodes such as 28–29, 59–60, 97, 101–106, 136–141, 143, 172–176, and many longer blocks as pure filler. The full list covers over 200 entries.

Canon episodes to watch

• Episodes 1–19 (except mixed canon/filler), 20–27, 30–44, 46–48, 51–53, 55–56, 72–88, 113–115, 116–126, 129–135, 152–169, 197–212, 243–256, 261–270, 272–278, 282, 296–302, 321–326, 329, 332–337, 339–345, 362–375, 378–384, 391–393, 414–415, 418–420, 424–426 – these are mostly canon (check AnimeFillerList or Naruto OFFICIAL (official franchise site) for exact classification).

The implication: skipping filler arcs saves time but requires careful selection to avoid missing fan favorites.

Can I skip season 6, 7, 8, and 9 in Naruto?

Season breakdown for Naruto Shippuden

Streaming services divide the 500 episodes into 21–30 seasons depending on the platform (Hulu, Netflix, Crunchyroll). Seasons 6–9 typically cover episodes 54–112, which include the Twelve Guardian Ninja arc and the Three-Tails arc – both predominantly filler.

Filler content in seasons 6–9

• Season 6 (episodes 54–64): mostly mixed canon/filler
• Season 7 (episodes 65–77): heavy filler with the Twelve Guardian Ninja arc
• Season 8 (episodes 78–90): transitions into Three-Tails arc
• Season 9 (episodes 91–112): almost entirely filler (Three-Tails Appearance arc)

The pattern: you can safely skip large chunks of these seasons if you only want canon plot. However, a few fights (Naruto vs. Orochimaru in episodes 89–90) are adapted from manga material.

What this means: viewers can safely skip seasons 6–9 for a pure canon experience, but should check mixed episodes.

Which Naruto movie can I skip?

List of Naruto movies

• Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (2004)
• Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel (2005)
• Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006)
• Naruto Shippuden the Movie (2007)
• Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds (2008)
• Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire (2009)
• Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower (2010)
• Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison (2011)
• Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie (2012)
• The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014)
• Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015)

Canon vs filler movies

According to ScreenRant, The Last: Naruto the Movie is the only film written by series author Masashi Kishimoto and is considered canon. All other movies are non‑canon and can be skipped without affecting the main story.

Movies with important lore

• Road to Ninja – interesting alternate‑reality concept but not essential.
• Boruto: Naruto the Movie – sets up the Boruto series; worth watching after Shippuden ends.

The catch: even non-canon movies can offer entertaining side stories, but they add nothing to the core plot.

Is it okay if I skip Naruto fillers?

Pros of skipping fillers

• Reduces watch time from ~190 hours to ~110 hours (saving ~80 hours).
• Keeps the story focused on Kishimoto’s original manga plot.
• Avoids pacing issues common in longer filler arcs like the Power arc (ScreenRant).

Cons of skipping fillers

• Misses character‑building moments (Kakashi’s backstory, Itachi’s childhood).
• Some filler arcs are highly rated by the community – e.g., the Kakashi face‑reveal episodes (469–470) are beloved.
• Skipping every filler can make certain transitions feel abrupt.

The trade‑off: for a first‑time viewer, a selective skip (cut the long arcs but keep fan‑favourite mini‑arcs) gives the best balance of story and time.

How to watch Naruto in order?

Watch order for Naruto and Naruto Shippuden

1. Naruto – episodes 1–135 (canon), then episode 220 (finale). Skip filler episodes 136–219 (AnimeFillerList).
2. Naruto Shippuden – follow the canon episode list above. Skip pure filler arcs and mixed episodes unless you want extra content.
3. Movies – watch The Last: Naruto the Movie after Shippuden episode 494. Boruto: Naruto the Movie can be watched after the series ends.

Alternative orders (cut filler)

• Use a dedicated filler‑skip list like the one from AnimeFillerList – it updates whenever new classifications are released.
• Many fans on Reddit (r/anime guides) recommend skipping all filler arcs on first watch, then revisiting favourites later.

For first-time viewers: following a verified canon-only watch order from AnimeFillerList keeps the story tight, then you can circle back to fan‑favourite filler arcs later.

Three major filler arcs, one pattern: the longer the arc, the further it drifts from manga pacing.

Steps to watch Naruto Shippuden without filler

1. Start with Naruto – watch episodes 1–135 (canon) then jump to episode 220 (series finale). Skip 136–219.
2. Move to Shippuden – follow the canon episode list from AnimeFillerList (reference guide). Skip filler arcs marked as pure filler.
3. Include the canon movie – watch The Last: Naruto the Movie after episode 494.
4. Optionally watch Boruto – start Boruto: Naruto Next Generations after finishing Shippuden.

Following these steps ensures a coherent story without unnecessary detours.

The catch: these uncertainties highlight the need to check multiple sources when planning a pure canon watch.

“The Power arc is often criticized for pacing issues – it stretches a small fight into 21 episodes with minimal plot advancement.”

— ScreenRant filler guide

“I’d recommend watching Itachi’s backstory and the Kakashi face‑reveal even if you’re skipping everything else – those episodes actually add emotional weight.”

— Reddit user, r/anime filler guide thread

“If you’re on a first watch, skip all filler arcs. The main story is tight enough without the side adventures. You can always come back for the good filler later.”

— Community consensus on AnimeFillerList forums

The consequence for anyone sitting down to watch Naruto Shippuden today: with 41% of the series classified as filler, a skip‑smart approach saves time without sacrificing the story’s heart. For first‑time viewers, the clearest path is to follow a verified canon‑only watch order from AnimeFillerList, then circle back to fan‑favourite filler arcs later. For those already deep in the series, the decision is simple: skip the long arcs, keep the character episodes, and enjoy the main plot without the detours.

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Frequently asked questions