I’ll share a story. It all started with a bowl of quick ramen and a long Naruto session. I watched every episode, moved by Naruto Uzumaki’s persistence, Sasuke Uchiha’s umm let’s say teenage angst, and Masashi Kishimoto’s grand storytelling. Yet, midway through Naruto Shippuden’s 200th episode, things took a turn. The hectic main story slowed, replaced with unfamiliar faces and disconnected adventures. These, my friends, were Naruto Shippuden filler episodes.
Not all filler arcs are bad, let’s clear that. And as a Naruto fan who’s seen every one of the 720 episodes (the fillers included!), I get the difficult balance between series love and fast storytelling. This is why I’m here—to guide you through Naruto Shippuden fillers. I’ll provide a clear list of can-watch fillers and skip-worthy episodes. You can then pick your fillers without getting stuck in unwanted details.
Naruto Shippuden Filler Episodes & Storyline
Naruto Shippuden Storyline
Two and a half years after Naruto, we met Naruto Uzumaki again in Naruto Shippuden. Now a grown-up, he tasks himself with defending his home and getting back Sasuke Uchiha, his friend. Akatsuki, a dangerous group, forms the bulk of the plot. They’re after the tailed beasts, mighty beings who reside within certain individuals. Naruto and his friends, and other village ninjas, join forces to defeat Akatsuki and expose the ninja world’s secrets.
Filled throughout are epic battles, character transformations, and staggering truths. Primary story arcs are packed with action and suspense. Mixed in, though, are filler episodes that can interrupt the rhythm sometimes.
Naruto Shippuden Filler Episodes List
Naruto Shippuden Filler Episodes List
| Episode List | Arc or Episode Name | Watch or Skip |
| 54-71 | Twelve Guardian Ninja Arc | Watch |
| 89-112 | Three-Tails’ Appearance Arc | Skip |
| 144-151 | Six-Tails Unleashed Arc | Skip |
| 170-171 | The Quest for the 4th Hokage’s Legacy Part 1 & 2 | Skip |
| 176-196 | Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha Arc | Watch |
| 223-242 | Paradise Life on a Boat Arc | Skip |
| 257-260 | Eps: Meeting, Rivals, Rift, Parting | Skip |
| 271 | Road to Sakura | Skip |
| 279-281 | Eps: White Zetsu’s Trap, Aesthetics of an Artist, The Allied Mom Force! | Skip |
| 290-295 | Power Arc | Watch |
| 303-320 | Ghosts from the Past Arc | Watch |
| 347-361 | Akatsuki Beginning | Watch |
| 376-377 | Directive to Take the Nine-Tails, Naruto vs. Mecha Naruto | Skip |
| 388-390 | Episodes | Skip |
| 394-413 | The Friends’ Paths Arc | Skip |
| 416-417 | Team Minato, You’ll Be My Backup | Watch |
| 469 | Kakashi! | MUST Watch! |
Naruto Shippuden Filler Episode Groups: A Quick Overview
Filler Episodes: Worth Watching
- The Kazekage Rescue Section (Episodes 57-71) is one of fan-favorites. Not original but the action and character growth in this part, featuring Gaara’s rescue, is enjoyable. It also gives insights into some characters. Naruto fans will find it engaging.
- The Three-Tails Part (Episodes 89-112) adds a new line of characters and discloses Leaf Village’s inner workings. Not important to the primary plot, but it’s fun and develops characters.
- The Six-Tails Unleashed Segment (Episodes 144-151) isn’t long and is centered around the Six-Tails’ impact. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s worthy filler with strong action scenes.
Filler Episodes: Can Watch, Can Skip
Some episodes are just fillers. They may have good bits, or character growth, but aren’t tied to the main story. Got extra time? Go ahead and explore these side tales.
- The Kazekage Rescue Arc: Part 2 (Episodes 91-112): This series expands the Kazekage rescue story, focusing on new characters and new plots. It’s got highlights, but sometimes it drags.
- The Itachi Pursuit Arc (Episodes 176-196): This series follows Sasuke chasing Itachi, revealing some Uchiha clan history. But, it might be slow and repeating for some.
- The Fourth Great Ninja War: Countdown (Episodes 284-295, 303-320): These episodes happen during the Fourth Great Ninja War and give attention to side stories and character growth. If you’re keen on knowing more about minor characters, they’re fun. But, they don’t change up the main story much.
Filler Episodes: Skip Them!
Truthfully, a lot of Naruto Shippuden’s filler episodes aren’t a must-watch. With repeated storylines, dull characters, and barely any ties to the main storyline, it’s typically okay to ignore these episodes. There might be some exceptions, but these are few. See these filler arcs, often seen as unneeded:
- The Naruto and Jiraiya Arc (Episodes 223-242) is known for dragging and being light on substance. (I know, I know it’s a little bit controversial but still 😛)
- The Itachi Shinden Arc (Episodes 376-377) doesn’t offer much to Itachi’s tale and can be ignored.
Hope this blog sums up everything about Naruto Shippuden filler episodes.
Until next time, fellow Otakus, Ciao!!
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