Welcome, future shinobi! You’re about to embark on one of the most epic and influential journeys in anime history. The world of Naruto is vast, filled with breathtaking fights, heart-wrenching stories, and characters who will stay with you for a lifetime. Created by Masashi Kishimoto, the saga spans over 700 episodes, more than ten movies, and a sequel series. It’s an intimidating amount of content, and the single biggest question that paralyzes new viewers is: “How on Earth do I watch all of this?”
Fear not. This is the definitive, all-encompassing guide you need. We’ll break down the entire franchise, separating the essential story from the optional side-quests. We’ll tell you exactly where the movies fit, which filler arcs are surprisingly good, and which you can safely skip to save hundreds of hours. Whether you want the purest story, a more fleshed-out experience, or to see every single second of Naruto’s journey, we have a path for you.
This guide is updated for 2025, ensuring it covers the complete original saga and provides the best framework for tackling the ongoing adventures in Boruto. Let’s get you ready for your Ninja Academy entrance exam.
First, Understand the Lingo: Canon vs. Filler
Before we dive into the episode lists, you need to understand three key terms that will govern your viewing experience.
- Manga Canon: This is the core, essential story, adapted directly from Masashi Kishimoto’s original manga. These episodes are non-negotiable and form the main plot of Naruto’s life, his goals, and the overarching conflicts of the shinobi world. If you skip these, you will be completely lost.
- Filler: When an anime series is being produced concurrently with its manga, the anime often catches up to the source material. To avoid overtaking the manga, the animation studio creates original storylines, or “filler.” These episodes are not part of Kishimoto’s original story. They range in quality from fun character-focused adventures to mind-numbingly dull fetch quests. They are, by definition, entirely skippable without missing any critical plot points.
- Mixed Canon/Filler: These episodes contain both material from the manga and original content from the anime studio. Sometimes they expand on a canon scene, and other times they awkwardly sandwich a filler plot into a canon episode. Our recommendation on these will vary, but they are often worth watching to avoid missing the canon bits.
Choose Your Path: The Three Ways to Watch Naruto
We’ve designed three distinct watch orders to suit different types of viewers. Pick the one that best fits your goals and commitment level.
- The Hokage’s Path (Canon-Only): This is the fast-track. You’ll watch only the manga canon episodes, getting the purest, most focused version of the story. This path is perfect if you have limited time or simply want to experience the main plot as Kishimoto intended, without any detours. It’s the quickest way to get from Naruto’s graduation to the Fourth Great Ninja War.
- The Shinobi’s Journey (Canon + Recommended Filler/Movies): This is the highly recommended path for most first-time viewers. It includes all the canon material, plus a curated selection of the best filler arcs and movies. These chosen arcs add valuable world-building, provide excellent character development for the supporting cast, or are simply too fun to miss. This path offers a richer, more complete experience without the slog of the bad filler.
- The Sage of Six Paths (Completionist Order): For the truly dedicated. This path has you watching everything in chronological order—all canon, all filler, all movies, and all OVAs. You will see every mission, every side-story, and every adventure. It’s a monumental task, but it offers the most comprehensive look at the Naruto anime universe.
Now, let’s begin the mission.
Part I: Naruto (2002-2007)
This is where it all begins. We follow Naruto Uzumaki as a young, aspiring ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village, struggling for recognition and dreaming of becoming the Hokage. This series covers his time in the Ninja Academy, the formation of Team 7, the Chunin Exams, and the epic battle to save his best friend.
Total Episodes: 220
Canon Breakdown: Episodes 1-135 are the primary canon story. The rest, from 136-220, is almost entirely filler, with the very end of episode 220 containing a few minutes of canon material setting up Shippuden.
Naruto Watch List
- Prologue — Land of Waves Arc
- Episodes 1-25 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: Essential viewing. This arc perfectly establishes the main characters, the stakes of the shinobi world, and delivers the first truly emotional gut-punch of the series. Do not skip.
- Chunin Exams Arc
- Episode 26 (FILLER) – A recap episode. Skip it.
- Episodes 27-67 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: Peak early Naruto. Introduces a massive cast of iconic characters like Gaara, Rock Lee, and the Legendary Sannin. The fights are strategic, tense, and unforgettable.
- Konoha Crush Arc
- Episodes 68-80 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: The explosive conclusion to the Chunin Exams. The stakes are raised to a village-wide level. Essential viewing.
- Search for Tsunade Arc
- Episodes 81-100 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: A crucial arc that develops Naruto’s character and power set while formally introducing the future Fifth Hokage.
- Episode 97 (FILLER) – A silly, but fun, distraction. Recommended for The Shinobi’s Journey, skippable for The Hokage’s Path.
- Episode 101 (FILLER) – “Gotta See! Gotta Know! Kakashi-Sensei’s True Face!” – This is arguably the most famous and beloved filler episode in the entire franchise. It’s pure comedy gold. Highly recommended for all viewers.
- Movie 1: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
- Placement: Watch after Episode 101.
- Canon Status: Non-canon.
- Our Take: A fun, self-contained adventure. The animation is a step up from the TV series. Recommended for The Shinobi’s Journey.
- Land of Tea Escort Mission Arc
- Episodes 102-106 (FILLER)
- Our Take: A fairly standard filler arc. It has some decent action but is ultimately forgettable. Skip it unless you’re a Completionist.
- Sasuke Recovery Mission Arc
- Episodes 107-135 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: The emotional climax of Part I. This arc is a masterpiece of tension, action, and character drama. Absolutely essential. The final fight is iconic for a reason.
- The Great Filler Sea
- Episodes 136-219 (FILLER)
- Our Take: This is where the original series hits a wall. After the canon conclusion in episode 135, the anime produced over 80 episodes of filler to let the manga get ahead. Most of these are low-stakes, repetitive, and safe to skip.
- Recommended Filler (Shinobi’s Journey): If you want a little more content from this era, a few arcs are better than the rest.
- Kurosuki Family Removal Mission (Episodes 152-157): A decent arc that gives some of the Konoha 11 a chance to shine.
- Kurama Clan Arc (Episodes 203-207): An interesting arc focused on Kurenai and a clan with powerful genjutsu abilities.
- All other filler from 136-219 is safely skippable for all but the most dedicated Completionists.
- Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
- Placement: Watch anytime during the filler sea, around episode 160.
- Canon Status: Non-canon.
- Our Take: Another standard “what-if” movie adventure. Skippable.
- Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom
- Placement: Watch anytime after episode 196.
- Canon Status: Non-canon.
- Our Take: Features a pre-Shippuden Team 7 on a mission. It’s okay, but feels very generic. Skippable.
- Series Finale
- Episode 220 (FILLER / MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: The first half is filler, but watch the second half (from 11:25 onwards). It contains crucial canon scenes of the cast after the time skip and directly sets up the beginning of Naruto Shippuden.
Part II: Naruto Shippuden (2007-2017)
Two and a half years have passed. Naruto returns to the Hidden Leaf Village, older, stronger, and more determined than ever. Shippuden is a darker, more mature series that deals with war, loss, and the complex cycle of hatred. The threats are global, the villains are legendary, and the stakes have never been higher.
Total Episodes: 500
Canon Breakdown: Shippuden is notorious for its filler, which makes up about 41% of the series. This guide is your best friend for navigating it.
Naruto Shippuden Watch List
- Kazekage Rescue Mission Arc
- Episodes 1-32 (MANGA CANON)
- Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Arc
- Episodes 33-53 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: Introduces Sai and Captain Yamato, and features the long-awaited reunion. Essential.
- Movie 4: Naruto Shippuden the Movie
- Placement: Watch after Episode 53.
- Canon Status: Non-canon.
- Twelve Guardian Ninja Arc
- Episodes 54-71 (FILLER)
- Our Take: An anime-original arc that expands on Asuma’s past. It’s one of the better-integrated filler arcs. Recommended for the Shinobi’s Journey.
- Hidan and Kakuzu Arc
- Episodes 72-88 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: A phenomenal arc showcasing Shikamaru’s genius and the terrifying power of the Akatsuki.
- Three-Tails’ Appearance Arc
- Episodes 89-112 (FILLER)
- Our Take: A long and meandering filler arc. While it features some cool jutsu, it drags on for way too long. Skip it.
- Movie 5: Bonds
- Placement: Watch after Episode 112.
- Canon Status: Non-canon.
- Itachi Pursuit Mission Arc
- Episodes 113-118 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 119-120 (FILLER) – Sasuke’s backstory.
- Episodes 121-126 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: The long-awaited, tragic confrontation between brothers. Absolutely essential.
- Jiraiya the Gallant Arc
- Episodes 127-133 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: A pivotal, emotional, and beautifully told story. Do not skip.
- Fated Battle Between Brothers Arc
- Episodes 134-143 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: The fallout from the previous two arcs. Crucial for Sasuke’s development.
- Movie 6: The Will of Fire
- Placement: Watch after Episode 143.
- Canon Status: Non-canon.
- Six-Tails Unleashed Arc
- Episodes 144-151 (FILLER)
- Our Take: Focuses on the jinchuriki Utakata. It’s a self-contained story that’s actually quite good and adds context to the world of jinchuriki. Recommended for the Shinobi’s Journey.
- Pain’s Assault Arc
- Episodes 152-169 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 170-171 (FILLER) – A fun little diversion. Skippable.
- Episodes 172-175 (MANGA CANON)
- Our Take: One of the highest points in the entire franchise. A spectacular, emotional, and game-changing arc.
- Movie 7: The Lost Tower
- Placement: Watch after Episode 175.
- Canon Status: Non-canon. (Features a young Minato, which is cool).
- Five Kage Summit Arc
- Episodes 176-196 (MANGA CANON) – Note: The first part of 176 is filler.
- Episodes 197-222 (Mixed Canon/Filler) – This section is a mix of canon buildup to the war and filler “paradise” adventures. Watch the canon parts and skip the filler side-quests.
- Movie 8: Blood Prison
- Placement: Watch after Episode 222.
- Canon Status: Non-canon.
- Fourth Great Ninja War: Countdown
- Episodes 223-242 (MANGA CANON)
- Fourth Great Ninja War: Confrontation
- Episodes 243-256 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 257-260 (FILLER) – A flashback filler arc. Skip it.
- Episodes 261-270 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 271 (FILLER)
- Episodes 272-278 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 279-281 (FILLER) – Focuses on side characters in the war. Skippable.
- Episodes 282-283 (MANGA CANON)
- Movie 9: Road to Ninja
- Placement: Watch after Episode 283.
- Canon Status: Non-canon, but the story concept was provided by Kishimoto.
- Our Take: A fantastic “what-if” story that is highly emotional and fun. Highly Recommended for all viewers.
- Fourth Great Ninja War: Climax
- Episodes 284-289 (FILLER) – The infamous “Chikara” (Power) arc. It has movie-quality animation but is entirely filler. Recommended for Shinobi’s Journey, but be aware it breaks the pacing of the war.
- Episodes 290-295 (FILLER)
- Episodes 296-302 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 303-320 (FILLER) – A massive block of war filler. Skip it all.
- Episodes 321-346 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 347-361 (FILLER) – Kakashi’s Anbu Arc: This is the best filler arc in the entire series. It provides a deep, compelling backstory for Kakashi, Itachi, and Yamato. Highly recommended for all viewers.
- Episodes 362-375 (MANGA CANON)
- Birth of the Ten-Tails’ Jinchuriki Arc
- Episodes 376-377 (Mixed Canon/Filler) – Watch.
- Episodes 378-387 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 388-390 (FILLER) – Focuses on Hinata’s cousin, Hanabi.
- Episodes 391-393 (MANGA CANON)
- Kaguya Otsutsuki Strikes Arc
- Episodes 394-413 (FILLER) – The “Infinite Tsukuyomi” dreams. These are character-focused filler episodes showing each character’s “perfect world.” Some are interesting (like Tenten’s), but most are skippable. The Tsunade/Jiraiya one (432-450) is a long “what-if” novel adaptation.
- Episodes 414-415 (MANGA CANON)
- Episode 416 (FILLER)
- Episodes 417-421 (MANGA CANON)
- Episodes 422-423 (FILLER)
- Episodes 424-425 (MANGA CANON)
- Episode 426 (FILLER)
- Episodes 427-450 (Mostly Filler/Novel Adaptation) – The Itachi Shinden and Jiraiya Shinobi Handbook arcs. They are novel adaptations and quite good, but break the finale’s pacing. Recommended for Shinobi’s Journey, but perhaps watch them after the main story concludes.
- Episodes 451-458 (FILLER) – More backstory filler.
- Episodes 459-468 (MANGA CANON) – The climax of the Kaguya fight.
- Episodes 469-479 (MANGA CANON) – The final, incredible battle. The emotional core of the entire franchise. DO NOT SKIP.
- The Post-War Era & The Wedding
- Episodes 480-483 (FILLER) – Childhood backstory filler.
- Episodes 484-493 (Novel Adaptation) – These episodes adapt the Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Konoha Hiden novels. They are considered soft-canon and are excellent stories that bridge the gap between the war’s end and the new era. Highly Recommended for all viewers.
- Movie 10: The Last: Naruto the Movie
- Placement: Watch after Episode 493.
- Canon Status: 100% MANGA CANON.
- Our Take: This is not a skippable movie. It is an essential epilogue to the main story, written by Kishimoto himself. It covers crucial character development and relationship resolutions that are vital for understanding the modern era.
- The Wedding Arc
- Episodes 494-500 (Novel Adaptation) – Adapts the Konoha Hiden novel, focusing on Naruto and Hinata’s wedding. A beautiful, heartwarming conclusion to the series. Highly Recommended.
Part III: The New Era – Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
The story continues with Naruto’s son, Boruto. The world is at peace, and technology has advanced. This series follows a new generation of shinobi facing new threats in a changing world.
A key difference in Boruto is the term “Anime Canon.” These are anime-original arcs that are supervised and considered part of the official timeline, often fleshing out characters and events that the monthly manga skips over. For the best experience, it is recommended to watch most of the “Anime Canon.”
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie
- Canon Status: Canon, but its story is retold and expanded upon in the Boruto TV series (Episodes 51-66).
- Our Take: You can watch the movie first if you want, but the recommended path is to watch the TV series arc instead, as it adds more detail and character development.
Boruto Watch Order (Abridged Guide)
Watching Boruto is more straightforward. Follow the episode order, but you can skip the arcs marked as “Pure Filler.”
- Academy Entrance Arc (Episodes 1-15): Anime Canon – Watch.
- Sarada Uchiha Arc (Episodes 19-24): Manga Canon – Watch.
- Byakuya Gang Arc (Episodes 42-47): Anime Canon – Recommended.
- Chunin Exams Arc / vs. Momoshiki Arc (Episodes 51-66): Manga Canon – Essential. (This is the movie retelling).
- Mujina Bandits Arc (Episodes 141-151): Manga Canon – Watch.
- Kara Actuation Arc (Episodes 157-175): Anime Canon – Essential setup for the next arc.
- Vessel Arc (Episodes 178-187): Manga Canon – Watch.
- Kawaki Arc (Episodes 188-220): Manga Canon – Essential.
- Code Arc (Episodes 287-293): Manga Canon – Watch.
As of early 2025, the Boruto anime is on hiatus after Part 1 concluded with episode 293. This is the perfect time to get caught up before Part 2, Two Blue Vortex, receives its anime adaptation.
Final Words of Wisdom
The world of Naruto is a gift that keeps on giving. It’s a story about never giving up, the pain of loneliness, the strength of friendship, and the difficult path to peace. Don’t let the sheer volume of episodes deter you. By using this guide, you can tailor the experience to your liking and join the millions of fans who hold this story dear.
So pick your path, press play, and believe it! Your ninja way is just beginning.